What happened to Joe Bowen?

[TMLifer]

I do not like Paul Romanuk's voice, I miss the "Holy Mackinaw!" from Joe Bowen. Does he only do radio now?

 

[Duke Silver]

Yes.

 

[TheInsignia]

I find it refreshing to be honest, was never a big fan of Bowen.

 

[Semantics]

Enjoying Romanuk so far, Bowen's constant yelling was too much.

 

[Warden of the North]

Heres the reason Bowen is radio only and we're getting the short end of the stick

-Bowen is a homer announcer for the Leafs
-Most Leafs games are on Sportsnet or CBC (controlled by Sportsnet)
-Sportsnet is showing almost all of these games on a national basis
-Homer announcer (or at least blatant ones like Bowen) can't do national games because of their inherent bias
-Subsequently Bowen is automatically cut out of most of our games. The remaining games on TSN are regional, but TSN has kept their old national crew (also non-biased) for those games

 

[ShaneFalco]

I like Bowen and will miss him

 

[AustonMitchWilly]

I listen to a lot of games on the radio. I like the bias. I like that I get to listen to one of the most passionate fans call the game.

 

[Warden of the North]

I listen to a lot of games on the radio. I like the bias. I like that I get to listen to one of the most passionate fans call the game.

And thats why he cant call a national game

 

[AustonMitchWilly]

And thats why he cant call a national game

I know. I wasn't one of the ones wondering why he can't call the national games.

 

[Warden of the North]

I know. I wasn't one of the ones wondering why he can't call the national games.

And people think Healy and Hughson are Leafs-biased. Imagine if Vancouver or Habs fans had to listen to Bowen

 

[James Duthie]

It sucks, I'll miss his voice. Maybe if I'm bored I'll put on the radio and mute the actual commentary.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Cole and Bowen, are the voices of the Leafs. Other than Bill Hewitt all of the Leafs best moments in my lifetime were called by these 3 guys. Bowen has his style, I think he does a great job from a Leafs perspective. Too bad he won't be calling any Leafs games on TV.

 

[Daisy Jane]

For me it's not about Bowen not being able to call. (I think if we had more regional games. (or if Leafs tv had games) Bowen would be there just fine - it's just that we don't even have any... "Legend Voices."

and maybe that's just the time we're in. Maybe people don't have "THAT VOICE" anymore. You know the voice i'm talking about. You're flipping through the television,and then it just stops. You're hearing someone describing the play, his voice goes up in crescendo, and then massive disappointment because someone missed the point. It's end to end action, no stoppage in play, and the Voice is drawing you in. You may not be a hockey fan, you could be one, but you don't want to take a breath, go to pee, anything, because the voice is just that great, and then.

"SCORES! ______ Scores! And it's Whoonnnnne, nothing Team!"

Now a days it's just people tongue bathing the superstar of the team, and being depcricating on the Leafs for 'unbias sakes.' and on top of it, they're dull. And they're insulting to boot.

For me, I love Emrick, Cole, Bowen, Cuthbert, Brian Williams (never called hockey, but he's MY Olympic Guy and he falls into that same category) the old guys with that classic voice, mistakes or not (Hell, i'm not perfect, why should my play by play guy be), that regardless if they hate the team or not - they can paint you a picture with their tone and or words.

I don't get why/how it's fair that Montreal gets Cole. (again). and we get Romanchuck. (who - isn't even that bad. but again. he's not of what memories are made of. and I personally feel that's what most fans want. if something amazing happens, you have The Voice attached to the memory).

 

[crump]

I have always been a fan of Bowen, since he started on radio. His work with Harry Neal before he lost it is legendary. Romanuk is less of a homer as BlastedSabre said. I don't mind him, he just needs to catch up on who is who on the ice in time for regular season. It's his preseason too. Out of all the alternatives, I will take him.

 

[daveleaf]

Pretty sad really. Watch a Bruin game and tell me the announcer is not a homer. Gallivan was a homer.....the list goes on and on. My guess would be that he returns next season. Romanuk is a junior announcer, he has no business announcing games. The three best in Canada are Cole, Hughson and Bowen. I think Rogers over thought this decision too long.

 

[ChrisCall]

Any Leafs game National or otherwise has lots of 'talk' or 'stats' and 'stories' about Leafs players, and little on the other team. Often the call doesn't even include the players names as often as it does the Leafs players.

One thing i learned quickly on Hockeystreams is that this is not a Leafs problem. Lots of home broadcasts, even if the announcer is not obviously being a homer, suffer this same problem.

It is exceedingly rare when coverage tells stories and stats and talk equally about both teams.

So yes, Bowen is a homer, but really? So are most of the rest of these guys, they just aren't as obvious.

What i like about Romanuk is that he does present like he does some homework before the game.

 

[share]

May be a little off topic for this thread but I wonder if all Leafs games on TSN this year will be regional games only with the games being blacked out outside the Toronto region. I have the full TSN package but I noticed in preseason games on TSN, I get a message that the games are blocked out in my area. I see no need in having TSN package if they are not carrying the games Nationally. I will see the whole 82 games on Hockey Streams so I don't know why I need TSN. Anybody know ? Mods please put this in another thread if it is offtopic here.

 

[EscapeGoat]

Meh, didn't like Bowen anyways.

 

[share]

And people think Healy and Hughson are Leafs-biased. Imagine if Vancouver or Habs fans had to listen to Bowen

I live in BC and you people in Toronto can thank your lucky stars that you don't have John Shorthouse and John Garrett lol

 

[Leaf_Crazy]

Not a fan of Bowen but Romanuck is brutal.

 

[Warden of the North]

Pretty sad really. Watch a Bruin game and tell me the announcer is not a homer. Gallivan was a homer.....the list goes on and on. My guess would be that he returns next season. Romanuk is a junior announcer, he has no business announcing games. The three best in Canada are Cole, Hughson and Bowen. I think Rogers over thought this decision too long.

DOnt get your hopes up. Bowen cant call a nationally televised game because hes a Leafs homer. And since almost all of our games are nationally televised, you wont hear Bowen.

The only way I see it is if TSN hires him to call Leafs regional games.

 

[The Saurus]

I have this odd attachment to Romanuk's voice... the way he called Canada's golden age at the World Juniors was something to behold -- "The drive for five is alive!"

Perhaps it's nostalgia, but I enjoy his voice. He just needs a better wingman.

 

[TMLifer]

I'm gonna miss calls like this

 

[dubey]

I'm gonna miss calls like this

You must have been missing them for years already

 

[Ron Snow]

This is terrible news. Joe Bowen doing a Leaf game is like a hot bowl of soup on a cold day.

Paul Romanuk is beyond bad. He's worse at identifying players than Bob Cole. Did anyone notice that one game when he got Kadri and Leivo mixed up about 5 times?

And he just misses painfully obvious things. Like Kozun's pass yesterday to JVR in the slot, there was no excitement in his voice for that point blank chance. Did he not see it? How could he miss it?

And with Greg Millen as the colour guy, there is just way too much dork in the booth for my liking.

Midweek Leaf games just got way less enjoyable.