NESN UPDATE - NESN’s Jack Edwards announces retirement

[LSCII]

Faust just sounded so National-broadcasty to me.

He did but again, compared to the deteriorating skills of Jack and his tired act, I’d rather listen to a generic call than what we have. Jack is terrible now. Literally unlistenable and 29 seconds behind the play all game long.

I've got no issues with people who like Jack. I get it, he's a silly sideshow that some people like. Me, I like professionalism, not canned buffoonery.

So much this. Jack is embarrassing and has been for years. That doesn’t even take into account whatever issue he’s having.

 

[GordonHowe]

It's a tricky balance.

The best exemplar of what I prefer is Dave Gaucher. Unless enticed, that's not going to happen.

Faust appears to do his homework. He's not basic vanilla, and if he gets the gig, he'll grow more comfortable. He's fine.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

I got a sad feeling from Jack’s tweet.

That he is in denial.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

I love Jack and his true Bruins passion.

I am biased, I know this because Emerick stayed way too long, got players names wrong and just repeated his favourite phrases. It drove me crazy so I know what a lot of people are saying, I just give Jack more leeway and am willing to forgive his struggles to keep him a while longer. It makes no difference what I think anyway, NESN is in control.

In terms of NESN being in control…sometimes I have my doubts. So much of what they do is so amateur-ish that I wouldn’t be totally surprised if there’s barely been any discussion about Jack’s undeniable decline.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

I've got no issues with people who like Jack. I get it, he's a silly sideshow that some people like. Me, I like professionalism, not canned buffoonery.

He’s always missed in most of his “funny” comments (IMO). He’s approaching 100% miss at this point and much of the time, it’s not even discernible what he’s talking about.

Even if he was never all that entertaining to me, he did have some wit from time to time unique for a PbP guy. I appreciated that. But what we’re hearing now is not that.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

This is starting to remind me way too much of the Jake DeBrusk thread.

Critiquing Jack’s performance behind the mic or commenting that he seems to be unwell…and should consider retiring (or NESN should have a chat with him) is not akin to disliking him as a person. Nor do I feel it is out of bounds in any way. This is the voice of the team. He is quite literally paid to speak and run PbP for viewing/listening fans.

When people get older and their health declines, the reality is that others do sometimes need to step in. People are resistant to admitting it is “time”, and often it being “time”, is best not only for others but the person themselves. If Jack is truly declining in a verbal or mental capacity, and it continues, yet he remains steadfastly committed to his job…is it really right he remains on the air…for himself? Being hardened and refusing to hang ‘em up is to be expected with plenty of people. But for the respect of the subject, that can’t be the extent of the conversation.

Well said. That's very much me - Jack's a great guy, been a wonderful servant of the Bruins, has provided and called many great moments over the years. Whatever health issues he's had/having, that's unfortunate and I wish him nothing but the best. But as you say, he's paid to do a job and he's no longer capable of performing that job at a high level, or, I would argue, even an adequate one. And that requires hard decisions to be made. Ideally he goes on his own terms, if not then the call to move on probably has to be made for him.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

It's a tricky balance.

The best exemplar of what I prefer is Dave Gaucher. Unless enticed, that's not going to happen.

Faust appears to do his homework. He's not meh vanilla, and if gets the gig, he'll grow more comfortable. He's fine.

Faust has done a decent job so far IMO. People judging him and calling him 'vanilla' or whatever after only 3 games (inc. the pre-season one) makes no sense at all to me. Give it half a season and then start forming some sort of firmer opinions. It takes time to grow into this sort of role. Right now he's getting the basics right, and that's the main thing. Adding the extra flair and personality can come in time. In terms of style, the guy he reminds me a bit of is John Forslund, and that's a good thing. I'd be happy for him to get at least first chance at the PBP post-Edwards.

 

[CDJ]

Everybody is gonna sound vanilla after listening to Jack for almost 20 years.

Faust is a pro, he’s done a solid job

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

I just like a personality behind the call of the game.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

Everybody is gonna sound vanilla after listening to Jack for almost 20 years.

