On-line Petition: Fire Bob Cole

[franko]

The link: firebobcole.com

The reason: well, isn't it obvious (even though this is from an Ottawa Senators perspective)?

Excerpts:

Sign below if you agree with the following:

• Toronto is not the be all and end all of planet earth
  
• Not every team wants to be compared to Toronto; not every team wishes they were Toronto.
  
• Ray Emery and Dominek Hasek actually do have names...they do not go by "the Ottawa Goaltender"
  
• We've checked and Mike Fisher, Chris Neil and Vaclav Varada are indeed different people.

Faithful fans of ALL talented Canadian NHL teams: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal, know what we're talking about.


The CBC is a government regulated Canadian network that should not employ the services of an obviously biased and cranky old man.

[Cranky]

Signed.

A man needs to know when he's done and walk off the stage with pride...rather then getting kicked off.

[seventeen]

Done. You've done your job, Bob. Time to give way to younger eyes.

[CentreHice]

I didn't sign it because of the wording of the petition. I'm still not convinced he's a Leaf homer, even though he's branded that way. He's more familiar with their names (occupational hazard)....and since most of the broadcasts are home games, he has to raise his voice to go with the crowd's excitement. I've heard him be just as complimentary to the other team....and very critical of the Leafs.

The fact is, Cole's fudged comments happen in every broadcast no matter who the team. But he has seniority, and he gets the prime time game. I think it's time for him to go, but not because of Leaf bias. Most Toronto fans would like to see him retire/replaced as well.

Surprisingly to me, it's Harry Neale who's emerged as the Leaf homer....as witnessed by his total lack of excitement for Montreal and Ottawa in his playoff commentary this year. He sounded downright depressed when the Habs were ahead, and loved it when Carolina came on; and he loves it that Buffalo is spanking Ottawa. e.g. Emery's performance in Game 4 was outstanding....and got very little from Neale. On the other hand, he finds an excuse for every goal that beats Miller just as he did all year for Belfour. "I don't think Belfour/Miller saw it. It may have been deflected, or else he was screened."

And Coach's Corner has been laughable since 93 when Cherry and Gilmour needed a room. Watch for "Paul Maurice, New Leafs' Coach" to take up substantial time tonight...they may even lead with that.

CBC, HNIC, and the vast majority of their employees have a Leaf bias. But Bob Cole isn't one of them IMO.

[Cranky]

centrehice said:

I

And Coach's Corner has been laughable since 93 when Cherry and Gilmour needed a room.

.

They couldn't keep their hands off each other. ....heck, when a hockey player and a coach kiss on the air, they don't only need a room, they need a lifetime supply of KY.

[Skilly]

I have said it before and I'll say it again, Bob Cole is just as biased for Montreal as he is for Toronto. The fact is he has been calling Leaf games for so long now that he is associated with them. Watch a Boston game on NESN if you want to witness true biasness, or listen to Mike Emerk doing the Penguins.

I totally agree with CenterHice that it is not Cole that is the problem but Harry Neale. The Ottawa Senators organization showed how classless they were when they showed the poster on their jumbotron that read "CBC - CANCEL BOB COLE" being held by a fan. Mlakar called and personally apologized to Bob Cole, but that doesnt take away from the damage the sign did to Cole personally. I will not sign anything originating from such classless acts by a classless organization with, apparently, classless fans.

[Deleted]

skilly said:

I have said it before and I'll say it again, Bob Cole is just as biased for Montreal as he is for Toronto. The fact is he has been calling Leaf games for so long now that he is associated with them. Watch a Boston game on NESN if you want to witness true biasness, or listen to Mike Emerk doing the Penguins.

I agree. Bob has been getting on in years, but he's not the one that bothers me.

[cigarviper]

I agree, but, there's more dangerous people out there that need tending to much more than a hockey colour commentator who's past his prime.

[franko]

skilly said:

I will not sign anything originating from such classless acts by a classless organization with, apparently, classless fans.

That, of course, would refer to any organization, then. One need not look far to find organizational problems. Heck, look at what the Habs have done with the Robinson situation (brought on in part by himself, yes) and Roy (ditto). Fans rioting in the streets? Guilty. We haven't had a player go as far as Bert, but who's to say that isn't in our possible future?

Be that as it may, my disagreement with Cole is not perceived bias -- as has been so eloquently put, there is bias-slash-homerism in any venue -- it's part of the game. My problem is his constant and continuing problem with getting names right.

[seventeen]

Are you guys watching tonight's game? It seems there's a note of pleasure in Cole's voice when Buffalo does something right. They made a point of showing Phillips giving Briere a face rub and also stating Ottawa 'got away' with an interference call, when I thought Roy actually interfered with the Ottawa player trying to get to the puck carrier. On top of calling one of Ottawa's left handed players Spezza, who's obviously right handed, not even noticing that an Ottawa PK'r had his stick broken so it was effectively a 5 on 3, but lauding Buffalo for their amazing puck control. He's a foolish old man who has no business calling the world's fastest sport on television. The fact an equally inept and biased Neale is his sidekick only exacerbates the situation. I signed the petition, without really liking the wording, cause I think it's important to retire Bob, regardless of the reason. He's simply incompetent and any bias is a separate issue, in my mind.

[Skilly]

seventeen said:

Are you guys watching tonight's game? It seems there's a note of pleasure in Cole's voice when Buffalo does something right. They made a point of showing Phillips giving Briere a face rub and also stating Ottawa 'got away' with an interference call, when I thought Roy actually interfered with the Ottawa player trying to get to the puck carrier. On top of calling one of Ottawa's left handed players Spezza, who's obviously right handed, not even noticing that an Ottawa PK'r had his stick broken so it was effectively a 5 on 3, but lauding Buffalo for their amazing puck control. He's a foolish old man who has no business calling the world's fastest sport on television. The fact an equally inept and biased Neale is his sidekick only exacerbates the situation. I signed the petition, without really liking the wording, cause I think it's important to retire Bob, regardless of the reason. He's simply incompetent and any bias is a separate issue, in my mind.

He is happy Ottawa is eliminated for the way the organization controlled their jumbotron during the playoffs. They were more concerned with humiliating Bob Cole then they were at trying to pump up their fans and try to win the series. Goes to show you where this organization's priorities lie.

[Skilly]

franko said:

skilly said:

I will not sign anything originating from such classless acts by a classless organization with, apparently, classless fans.

That, of course, would refer to any organization, then. One need not look far to find organizational problems. Heck, look at what the Habs have done with the Robinson situation (brought on in part by himself, yes) and Roy (ditto). Fans rioting in the streets? Guilty. We haven't had a player go as far as Bert, but who's to say that isn't in our possible future?

Be that as it may, my disagreement with Cole is not perceived bias -- as has been so eloquently put, there is bias-slash-homerism in any venue -- it's part of the game. My problem is his constant and continuing problem with getting names right.

Agreed, it could refer to most organizations. But I havent seen online petitions started by them. I don't necessarily hold the organizations accountable for the actions of players (Bertuzzi) or their fans (riots) ... but I do hold the organization accountable for the actions of the jumbotron man. Was he reprimanded? Fired? Anything? It is equivalent to the showing of Campbell's hiy on Umberger in Buffalo, which was also a classless act by what I perceive to be a somewhat classless organization.