NESN UPDATE - NESN’s Jack Edwards announces retirement

[CharasLazyWrister]

I once again come back to blaming NESN.

There's obviously a problem and yet they don't seem to even be trying to deal with it.

As others have said, at the very least maybe have someone else do interviews with players (no matter how much I'm sure Jack wants to do it). For f*** sake...if you're not going to move on from the guy, at least make some adjustments. Anything at all.

What gets me is when people repeatedly say "I wish him nothing but the best" in between their insults and feigned pity.

I like Jack and when the time comes for him to step away I'll raise a glass to him.

You're in almost as much denial as Jack.

I have nothing against the man as a person. And I think he was an underrated announcer of the game for much of his career. But the time to move on is now. It's more than obvious. There are no insults necessary.

 

[whitetape]

He had a pretty tough night overall. It was hard to listen to.

As soon as I saw that they were having a during-the-period guest, I put my TV on mute. It didn't matter that it was Bergeron (not that he ever says anything that colorful anyway). From the comments I clearly made the right decision.

 

[Sheppy]

Does NESN see this, though? That's my thing. I don't blame Jack, I blame them to be honest.

 

[jgatie]

Does NESN see this, though? That's my thing. I don't blame Jack, I blame them to be honest.

I don't know if it's a question of whether NESN sees it, more a question if NESN really cares.

 

[Sheppy]

I don't know if it's a question of whether NESN sees it, more a question if NESN really cares.

Fair.

It's just not a pleasant viewing experience, at least not for me.

 

[jgatie]

Fair.

It's just not a pleasant viewing experience, at least not for me.

Same.

 

[bruins309]

It should be noted that Plymouth Rock removed Edwards from their commercials and replaced him with Hampus Lindholm. Possibly unrelated, but still.

Imagine you're a young hockey PBP guy who has worked his way up to try and get one of the precious few NHL gigs. You can't get one, yet NESN insists on keeping a guy who speaks the way Jack does now and can't stay with the play beyond just saying players' names.

There are a ton of talented people who can do this job. Jack Edwards is no longer one of them.

 

[jgatie]

As soon as I saw that they were having a during-the-period guest, I put my TV on mute. It didn't matter that it was Bergeron (not that he ever says anything that colorful anyway). From the comments I clearly made the right decision.

I did the same after a couple questions. It was painful to listen to.

 

[Sheppy]

I did the same after a couple questions. It was painfully to listen to.

The "drunken best man speech" comparison was spot on.

 

[jgatie]

The "drunken best man speech" comparison was spot on.

I missed the end, did he really say "You make me a better man?" Jesus Christ, I love Patrice Bergeron like no other, but that's a ridiculous level of hyperbole, even for Jack.

 

[Sheppy]

If I had a car for 25-30 years and the last few years it starts encountering problems where it doesn't run properly, it's probably time for a new car.

I can also say that my car has been great to me for those 25+ years and I've enjoyed driving it.

 

[Kate08]

It's hard to walk away from what you love. I don't blame Jack for trying to hold on.

Shame on NESN brass for allowing this to continue.

 

[Sheppy]

It's hard to walk away from what you love. I don't blame Jack for trying to hold on.

Shame on NESN brass for allowing this to continue.

To me they're much more to blame than Jack is.

 

[jgatie]

It's hard to walk away from what you love. I don't blame Jack for trying to hold on.

Shame on NESN brass for allowing this to continue.

If it ever comes out that NESN is doing this because they don't want to buy out his contract, they will have lost what little good faith they have left.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

To me they're much more to blame than Jack is.

I have a hard time “blaming” Jack at all.

He loves what he does, wants to continue doing it, and his employer signs off on it.

If NESN hadn’t become such a shitty network, they would have handled it. Instead, they’re burying their heads in the sand (for reasons that I am sure are disgusting).

 

[TD Charlie]

Yes, there have been some unnecessary shots and jokes lobbed at Jack. At the end of the day, nothing about this is funny. It’s sad.

But stop using these unfortunate comments to deflect legitimate commentary of a situation that just IS at this point. This is a problem. Jack needs help and given that his employer seems to be in complete denial (as is he), I’m seriously concerned he isn’t getting what he needs.

