Disgraced Hockey Broadcaster/Podcaster Jeff Marek is back from the ashes...

[bov]

He's almost unlistenable for me, just wonders aloud and talks a lot without really saying anything. Nothing against the guy but not my cup of tea.

 

[FMichael]

it's really not that big a deal and he should be allowed on TV again

Agreed - maybe a slap on the hand and a stern looking frown of disproval would have sufficed - however me thinks he may have ruffled some feathers over the years at SportsNet for them to react the way they did.

 

[Brodeur]

What'd he do?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5673003/2024/08/01/jeff-marek-sportsnet-nhl-draft-removed/

As part of the Sportsnet draft broadcast, Marek was given the picks a couple minutes before the announcement on stage; Teams submit the pick at the desk before going up to the podium, this way the TV crew can be ready with the video package, have a camera ready for the reaction shot, etc. Or in Marek's case, a couple minutes to prep for the short interview.

The implication was that Marek sent the info to a scouting contact so he could provide seemingly instantaneous analysis / predictions on Twitter. Seemingly Marek had been feeding him info in previous drafts as well. While there were questions with whether that could have affected the (unfortunately) increasing gambling, the main transgression was that Marek was leaking privileged info.

There's a thin line from say Bob McKenzie having sources with each team and spoiling the first half of the 2021 Draft (when he wasn't part of the coverage) versus being part of the TV presentation and being fed the info.

 

[bossram]

it's really not that big a deal and he should be allowed on TV again

I think he should have another job as well.

But given the league is fully engrossed in gambling, SN had no choice but to fire him. He was basically giving away the game and costing sportsbook sponsors a lot of money.

Agreed - maybe a slap on the hand and a stern looking frown of disproval would have sufficed - however me thinks he may have ruffled some feathers over the years at SportsNet for them to react the way they did.

I don't actually think so. It's more that it ruined SN's integrity with their gambling sponsors.

 

[Nocashstyle]

OP is big mad, lol

 

[TheBeerNerd]

"Disgraced" is not the word I'd use. "Screwed over," maybe. Sure, what Jeff did was technically not something he should have done, but you know Rogers was looking for any reason to not re-up his contract.

I hope he brings back Greg on a regular basis. There's still a hole in my heart where MvsW once stood.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

"Disgraced" is not the word I'd use. "Screwed over," maybe. Sure, what Jeff did was technically not something he should have done, but you know Rogers was looking for any reason to not re-up his contract.

I hope he brings back Greg on a regular basis. There's still a hole in my heart where MvsW once stood.

They'd already booted him from the television side of things

 

[Breakers]

What'd he do?

Some thing every major sports insider in every other sports does

Leaked draft choices

 

[MCB]

Some thing every major sports insider in every other sports does

Leaked draft choices

The problem came because NHL got in bed with sports gambling.

I personally liked marek

 

[Raistlin]

maybe lacking foresight? even borderline reckless? but I wont call him disgraced, Don Cherry is disgraced.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

What'd he do?

leaking...

oops.

...leaking draft picks...


...My Dude...

maybe lacking foresight? even borderline reckless? but I wont call him disgraced, Don Cherry is disgraced.

Don Cherry: booted
Jeff Marek: booted too

 

[TheBeerNerd]

The problem came because NHL got in bed with sports gambling.

I personally liked marek

If you want to get into the nitpicking, gamblers could use the leaked draft pick info (IIRC it was all done 30 seconds before they made it official) to get a monetary advantage. But then you logically come to the question: why the hell is the NHL leaning on sports betting so much? If they didn't, this wouldn't be a problem.

 

[mrhockey193195]

Marek is easily amongst my absolute favorite hockey people. A nerd (like me) who loves history, trivia, etc. And unlike so many in the hockey universe, he doesn't reek of toxic masculinity and a is a big supporter of the women's game.

