Bob Cole and Harry Neale hit new low...

[skanji]

Confusion reigns with Bob, Harry
Call on penalty was icing on mistakes
CHRIS ZELKOVICH
SPORTS MEDIA

Maybe it's the fog of war, or at least the hockey version of it.

Bob Cole and Harry Neale, the superannuated duo designated the CBC's lead crew for the NHL playoffs, picked up last night where they left off the last series: In a state of confusion. In the state of Pennsylvania, too.

The game between the Maple Leafs and Flyers was barely a minute old when Bob and Harry did their version of Abbott and Costello's classic ``Who's On First?" routine. Theirs, which has played throughout the playoffs, is called, ``Who's Got The Penalty?"

With Leaf Gary Roberts and Flyer defenceman Danny Markov groping behind the Philadelphia net, Neale told viewers there was no penalty on the play, just icing. Then he changed his mind and said that Roberts had the penalty.

Then Neale announced that there was no icing but an interference penalty to Roberts.

Before Cole could ask, ``Who's in the box?" the cameras showed Philadelphia's Tony Amonte sitting there.

Now, Cole and Neale did get the next few penalties right but this scene has played out far too often in recent weeks. And it's not only penalties.

Neither could identify the scorer of the winning goal in Game 6 of the Leafs-Senators series, though Cole did take the lead in misidentification. It's not that they have vision problems.

Neale did suspect that the Leafs' first goal went in off a Flyer, adding later that the goal was an ``in-off" as in, ``It went in off a Flyer defenceman." He was also quick to detect that Philadelphia's second marker had bounced off Nik Antropov.

In fact, Neale's vision is not an issue. He reads graphics with the best of them.

I'm loath to criticize Neale, mainly because he's one of the few analysts who doesn't believe he's contractually obligated to fill every second of dead air even if he has absolutely nothing to say. He's the least annoying analyst in the business. But Neale has to start doing some analyzing.

Outside of using a video montage to show how the Flyer defence had shut down New Jersey in the previous series, Neale's work last night was basically restricted to describing replays, introducing graphics and reading statistics.

He did, however, manage to find time to tell viewers where the CBC crew went for Philly cheese steaks before the game.

That came about while a shot of a Philadelphia diner filled the screen, which makes me wonder if Neale is being asked to do too many of these things. Between all those graphics, statistics and filler shots maybe he doesn't have enough time to analyze the game.

Cherry, Millen, Healy, Cole and Neale should be let go this year...all are just absolutely terrible....

It's too bad Dean Brown will never get a shot in the 'ol boys club...

[KennyX]

You've got to keep Grapes! :D

[skanji]

Originally posted by KennyX@Apr 23 2004, 01:59 PM
You've got to keep Grapes! :D
dammit, yeah...tape grapes off the must go list...

mind you, for cbc, i bet he is at the top!

[Aleem]

actually, what was funny was during game 6 of the sens/leafs when the camera showed a night time view of the ottawa skyline (parliament hill) and bob cole said:

'and there we see parliament hill, with the majority of government workers in the city of ottawa hard at work'

i can't believe he said that


i was laughing my ass off.


:lol: :lol:

[Carnage]

Yeah, they really have to go.

Although it's gotten to the point where I just don't notice what they say. I just kind of tune out whatever they say.

[spike-spiegel]

Greg Millen (CGY/VAN - Game 6, OT):

"Will it be the ender or the extender?"
"And Brad May.... will it be mayday night?"

:blink:

[skanji]

Originally posted by Aleem@Apr 23 2004, 02:26 PM
actually, what was funny was during game 6 of the sens/leafs when the camera showed a night time view of the ottawa skyline (parliament hill) and bob cole said:

'and there we see parliament hill, with the majority of government workers in the city of ottawa hard at work'

i can't believe he said that


i was laughing my ass off.


