OJ...20 YEARS LATER

20 years ago today 21 year old me settled to watch my beloved (at the time) NY Knicks and Patrick Ewing try to take down Akeen Olajuwon's Houston Rockets in the NBA Final...until it was pre-empted for the now infamous low speed Bronco chase involving the LAPD and OJ Simpson. Simpson was turn himself in for questioning after the brutal double homicide of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. His actions, even before this bizarre spectacle, curious to say the least.   

Even then I remember how ridiculous it was to see people waving at him over bridges and holding Go OJ signs when it was the aftermath of a brutal double homicide. The other thing I can vividly recall thinking to myself was that there was never going to be another Naked Gun movie, which was about as random as it bets.

The trial was a sad spectacle of justice and misdirected accusations of race, and dreadful performances by most of the lawyers, some of whom like Marsha Clark and Chris Darden cashed in their miserable performances for jobs in the media, or as authors as everyone wanted a fleeting piece of fame.

It was fodder for late night TV with Jay Leno being the worst offender with his parody of Dancing Ito's that poked fun at the inept Judge Lance Ito.  Kato Kaelin drew laughter in open court for his cluelessness as a witness, even though he was key in the pursuit of justice.   Johnny Cochrane's theatrics that went unchecked by the courts.  Chris Darden and Marcia Clark's inept lawyering and making OJ try on a glove that had obviously shrunk. 

A condemnation of cameras in the courtroom at its best and a gong show to justice at its worse.  The final straw may have been a jury that lacked any sense of logical thinking by buying into faux racism while being too stupid to understand the basics of DNA evidence.  

20 years later, after religiously following the case on CNN, and reading several books on the case, can't say that the public perception of the justice system has changed as HLN does a deplorable job of sensationalizing tragedy like Trayvon Martin, Casey Anthony and the Steubenville rape trial to name a few.

20 years later people do not forget the OJ Simpson chase and trial.I found myself reading updates on the main characters, a term I use because this played out like a bad TV movie.  I found I did not care what happenedo to Kato Kaelin, Marcia Clark, Chris Darden or F Lee Bailey. I cared about the victims and 20 years later they are still dead, faded names from the last.   Sadly, they did not get the same tribute.  Their names, by the way, were Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Smith and they died in horrific fashion. Remember them when you look back to 20 years ago today.    

BOB COLE: SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION

  

No, Bob Cole does not take selfies, hash tag or use Instagram.  As far as I know there is no Twitter account run by Bob Cole, though there are a number of semi-amusing parodies.  However when Bob Cole calls a game, social media goes crazy.  It has become all the more of a frenzy with the speculation that Bob Cole's legendary broadcasting career may be riding off until the sunset.  As of this writing, Bob Cole has no contract for next year.  It should also be noted that no play by play or analysts have been named by Rogers as they embark on year one of an all encompassing 12 national agreement with the NHL.

The Fan590 debated the merits of Bob Cole on the Morning Show of Brady and Walker.  It was generally felt that the 80 year old still had a lot of game left, and they sited his call of last nights double OT game between Chicago and LA.  A couple of callers also trumpeted the legacy of Bob Cole and the continued excellence of his big game call, while one lamented the mistakes he makes during a broadcast.   Still, all this warm and fuzziness contrasted with views of last year who hated the fact that the "Leaf supporter" was calling Habs games. All the more puzzling, and this was noted by Brady and Walker, was the level of vitriol directed towards Jim Hughson, who is the best in Canada right now bar none.  A couple of years ago, Hughson was loved, and now he is heavily crticized on social media.  

I get it.  Play by play love/hate is all about what style works for you and for the individual fan, that can be different.    No one wants to see the end of Bob Cole's career, in much the same way, you do not want anyone who has achieved legendary status not be around anymore.   

