Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

CBC adds another Bruin

WILLIAM HOUSTON

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 2:16 PM EDT 30/07/08

Mike Milbury leaves TSN to join his former coach Don Cherry and the rest of the Hockey Night crew ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Jeff O from Canada writes: Milbury is all bluster and no content. All he does is yell at everyone and his comments rarely make sense when you translate them into plain English.

    HNIC used to be the place where hockey coverage remained halfways intelligent. Now it's following TSN and Sportsnet into the loudmouthed, brain-dead, personality-based coverage that typifies American sports TV.

    First the theme song debacle and now this? Everyone at CBC Sports deserves to be fired.
  2. Alen Lager from Canada writes: Mike was entertaining on TSN "but" he has little credibility. His terrible job running the NY Islanders gives me the impression that he is NOT an expert on the game and the players that play it. He should fit in nicely at the CBC were the entertainment factor (ie. Cherry and his straight man/sidekick Ronnie) rule over actual hockey expertise.
  3. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Already almost 55,000 votes and counting for Logan Aube's theme celebrating the heart of hockey...

    Hope Milbury likes it.
  4. Alan Hala from Jackson's Point, ON, Canada writes: Oooohhhh, way to bring TSN to their knees HNIC, grab an AMERICAN loudmouth to pair with Cherry. Stil stining, I see, for letting Chris Cuthbert get away. Somewhere, Nancy Lee is having a good laugh,
  5. Paul Bayer from Calgary, Canada writes: Milbury was a terrible GM and he is just as bad in front of the camera . Next thing CBC will hire Tie Dummy . Brutal.
  6. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Perhaps I am being a bit sadistic here, but I am just loving watching HNIT destroy itself with these kinds of incompetent decisions...

    Poetic justice !
  7. Shades of Grey from Whitehorse, Canada writes: I'm with the rest of the posters. A loudmouthed, ex bad gm whom HNIC is probably grooming to be the next Don Cherry, as if the first one wasn't bad enough.
  8. Orville Murphy from Canada writes: Not a great GM, same with TSN... I agree that HNIC is heading downhill.
  9. Phoenix Thorpe from Canada writes: CBC pulled off a Milbury-esque deal..
    Trade the iconic anthem of the show to TSN for a loud-mouthed no-talent foreigner.
    Good job.
    There was no qualified Canadian for the position?
  10. Jah Nee Kah Sun from Canada writes: CBC is grasping at strawe...,There's just too many other sources for hockey coverage on the TV or Internet. Losing the theme song makes CBC look even more foolish along with their constant Maple Leafs coverage.
  11. bob miller from Canada writes: But at least he isn't Cherry!!!!!!!!
  12. EJ Ravensbud from Canada writes: Millertime you actually stated something that I can agree with! Wow, what a strange feeling. Now if only TSN would hire my buddy Don.
  13. EJ Ravensbud from Canada writes: Oh Oh, now there are two Millertimes. I now have twice as much work ahead of me.
  14. Paul I from Rochester NY, United States writes: Another reason to drop the NHL package. I will be counting on this distinguished group of posters to keep me informed during the season. The average viewer will need earplugs and a 100 bottle of generic 222's to survive a HNIC broadcast.
  15. Donald S. Holmes from Canada writes: The only way the CBC could justify hiring Milbury is to have him replace McLean.
  16. Prussian Prince from Canada writes: This is a terrible development for HNIC. Loudmouth with nothing intelligible to say. I thought CBC actually learned something last year after their attempt to change the Hot Stove turned out to be such a flop. I love to watch the Hot Stove when its The Hat and Scotty Morrison with a third (Strachan at least plays a good gossipy instigator from time to time - Oh, I miss JD). It's much more insightful than any of the blather on the sports networks. Now CBC has just added a yelling blatherer. I hope someone gets fed up after a while and hits him with a shoe.
  17. Neil No more last name from Mississauga, Canada writes: he's being groomed to replace Cherry. A shame would've preferred McQuire ;)
  18. Casey Circelli from Thornhill, Canada writes: With the pathetic Healy and worst-GM in history Milbury gone, TSN broadcast quality is shaping up to be infinitely superior to last year.
  19. J.C. Petite from Toronto, Canada writes: NOOOOOOOOO not Mad Mike.