:lol: :lol:
Too bad you are amongst the very few leaf fans who can't have a civil conversation about much without attacking our city...'toroll on'...

ps. Aren't YOU a governement worker??? :unsure:

[Hanniganite]

I'd keep Cherry. He knows what he's talking about even if he does rub certain people the wrong way. As for Cole and Neale, yeah I agree senility is kickin' in. I love watching hockey but I've never played, and I don't know the game extensively but even I can pick up what's happening (penalty wise, other incidents) when they're both confused B)

[7-Endless]

Originally posted by Carnage@Apr 23 2004, 02:39 PM
Yeah, they really have to go.

Although it's gotten to the point where I just don't notice what they say. I just kind of tune out whatever they say.
I just turn the tv volume down now and listen to Joe Bowen...that man is gonna cause me to have a heart attack one of these days!!

[Defiant]

Originally posted by 7-Endless+Apr 23 2004, 03:22 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (7-Endless @ Apr 23 2004, 03:22 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--Carnage@Apr 23 2004, 02:39 PM
Yeah, they really have to go.

Although it's gotten to the point where I just don't notice what they say.&nbsp; I just kind of tune out whatever they say.
I just turn the tv volume down now and listen to Joe Bowen...that man is gonna cause me to have a heart attack one of these days!! [/b][/quote]
Hell yeah! He makes a radio broadcast more exciting than watching it on TV.

[Cheezy]

I agree Neale and Cole both are going senile , i also tune them out and tune into Mojo for the game.
As far as Cherry goes , the hockey world needs a Good Boat Rocker even though he can go too far sometimes but he does speak his mind and the last time i checked freedom of speech is still alive in Canada?
Plus you gotta love his outfits :lol:

[Defiant]

Neale isnt a bad colour guy. He and Bowen do a decent job when TSN broadcasts Leaf games. CBC should really hire Bowen as their Leafs commentator.

[rdtx2002]

Originally posted by skanji+Apr 23 2004, 04:14 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (skanji @ Apr 23 2004, 04:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--Aleem@Apr 23 2004, 02:26 PM
actually, what was funny was during game 6 of the sens/leafs when the camera showed a night time view of the ottawa skyline (parliament hill) and bob cole said:

'and there we see parliament hill, with the majority of government workers in the city of ottawa hard at work'

i can't believe he said that


i was laughing my ass off.


:lol:&nbsp; &nbsp; :lol:
Too bad you are amongst the very few leaf fans who can't have a civil conversation about much without attacking our city...'toroll on'...

ps. Aren't YOU a governement worker??? :unsure: [/b][/quote]
umm... last i heard.. you STARTED the whole Bob Cole/Harry Neale thread... dunno why you are blasting him about something he is saying about Bob Cole and assuming that Aleem is attacking Ottawa..

read the post again man..

[skanji]

Originally posted by rdtx2002+Apr 24 2004, 08:58 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (rdtx2002 @ Apr 24 2004, 08:58 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Originally posted by -skanji@Apr 23 2004, 04:14 PM
<!--QuoteBegin--Aleem@Apr 23 2004, 02:26 PM
actually, what was funny was during game 6 of the sens/leafs when the camera showed a night time view of the ottawa skyline (parliament hill) and bob cole said:

'and there we see parliament hill, with the majority of government workers in the city of ottawa hard at work'

i can't believe he said that


i was laughing my ass off.


:lol:&nbsp; &nbsp; :lol:
Too bad you are amongst the very few leaf fans who can't have a civil conversation about much without attacking our city...'toroll on'...

ps. Aren't YOU a governement worker??? :unsure:
umm... last i heard.. you STARTED the whole Bob Cole/Harry Neale thread... dunno why you are blasting him about something he is saying about Bob Cole and assuming that Aleem is attacking Ottawa..

read the post again man.. [/b][/quote]
DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK BOB COLE SAID WHAT ALEEM SAID HE DID???
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[poppa]

DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK BOB COLE SAID WHAT ALEEM SAID HE DID???

skanji, is this yet another "bash the Leafs" thread (common, perhaps subsciously it is)? If it is, maybe it's time to find another hobby like track the Alfy's golf score or Lalime's fear of leaves. If not, carry on.
I'm always up for a good laugh, I know they are getting old, but I'd let them stay until they are unable to make any sense in any sentence.