For me, I love the way that Bob Cole calls a game, the rhythm, the cadence, the ability to strike the right tone on a big call have never gone away, regardless of age.  I can remember my Dad saying 20 years ago that Cole had his day, but was starting to lose it.   Yet here he is, still calling the games, still with the trademark phrases that be never duplicated.   It does not sound right for anyone else to say "Yessir!" "Oh Baby".  With Rogers focus on Hometown hockey, there is no one more hometown than Bob Cole.  My guess is that he will be offered several select games to do next year with historical value, and there will be a huge send off and good bye and a big feature on Cole in his native Newfoundland.  I'm not saying he would accept such a tribute, but I cannot see him quietly calling his last game this year and then leaving.   That might just be me and my own nostalgia driving my thoughts.   

A BIT ON DEAN BLUNDELL:  

One of the more polarizing subjects in sports media has been the tryout that has been offered former 102.1 The Edge morning man Dean Blundell on Sportsnet Radio The Fan 590.  Blundell, if you remember, was finally fired from Corus after an exchange with a producer in which Blundell seem equate gay men in prison with rape and the fact that they would enjoy it.  The fact that both Blundell and his producer were seriously undermining the legal system also played a role as was the fact that Blundell had run afoul of Corus and the CRTC on a number of occasions.  I cannot comment on how Blundell is as a sports talk radio host as I have not heard any of the broadcasts.   However, in a business driven by ratings and name factor, it Blundell seems to possess both, even if his name factor can be construed as for all the wrong reasons.   He was a star in Toronto morning radio , no matter what you thought of his "shock jock" antics. Whether he can re-invent himself as a credible sports radio voice is yet to be determined.  The Fan590 is serious though as they have devoted a couple of listener polls to Blundell.   

FRESHENING UP THE MEMORIAL CUP FORMAT

As a broadcaster of Junior hockey, I take more than a passing interest in the Memorial Cup, regardless of who is playing in it.  This years' tournament takes on a heightened interest as there are those currently revelling in the lack of success of the London Knights, arguably Ontario's most despised teams.  Fact of the matter is that few should be surprised that the London Knights have failed to impress so far.  This is a team that was inactive for over 50 days before the tournament began due to their 5 game ousting by the Guelph Storm, who are unsurprisingly odds on favourites and have already booked their place in the final on Sunday.  I know that prior hosts who did not make their league final have had success in the past, but man, it has be tough to find that necessary edge in your game after a month and a half lay off.  Give me a tired team in a play off rhythm any day of the week over a lethargic inactive team.  

The Memorial Cup is a curious format as 4 teams battle it out round robin style, and play in either a play in game, a semi final game and ultimately a final.  All this takes 10 days and often you can have games have absolutely no bearing on the standings, or an inordinate amount of time before playing meaningful games.  Again, take Guelph, whose game against London means absolutely nothing to them except the chance to excuse their rivals, London.   That means Guelph has to sit and wait for five days between games that actually mean something.  No other tournament I know has games that have no bearing on the proceedings at hands, let alone a national tournament like the Master Card Memorial Cup.  Freshening up the tournament, any tournament for that matter, is a calculated risk with the leagues in question and more importantly the sponsors.  That said, here are a couple of ways to freshen up and expand the playoff format of the Memorial Cup.  Heck, baseball, football and the NCAA have added teams recently, and hockey re-jigged the divisions to create more meaningful match-ups. Why not the CHL?

SUGGESTION 1: 

8 TEAM, TWO GAME TOTAL POINTS SERIES COMBINING WORLD JR AND EUROPEAN SOCCER. 

The teams would be the 3 league champs, the host team, the 3 league finalists and a wild card team selected.  Here you can rotate the league that gets the wild card, depending on the host.   Teams are seeded 1-8, and will play two games, total points series. with the tie breaker being "away goals" as you designate one team to be the home team for one game, and one to be the away team for another game.  This is what a lot of European soccer competitions do. If it is tied, then you go with a sudden death overtime .   When it gets to the Final 4, it becomes a one-off elimination.  Think of it, you can have two games each day for the first four days as 8 gets cut down to 4, and then a day off and then semi-finals and then finals.

The cons of the competition are the fact that you have two guaranteed games versus three right now.  There could be arguments, as there always are, about a nominated wild card team.  There would also be less emphasis on the league winners, as all it would net would be a higher seeding.   

