NESN UPDATE - NESN’s Jack Edwards announces retirement

[aguineapig]

Jack was like a friend sitting in the living room watching the game. I will miss him. We had some good times but it is time for him to step away. And the chair next to mine in the living room will always be there if you ever would like to stop by and catch a game old friend.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

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.

I second the motion.

Seems the perfect guy for the job.

 

[Gee Wally]

We all come to the end of our career trail at some point. I just hope he is ok because something seems off.

 

[dugg133]

Personally I love Jack and always have. I want my regional sports announcers to be massive homers. Leave the boring, professional, milk toast guys for the national broadcast, make the local ones fun. That being said it's just not really fair to Jack to keep putting him in the booth anymore when he clearly just can't keep up to the speed of the game, it's time for a change.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

At least for me, I feel the same way about Jack Edwards as a lot of people do about Jimmy Carter (not including me).

They like the man, and the personality, but not always the way the man does the job.

Clearly, his speech is slipping with age. I still didn't catch it at nearly the rate some of you seemed to every minute of a game, but it's certainly there.

His homerism and idiotic comments drove me crazy, but I still think (in his prime) no one actually called the flow of the game better when he focused purely on PbP.

 

[PlayMakers]

Yes to Faust.

Jack has been great but I’ve been thinking all year that he should go when Bergeron goes. End of an era kinda thing. You associate that voice with the players, like Fred Cusick and Cam Neely…

Its time for a new era.

 

[missingchicklet]

If what was ailing him this past season was only temporary he needs to stay. If not, he needs to step down to a more reduced role. During his peak he was the perfect blend of professionalism and showmanship. Much like Rene, a legend who had a great run, but who I hope leaves at the right time so that his legacy is not sullied by years of sticking around too long.

 

[Lshap]

@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

67 isn't old, so I wouldn't blame Father Time. I agree with most of you that Jack has a specific health issue. I respect the Bruins org for their loyalty to him, but retiring from PBP is the right thing to do for all involved. Professionally, I'm not a fan, but personally I hope whatever issue he has isn't degenerative.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Typical NESN and Werner considering this years too late. You had f***ing Goucher sitting there. Ready to go. A perfect transition to a “new era”. And you f***ed it all up by continuing to go with Jack.

Alex Faust seems to call a good game. Has a good voice so I’d welcome that. However, Goucher should be here and it’s a debacle he’s not.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Typical NESN and Werner considering this years too late. You had f***ing Goucher sitting there. Ready to go. A perfect transition to a “new era”. And you f***ed it all up by continuing to go with Jack.

Alex Faust seems to call a good game. Has a good voice so I’d welcome that. However, Goucher should be here and it’s a debacle he’s not.

So, after watching a bit of Goucher's work with VGK on TV, I don't feel nearly as strong about his call as I did when he was on the radio in Boston.

He was (is?) the best announcer I've ever heard in terms of building listener anticipation. I would be in my car listening to his call and the gradual, subtle shifts in his tone (not really volume) would have me literally edging forward in my chair anticipating a possible goal. I can't overstate how impressed I always was with his talent there.

But watching him on TV, where you obviously have the accompanying visual, I don't find his call nearly as powerful or unique. Dare I say it's as if being able to actually watch the play makes him a little bland.

Regardless, would definitely not have been complaining if he were in a position to take over for Jack.

 

[DiggityDog]

I’ve had the opportunity to meet Jack a few times and he is such a nice guy and very generous with his time.

That being said it is clear the trail is winding down.

 

[JOKER 192]

I love Jack and it will be sad to see him go but as many have pointed out it may be time given that something is obviously off.

Jack has been called a Homer and he is but I don't know which announcer isn't.

I mean, every time I listen to a SN broadcast that involves the Bruins they go full Homer and it's not even their team.

Jack loves the Bruins and I do too, that's good enough for me. I don't get all the hate he gets.

 

[McGarnagle]

I love Jack, but he can barely form coherent sentences these days.

They should give him a Don Cherry style intermission show so we still get his thoughts and excitement but find a more lucid PBP guy.

If Jack is pushed out, does Brick stay with Faust for continuity's sake or does NESN take the opportunity to build a new broadcast crew altogether

 

[dafoomie]

Is JackGPT ready yet?

 

[DaBroons]

I've always liked Jack's play-by-play, but this past year, he really irritated me, because he's way behind on many of the goal calls. There's often a delay before he calls it a goal, and even then, he doesn't call it the way it should be called. Maybe he's so high above the ice, he can't see the puck enter the net. Another possibility is that it's harder now to the goal being scored, because the pucks often fall into the area at the back of the net between the netting and the padded semi-circle. It just disappears.

There are two classic methods of play-by-play goal call. One is the Foster Hewitt/Dan Kelly, "He shoots, he scores!" The other is the, "Shot and a goal!" Lloyd Petit, the late Hawks announcer on WMAQ in Chicago is the one I most remember. One of my favs from Petit is Gregg Sheppard's series-winning goal in 1974, Game 6 at the Stadium, 2-1 Broons. "The shot by Sheppard, the rebound, aaaaaand a goal! Oh, no!"

Another of my favs is Fred's call of a short-handed goal by Donato from S Heinze in Calgary. "The shot, the save, the rebound, and the score!" Classic Fred.

 

[BlackFrancis]

Should have cloned Bob Wilson 30 years ago in anticipation of this.

 

[Mad-Marcus]

Jack colloquialisms have grown very long in tooth. "The coin that won't get tossed, rolling home to you" every time a team ices the puck. He's lucky Neil Young didn't personally tell him to STFU!
Jack tries to hard to be witty. Poor Brick, he must have rolled his eyes a thousand times working with him.

Makes me miss Freddy Cue Stick and Johnny Pinpoint.

 

[quietbruinfan]

I second the motion.

Seems the perfect guy for the job.

Sean did the in between periods stuff for channel 38 in I think 85 or 86. He would be a good choice, but doubt he gives up his national gigs.

 

[McGarnagle]

Is JackGPT ready yet?

And Hologram Derek Sanderson as his color man

 

[Mainehockey33]

Big fan of Jack but he should absolutely not get Dale Arnold’s role. The worst part of the broadcasts last season were the postgame interviews where he had to interact with other people. If they can find a smaller role or maybe have him on as a guest sometimes than sure but it’s time for retirement. Give him lifetime tickets, he’s earned it.

 

[smithformeragent]

I love Jack, but he can barely form coherent sentences these days.

They should give him a Don Cherry style intermission show so we still get his thoughts and excitement but find a more lucid PBP guy.

If Jack is pushed out, does Brick stay with Faust for continuity's sake or does NESN take the opportunity to build a new broadcast crew altogether

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.

 

[missingchicklet]

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.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Faust seems like unmarinated grilled chicken breast seasoned with salt and pepper.

 

[Mainehockey33]

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.

I love Jaffe and Razor, their podcast is one of my favorites. I don’t think they have play by play experience though. I’d rather they kept the roles they have, they’re both great analysts and add a lot to NESN broadcasts already.

 

[PlayMakers]

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.

Jaffe is entertaining, but not that knowledgable IMO.

Razor is knowledgeable but not that entertaining IMO. Just a personal peeve, but I'm not a fan of on-air personalities who frequently say, "Listen..." We're already listening bud, you don't need to say listen.

I'd like to see a more recent former player get a look here. Someone with experience and some insight into today's NHL, and some of the skills (like the different shot releases) and tactics (stretch plays, FO plays, etc), and who knows some of the players personally and can talk about this quirk or that habit.