A new contender for worst broadcaster of all time (Leah Hextall)

[Mach2]

The best female TV sports talent I've seen and heard is a young lady covering the Philadelphia pro sports market: Taryn Hatcher. She knows the sports she covering, which includes Flyers hockey. Don't know how well she would be at PBP, but for sure, she would be great between the benches.

 

[Azrael89]

It’s a few people who take it as far as OP and start a new thread weekly or hate her as a rinkside reporter (I don’t hate her there), but it’s more than a few people who find her annoying as shit a PBP. It’s a pretty strong negative response compared to basically almost all other commentators including other women in hockey.


To OP, I mean, she’s harmless enough as the reporter. Honestly I think she should be at the desk with or replacing Messier or Chelios. She seems personable enough and that desk needs something different.

As for the “somehow” there’s gonna be a super loud minority of people who take up arms if ESPN fired or removed her after one season. Or 5. She’s here to stay at least until a few other women get hired, but espn really just cares about your name rather than the quality you bring.

Chelios and Messier seem too similar in personality, and often have identical takes on various topics. It’s boring compared to the shit show Bizz and Tocchet turn TNT into regularly.

 

[BLNY]

Those horrible shiny helmets, on the other hand...

Definitely this.

The best female TV sports talent I've seen and heard is a young lady covering the Philadelphia pro sports market: Taryn Hatcher. She knows the sports she covering, which includes Flyers hockey. Don't know how well she would be at PBP, but for sure, she would be great between the benches.

If I get a chance to see a Flyers broadcast, I'll look for her.

Jen Botterill is very good for HNIC and Cheryl Pounder is quickly becoming an excellent studio panelist for TSN.

 

[start winnin]

Don’t think I’ve ever gave a shit who announced a hockey game. I’m usually paying attention to the game, not commentators.

I agree for the most part but some of the stuff she says just reeks of inexperience. That being said, I have no issues with her being between the bench, ultimately doesn't take anything away from the game for me.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Most people pay attention to both. It's not that difficult.

It's not a difficulty issue, it's more about why would I want to listen to someone talk or explain the game I'm literally watching with my eyes? Now, between whistles or periods, sure, that I can understand caring about.

 

[HBK27]

It's not a difficulty issue, it's more about why would I want to listen to someone talk or explain the game I'm literally watching with my eyes? Now, between whistles or periods, sure, that I can understand caring about.

So do you just mute the TV then? Most people watch the game with the sound on and egregiously bad announcers stand out.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

So do you just mute the TV then? Most people watch the game with the sound on and egregiously bad announcers stand out.

I only turn on the center channel (surround sound) during games. All I get are ice and crowd noises.

 

[HBK27]

I only turn on the center channel (surround sound) during games. All I get are ice and crowd noises.

Great for you!

Most people don't have that option.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Great for you!

Most people don't have that option.

I was only speaking for myself?

Don’t think I’ve ever gave a shit who announced a hockey game. I’m usually paying attention to the game, not commentators.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Oh good! Another Leah Hextall sucks thread. This seems like a topic that really needs exploring and nuanced discussion because it's unclear how people felt about it in all the prior threads about her.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

I saw the title and winced. But, if she's not doing play by play, It's tolerable for me. When she's doing play by play, I mute it.

 

[IceManCat]

Why was she dressed like Darth Vader ?

 

[ArGarBarGar]

Oh no!

Anyway...

 

[DeadGhost]

All hockey broadcasting is bad. Just get rid of play by play.

If HBO somehow got the rights to an NHL broadcast per week and they just put a bunch of mics at ice level to pick up hits, sticks, pucks, chirps, etc it would change sports broadcasting forever. League would never go for it though because of what the mics would pick up.

 

[Jeremy2020]

If you're feeling sad and need some attention, start a Leah Hextall thread on HF!

 

[57special]

Well, it's a positive step that ESPN has moved her off the Mic. Still regard her as an untalented distraction, and wonder why they can't find someone better than her. It helps me to think of her spots as annoying adds, which I tend to mute. I do the same with some of our local color guys.

 

[beedee]

She didnt bother me last night down in between the benches. Now her calling a game in broadcast booth on the other hand....

 

[Sheppy]

Still so f***ing cringe.

 

[zoA]

There are a ton of annoying announcers so it's not a big deal. The only time I ever noticed her was when she acted like an idiot with Maroon and Simmonds. I understand an argument of nepotism being way to rampant in hockey, but aside from that, who cares.

 

[timorous me]

Yeah that must be it... Even my wife had some pretty negative comments when she heard her for the first time. She just started watching hockey last year and could easily identify that this person did not sound like they belonged there.

This broadcaster doesn't diserve the role and she should not retain it simply because she is female. Being female doesn't mean you can suck and be protected in your role. We have let things like this go to far.

If she was good at her job, not to many people would have issues.

We now have to many guys trying to pretend they are real men by overcompensating for females. The reality is that you are just a fool.

The funny thing is that the same exact thing happened with my wife last year--and this is someone who only watches sports when I force them upon her. She was just really taken aback, not only with the vocal tone but especially with the very strange and awkward interactions Hextall had with her broadcast partner, Dom Moore, and some of the random things she'd say and all the uncomfortable silence.

So even someone who doesn't watch the sport could tell that this is someone who shouldn't be in this role at this time (again, not her fault--ESPN deserves all the blame and I genuinely hate that they put her in this position where she's subjected to abuse, but that doesn't change the fact that she negatively affects the viewing experience).

 

[tfwnogf]

I like her in the sense that it's fun to have someone bad and kinda cringy. The hockey world isn't the same without Pierre McGuire for example. Although he was on the other end of the spectrum, his vast amount of knowledge was almost creepy. Between the benches makes sense for her, nobody wants to listen for 3+ hours but a couple minutes here or there does no harm.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

actually everyone who listens to her thinks shes bad unless ur a simp for whatever reason. Check the YouTube comments for one

Calling someone "simp" and then citing the YouTube comment section for evidence of why someone else should have a bad opinion of her is not quite the slam-dunk argument you think it is, lol.

 

[haseoke39]

I didn't watch many games with her, but I thought she rated above average purely for the fact that she wasn't trying to host a sports talk show, which is what too many broadcast teams now think they're doing.

Maybe she got things wrong and I didn't notice either? I mean, whatever.

 

[Little Psycho]

Why was she dressed like Darth Vader ?

First of all, it's October and second, I like it better than her principal outfits.

 

[John Price]

I usually try to be lenient towards female play by play personalities but Leah irritated me mighty fast. Might try to tolerate another season.