    This guy is the worst!

    CBC is destroying what it once was.
  20. Spencer C from Canada writes: Are you talking about the same Mad Mike Milbury that I know?

    The same Milbury who was one of the worst GMs in NHL history?

    If he can't properly evaluate talent as a GM how do you expect him to analyze it as a broadcaster?

    Milbury is horrible as a broadcaster, and the only people who would see this as a good move from HNIC are those who clearly have never watched the TSN hockey panel and cringed at how bad he is.

    Losing Milbury, for TSN, is the equivalent of losing a 4th liner who watched from the press box in the playoffs...not a big deal.
  21. Neil No more last name from Mississauga, Canada writes: On the one hand, Milbury did lead the fantasy draft on TSN for the 07-08 season

    On the other, Alexi Yashin
  22. Ken Marshall from New York, United States writes: I do find it very strange that the CBC would continue to add so many Americans. Here in the States, many programs use Canadians as broadcasters because they have clearer diction. As for Milbury's contributions as a GM, they are unquestionably embarassing. In this role, one can expect little more than a continued decline in the discourse. It ought to be an outrage that your nationally-funded station goes outside the country for hockey expertise, but politesse has its place, I suppose.
  23. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: Ken Marshall writes, "I do find it very strange that the CBC would continue to add so many Americans. Here in the States, many programs use Canadians as broadcasters because they have clearer diction." How many other CBC'ers are Americans? And should passports matter? In the end, it's a matter of availability and fit. Keith Jones and Bryan Engblom might also have worked but they have regular local gigs in the US (Engblom seems to have settled in the Dallas area) and work Versus once a week. Milbury's commute from New York or Boston to Toronto wouldn't be bad, it won't suffer the airline route cutbacks that will happen on a massive scale in the US after Labor Day.
  24. Pal Hal from Canada writes: Great Move! Hated Mad Mike as a GM (bizarre, nutty) but as a commentator hes great, says whats on his mind, honest, funny, never trying to 'over do it' like that 'fake' Pierre McGuire. Putting him on the Hot Stove should be enough of a draw to keep us tuned.

    Note: Me thinks Mellanby was smart, maybe too smart, for TV he wasn't risqué enough. Anyways hes in a great spot now, out of the limelight what he's good at which is building winners, from the managing side.

    After the momentous gaffle with the song nice move Scot & Sherali keep them coming.

    Ps. Your not going to China are you, heard those commie S.O.B's serve ya dog meat for lunch. I'm staying up here where I'll keep my eye on T.C. Puck, yes I said 'up here' Clancy snuck me in the back.
  25. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: I propose the following HNIT all-star line up:

    Don Cherry, Mike Milbury, Tie Domi, and Nick Kypreos...

    Cheers
  26. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada:

    I have never seen Brian Engblom as a hockey analyst, but remember him as a fairly articulate guy while he was playing for the Habs.

    What's your impression on Engblom ?

    Cheers
  27. Pal Hal from Canada writes: "impression on Engblom" - think I've only seen him once as an analyst, if it was him (long ago) thinking he was surprisingly not bad. Remember him as a player, hated his hockey card as a kid, crappy hockey name, bad helmet ala Butch Goring (If I recall) looked like a English teacher rather than a player.

    ps. as you can see & imagine I didn't fancy English class much.

    Ps. Is it just me or does TSN hockey run it self with excessively 'deep pockets' they'll swallow up anything & everyone, whos running things over their?
  28. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Milbury isn't bad on TV as an analyst. Certainly better than listening to McGuire.

    That said... I wouldn't pay too much attention when he gives his analysis of trades and contracts.

    Cheers
  29. Jeff Hanlon from Kingston, Canada writes: TSN grabbed CBC's anthem and ditched Milbury. If only they can rid their broadcast of Bob McKenzie and Pierre McGuire, I'd watch them every Saturday night instead of CBC!
  30. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: R Miller and Pal Hal - Bryan Engblom and Keith Jones make a good pair on Versus ... Engblom is more professorial while Jones is more excitable and cracks most of the jokes. They had Bill Clement as host but due to budget, he was cut for a generic studio guy.