SUGGESTION 2:  

Three league winners, and if the home team gets knocked out before the final, they have to play in a round robin tournament with the other three league finalists to determine the final spot in the final four.   In all likelihood, its not that dissimilar to the first suggestion, though it does not guarantee much pop for the hometown crowd whose team may not make the main tournament.  

I suppose if you really wanted to get radical, you would make it a 16 team tournament with the three league winners and a host team helming their own final four , with league finalists and semi-finalists comprising a regional sweet 16 much like the Sweet 16.  That might be too radical though. 

To be honest with you any suggestions would have to pass the smell test with Dave Branch, the CHL, the major tournament sponsors, and Sportsnet, who have the rights to the tournament for the next 12 years.   That is what drives the bus.  Still, right now it still seems to be too many days for too few meaningful games.   

Steve Clark- Niagara IceDogs TV Play by Play

SCATTERSHOTS

• Fair to say that mafia rat might have more job security than an NHL head coach or GM.  Ray Shero has been fired and the new GM will assess Dan Bylsma.   A 51-24-7 record and a .670 win percentage might not get you much these days.  That is Bylsma's track record in Pittsburgh. However playoff record is the currency in a hockey mad city like Pittsburgh and porous goaltending and Sidney Crosby's inconsistent play could prove to be the downfall for Byslma as it was for Shero.       Don't feel sorry for Shero though, as he will likely be snapped up in about two seconds.   

• High profile out of work coaches now include Barry Trotz, John Torterella and Adam Oates.   Mike Babcock, coach to the stars says that he would rather not be a lame duck coach, and he has only one year left on his deal.    He and his luxurious red/brown flow that my wife gets lost in as she's got a major crush on the guy could be the sexy choice for any position should there be an impasse. 

• San Jose said good bye to Dan Boyle rather quickly, which was kind of suprising considering San Jose's season ended very recently.  Imagine the hand wringing and debate if the Leafs suddenly announced a high profile player was not returning.  The speculation would be never-ending.  Even the casual mentioning that Dion Phaneuf might potentially be shopped causes a tempest in a tea pot!

• the Ottawa 67's will have a new coach this year as Chris Byrne will choose to focus on his GM duties.  Byrne went on to say that the one man Coach/GM may be a thing of the past.   One wonders what Marty Williamson of Niagara's transition plan might be as he holds both posts.  While Joey and Billy Burke, the owners sons, are learning the family business, neither one is close to stepping into any sort of coach or GM role.   Also, one of the rumoured names to go to is former NHL D-Man Jeff Brown, whose son Logan was drafted by the IceDogs in the first round. Wonder if that will have any sort of effect going forward on whether the Dogs sign their first rounder.  

• I'm a big Leaf fan, and have been for over 30 years.   Like any good Canadian, I usually root for Canadian teams who are in the playoffs.  Doesn't matter who, though it was a struggle to celebrate anything Ottawa related when they made their Stanley Cup run a few years back.  However, it was tough to cheer for the Habs when statements like "Unlike the Leafs, Boston didn't come back against us" appear.  Still,  I will cheer for PK Subban, Carey Price and the rest when they play the Rangers.   Go Habs Go!

• I've always been a strong advocate of ditching the post-playoff celebration line.  I understand the showing respect thing, but it seems silly to beat the tar out of someone and then shake hands like its a PeeWee house league game.  Silliness like Milan Lucic's poor display of sportsmanship probably happens more than we think.  Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos had the best take when he said that Lucic had 7 games to bully, intimidate and do something to throw the Canadiens off their game.  He did not do it during the series, so he should not do it in the line up.  Plus, Billy Smith hated the post-game handshake.  If it was not good enough for "Battlin'" Billy, then it is not good enough for me.   

• One of these days, I'd love to experience just part of the Memorial Cup either as a broadcaster or a fan. Seems like a blast, wherever its held.   I'd like to tweak the format so that every game is meaningful though.  The last game of the round robin can sometimes be redundant and that should never be the case in a winner take all format. For the record I am picking Guelph to win the whole thing.  I will aways remember the Oshawa/Kitchener 1990 3OT final from Copps Coliseum, won by the Eric Lindros led Generals.  It remains the best live event I have ever been a part of as either a fan or a broadcaster. 