I don't disagree that he needs help, but I have no way of knowing what has gone on or been discussed behind closed doors. It's very possible that NESN and Jack have discussed all options and outcomes, and that NESN is providing whatever assistance might be needed along the way this season.

I have my opinions on how they should handle the rest of the season, but ultimately I want what everyone else does...I just want the guy to be ok.

 

[McGarnagle]

If it ever comes out that NESN is doing this because they don't want to buy out his contract, they will have lost what little good faith they have left.

Tom Werner: Announcers are expensive

Werner is probably trying to package the rights to Jack's contract into the Kenley Jansen trade but the Phillies are balking.

 

[HockeyMomx2]

Pleaase, no. TC is a fine baseball studio host, and a decent hockey one, enthusiastic, versatile, but he is almost intolerable doing hockey play-by-play. He's too busy blabbing away to describe the action closely, far inferior to even the deteriorated version of Jack Edwards. Almost any rank-and-file college-hockey play-by-play person would be far better. It would be a horrible misuse of Caron's skills to have him succeed Jack.

Agree with the above and also I'd have to mute every broadcast going forward if that ever happened. Do not like him as a human being. At all.

 

[McGarnagle]

I don't want him fired per se. NESN can take him off the air but if they do, the Bruins need to give him a lifetime sinecure where he gets to hang around the organization and collect a check but not have to really do anything.

 

[Number8]

I missed the end, did he really say "You make me a better man?" Jesus Christ, I love Patrice Bergeron like no other, but that's a ridiculous level of hyperbole, even for Jack.

That was really over the top. I almost expected Bergie to say "excuse me???"

The only person I say that to is my wife. Not for any overly emotional or romantic reasons -- although I do indeed love her very much -- but because she regularly quashes my stupider ideas.

Usually quite gently ... like "Really big guy? Are we really going to do that?"

I think it's the tone and the use of the "we" that makes me feel good about it all.........

YEH!!!!! Good decision by the team!!! Good decision! Wooooo!

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

I missed the end, did he really say "You make me a better man?" Jesus Christ, I love Patrice Bergeron like no other, but that's a ridiculous level of hyperbole, even for Jack.

I thought I heard him say this while I was away in the kitchen putting away dishes, but concluded I must have just heard it wrong. Nope, he actually said it.

I feel like I can usually roll with people saying weird things in person, but I would have had a tough time with that one in Bergeron's shoes.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I missed the end, did he really say "You make me a better man?" Jesus Christ, I love Patrice Bergeron like no other, but that's a ridiculous level of hyperbole, even for Jack.

I actually understood where Jack was coming from with this one. Someone like Bergeron who seems like such a thoroughly decent and considerate human being is someone to look up to and seek to emulate. I aspire to be better because there are walking examples like him of what is possible. Don't overstate it and don't hero worship - everyone, Patrice included, has their flaws. But the idea that a genuinely good person can make others better, yeah I get that. And Bergy is in that category.

Now whether I'd say it to his face is another matter. But Jack is Jack and he has very little filter. Regardless, as a comment I thought it was valid, and really quite sweet and honest.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

I'd rather Bob Shea back than have to start listening to Tom Caron call Bruins games. Him and Jaffe are just so, so bad IMO in their college hockey announcing

Shot!
.....(3 seconds go by)

SSSSSSSSSSCCCCCAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR

 

[jgatie]

I actually understood where Jack was coming from with this one. Someone like Bergeron who seems like such a thoroughly decent and considerate human being is someone to look up to and seek to emulate. I aspire to be better because there are walking examples like him of what is possible. Don't overstate it and don't hero worship - everyone, Patrice included, has their flaws. But the idea that a genuinely good person can make others better, yeah I get that. And Bergy is in that category.

Now whether I'd say it to his face is another matter. But Jack is Jack and he has very little filter. Regardless, as a comment I thought it was valid, and really quite sweet and honest.

I didn't hear it, so I can't say your context is right or wrong. But second hand, it seems bizarre. At the end of the day, Patrice is a hockey player. Sure he seems a great guy, a humble man, a good father, and all, but he's a hockey player. Nobody is nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

One man's life lived well can be an inspiration to others. Not surprised to hear Jack say it. Not the first time I've heard it said either.