The Official Ottawa Sports Radio Thread #8

[PoutineSp00nZ]

FYP.

The station is an embarrassment.

Meh I like it.

I dont listen in the summer cause I dont care about baseball soccer and whatever other sports are going on.

During hockey season I love it

 

[BloodRedArmy]

Just heard that next week they return to their regular schedule. No more Dan Patrick and back to the Steve Lloyd and Todd White flirtmance.

This is by far my biggest grievance with the station now. These weird, flirty relationships where they just polk fun at one another and half these inside jokes and name-calling. There are maybe 3 callers/ emailers in on it too, or trying their hardest to be in on it. This is nothing to do with homophobia whatsoever, it's just awful radio. I always use the XM NHL radio as a comparison. Night and day.

 

[BatherSeason]

Pre-scripted DJ Smith media tour this morning. With basically no one left in the front office, I wonder if its PD or EM that comes up with the questions?

 

[ianmendes]

Hey gang,

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but with the start of a new hockey season around the corner, I just wanted to pick everybody’s brain on a few things for my shows on TSN 1200.

I’d like to know what you like/don’t like about The Drive and Sens pre-game shows.

I’m thinking about bringing back a regular feature where we chat with a Sens blogger on The Drive — maybe a rotation of 5-6 regular people. Who would you like to hear from there?

I’d also like to bring back Throwback Thursday. Thoughts on which ex players you want to hear from that haven’t been on the segment?

As always you can hit me up here or via email at [email protected]

Thanks.

Ian

 

[FormentonTheFuture]

Hey gang,

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but with the start of a new hockey season around the corner, I just wanted to pick everybody’s brain on a few things for my shows on TSN 1200.

I’d like to know what you like/don’t like about The Drive and Sens pre-game shows.

I’m thinking about bringing back a regular feature where we chat with a Sens blogger on The Drive — maybe a rotation of 5-6 regular people. Who would you like to hear from there?

I’d also like to bring back Throwback Thursday. Thoughts on which ex players you want to hear from that haven’t been on the segment?

As always you can hit me up here or via email at [email protected]

Thanks.

Ian

Dany Heatley

 

[Masked]

For me, I'd prefer if you kept the guys from the Ottawa Citizen/Sun off the air. I hate listening to buffoons like Garrioch and Brennan act like they're experts.

 

[Peptic Balcers]

I’m thinking about bringing back a regular feature where we chat with a Sens blogger on The Drive — maybe a rotation of 5-6 regular people. Who would you like to hear from there?

Not sure if he would be interested or not, but Micah Blake McCurdy spoke at OttHAC last year and was a great presenter.

Yost is entertaining too

Not sure if those are the types you’re looking for

 

[Masked]

Not sure if he would be interested or not, but Micah Blake McCurdy spoke at OttHAC last year and was a great presenter.

Yost is entertaining too

Yost is a hack. I deliberately go out of my way to avoid giving TSN.ca clicks for articles.

 

[Peptic Balcers]

Yost is a hack. I deliberately go out of my way to avoid giving TSN.ca clicks for articles.

That’s fine if that’s your opinion. I wouldn’t mind a more stats/evidence based conversation instead of just the same tired talking points like character/good pro/good in the room

 

[Masked]

That’s fine if that’s your opinion. I wouldn’t mind a more stats/evidence based conversation instead of just the same tired talking points like character/good pro/good in the room

Having some moron trying to sound smart by using silly stats is worse than the Ottawa Sun guys on the air.

 

[operasen]

I'll certainly give you credit for asking. Team 1200 in general is a farce. There are some good points, but for the most its amateur broadcasting at its worst.

As to the programming, Shaila and Michaela are gold for you. They are smart, intelligent and able to connect with the listeners. Macramalla is a niche specialist and his takes are excellent. Lloyd, when away from the personal stuff, has some game. Fraser, Creech, Matty have potential, but stay away from the teenage stuff please, nobody cares what you did on your vacation 6 years ago. Ivory, Avery have their place. You have game.

The rest make me just turn off the station. Garrioch, Stevenson and especially Brennan are stomach churners to be polite. White has nothing to say, he just fills airtime, and quite poorly at that. Versage thinks he has something to say, but comes across as a bully. Simpson is disappointing, JR is not a leader to be programming anything. Not a Hamer fan. AJ is disconnected. Kevin Haime makes me want to never golf again.

The issue to me is about TSN will not replace these guys with real talent – nor will they train them in the art of sports broadcasting. It’s all about filing space between breaks and commercials with these guys. Bring on some real talent. Just listen to TSN 690 as a comparable. Those guys have knowledge and share it well with few exceptions.

Get someone like Chris Neil or Chris Phillips for the ex-player point of view. Find the next Gary Galley. Maybe an ex 67 for the CHL stuff; ex Redblack for the inside.

