Toronto Sports Media Discussion Thread - v7 (2022 Edition)

[LeafChief]

Last thread was at 1000 posts.

Mike Johnson is the GOAT. We miss Ray Ferraro.

Steve Simmons and Damien Cox are a disease. Noodles should be re-assigned to TSN1260.


Edit: 2021 edition is here:
Toronto Sports Media Discussion Thread - v6 (2021 Edition)

Click to read more...

 

[Anthrax442]

Please add Dangle to the "sucks" column

 

[the squared circle]

Please add Friedman to overrated.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

I think too much air time starts to expose faults in broadcasters. For example unlike Jeff Marek but him having his own show is just too much. He talks about the same things repeatedly and his delivery starts to get annoying.

Same goes for Friedman. His 32 thoughts are the same on his blog, HNIC, the podcast and his hits on Mareks show. Too much of the same thing.

It’s a skill when you have so much air time to not repeat the same info, stories and theories all the time. Hayes does a good job of that on overdrive. He gets the daily routine part of it and makes just enough references for consistency.

 

[Stigma]

I think too much air time starts to expose faults in broadcasters. For example unlike Jeff Marek but him having his own show is just too much. He talks about the same things repeatedly and his delivery starts to get annoying.

Same goes for Friedman. His 32 thoughts are the same on his blog, HNIC, the podcast and his hits on Mareks show. Too much of the same thing.

It’s a skill when you have so much air time to not repeat the same info, stories and theories all the time. Hayes does a good job of that on overdrive. He gets the daily routine part of it and makes just enough references for consistency.

This is a good post. It takes a certain type of skill to be able to have so much air time and not, eventually, irritate or bore listeners. You need sports knowledge, charisma, self-awareness, timing and humour. Hayes has this skill. Kypreos is getting there. Maybe a few others. I think Al's Brother, 5 or 6 years from now, may develop into this type of guy too.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

I think too much air time starts to expose faults in broadcasters. For example unlike Jeff Marek but him having his own show is just too much. He talks about the same things repeatedly and his delivery starts to get annoying.

Same goes for Friedman. His 32 thoughts are the same on his blog, HNIC, the podcast and his hits on Mareks show. Too much of the same thing.

It’s a skill when you have so much air time to not repeat the same info, stories and theories all the time. Hayes does a good job of that on overdrive. He gets the daily routine part of it and makes just enough references for consistency.

I've never liked Jeff Marek mostly because he comes off as extremely arrogant in my opinion. More importantly though, I'll never forget him back in the day on the radio when he had some hockey show on AM 640 and the Chris Benoit tragedy happened. He proceeded to make the whole thing about him by inserting himself into the story for some bizarre reason talking about how he knows Chris Benoit, etc. I can't help but think of that every time I see him or hear him. I mean, a wife and two young kids just got murdered and he's talking about himself. Seems like a bit of a narcissist.

 

[ottomaddox]

I've never liked Jeff Marek mostly because he comes off as extremely arrogant in my opinion. More importantly though, I'll never forget him back in the day on the radio when he had some hockey show on AM 640 and the Chris Benoit tragedy happened. He proceeded to make the whole thing about him by inserting himself into the story for some bizarre reason talking about how he knows Chris Benoit, etc. I can't help but think of that every time I see him or hear him. I mean, a wife and two young kids just got murdered and he's talking about himself. Seems like a bit of a narcissist.

Hockey Central at Noon died a slow/painful death due to his design. With Daren Millard gone (I'm not sure why he was gone - possibly on his own accord), and then Kypreos/Maclean. The next year Marek brought in new personalities (both ok), but with a very disorganized format. Sometimes he interjected analytics, as well as a lot of non-hockey topics. I couldn't even get through one show.

I don't hate Marek, but he might be up there as one of my "Least Liked" hockey media personalities.

 

[LeafChief]

Marek can't help himself and always has to interject with some meaningless bullshit because he gets a hard on thinking people give a shit about him personally knowing people in the industry.

The other day on Friedman's podcast, Friedman was talking about how the schedule maker will have a difficult job fitting in all of these postponed games and Marek HAD to cut him off to mention that he knows the guy personally. f*** off.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

This is a good post. It takes a certain type of skill to be able to have so much air time and not, eventually, irritate or bore listeners. You need sports knowledge, charisma, self-awareness, timing and humour. Hayes has this skill. Kypreos is getting there. Maybe a few others. I think Al's Brother, 5 or 6 years from now, may develop into this type of guy too.

Yeah something about listening to that guy Hayes .. real easy delivery and seems to be having fun .. and he gets it playing junior

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Marek can't help himself and always has to interject with some meaningless bullshit because he gets a hard on thinking people give a shit about him personally knowing people in the industry.

The other day on Friedman's podcast, Friedman was talking about how the schedule maker will have a difficult job fitting in all of these postponed games and Marek HAD to cut him off to mention that he knows the guy personally. f*** off.

Yeah, that sounds like him. Glad I'm not the only one that's noticed this stuff.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

This is a good post. It takes a certain type of skill to be able to have so much air time and not, eventually, irritate or bore listeners. You need sports knowledge, charisma, self-awareness, timing and humour. Hayes has this skill. Kypreos is getting there. Maybe a few others. I think Al's Brother, 5 or 6 years from now, may develop into this type of guy too.

Ya my podcast list is dwindling.
Gave up on chiclets as I couldn’t stand their simultaneous defending of Portnoy and trying to be sympathetic to every PC cause.
Marek is about to get the plug.
I couldn’t deal with Cam and Strick.

