Confirmed with Link: Steve Mears to replace Jeff Rimer as CBJ TV Play by Play Voice

[MoeBartoli]

These are the same people who loved Myron Cope, so their opinion obviously can’t be trusted.

That’s a good point. Cope was football’s version of Jack Edwards.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

It will surprise no one that I grew up a Cope devotee. One of my fantasy football teams is named the Double Yois.

But the funny thing is Cope was a writer by trade, an award-winning one at that for every sports pub, including SI, when that was a big deal in the industry.

If you can manage it - and I understand if you can’t - move past your distaste, find some of his written work and enjoy.

 

[Doggy]

This seems to be the way many Pens fans feel about him.. Every local broadcast poll I’ve read - The Athletic, Bleacher Report, etc - ranked the Pittsburg TV broadcast team in the bottom quarter. I plan to give him a fair chance and welcome a change at the mic though admittedly at the moment I'm unimpressed.

I read the TA surveys, I am getting the impression the FO went for the "safe" choice: unexciting but not offensive either. I guess my thinking is of the four names tossed about: BobbyMac, Bucci, Mears and the kid from Bridgeport, Mears was least appealing to me.

But keeping my fingers crossed. They did a test run with Jody so if Jody gave him the thumbs up we should be hopeful. Personally, I know Vies doesn't like BobbyMac's folksy goal calls but Mears sounds comatose on goal calls (or maybe its me who is comatose when he makes the goal call).

 

[tunnelvision]

First time I heard Mears call a game was during 2013 WJC. Immediate thought in my head was "oh, actual PBP guy is probably ill so they had to ask the broadcast host to fill in", and that has stayed with me since, while watching highlights of Pens games. Hopefully it will go away soon, now that he's here.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

 

[spintheblackcircle]

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Much like the team, so far so good.

Being a radio guy before coming here, he does have a tendancy to say EVERYTHING that he sees. But also being a radio guy, he doesn't miss a thing.

 

[Derby]

The first period of the Minnesota game, he was talking wayyyy too fast. He settled a bit after that and I expect it to get better and better. There’s also the chemistry and timing with Jody that takes time to gel. I’m patient. It’s an improvement so far.

Rims had great anecdotes and a wealth of for real name dropping bits that were endearing, though honestly I don’t miss that during the actual broadcast with Mears.

 

[NotWendell]

Mears gets better period-by-period. My only complaint, which is not really a complaint, is that he calls the game like it's on radio. A little bit of silence would go a long way. I'm happy he's here.

It will surprise no one that I grew up a Cope devotee. One of my fantasy football teams is named the Double Yois.

But the funny thing is Cope was a writer by trade, an award-winning one at that for every sports pub, including SI, when that was a big deal in the industry.

If you can manage it - and I understand if you can’t - move past your distaste, find some of his written work and enjoy.

Cope was the Pittsburgh version of Howard Cosell. His voice was SO grating. But I appreciated how much he loved the city and its teams - even though I hated those teams.