Too bad you are amongst the very few leaf fans who can't have a civil conversation about much without attacking our city...'toroll on'...

ps. Aren't YOU a governement worker???

How are you any different skanji? Aren't you the one who starts a lot of Leaf bashing threads? Are you not attacking others with so called pet names (like torolls)? You wonder why there are "troll" posts, it's because you are asking for them with your threads. And you still don't respect the Leafs, even after they beat Ottawa (check Go Phily thread).

[afong56]

i have no problem with cole and neale. . .if you want to see bad, turn on just about ANY broadcast originating from an american network. . .more than twice as bad, and unbelievably ignorant. we have it relatively good on HNIC.

[skanji]

Originally posted by poppa@Apr 24 2004, 08:25 PM
DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK BOB COLE SAID WHAT ALEEM SAID HE DID???

skanji, is this yet another "bash the Leafs" thread (common, perhaps subsciously it is)? If it is, maybe it's time to find another hobby like track the Alfy's golf score or Lalime's fear of leaves. If not, carry on.
I'm always up for a good laugh, I know they are getting old, but I'd let them stay until they are unable to make any sense in any sentence.

Too bad you are amongst the very few leaf fans who can't have a civil conversation about much without attacking our city...'toroll on'...

ps. Aren't YOU a governement worker???

How are you any different skanji? Aren't you the one who starts a lot of Leaf bashing threads? Are you not attacking others with so called pet names (like torolls)? You wonder why there are "troll" posts, it's because you are asking for them with your threads. And you still don't respect the Leafs, even after they beat Ottawa (check Go Phily thread).
I love the Leafs, what are you talking about??? BTW, love the Ottawa avatar!!!

Big CFL fan???

[skanji]

Originally posted by afong56@Apr 24 2004, 09:44 PM
i have no problem with cole and neale. . .if you want to see bad, turn on just about ANY broadcast originating from an american network. . .more than twice as bad, and unbelievably ignorant. we have it relatively good on HNIC.
So, compared to the American announcers, Cole and Neale rule....

Now THAT'S a vote of confidence if I ever heard one!!! :lol:

[gillianchung]

watch NHL on the fly.....those AMERICAN NETWORKS SUCK XXX in terms of commentary~~~ talks about LET'S TELL THE VIEWERS WHAT AN OFFSIDE IS. LET'S TELL THE VIEWERS WHAT ICING IS. and then sometimes they like to update BASEBALL scores!!! URGH. they make stupid and annoying jokes and voices similar to those on NHL 2004.....similar to those "Jim Hughson" voices
trust me, neale isn't that bad, and it's feels good whenever i get the right play and yell in front of the tv, saying NO IT'S A PHILLY PENALTY, not a LEAF PENALTY.

[Carnage]

Hey, US TV Hockey isn't that bad.

I mean they've come up with some cool ideas before. Like the "Fox puck". WAsn't that ever cool. Cause everyone wants to see a giant red lazer when someone shoots the puck. And who cares if you can't tell wether or not the puck went in the net, caught by the goalie, or is 50 rows up in the stands. :rolleyes:

/end sarcasm, :lol:

[Rometiklan]

Agreed. I'd rather listen to Cole and Neale than some of those god-awful american play-by-play guys.

I think as an experiment, they should just air a few games without any play-by-play. Remember 3 or 4 years back, the French CBC had some kind of labour dispute, so they aired the Canadiens games without any commentary? That was actually pretty cool. No extraneous noises to clutter the pureness of the game...just the sounds of the crowd cheering, the puck ringing off the glass, players calling for the puck, and players crashing into the boards.

[Defiant]

They could do that now by using SAP, it would be nice to just watch a game w/o commentary.

