NESN UPDATE - NESN’s Jack Edwards announces retirement

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I’d blow it up and go Sophia-Razor-Jaffe in the studio (Barry can rotate in as the fourth forward). We’ll probably lose Sophia and Razor to national gifs within the next few years.

 

[rocketdan9]

Yes. Its time for a change.
Someone who is a little more neutral. Easier on the ears (play by play).

The only homercaster I didnt mind was Tommy Heinson

 

[PlayMakers]

Really?

I think he's one of the most knowledgeable in the game.

Yep. I listen to Morning Bru too. Don’t mean to be a hater, but I think he misses a lot and is frequently wrong.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I’d blow it up and go Sophia-Razor-Jaffe in the studio (Barry can rotate in as the fourth forward). We’ll probably lose Sophia and Razor to national gifs within the next few years.

I prefer Barry over Razor.

 

[GordonHowe]

Don't worry, I got a billion of em. ...
"Scratch my back with a hacksaw", but I liked Mike Lange who did mainly radio but TV too. He was generally all about those catch phrases and not great otherwise, but I liked him anyway.

I grew up with Cusick who showed everyone you could have good knowledge of the game and rules, be a homer, and not go over the top or be disrespectful.

Three for three.

The gold standard.

I loved those days.

Derek: "Lost a couple'a chicklets on that play, Fred."

Fred: "And for the Canadiens, in net, Patrick Roo-ah."

I wasn't around for Bob Wilson, also revered by many. I also wasn't around in the 70s with Fred and Johnny Perison.

I do remember Peirson's Pointers.

And Sean McDonough with the TV38 studio hosting duties (such as it was, such as they were).

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I prefer Barry over Razor.

Of course you do

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Yep. I listen to Morning Bru too. Don’t mean to be a hater, but I think he misses a lot and is frequently wrong.

I actually don't listen to Morning Bru.

My opinion of Jaffe is pretty much from watching between periods work on NESN and NHL Network stints.

Of course you do

Sorry I offered my opinion.

 

[GordonHowe]

@quietbruinfan - Faust had an impossible task taking over from Bob Miller and was accepted in LA.

Curt Gowdy took the Patriots radio job at the age of 68 and it was so bad he was replaced by a young Dale Arnold and Gowdy was a legend but couldn't do it anymore.

Jack is 67 and he is not the same. NESN has to look long-term and Faust is 34 and is a known quality to them.

Father Time is cruel

Jack is 67???

My earliest memory of him was sports anchor on Ch. 7 in the late 80s.

Time flies.

Love him or hate him, he is a legend in the pantheon of Boston sports pbp guys. For a while there he could be a full blown maniac AND call a good game. I really believe he's one of the best ever. But he was really cooked this year. It wasn't good most nights.

I don't want somebody with "just a pulse." There are so many bland as f*** pbp guys out there. Please find somebody with a personality. Maybe not as rich as Jack, but somebody who can at least be a little bit entertaining.

This.

 

[GordonHowe]

I agreer with the previous sentiments about Jack, except I'm not in favor of having him do between-period segments. He's kind of reached the wince-provoking stage at times, and segments designed for him to spout off would only enhance that problem. My suggestion, though I have no idea if the money would work, is Sean McDonough. Guy has local roots, knows and loves hockey, and did a terrific job in the playoffs, at least the games I could stand to watch.

Well, he could do what Dale did. No need for Coach's Corner.

And as much as I always liked Sean, that ship has sailed.

What I don't want is bland.

Feels like we're going back to the Dale Arnold days. Boring team, boring broadcasts.

No desire to go back to the bad old days.

Let's see what happens. Then we can bitch about it.

Yes. Its time for a change.
Someone who is a little more neutral. Easier on the ears (play by play).

The only homercaster I didnt mind was Tommy Heinson

Oh my God.

I *hated* Heinson.

 

[GordonHowe]

Brickley dates back to the Dave Shea days on the away broadcast.

I don’t recall if they were still on UPN38 at that point or if NESN carried all the games at that point.

Brickley has definitely lost his fastball. I wonder if they’d go with Jaffe or Raycroft at this point.

I’d be cool with either.

Perhaps, as Derek went when Fred did, that's the way to go. A whole new team.

I think Andrew Raycroft is a hockey guy who not only knows his stuff, he knows what it's like to be an NHL player. I wouldn't mind him at all as a color analyst.

Jaffe? No. No. And no.

I don't want him anywhere near an actual Bruins in game telecast.

He's a bright guy and I believe he knows his hockey, too, but he's insufferably long winded, takes forever to get to the point, and purely from a personal preference perspective, I don't dig his act.

Nice guy. But no.

You scared me with this suggestion.

 

[GordonHowe]

I wonder if Faust would want the job. Dude can call a lot of different sports well and has done some national broadcasting. If memory serves me correct, Alex Trebek even wanted Faust to replace him on Jeopardy. Seems to me that it is likely that a national TV network will make him an offer.

He's one of the best in the business, so it would be great if NESN is able to get him to do Bruins PBP if Jack indeed goes.

I know nothing of the guy, but if he's as polished and suited to a national gig as you say, than I doubt NESN hires him.

One, he probably has several attractive offers, especially doing national broadcasts.

Two, as we all know, NESN is cheap as f***.

"Call me an old softie, but that's how I see it."

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

View attachment 720512

Which NHL broadcasts are the best? Which are the worst? Fans rate all 32 teams

The winner jumped to the No. 1 spot after making a strong debut in last year’s ranking.

theathletic.com

It means little as many fans only have three or four youtube videos clips to base it on, combined with relative disdain for Bruins success 2008 through present.

Plenty of worse candidates. The Florida/Tampa duos, former Buffalo PBP, Colorado is "homer".

