The Hockey Night in Canada telecast of the San Jose Sharks-Calgary Flames game last Sunday was weak in spots, but helpful in identifying some of the show's problems.
Let's start with host Ron MacLean, an excellent broadcaster and a popular hockey personality.
On a semi-regular basis, MacLean uses "hell of a" to describe something exceptional, such as "a helluva third period." He uttered "helluva" once on Sunday.
Last week, he used damn and hell in the same breath.
They're minor expletives, but CBC Sports is the only place we know where a host is allowed to swear on the air.
Can you imagine Peter Mansbridge announcing on the CBC's The National, "There was one hell of an earthquake in Pakistan yesterday."
And then there's P.J. Stock, a Montreal radio personality and former NHL player. Hockey Night is working hard to make Stock a star, and clearly it is working, at least in P.J.'s mind.
He's relatively new to TV, but we know of no other broadcaster so obviously pleased with himself on the air.
One journalist we talked to likened him to "a bar disc jockey - no sense that he isn't the show."
In the playoffs, Hockey Night has Stock reporting the out-of-town scores, but, of course, that minor assignment is hardly enough to contain his talent.
On Sunday, he approved of the suit worn by analyst Kelly Hrudey and gave thumbs-up to his analysis, which undoubtedly topped off Hrudey's perfect day.
He talks, or yells, at a quick pace, sometimes making sense, but not often. On Sunday, he tossed out this gem, "Personally, and it's not my opinion, but I think ..." In Stock's substance-free zone, that's about as good as it gets.
Ottawa analyst Garry Galley has received work on Hockey Night this spring and his commentary on Sunday was fine. But, with Galley you never know when he might drop a bomb on the English language. Last week, he offered these two double-negatives during the same telecast: "He can't do that no more," and "There isn't nothing wrong with those hands."
And, finally, reporter Cassie Campbell continues to ask leading questions. Her work would be acceptable for someone at a local station, but not for network television.
MacLean's swearing, Galley's bad grammar, Campbell's inexperience and Stock's inanities are consistent with the theory that Hockey Night has been dumbed down.
The show's not as smart and professionally produced as it used to be.
The good things? Don Cherry's game instincts are terrific. He continues to be entertaining and incites controversy, even when there isn't much there.
Jim Hughson is among the top play-by-play voices in the game. Game analysts Craig Simpson and Greg Millen are solid.
Mark Lee has improved as a play caller. Elliotte Friedman's reporting is strong.
Burke and Leafs
AM640 Toronto hockey commentator Bill Watters went at the theory, that Anaheim Ducks general manager Brian Burke is coming to Toronto to run the Maple Leafs, from a new direction.
Because of the Ducks' poor showing in the playoffs, he wondered whether the club owner may refuse to release Burke from the year remaining in his contract. It wouldn't be punishment as much as to say, "Your job here isn't finished."
Watters says Burke is the right choice for the Leafs - strong enough to deal with "the two stooges who have been running the team into the ground." Larry and Moe, in this case, would be Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum and chief executive officer Richard Peddie.
Canada's team
The RDS telecast of the sixth game of the Montreal Canadiens-Boston Bruins series last Saturday was watched by 1.882 million, a network record and also a bigger number than the best audience for the 1993 Stanley Cup final, Canadiens-Los Angeles Kings, on Société Radio-Canada, an over-the-air network. SRC had 1.865 million for the fifth and final game of that series. The CBC drew 1.68 million for the Saturday game, the network's largest playoff audience of the season. The Canadiens' combined national audience was 3.562 million.
The Toronto Raptors' opening NBA playoff game against the Orlando Magic on Sunday drew 218,000 on TSN, down a whopping 34 per cent from the Raptors' opener last year (New Jersey Nets, 333,000, TSN). There was more interest a year ago. The Raps were coming off a better season and facing former teammate Vince Carter.
Rating the weekend
| EVENT | NETWORK | VIEWERS | SKINNY |
| Friday | |||
| Hockey. Rangers-Devils | TSN | 443,000 | Good audience for all-U.S. match-up |
| Hockey. Predators-Wings | CBC | 697,000 | Even better for all-U.S. game |
| Baseball. Tigers-Jays | Sportsnet | 298,000 | Just under 2007 April average 302,000 |
| Hockey. Stars-Ducks | TSN | 574,000 | Not bad for a late game |
| Saturday | |||
| Soccer. Wigan-Tottenham | Sportsnet | 36,000 | Low, little interest in also-rans |
| Soccer. Salt Lake-Toronto FC | CBC | 108,000 | Above average |
| Baseball. Tigers-Jays | Sportsnet | 180,000 | Lowest of the season |
| Curling. Players Champ. Women's final | CBC | 237,000 | Not bad on busy afternoon |
| Hockey. Flyers-Capitals | TSN | 281,000 | Plenty of viewing competition |
| Hockey. Canadiens-Bruins | CBC | 1.68 million | Best CBC audience of series |
| Hockey. Canadiens-Bruins | RDS | 1.882 million | A record audience for RDS |
| Hockey. Wild-Avalanche | CBC | 774,000 | Strong late night audience |
| Boxing. B.Hopkins-J.Calzaghe | TSN | 247,000 | For boxing, first rate |
| Sunday | |||
| Hockey. Canada-Finland | TSN | 102,000 | Just fine for under-18 tourney |
| Soccer. Man. City-Portsmouth | Score | 61,000 | On target for EPL on the Score |
| Basketball. Raptors-Magic | TSN | 218,000 | In 2007, 330,000 for Nets-Raps |
| Curling. Players Champ. Men's final | CBC | 283,000 | Excellent on busy afternoon |
| Baseball. Tigers-Jays | Sportsnet | 319,000 | Above the April 2007 average |
| Hockey. Red Wings-Predators | CBC | 674,000 | Strong for U.S. match-up |
| Auto racing. Mexico 200 | TSN | 179,000 | NASCAR's core audience |
| Hockey. Sharks-Flames | CBC | 1.485 million | Best audience yet for series |
| Hockey. Ducks-Stars | TSN | 355,000 | Good considering late start |
| Baseball. Mets-Phillies | Sportsnet | 80,000 | Hockey competition hurts |
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