 

[BondraTime]

Ian,

I’m not sure how it would fly with the station, but having some guys who are involved in both the nearby Q and O in on a regular occurrence would be great to discuss guys like Lafrennire, Byfield, Lapierre, Perfetti and Drysdale for the Sens 1st, and then guys like Bourque, Foudy, Rossi, Mercer, Cuylle, Rochette, Perreault, Stranges, Porier, and Cormier for Sam Jose’s 1st.

Obviously I wouldn’t expect the station to be bringing in guys to talk about the top guys right away, but once the team does as expected and look to be finishing close to, or last in the league come December or so, having a set of eyes talk about the top end guys from the nearby OHL and QMJHL, who make up 7/8 of the top 10 picks at the moment, would be refreshing.

 

[Peptic Balcers]

White has nothing to say, he just fills airtime, and quite poorly at that.

Get someone like Chris Neil or Chris Phillips for the ex-player point of view.

Get an ex-player for their point of view.... like Todd White?

 

[operasen]

Get an ex-player for their point of view.... like Todd White?

White has nothing interesting to add. His verbal sparing is so poor. If he’d actually talk hockey it might be different, but his communication skill is quite poor

 

[pzeeman]

@ianmendes I've suggested this before to personalities that no longer work there

I think the biggest thing is to really put that TSN relationship to work.

The Drive - Go across Canada during the week and bring on top analysts for each team for a segment regularly, not just when that team is an Ottawa opponent that night. For example

Monday = Montreal
Tuesday = Toronto
Wednesday = Winnipeg
Thursday = Alberta (maybe it gets two segments)
Friday = Vancouver

Maybe a regular weekly hour focused on sports health, since there is one on legal/business? Not Tony Greco but a pro level sports doctor/trainer.

I'll admit to liking Multiple Choice Madness. Throwback Thursday can be fun.

Pregame - Get more genuine team and league insiders for the round table. People with honest to god connections and experience. Shaila and Michaela are well spoken voices of the fans, but I want to hear from NHL coaches, players and execs on what's happening in Ottawa. What they're doing well. What they need to improve upon.

I remember when the pregame show went to two hours. If I remember correctly it was one of the deep playoff runs - 2003 or 2007. I honestly think it's too long now with too much filler for 81 games a year. I'd be OK with a one hour pregame focused on the roundtable during the week and maybe opening it up to a two hour weekend and playoff pregame with Behind The Bench, Future Sens, and the player interviews.

 

[Fandlauer]

Hey gang,

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but with the start of a new hockey season around the corner, I just wanted to pick everybody’s brain on a few things for my shows on TSN 1200.

I’d like to know what you like/don’t like about The Drive and Sens pre-game shows.

I’m thinking about bringing back a regular feature where we chat with a Sens blogger on The Drive — maybe a rotation of 5-6 regular people. Who would you like to hear from there?

I’d also like to bring back Throwback Thursday. Thoughts on which ex players you want to hear from that haven’t been on the segment?

As always you can hit me up here or via email at [email protected]

Thanks.

Ian

Some of the most honest discussions about the state of the franchise last year came out of the segments with the local bloggers. If you could keep that up it would be fantastic.

 

[pzeeman]

Ian,

I’m not sure how it would fly with the station, but having some guys who are involved in both the nearby Q and O in on a regular occurrence would be great to discuss guys like Lafrennire, Byfield, Lapierre, Perfetti and Drysdale for the Sens 1st, and then guys like Bourque, Foudy, Rossi, Mercer, Cuylle, Rochette, Perreault, Stranges, Porier, and Cormier for Sam Jose’s 1st.

Obviously I wouldn’t expect the station to be bringing in guys to talk about the top guys right away, but once the team does as expected and look to be finishing close to, or last in the league come December or so, having a set of eyes talk about the top end guys from the nearby OHL and QMJHL, who make up 7/8 of the top 10 picks at the moment, would be refreshing.

A weekly 67's/'Piques hour isn't a bad idea. Maybe on Fridays to gear up for the weekend games.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

White has nothing interesting to add. His verbal sparing is so poor. If he’d actually talk hockey it might be different, but his communication skill is quite poor

He gets too distracted with Steve Lloyd always poking at him.

 

[Radiogirl]

He gets too distracted with Steve Lloyd always poking at him.

Is Todd White coming back? I thought once the summer was over he'd be back? Did he get cut? Maybe making room for Marc Methot is can't get back into hockey?

