Bob Cole vs Gary Thorne

[LightningStorm]

IMO the most iconic Canadian and American play by play announcers for national broadcasts. Which one did you like better? I understand not everyone heard much from the announcer in the other country. I heard Thorne a lot as a kid watching games in America, but am definitely familiar with Cole from youtube clips I've watched of games. If you were familiar with the announcing of both, who did you like better? Also left a poll option for non North Americans (non NA).

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[Beerz]

Thorne

 

[norrisnick]

Watching the transition from Thorne to Doc was basically a punch in the dick...

I get it was leaving the Mouse and all that, but take that voice with you.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Cole has the old timey radio voice. A dying breed.

 

[HarrySPlinkett]

Bob Cole is straight up the best to ever do it.

“Canada, tryna hang on, and get a break… it’s gonna be a break… it is Joe Sakic… SCORES! JEEYOH! SAKIC! SCORES! And that makes it 5! 2! Canada! Surely, that’s gotta be it!”

GOAT, fight me.

 

[stevo61]

Growing up watching HNIC with Bob Cole and Harry Neale was the best.

 

[BobCole]

Genuinely loved listening to both of them but uhh...see my username

 

[LightningStorm]

Bob Cole is straight up the best to ever do it.

“Canada, tryna hang on, and get a break… it’s gonna be a break… it is Joe Sakic… SCORES! JEEYOH! SAKIC! SCORES! And that makes it 5! 2! Canada! Surely, that’s gotta be it!”

GOAT, fight me.

Thorne also has an iconic Sakic call from the year before.

"Joe Sakic will come out to receive it as captain. The Stanley Cup winning Colorado Avalanche. And after 22 years, RAYMOND BOURQUE!!!!!"

Or if you want a call from during that game:

"On the powerplay Sakic fakes it, takes it, SCORE! JOE SAKIC, POWERPLAY GOAL. 3-0 COLORADO!

 

[biturbo19]

Babs, easily. His ability to convey the atmosphere and energy of a game, really weave a story out of it, is legendary.

Also, Thorne just reminds me of EA NHL Games, and i don't love that. Makes the actual games feel fake somehow. Like a videogame.


Honestly, as far as American announcers, i take Doc over Thorne too. In terms of announcers in general, the only guy i take over Bob Cole is possibly Dick Irvin. But gimme either one, and i'm a happy camper.

 

[McRpro]

Bob Cole AINEFC

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Are we talking of a prime Bob Cole or senile Bob Cole?

Senile Bob Cole was brutal.

 

[Staniowski]

Definitely Cole.

But Danny Gallivan, Dan Kelly, and Chris Cuthbert are my 3 favourite hockey play-by-play announcers.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Are we talking of a prime Bob Cole or senile Bob Cole?

Senile Bob Cole was brutal.

Every Thing Is Happening

 

[Voight]

Bob Cole is straight up the best to ever do it.

“Canada, tryna hang on, and get a break… it’s gonna be a break… it is Joe Sakic… SCORES! JEEYOH! SAKIC! SCORES! And that makes it 5! 2! Canada! Surely, that’s gotta be it!”

GOAT, fight me.

Still have that call etched in my memory.

Tho Thorne does have "& AFTER 22 YEARS RAYMOND BOURQUE HAS WON THE STANLEY CUP!!!"

HM - Cole's signature "Oh baaaby"

 

[tarheelhockey]

Funny how clear-cut the nationality factor is with this question.

 

[LightningStorm]

Funny how clear-cut the nationality factor is with this question.

Ha yeah. Thorne leads 5-1 for people who voted for an announcer who’s a different nationality.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Throne is good, but damn he is soo overrated. Went with Cole.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Prime Cole is in the conversation of the best ever. Hell I preferred him to most while senile.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Ha yeah. Thorne leads 5-1 for people who voted for an announcer who’s a different nationality.

That could simply be an effect of ESPN's broadcast reach. I don't think I even had an opportunity to listen to Cole until streaming started. I assume Thorne could be heard all over the world outside of Canada.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Thorne for me because I only started seeing Canadian broadcasts after getting center ice in 05-06, and Cole was old and senile by then.

 

[Staniowski]

Thorne for me because I only started seeing Canadian broadcasts after getting center ice in 05-06, and Cole was old and senile by then.

Yes, you wanna see Cole in the '80s or '90s.....here he is at his peak:
I like Cole but he's not my favourite, and I think Harry Neale (his long-time colour partner) is actually a better announcer.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Yes, you wanna see Cole in the '80s or '90s.....here he is at his peak:
I like Cole but he's not my favourite, and I think Harry Neale (his long-time colour partner) is actually a better announcer.

Yea he sounds like a totally different person.

 

[JoVel]

The fact that Cole stuck around to the point where he probably couldn't name more than 3 players from each team has unfortunately ruined my memories from the time he was actually decent. Would've voted for Thorne regardless though.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Of course, Cole was mostly the CBC voice of the Maple Leafs for decades.

Thorne was all over the map, multiple sports, multiple teams...much more of a utilitarian tradesman than Cole.

 

[biturbo19]

The fact that Cole stuck around to the point where he probably couldn't name more than 3 players from each team has unfortunately ruined my memories from the time he was actually decent. Would've voted for Thorne regardless though.

That one year where like 75% of the Habs team was "Scott Gomez" to him.


Honestly, i didn't even care though. He still told a story with the broadcast. I've got an HD TV feed, i can read the numbers. I know who is who (though the spazzed out digital boards can make it more difficult now). I don't need my play by play guy to just name who touched the puck last, i want them to feed the drama of the game and make it exciting. Add enthusiasm, drama, flavour.