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Perhaps, as Derek went when Fred did, that's the way to go. A whole new team.

I think Andrew Raycroft hockey guy who not only knows his stuff, he knows what it's like to be an NHL player. I wouldn't mind him at all as a color analyst.

Jaffe? No. No. And no.

I don't want him anywhere near an actual Bruins in game telecast.

He's a bright guy and I believe he knows his hockey, too, but he's insufferably long winded, takes forever to get to the point, and purely from a personal preference perspective, I don't dig his act.

Nice guy. But no.

You scared me with this suggestion.

How would he know that?

He was a goaltender.

 

[TCB]

It means little as many fans only have three or four youtube videos clips to base it on, combined with relative disdain for Bruins success 2008 through present.

Plenty of worse candidates. The Florida/Tampa duos, former Buffalo PBP, Colorado is "homer".

McNabb was awesome as a color guy, one of the best. I would always listen to the Lanche cast when they were playing the Bruins just to hear his views. Mickey Redmond is a real treat as well.

 

[rocketdan9]

Oh my God.

I *hated* Heinson.

No tommy point for you

 

[Ace0813]

What would you ask then?

“Person, what are your thoughts on X subject?” That’s asking a question, instead of commanding the person you’re interviewing to do something like they are obliged to perform for the interviewer.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

“Person, what are your thoughts on X subject?” That’s asking a question, instead of commanding the person you’re interviewing to do something like they are obliged to perform for the interviewer.

So you would ask the same question

Funny

 

[BMC]

Jack is 67???

My earliest memory of him was sports anchor on Ch. 7 in the late 80s.

Time flies.



This.

I remember Jack when he was the weekend sports anchor for WJAR when he was right out of college in the late 70s

 

[Patdud]

i dont like jack, have never liked jack and honestly wish they moved on years ago before goucher left

 

[Ace0813]

So you would ask the same question

Funny

In a much less asshole way, yeah, I would. Thanks for your time, Donnie.

 

[GordonHowe]

No tommy point for you

Go to the dictionary.

Look up the phrase blow hard.

There will be a picture of Tommy to illustrate.

 

[bruins19]

View attachment 720512

Which NHL broadcasts are the best? Which are the worst? Fans rate all 32 teams

The winner jumped to the No. 1 spot after making a strong debut in last year’s ranking.

theathletic.com

View attachment 720512

Which NHL broadcasts are the best? Which are the worst? Fans rate all 32 teams

The winner jumped to the No. 1 spot after making a strong debut in last year’s ranking.

theathletic.com

They clearly have not watched the Caps dynamic duo of High Pitch Eric (Craig Loughlin) and Joe Beninati. Calling all the Caps players by their nicknames and calling for a grand jury investigation every time they do not get a penalty call they wanted.

 

[dabid]

I consider myself to be the Number #1 Jack Edwards hater back during the Bruins stanley cup season and the seasons around then. Him insulting other players, rooting for physical abuse, doing long winded speeches about the revolutionary war, etc. He used to drive me insane. However over the last few years I softened on him greatly and have even grown to like him a little bit.

But last couple seasons.. I don't know what's going on, I hope everything is alright. He was just difficult to listen to at times. I thought it was because he had to do the games remotely, but when they stopped doing that he's just as bad if not worse. The puck will be in the net for 5 seconds and he'll go ".........AND theREESssssss a......... goal forrr..... new JERSEY..............."

 

[Fenway]

Totally forgotten is the FIRST Bruins announcer Frank Ryan

Frank Ryan (sportscaster) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Francis Joseph "Frank" Ryan (1899–December 30, 1961) was an American public relations executive and sports announcer who was the first play-by-play announcer for the Boston Bruins and publicity director for the Bruins, Harvard University, and Suffolk Downs.

When Charles Adams formed the Boston Bruins in 1924, he named Ryan as the team's broadcaster. Ryan called play-by-play for home games and recreated road games from telegraph reports. During intermissions, Ryan's brother-in-law would provide updates in French for French Canadians living in New England. In 1926, Ryan took on the additional role of public relations director. In 1948, when WBZ-TV began airing the third period of Bruins' home games, Ryan was chosen to handle the play-by-play duties. In 1950, he was elected to the team's board of directors. In 1952, the Bruins were purchased by the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation. As the corporation had its own publicity department, Ryan's position was eliminated. He was replaced as play-by-play announcer by Fred Cusick.

My parents knew him well and he was devastated when Walter Brown elected to go with Fred.

Ryan called games from 1924-1952 and Foster Hewitt listened to him in the 20s and said in his bio Ryan was a major influence on how he called hockey.

List of Boston Bruins broadcasters - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In 99 seasons the Bruins really have had very few play by play announcers.

@DominicT - Bob Wilson got his chance in 1967 when the Bruins had to fire Jim Laing after one season (66-67) as he he was harsh about the product on the ice.

Jim Laing - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Jack is stubborn - he was asked by producers to simply refer to Sophia by her first name only and he refused and he simply can not pronounce Jurksztowicz.

NESN suits have to be careful on how they procede and I hope they can emulate what NBC Sports Boston has done with Mike Gorman who has been calling Celtics games on TV sice 1981.

 

[Johnnyduke]

Is Judd to the TV side and Ryan Johnston to radio a possibility? Or did the decision makes just not like Johnston? I know he's a bit bland so maybe that's what holds him back.

For me, Jack has been the most enjoyable PBP caller of my hockey watching life.

I have to ask, how old are you? I can understand feeling a connection because he's been "our guy" but to me Jack Edwards has earned his reputation around the league. He is one of if not the biggest homers in the game and he honestly ruins part of the experience for me. Give me someone a little more level headed. At least Tommy Heinsohn was funny. Jack is just cringe.