• I already hate baseball's instant replay.  Taking a three hour game and expanding it while a play that should not be debated sometimes is debated is just plain silly.  Last nights Jays/Indians was 4-2 and featured 10 pitching changes between the two teams, along with a 9th inning replay or something that should not have been reviewed. 

• The broadcasting hot stove will be busy as we approach hockey off-season.   Rogers has a slew of on-air announcements to make as they have named hosts, but no analysts or play by play guys.  There are radio openings in Calgary for both play by play and colour commentator. Good luck to anyone who gets the Calgary job and has to follow Hall of Famer and local legend Peter Maher.  Peter only broadcasted over 3100 straight games and is the only radio voice the Calgary Flames have ever known! Speaking of Hall of Famers, one wonders if we are seeing the sun setting on Bob Cole's career.  The octogenarian still wants to broadcast, but that will be Rogers call.  Oh baby, what a tough call that will be..Yes Sir! For Sure!

Steve Clark

The Toughest Sport to Ref and Other Wednesday Thoughts

THE TOUGHEST SPORT TO REFEREE

Interesting discussions about refereeing now that the Raptors have captured the imagination of the casual fan base.    It was felt that the Brooklyn Nets were getting more than their fair share of "reputation calls" as they are more of a playoff tested team than the fledgling Raptors.   No secret that the uniform and name on your back play a role in how a team is officiated.   If you are a star, chances are you're going to be given a little latitude.   Paul Jones, play by play voice of the Raps opined that basketball was the toughest sport to ref, which to me is laughable.  It's tough no doubt, but you have three sets of eyes, all with the same standing in the game, i.e. no linesman, or assistant referees.  Hockey has four officials on the ice and is much more of a contact/collision game as well as the sheer velocity of the sport.  Soccer has one referee, two assistant referees, a larger playing surface and more things to manage overall.  Give me hockey, and soccer as the two toughest sports to referee.  Basketball?  Sorry, it is not even close. 

BULLDOGS DEBRIEF

Not much to say about the Hamilton Bulldogs that has not already been said.   The team lacked scoring, did not win consistently at home and the power play was a detriment as opposed to being beneficial.   In February the Bulldogs had started to creep back into the playoff race and had three games at home in three days.  They lost all three in regulation and basically were playing significant catch up hockey.  The good news was the attendance remained fairly steady when the Dogs played at home on Friday, Saturday or Sunday  and averaged 5 500 for the season.   They are looking to reach 6 500- 7 000 next year.  For me personally I enjoyed calling the games from the Bill Stirrup press box, and eventually managed my fear of heights and the daunting cat walk clamber.   First Ontario Centre (formerly Copps) has improved as a venue.  The scoreboard is very good, the ring advertising adds a professional touch, as do the dark blue seats.   Good to seen some capital being put into the product off the ice.  On the ice, changes need to be made as this is the 3rd straight year the Dogs have not made the playoffs.  Coach Sylvain Lefebvre is safe it appears, so players need to elevate their game, and I'm sure new faces will be brought in. 

OHL PLAYOFFS

If you would have told me that North Bay would lead Oshawa 3-0 and Guelph would lead Erie 3-1, I would have cried foul.   Yet here we are.  North Bay, whom the IceDogs gave all they could handle, was one period away from elimination.  They've gone 10-2 since falling behind 3-1 vs the IceDog and have been stifling.   The Battalion have 3 vets in Barclary Goodrow, Matt MacLeod and Ben Thomson who have over 900 combined games of OHL experience.  That , along with wily Stan Butler, have to count for something. I thought Erie and Guelph would be a war, and it might be with the series not rolling the credits just yet.  Guelph, however, have looked awfully strong against Erie and look to be a good bed to head to the OHL final.  A quick IceDog note.  Many people told me how impressed they were by the IceDog push back late in the season and into the playoffs, considering how young the team was.  Much of that talent will move over to the Meridian Centre and should make for a very good on-ice product in the coming years.  Expect several IceDog names to be called draft day too as Brendan Perlini, Aaron Haydon, Brent Moran, Blake Siebenaler, and Aleksander Proptapovich were all ranked in the final rankings.  This does not include repeat guys like Jordan Maletta, Anthony DiFruscia and Luke Mercer, all of whom rounded out their games this year. 