[henryh]

Greg Millen is by far the worst commentator on CBC. When the Canucks lost in the first round, I thought he would follow the Flames to Detroit. But Calgary wins again, and the Tampa Bay-Montreal series gets Millenized.

Why is Greg Millen such an idiot?

Chris Cuthbert made a comment at the beginning of the second period of game seven in the Vancouver-Calgary series, noting that "...nothing has been decided in six games and one period of play," Greg Millen replied, "And nothing decided in the first period of game seven either."

In game six of the Vancouver-Calgary series, the game went into overtime. Greg Millen made a huge fuss about how he thought Calgary should start the overtime period (effectively the 4th period) with the 'short' change as opposed to the 'long' change. He felt that since the game was being played in Calgary, the Flames getting the short change would be more in line with 'home ice advantage'. What he forgot is that when the home team gets the long change, so too does the visiting team. In fact, having the long change gives the home team the advantage as they already have one thing that home ice advantage affords them: last change.

[sadhakim]

Originally posted by henryh@Apr 26 2004, 07:38 AM
Greg Millen is by far the worst commentator on CBC. When the Canucks lost in the first round, I thought he would follow the Flames to Detroit. But Calgary wins again, and the Tampa Bay-Montreal series gets Millenized.

Why is Greg Millen such an idiot?

Chris Cuthbert made a comment at the beginning of the second period of game seven in the Vancouver-Calgary series, noting that "...nothing has been decided in six games and one period of play," Greg Millen replied, "And nothing decided in the first period of game seven either."

In game six of the Vancouver-Calgary series, the game went into overtime. Greg Millen made a huge fuss about how he thought Calgary should start the overtime period (effectively the 4th period) with the 'short' change as opposed to the 'long' change. He felt that since the game was being played in Calgary, the Flames getting the short change would be more in line with 'home ice advantage'. What he forgot is that when the home team gets the long change, so too does the visiting team. In fact, having the long change gives the home team the advantage as they already have one thing that home ice advantage affords them: last change.
i couldnt understand that at all, it works both ways, unless the benches arent centred, and i'm pretty sure they are centred.. so i dont see what the big deal is, its just part of the game, they have to switch ends, it is a disadvantage to both teams...

Millen is bad, but I think Healey is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay worse, i think Healey is an absolute idiot.. he makes the stupidist comments, doesnt know when to shut up, when to speak....

the best commentator on the network is definetly hrudey, he is amazing, the guy does a great job explaining the game and pointing out interesting facts...

[Rometiklan]

Yeah, I like Hrudey. But his pretty-boy looks wouldn't be good doing play-by-play, or colour...CBC wants him in front of the camera, not behind a mic. B)

[sadhakim]

anyone watching the Habs game.. stupid Millen man, the guy kept going on about how Lecavalier wasnt going to shoot on net cuz he didnt want the puck to carom off the boards and go back the other way.. the idiot forgot to mention the main reason, that he didnt want the puck to get blocked.. what a stupid commentator..

[henryh]

Millen is bad, but I think Healey is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay worse, i think Healey is an absolute idiot.. he makes the stupidist comments, doesnt know when to shut up, when to speak...

Well they both make stupid comments, and to be fair, Millen does make the occassional intelligent comment that shows that he has some insight into the game. It's just that when he does make stupid comments, he says it with such confidence that it's very, very annoying.

[firehawk12]

Hey, back off on Cole and Neale... :)

I grew up with them! :p

[othy]

I think healey's new word for the day is "decapitated", he used it several times in the flames/wings game..

Really nice glenn, good job making it seem like a savage barbaric sport.. sheeez.

