Bob Cole and Harry Neale hit new low...

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...

You've got to keep Grapes!

Originally posted by KennyX@Apr 23 2004, 01:59 PM
You've got to keep Grapes!

dammit, yeah...tape grapes off the must go list...

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

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.

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.

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

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

:blink:

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.

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:

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)

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!!

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.

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

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.

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.


&nbsp; &nbsp;

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..

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'>

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???

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).