BROADCASTING NEWS.

Off season for me after 47 games of broadcasting.  The break is much needed.  Remember I have a full-time job and a family, so this is freelance work for me.  I will be waiting to see how things shake out as hockey season comes to a close and the transition from TSN and CBC to Rogers begins. Rogers has announced hosts, but no panel members, play by play guys or colour commentators.   What is also not determined is how much hockey will be Rogers produced and how many crews they will need.  They've taken on a monumental task in being the national broadcaster, but its not like this is their first rodeo. Scott Moore and Keith Pelley have been doing this for a while.  What they do not have is many TSN guys to look at. Most of the top TSN on-air guys were locked up for the regional hockey that TSN will produce.  The names coming down the pipe from Rogers will be interesting to say the least.   Jim Hughson, and Craig Simpson are a given.  Elliote Friedman, and Nick Kypreos are likely locks for any panel or reporting.  After that , it could get very interesting as Rogers still has regional rights to Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton to consider, as well as a full sleight of CHL hockey too.    

A SAD DAY FOR SPORTS BROADCASTING. AND THE CBC

Damn!   We all knew that CBC's days a major player in sports were to be numbered with the Rogers purchase of NHL hockey for the next 12 years, but it still did not make reading todays news any easier: 

http://business.financialpost.com/2014/04/10/cbc-job-cuts-sports/?__lsa=f029-9534

It was a very difficult day today for all those affiliated with CBC as it was announced that 657  positions will be eliminated over the next two years in order to ensure a balanced budget.  Likely those cuts will hit sports very hard as the CBC release indicates that CBC will not bid on professional sports against private broadcasters, nor will it cover events unless they break even.  Special projects like the upcoming summer Olympics and the Pan Am games will be covered creatively (read as economic as possible).   

With NHL hockey off the market for the next 12 years,  the options for moneymaking professional sports was fairly limited anyways.    The CBC broadcasted a handful of Raptors games some years back and the ratings were mediocre. No Vancouver Grizzlies also hurt the bottom line.  In fact, even this year, the Raptors most successful on-court, the ratings still lag behind hockey. Remember when Jim Hughson did a fine job of calling several Blue Jay games for the CBC?  Again, the audiences were not there, not helped by the Blue Jays mediocre on field performance and with the death of the Expos in 2004, there was no Canadian alternative.   How about TFC?   CBC went down that road a couple of years back, but it was very clear that Canada was not going to embrace a team from Toronto on a national level.  Now with Vancouver, and Montreal added to the league, soccer has become a better property to own, but building a substantial national audience would take time, and that is something the CBC really cannot afford, not that they would anyway. CBC did try some American hockey league games  as well, focusing on the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Toronto Marlies and the then Manitoba Moose first and foremost and then the afflilates of the other Canadian teams secondarily.  That too did little in the ratings, though the production and on-air delivery was very good.  

There was a time when CBC was the major player in sports with CFL Football, amateur competition leading up to the Olympics and hockey dominating the airwaves.  Times have changed and the CBC can ill-afford to pay high stakes bidding games with tax payer money.  

The bottom line is that CBC has been unable to build a devoted national following outside of Hockey Night in Canada, and for the next four years all they will provide for the NHL is a national distribution channel and studio space.  All costs and profits borne from hockey will go into the Rogers coffers.  After four years we may see the last of the classic red,  blue and white symbol for Hockey Night.   Rogers may choose not to renew the deal to put hockey on CBC.   I'm not looking forward to the day my channel guide will show something other than hockey on the CBC. 