Faust is a pro, he’s done a solid job

Agreed

 

[GordonHowe]

Faust has done a decent job so far IMO. People judging him and calling him 'vanilla' or whatever after only 3 games (inc. the pre-season one) makes no sense at all to me. Give it half a season and then start forming some sort of firmer opinions. It takes time to grow into this sort of role. Right now he's getting the basics right, and that's the main thing. Adding the extra flair and personality can come in time. In terms of style, the guy he reminds me a bit of is John Forslund, and that's a good thing. I'd be happy for him to get at least first chance at the PBP post-Edwards.

Balanced and reasoned as always.

Merry Merry,

 

[TD Charlie]

Faust sounded much better in game 2. EvenBrick sounded better. Not sure if it was a feeling out period of the first game, or just it taking a day for Brick to realize that the broadcast had to ramp back up to typical game speed, but they both sounded really good on Saturday

If Faust is the next guy, I’m cool with it.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Balanced and reasoned as always.

Merry Merry,

Thanks. Same to you my friend. Have a good Christmas!!

 

[UncleRico]

Personally for him I’m ecstatic he’s healthy, thats great news for him and his loved ones.

Professionally I cannot stand to listen to him for many more years.

 

[NeelyDan]

Him doubling down in the face of fairly public criticism is an indicator that this may not end well and that makes me sad

 

[CDJ]

Him doubling down in the face of fairly public criticism is an indicator that this may not end well and that makes me sad

Yeah just saw that, he talking about doing years more. I love the guy and I don’t want him to be heartbroken.

Maybe they can do a 3 man booth with Faust as pbp

 

[sarge88]

Yeah just saw that, he talking about doing years more. I love the guy and I don’t want him to be heartbroken.

Maybe they can do a 3 man booth with Faust as pbp

This just gave me Dave Shea related PTSD!

 

[TorontLoL 67]

I can't take a Cleveland steamer on Faust for "bland" play calling when the team didn't give him much to hype the audience up about. I'd love to hear him call a couple of blowout games where the B's just blow the roof off the arena. Unfortunately we're back to muting our televisions because we have to listen to Jack attempt to stumble his way through "calling" the games again. I love Jack but come on man, take the blinders off already. Dude is cooked and needs to retire.

 

[KrugAvoy]

I wonder if they go the route they did a little over a decade ago. Where they had Jack/Brick on road games and Dale/Brick on home games. Maybe they'll do Faust for road games and Jack just for home

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

This just gave me Dave Shea related PTSD!

Dave Shea was perfect for falling asleep after one shit day of work with not sleeping well the night before.

 

[sarge88]

Dave Shea was perfect for falling asleep after one shit day of work with not sleeping well the night before.

The worst ever!

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

The worst ever!

That was some good sleeping though

 

[Jdavidev]

I love Jack, but his time has come. Just completely speculating based on family experience, but seems like Parkinson's with Jack. Again, just speculation.

Alex Faust just reminded me of the old Fox Sports Net broadcasts, where every city/team had the same intro music, bumpers, scorebug and PBP calls. So generic and pointless, the only difference was how obnoxious the meathead color guy was.

Of course I want Goucher. And even though he's probably more settled in now than ever, he did accept a job (presuming it was the rumored NBC Sports deal before they went belly up) and say goodbye on air to Vegas fans because he accepted his dream job back home. That was just 3 years ago. So, that door will never be fully closed for Dave, if it truly is his dream job.

 

[Fenway]

Him doubling down in the face of fairly public criticism is an indicator that this may not end well and that makes me sad

Faust will be working the games in Ottawa and Philly in a month

The 24th is a TNT game and quite possibly Faust might call it. Jack won't mind missing Ottawa but I know he enjoys calling Flyers games especially in Philly.

 

[DKH]

Dave Shea was perfect for falling asleep after one shit day of work with not sleeping well the night before.

Yes what a switch from Fred to Dave

Brutal

I wonder if they go the route they did a little over a decade ago. Where they had Jack/Brick on road games and Dale/Brick on home games. Maybe they'll do Faust for road games and Jack just for home

I would take that if had to since I go to home games - Jack is just hard to listen to

Those ‘this day in history’ with Jack clearly shows he’s a shell of former self

Don’t tell us you are healthy Jack listening side by side