 

[Jared Dunn]

Relatively indifferent but OP's level of hatred for Marek is incredibly strange, he's far from the worst in the biz even if he can be a little much. I don't think there's anyone in the hockey world that really considers him disgraced... scapegoated seems more fitting if anything

 

[Jared Dunn]

If you want to get into the nitpicking, gamblers could use the leaked draft pick info (IIRC it was all done 30 seconds before they made it official) to get a monetary advantage. But then you logically come to the question: why the hell is the NHL leaning on sports betting so much? If they didn't, this wouldn't be a problem.

I think all books had closed at least a few hours in advance of the draft starting. It was essentially over a matter of principle because they're in the pocket of gambling now

 

[Sniper99]

I was hoping he would leave and find his true calling: figure skating/dressage. That wish has been dashed sadly.

In the meantime I'm going to avoid anything he does or any guest appearance he makes. Do you blame me? Last November he was speculating that TOR and CGY would once again have a 10 player trade similar to the Gilmour/Leeman one (lol).

I still have resentment towards him. Especially the way he ruined Hockey Central at Noon, and most HNIC broadcasts.

Do you miss Jeff Marek? Did you enjoy his style?

I've got noting against Marek. I didnt mind him at all. Thought it was funny when he dressed up as Ric Flair and walked into Tim and Sid's show for halloween.

Do I blame you? you do you. You make it sound like he burned down a school. Dear God, he leaked draft picks.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I don't get it.

I think he's trying to derisively call him gay without getting in trouble (not that he would anyway based on norms here).

some reporting ethical bullshit

"Marek worked with Sportsnet, before being dismissed due to leaking NHL draft selections to a friend while part of the broadcasting panel."

Which is funny because, despite denying it, there was a 4-5 years stretch where Bob MacKenzie would tell what the pick was going to be the second before it was about to be made.

 

[MCB]

If you want to get into the nitpicking, gamblers could use the leaked draft pick info (IIRC it was all done 30 seconds before they made it official) to get a monetary advantage. But then you logically come to the question: why the hell is the NHL leaning on sports betting so much? If they didn't, this wouldn't be a problem.

Oh I definitely understand why it was a no no, but like you said, why are they leaning so hard on it?

Edit: the obvious answer is $$$, but I feel 90% of the ads I see are gambling.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Jeff Marek is my throat goat (best voice in broadcasting)

@SopelFanThe3rd is the only throat goat around here.

 

[JianYang]

Disgraced?

Ease up there, cowboy.

 

[TheDoldrums]

But given the league is fully engrossed in gambling, SN had no choice but to fire him. He was basically giving away the game and costing sportsbook sponsors a lot of money.

No he wasn’t. No Sportsbook was offering the next pick while the draft was ongoing so any tipping there was not meaningful at all. The NHL draft market is incredibly niche with super low limits and isn’t the type of thing to be offered live.

 

[JianYang]

I miss his daily radio show.

His show gave insight around the league. The show we get now in that time slot is your typical Toronto programming that thinks everything revolves around the leafs.

 

[Golden_Jet]

No he wasn’t. No Sportsbook was offering the next pick while the draft was ongoing so any tipping there was not meaningful at all. The NHL draft market is incredibly niche with super low limits and isn’t the type of thing to be offered live.

He got punished for sending picks to his friend who ran a draft site, that was putting them out before picks.

He was fired for just cause,

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Glad he’s back. I hope he addresses what happened and gives his side to the story.

If his podcast is just going to be interviews with top people in or around the game, I won’t be interested, but if it’s in the 32TP style of rounding up news and opinions, talking about the current events, etc. then I’ll listen.

I like 32TP and I think Elliott and Kyle do a good job, but I do miss marek and Elliott together.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

I was hoping he would leave and find his true calling: figure skating/dressage. That wish has been dashed sadly.

In the meantime I'm going to avoid anything he does or any guest appearance he makes. Do you blame me? Last November he was speculating that TOR and CGY would once again have a 10 player trade similar to the Gilmour/Leeman one (lol).

I still have resentment towards him. Especially the way he ruined Hockey Central at Noon, and most HNIC broadcasts.

Do you miss Jeff Marek? Did you enjoy his style?

Hey, thanks for letting me know Jeff is back! Yay, I love Jeff! That’s what you intended, right?