Lots of high profile names will likely be named in the coming weeks.   Some will not be a surprise as they either been named to Rogers NHL coverage, or strong rumours seemed to dictate.  Elliote Friedman,  Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson are likely headed to Rogers, so their names will likely be among the cuts.  Same goes for Don Cherry.   Ron MacLean is an interesting one.  He has done lots of non-sports/hockey stuff with the CBC and we know he has been hired by Rogers.  Will CBC keep him for their Olympic or Pan Am coverage, or will he be phased out?  Same with the talented Andi Petrillo.  A natural fit for Rogers, Petrillo did very well in the host chair in Sochi and might be sought out for a bigger role.   I worry about signature voices like Mark Lee , Steve Armitage and Bob Cole.  This might be the final year for the venerable signature pipes of Bob Cole. The octogenarian still has that big game call, but there may not be room at Rogers  Lee, who broadcasts hockey, is integral to the Olympics.   Armitage reminded viewers why he is a premier signal caller with his wonderful work in Sochi.  All theses names, and many more are up in the air. 

I have always maintained that my dream job was to work at Hockey Night in Canada.  I have hockey night books, jackets, hats, toques and t-shirts, all in support of the public broadcaster.   If I did not work in hockey,  I would love to work for The Fifth Estate, the best investigative program out there.   Today, I feel like I am delivering a eulogy for a friend.  I hope that it is not the case and that CBC can play a role in sports going forward, be it for the Olympics, or other amateur competition.   There is still life and vibrancy for CBC in covering sports.  I hope that they, and the fine broadcasters that work for them, can continue to ply their trade in the years going forward. 

Short term, however, the plan going forward severely restricts sports coverage and that is why today is a sad day on Front Street.   

 

Terry Trafford 1994-2014

His official Ontario Hockey League picture shows a face that could not possibly be 20 years old.  Boyishly handsome, Terry Trafford was the type of player that every team needs, a "glue guy" to steal a basketball term.  He was skilled enough to be a top six forward, but also diverse and speedy enough to play on special teams or checking the other teams top line.  In fact it was the speed that you noticed first with Terry Trafford.  Few players possessed the pace and skating ability he was blessed with.  

However, beyond the skill set, Terry Trafford was also ill.  Not physically ill, but mentally ill. We see elite athletes and talented individuals like Terry Trafford at their best, playing the game that they love.  They are blessed with such an abundance of physical strength, talent and skill we sometimes forget that they are susceptible to the same mental illnesses and self-doubt as everyone else in society.  

A healthy scratch since February 17th it was reported that Terry had been sent home by the team for reasons related to team discipline. Then the news broke through social media that he had been missing for over a week.  Friends, family and the hockey community alike frantically searched for the young man from Toronto who had worn the Saginaw Spirit jersey for four years and 221 games. The Terry Trafford story reached a sad and tragic conclusion when he was discovered in a WalMart parking lot  inside the truck we had become familiar with through missing persons bulletins.   A hockey community mourned as teammates, opponents through the years and friends eulogized and paid tribute to Terry.  Calgary's Sean Monahan posted on Twitter, so did Scott Laughton, Michael DalColle and Connor MacDavid.  The list goes on and one.   

Its a cautionary tale really. In a sport like hockey where statistics measure the fine line between success and failure, and the window to the NHL is a small one at best, the pressure might get to even the strongest of character in some way.    Being separated from the team Terry Trafford may have thought that the game that he had played since he was a young boy had been taken away from him,   We really do not know. 

I urge all general managers, coaches and assistant coaches to have a conversation with their  players.  Remind them that if they are feeling troubled in any way, that the door is always open if they feel the need to talk.   There is no better time to reinforce that not just the team but also the hockey community is a tight knit family that looks out for each other.   

Finally, I'd like to urge Bell to change their "Lets Talk" slogan  to "Lets Keep Talking" . While a worthy endeavor, it lasts only a day and then we tend to move on feeling good that we sent a text or re tweeted a message.  It is not easy to get people to open up about mental illness and it is not as simple as sitting down with someone and saying "lets talk".  

There are many questions to ask about the passing of Terry Trafford. In a sense we all became teammates and friends with him as we all hoped for a better outcome. Right now the tragedy is too raw, too real, and too fresh.  With time and the grieving process, maybe some things will become clear.   

Rest in Peace Terry.