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

An interesting thing to look at this year is the roll of the sports doctor and their balance of responsibility between their employer and employee (Lindros in Philly) , letting the athletes live their dream (MacArthur in Ottawa returning and then never playing again) and how they balance pain with clearance (yiung Sedin in Vancouver being told to play through pain as it was not an injury) - athletes come back early from injury to often (Crosby, Savard) - what is medical cleanrance and is 100% mean 100% ready to play or 100% healthy

A bit late to the party on this one, but that would be something I'd love to listen to, as well. Talking about what it takes to be a team doctor, and the different kinds of roles and responsibilities compared to their regular practice.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Get an ex-player for their point of view.... like Todd White?

Kypreos?

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Hey gang,

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but with the start of a new hockey season around the corner, I just wanted to pick everybody’s brain on a few things for my shows on TSN 1200.

I’d like to know what you like/don’t like about The Drive and Sens pre-game shows.

I’m thinking about bringing back a regular feature where we chat with a Sens blogger on The Drive — maybe a rotation of 5-6 regular people. Who would you like to hear from there?

I’d also like to bring back Throwback Thursday. Thoughts on which ex players you want to hear from that haven’t been on the segment?

As always you can hit me up here or via email at [email protected]

Thanks.

Ian

Rebuilding the Sens
Training Camp
Waivers
Opening Roster
Roles
Results vs Development
Working with Belleville
Coaching
Win in Belleville vs Lose in Ottawa but play in the NHL
Progression - who is taking visible steps
Trades

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

You can change the format all you want, add trivia games, add different content but its still the same tired broadcasters (Versage, White, Garrioch, Simpson, Brennan, Sun/Citizen people) that are delivering the content, then it won't matter.

Also all you have to do is look at the differences between TSN1050 & TSN690 to TSN1200 content this week to know what the problem is. Soon as the first week of September started, those stations turned back to using majority of their air time talking hockey, with regular guests coming back for their regular segments (Ferraro, McGuire, Dreger, Mckenzie, Lebrun, The Athletic writers, etc), then you look at TSN1200 and it's stupid ass discussions about their vacations, first days of school, lame ass dad games, the amazing Redblacks and the occasional sens player interview.

How are you part of the TSN family and have access to all those analysts, writers, and content providers and not tap into it at all while your sister stations have them on a regular basis.

Also for the love god, can you have a focused show/discussion without the broadcasters dwelling about their BBQs or patios or some random shit. Where is my Sens Lunch show? 2 hours everyday like the other stations do. All focused discussion around one subject.

 

[Spire2000]

First, thanks for asking for our opinion Ian.

I'm not in the habit of calling for people to be fired from their jobs, so I won't do that, regardless of how I feel about listening (or rather, not listening) to certain people. I will however specifically mention Don Brennan, since he is already gainfully employed by The Sun/Citizen. You guys need to change the pass codes on the building and "forget" to send them to him. He is instant channel change material. His presence elicits a Pavlovian response now, where I suddenly remember the Sirius XM NHL Network is a thing.

If Marc Methot is available, he needs to be at the very least a frequent guest. I think he should be a permanent fixture, but that's not your call.

As for guests, I strongly suggest you look at giving air time to Scott Laughlin and especially Jim “BOOMER” Gordon.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

You can change the format all you want, add trivia games, add different content but its still the same tired broadcasters (Versage, White, Garrioch, Simpson, Brennan, Sun/Citizen people) that are delivering the content, then it won't matter.

Also all you have to do is look at the differences between TSN1050 & TSN690 to TSN1200 content this week to know what the problem is. Soon as the first week of September started, those stations turned back to using majority of their air time talking hockey, with regular guests coming back for their regular segments (Ferraro, McGuire, Dreger, Mckenzie, Lebrun, The Athletic writers, etc), then you look at TSN1200 and it's stupid ass discussions about their vacations, first days of school, lame ass dad games, the amazing Redblacks and the occasional sens player interview.

How are you part of the TSN family and have access to all those analysts, writers, and content providers and not tap into it at all while your sister stations have them on a regular basis.

Also for the love god, can you have a focused show/discussion without the broadcasters dwelling about their BBQs or patios or some random ****. Where is my Sens Lunch show? 2 hours everyday like the other stations do. All focused discussion around one subject.

^This.

I don't listen to the radio much anymore (simply not the the car long enough to hear it, nothing to do with the station itself), so I'm not fully into what is going on in a typical day. But the short time I do listen while driving home in the mornings, it's rare in that 10-minute stretch to hear any hockey talk. I know morning radio is supposed to be light-hearted and silly....and I guess that's ok for the younger crowd.

I'm hungry for real information and knowledge. I don't care if it's a deep dive into analytics, how to be a stick boy, what the bus driver does, or a day in the life of trainer, how the video team breaks down games, or a day in the life of a kid at rookie camp. Just gimmie information! I want to learn more about the team and the overall hockey experience, and I don't give a flying hoot about the happenings in Barrhaven (sorry folks down there!).