'I will miss it': Bob Cole dismayed over decision to sideline him for playoffs

[Fenway]

Regardless of how one feels about Bob Cole today, the man deserved better than a cold phone call that his services were no longer required for this season. At the very least he should have been told in person before his final assignment in Ottawa last week.




When Seattle produced a commercial announcing their ticket drive it was no accident that they used Bob Cole's play by play.


‘I will miss it’: Bob Cole dismayed over decision to sideline him for playoffs

During what might be his last broadcast — a 4-2 Bruins win against the Senators on April 7 — Cole described a Noel Acciari breakaway goal as a “free break for a cherry.” As the final buzzer sounded, he signed off on Ottawa’s season by saying “and then the roof kind of caved in.”

It was an appropriate line for what then happened to Cole.

A day later, while watching the Masters on TV at his home in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Cole received a call from his bosses. At first, he assumed he was getting his marching orders for the playoffs. Instead, he was told he was being grounded.

“The decision sure wasn’t mutual,” said Cole. “It was right out of the blue. Rogers decided to go with other (broadcast) teams and I have to live with that. But it was their decision — not mine.”

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[MasterMatt25]

This disappoints me. I have found Bob Cole's voice to be annoying, but he's a legend to broadcasting. He should be given games until he says he's had enough. If Sportsnet runs with Bartlett or Romanuk over Cole, I will be furious.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I mean he's 85.

 

[Cashville]

I mean he's 85.

Agree, but could certainly have been handled a bit more tactfully

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Agree, but could certainly have been handled a bit more tactfully

True. I'd agree with that

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I mean obviously Rogers wouldn't treat one of the best announcers of all time with the respect and decency he has earned.

 

[hockeykicker]

“Bob Cole is, without doubt, one of the greatest broadcasters in hockey history and an icon in Canadian television,” Scott Moore, president of Sportsnet & NHL Properties, Rogers Media, said in a statement. “He is revered across this country and loved by legions of hockey fans around the world. His career, which has spanned more than 50 years, is one to be celebrated.
“We made a difficult decision this year not to include him in our playoff plans. This decision in no way diminishes the admiration we have for his substantial body of work.”

Though Rogers did not indicate why Cole isn’t part of the plan this year, the decision isn’t that surprising. After all, Cole’s workload has been cut back more and more over the years.
In 2009, he didn’t call the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1983.
“It’s time for a new generation of play-by-play voice,” Moore said at the time.
And a year ago, he only worked the first two rounds of the playoffs.

 

[Duke749]

Yeh that’s pretty low.

 

[McRpro]

I went through my dislike phase of Bob Cole years ago. Now I just shrug off any mistakes he makes and appreciate his legendary voice and all the hockey memories I have that are attached to it. This is sad news.

 

[Fenway]

This disappoints me. I have found Bob Cole's voice to be annoying, but he's a legend to broadcasting. He should be given games until he says he's had enough. If Sportsnet runs with Bartlett or Romanuk over Cole, I will be furious.

From the Toronto Sun article

Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson are calling the Toronto-Boston series for Sportsnet-CBC, while Paul Romanuk and Garry Galley are working the Winnipeg-Minnesota series, with Rick Ball and Greg Millen doing Pittsburgh-Philadelphia and Randorf and Louie DeBrusk the Vegas-Los Angeles series.

“Bob Cole is, without doubt, one of the greatest broadcasters in hockey history and an icon in Canadian television,” Scott Moore, president of Sportsnet & NHL Properties, Rogers Media, said in a statement. “He is revered across this country and loved by legions of hockey fans around the world. His career, which has spanned more than 50 years, is one to be celebrated.

“We made a difficult decision this year not to include him in our playoff plans. This decision in no way diminishes the admiration we have for his substantial body of work.”

 

[YoSoyLalo]

Bob Cole, whether he’s 85 or 500, is and always will be vastly superior to Paul Romanuk.

Sad.

 

[sepHF]

I dont care what anyone says, i love when Bob Cole calls games. I was disappointed to hear he wouldn't be a part of the playoffs this year

 

[dukeofjive]

The man is the voice of my childhood, even now that hes 85 and has a hard time calling games, he is missed more than ever.

Sportsnet s hot garbage

 

[weaponomega]

Love Bob Cole, mistakes and all. When I think back as a child growing up watching hockey nights in Canada, it's his iconic voice that I remember.

 

[almostawake]

Personally, it doesn't make a big difference to me whether or not he is calling games in the playoffs.

Or that his employer chose to not use him for this assignment.

But he sure as shit deserves better than find that out on a damn phone call.

 

[TheNumber4]

Best voice in hockey.

 

[Gnova]

Bob Cole, whether he’s 85 or 500, is and always will be vastly superior to Paul Romanuk.

Sad.

Cole also makes less mistakes than Romanuk. That takes some doing by Romanuk.

 

[McFlyingV]

Yes, he makes mistakes in his play by play calls, but lets not act like that is somehow unique to him or his age (Kevin Quinn makes about 50 mistakes per Oilers game). I personally loved his voice on a broadcast, but that may be due to nostalgia of watching the NHL growing up.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I have always been of the opinion that I can handle mistakes from the pbp guy if he can bring the emotion and sense of the moment to the game that is being called. I have eyes, I am able to see who is on the ice. What Cole brought to the table mistakes and all is the emotion and sense of moment that not one announcer that Rogers has now can bring to a game.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

That is a pity.

Cole should be the one deciding when to hang them up.

He's still better than anyone they put on now and they all make mistakes.

I would trade Hughson for him in the blink of an eye.

 

[TNT87]

Truly an icon. Obviously as a Penguin fan my favorite call from him was Lemieux dynamic goal against the North Stars in the SCF.

 

[hector morrison]

Was never a Bob fan. But still,way ,way, better than Hughson or Romanuk...They couldn't carry his microphone! Oh, and Rogers has a serious lack of class if that is how it went down!

 

[ShouldveDraftedFiala]

He's going senile. Should've retired 5 years ago. Go enjoy life Bob

 

[Lshap]

I hope Mr. Cole can skip past the expedient & heartless decision by a handful of Rogers execs and embrace the warm feelings coming from millions of us. Thank you, Bob, you've been hockey comfort-food since I was a kid.

 

[BobColesNasalCavity]

It sure as hell wasn't mutual. It's just not the same not being in the booth for the playoffs and instead confined to a chair and computer to announce games via posting on hfboards.