    I mostly saw them between periods, including on Versus broadcasts that used the CBC HNIC feed for the actual game (again, budget issues), and post-game.
  31. Mike Witcher from Montreal, Canada writes: Do any of you guys watch hockey? Somehow, I think not. Mike Milbury is an excellent commentator. He is eloquent and has a very positive attitude about the game and players. How does his incompetence at being a GM play a role in this? Think of the reverse if you will, how many hockey commentators could successfully be a hockey GM? Zero. Also, before trashing someone, state who IS a good commentator and then state why this guy is so much worse.
  32. Michael Sharp from Victorious, Canada writes:

    Who cares?

    Check out the AVP Brooklyn Finals photos!
    Sandy chicks are hot!
  33. Pal Hal from Canada writes: McGuire sucks (I think) heres why; 1.Hes a phony, fakes the emotion, now I understand its TV but hes a bit or rather a lot over board. Hes a Don Cherry wanna be. 2. Irritable, with phrases like "Thats Hockey Personified!!!" good lord he sounds like my 8 year son. 3. Hes a nerd, I can't stand when his voice gets all gushy or he giggles when he gets overly excited, he sounds like my 6 year old daughter. In a way its too bad Mad Mike left TSN as I enjoyed watching McGuire often sucking up to & kiss Mikes butt.

    Bob McKenzies not too bad, little flat at times, but hes decent analyst filler.

    Pal(Rolling in my grave)Hal
  34. Ken Marshall from United States writes: Pierre McGuire is an American too. Should it matter where you're from? Maybe, when it's a broadcaster funded by Canadian taxpayers. Why are they hiring Americans? I didn't think Milbury was a terrible tv guy, but he's certainly not great. Engblom I did think was pretty bad. Oh well, since I'll be watching stateside, it's just an opportunity to check in on some other action.
  35. Paul I from Rochester New York USA, United States writes: That was Brian Engblom? I thought it was a giant hedgehog wearing a suit. You learn something every day from these posts. Thanks guys.I was going nuts trying to figure out how much it must have cost to train a hedgehog to sit up straight and talk about hockey.
  36. Bill H from Maritimes, Canada writes: What part of the HNIC broadcast is Daniel Alfredson going to have? Someone on here keeps talking about Krusty the Clown on HNIC....
  37. Eric Zubert from Sudbury, Canada writes: "Mike Witcher from Montreal, Canada writes:Do any of you guys watch hockey? Somehow, I think not. Mike Milbury is an excellent commentator. He is eloquent and has a very positive attitude about the game and players. How does his incompetence at being a GM play a role in this?"

    Ok, Mike, here's an example of irony in regards to your question about Mad Mike's incompetence as a GM playing in a role as a NHL commentator: This past season Milbury was presented as the centerpiece analyst for NHL on TSN's Draft/Free-Agent Frenzy/Trade Deadline coverage! Side note: The "Toronto Sports Network" also had JFJ on the trade deadline coverage at the same time = barf!

    When I saw that, I had to watch (albeit briefly) to see what this clown would say about the bad picks/signings/trades in the same way a pedestrian would would stop and stare at a car accident.

    Here's an example of a good hockey commentator/host that is Canadian but not an ex-NHL Goon er..I mean hockey player: Steve Kouleas from the Score. He's got the voice, sense of humour and most importantly, the know-how to run a show and give intelligent commentary.

    Now ideally, the perfect voice of reason for NHL commentator about all things NHL related and that has the credibility to back it up would be Scotty Bowman but he's not on TV.

    I guess if want my pick of the litter out of current Hockey analysts/commentators from Canadian Networks, that would be better at providing somewhat intelligent , objective commentary with some credibility as a player would be Ray Ferraro; that is, according to this article, rumored to replace Milbury at TSN.

    Unfortunately, TSN still comes out ahead in this off-season because they rid themselves of a Maple Leafs cheerleader and an overpaid former GM/player that has a glaring credibility issue.
  38. Verona Raven from United States writes: Cassie Campbell and now this? Coupled with the insistence that Bob Cole is still viable...what is CBC drinki..i mean thinking.

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top