What a lame-o

[spongecake]

Wow, am so glad other people are noticing that these guys just do not have what it takes. The point of having commentators is so that the viewer can understand the things that they can not see. To listen to these guys spend twenty seconds guessing who got a penalty and which penatly while the penalty was obvious is just awful. To hear "errrr. . .rather (another player's name)" 56 times a game is just awful. To listen as they spend thirty-five seconds trying to setup the "perfect" lame joke while major events are going on in the game is just awful. Why does anyone want to listen to a commentator who does not know what is going on in the game? If someone was sitting beside me on my couch just waiting and waiting to say "doublecheek hit" and spitting out random incorrect stats and telling me that the Leafs were going to have a 2-man advantage when they had just taken a penalty. . .et cetera. . .would I really let them keep yapping away? No way. It is an intrusion and a distraction to listen to these guys who like the sounds of their own voices more than hockey. I hope that they go even if that means no commentators at all-because even as a "newbie" hockey fan, I could guess the plays better than they can guess the plays which is certainly what they seem to be doing. It is amazing that they can be wrong more often than a weatherman and still have their jobs. I hope someone will start a petition to get these guys out of there.

If they need a new job, they would make great refs-calling penalties when nothing happens, giving the wrong guy/team the penalty, and missing blatantly obvious penalties.

[dingledoink]

Here's a petition to get the old farts removed.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fire_old_guys/

[TheGame]

what's wrong with Harry Neale?

[MrWizard]

You know what, Bob Cole may not be the brightest guy in the world but HNIC won't be the same without him. I despise Jim Hughson so much and he seems to be the successor.

Bob Cole and Harry Neale make a great team.

[north77]

Bob Cole and Harry Neale make a great team.

Yah!!! Go Bob and Harry!

I credit Harry Neale for helping me start an essay back in my Uni days. I had such a mental block, and my paper was due on the Monday. I decided to watch HNIC instead of doing the paper.

During the game Neale read off an inspirational quote that totally related to the game and my topic; I wrote it down, worked feverishly through that night, and produced a gem of a paper! :cheesygri

Here's a petition to get the old farts removed.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fire_old_guys/


No, I refuse to sign this new petition to have these guys removed.

[I can't believe skanji's OLD thread from 2004 has been resurrected.] :lol:

[Mintmaster]

http://mfile.akamai.com/16532/wmv/nhl.download.akamai.com/16532/wm.nhlteams/teams/2005/ott/apr/4_27_06/ott@tb_114_300.asx

Go to about 2:15 in this clip, which is Neil's breakaway goal. Classic Bob Cole.

[Div]

During the game Neale read off an inspirational quote that totally related to the game and my topic; I wrote it down, worked feverishly through that night, and produced a gem of a paper! :cheesygrin:
What was the quote?

[gordholio]

Bob Cole, in his day was very good - a very good voice (he still has that) too.
Now, his brain cramps and miscalls get in the way.
I like Neale for the fact that he is funny sometimes - comes up with some good one-liners.

[north77]

What was the quote?

"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving"
- Oliver Wendell Holmes

[Big D]

You know what, Bob Cole may not be the brightest guy in the world but HNIC won't be the same without him. I despise Jim Hughson so much and he seems to be the successor.

I like Hughson....makes me feel like I'm playing a video game AND watching a hockey game at the same time :)

[MrWizard]

I like Hughson....makes me feel like I'm playing a video game AND watching a hockey game at the same time :)

Exactly why I hate him. I hate the commentary in NHL 06, and I keep waiting for him to use the same stupid lines.

[Big D]

Exactly why I hate him. I hate the commentary in NHL 06, and I keep waiting for him to use the same stupid lines.

lol - at least in real life it's not pasted together in little phrases. It's annoying when the audio clips lag behind the play....sorta like listening to Cole/Neale :)

[Spiderpal93]

I like Bob and Harry!!! I so want to play NHL2k6!!!

[Div]

"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving"
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
Thanks.

[Big D]

I like Bob and Harry!!! I so want to play NHL2k6!!!

I like Bob and Harry too (as people) but in all honesty Bob is not doing a very good job when he calls games other than the Leafs. It's probably because he has a hard time remembering player names/numbers for the teams he doesn't see very often.