 

[TheShape]

Ya my podcast list is dwindling.
Gave up on chiclets as I couldn’t stand their simultaneous defending of Portnoy and trying to be sympathetic to every PC cause.
Marek is about to get the plug.
I couldn’t deal with Cam and Strick.

Chiclets has become insufferable, the podcast is so far removed from what made it great.

I’m done with 32 thoughts. The pair of Marek and Friedman are pretty awkward and need to stop with the forced humour attempts which always seems to fall flat.

They both speak in a way as if what they are saying should be taken as gospel and we need to hang on to every word. Gord Miller is guilty of the same.

Marek’s evil billionaire fake laugh drives me nuts.

 

[LeafChief]

Chiclets has become insufferable, the podcast is so far removed from what made it great.

I’m done with 32 thoughts. The pair of Marek and Friedman are pretty awkward and need to stop with the forced humour attempts which always seems to fall flat.

They both speak in a way as if what they are saying should be taken as gospel and we need to hang on to every word. Gord Miller is guilty of the same.

Marek’s evil billionaire fake laugh drives me nuts.

Leafs Lunch might be the best thing outside of Overdrive right now. Al's brother is surprisingly very good at it.

Chris Johnston's podcast is okay. Would be very good if he got a better host. The guy that hosts it is such a weasel.

 

[MarMarSab3]

Ennis and Brunt is a very good show.

 

[TMLeafer]

Ennis and Brunt is a very good show.

Yes it is, Brunt gets respect but I've always found Ennis to be a solid host. As I said in the previous thread, they can talk about more than just NHL, NFL, and golf.

On the other had, I had the misfortune of tuning into TSN 1050 this afternoon and hearing Matt Cauz.

 

[ottomaddox]

I'm kind of enjoying all the Marek and Friedman criticism in this thread.

2022 is going to be a good year.

 

[KobeBean143]

Marek can't help himself and always has to interject with some meaningless bullshit because he gets a hard on thinking people give a shit about him personally knowing people in the industry.

The other day on Friedman's podcast, Friedman was talking about how the schedule maker will have a difficult job fitting in all of these postponed games and Marek HAD to cut him off to mention that he knows the guy personally. f*** off.

Bro vegans have a certain personality trait

 

[david999]

Leafs Lunch, and Real Kipper & Bourne are my go to radio shows for Maple Leafs/hockey talk. Really enjoying them both.

 

[wingman75]

Leafs Lunch, and Real Kipper & Bourne are my go to radio shows for Maple Leafs/hockey talk. Really enjoying them both.

Have to agree on this. I watch Overdrive when it is on TV, if not, will watch Tim & Friends for like 5 minutes.

I had to drop Marek from my 'ear-waves', his pompass delivery grows weary. I liked the Hockey Central at Noon show because of the content, not the personalities...

I do listen to Ray and Dregs too, since they get some good guests and provide some decent general NHL info.

My rule is, whenever a hockey (or other I suppose) podcast/show becomes more about the host than it does the content, I am out. I don't care about these dopes... just give me the info I am looking for and eff-off.

 

[Stand Witness]

Friedman claims to have no ego yet has the biggest ego in Toronto sports media. Marek is fine for me.

What really drives me nuts is the fact that the same show is all over the place with different names. 32 thoughts the podcast, 32 thoughts the intermission segment, 32 thoughts the blog and then the Jeff Marek show is the exact same thing half the time.

 

[ottomaddox]

Buffoon Hockey Personalities:

Marek
Friedman

Not so happy to hear:

Dreger
Button
Miller

God Awful Hall of fame:

Pierre Mcguire (now VP for the Ottawa Sens lol)

 

[justashadowof]

Friedman has fallen far. He used to be a reasonable personality before becoming the pravda arm of the NHL front office.
Marek was always grating.
I'm in the minority that in the past I've enjoyed listening to several of the sports writers on the radio. These guys would write irritating passive aggressive columns day-in day-out but on the radio they'd be good at talking and sharing anecdotes and such. Yes, that includes Cox, Simmons, Brunt (he's the best of the bunch), old timey ones like Jim Hunt. These guys, hate them or not, have some personality and the ability to fill air space.

Worst one? Jeff Blair easily for me. He's such a Boomer blowhard who shows zero bravery in his opinions always testing the wind direction before taking a position. And so ready to insert politics into what is supposed to be a sports talk show. So awful.

 

[francis246]

Ya my podcast list is dwindling.
Gave up on chiclets as I couldn’t stand their simultaneous defending of Portnoy and trying to be sympathetic to every PC cause.
Marek is about to get the plug.
I couldn’t deal with Cam and Strick.

to me my top 3 right now are

1. Steve Dangle Podcast (They are honestly the best hockey podcast out there right now, it’s funny, they touch on important topics and bring in great guests)

2. Overdrive, they are only second for me right now because they’ve had so many fill ins lately. But they are easily the best radio show on the air. Always listen to them on my way home from work and even when I get into my house.

3. Spittin Chicklets - manly because the interviews are raw and authentic. They have a way of allowing their guests to be completely comfortable and share a lot. And I love hearing about the real stories.

to me these 3 are on top of the game right now


Honourable mention to Leafs Lunch bc I love Al’s Brother and I’m happy that his career has taken off so much

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Safe to say that when Corrado retires, he'll have a full-time gig with TSN radio. I enjoy his segments

 

[tmlms13]

Pierre Mcguire (now VP for the Ottawa Sens lol)

Put on TSN right now and see why that might be a good thing for us