Airing of Grievances - Bob Cole

by general borschevsky on Dec 23, 2009 1:57 PM EST

Editor's Note: Yeah! What the hell is the deal with Bob Cole? Bring him back! JIm Hughson stinks.

I'm very sad that Bob Cole (to my knowledge) hasn't called a single game for the Leafs this season on CBC. I really miss his beautiful voice describing the action as only he can, with the emphasis and intensity measured at the right levels, in all the right places. The last few seasons he may have seemed dull and dim, but I think that's probably a result, and a reflection, of the hockey he's had to witness. Bob Cole always had an accute awareness of the stakes involved, a natural instinct for the game, for relevance, for history. He recognized drama on the ice as it unfolded and translated it effortlessly. His voice would rise in perfect synchronization with the noise of the crowd. He understood the importance of every goal, of every save, of every win or loss, and he never over-sold his passion or faked or forced enthusiasm. If he said "OH, Baby!", he meant it, and you better not have missed it, 'cause it must have been something special.

If I could have one hockey related Christmas Wish this holiday season, it would only be for Bob Cole to call the Leafs' next Saturday game on CBC, the Boxing-Day telecast against the Montreal Canadians. Please CBC, please make this happen. Please grant this one Christmas wish and give that annoyingly plastic Hughson a holiday vacation, and give Maple Leafs fans a real treat for that Boxing-Day matchup. BOB COLE'S VOICE. Seriously. Please bring back Bob Cole to Maple Leafs broadcasts.

P.S. You know I hate your guts Scott Moore, but this is your chance to redeem yourself.

PensionPlanPuppets.com is a fan community that allows members to post their own thoughts and opinions on the Toronto Maple Leafs and hockey in general. These views and thoughts may not be shared by the editor of PensionPlanPuppets.com.

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I’m not saying it was you, but weren’t Leaf fans in the past clamouring for Cole to hang them up? Saying he doesn’t get names right, he misses important plays, etc? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Cole’s call of the game. But I think it may be that CBC pulled him out as a result of fan pressure (ok, as I write that I realise it is silly, but then again, it is possible, ratings and all). So now they are supposed to put him back in?

by Leaf in Habland on Dec 23, 2009 1:45 PM EST reply actions

No

It’s fans of every other team that hate how he gets names wrong because he gets their team’s names wrong. I love Bob Cole. I could listen to him call anything.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 23, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

It was endearing how he didn’t know what was happening.

A Nation of Masochists Waiting is the hardest part.

by furcifer on Dec 23, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

And why listen to fans on this one? My dad complained about Harry Neale after every game for years and never got his way.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 23, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t know of many Leafs fans who don’t like Bob Cole but maybe there are some. Hard to believe anyone would prefer Hughson. I know Ottawa fans don’t like Cole, claiming he’s heavily biased against the Senators whenever they play Toronto, but as a Leafs fan that doesn’t bother me at all, I kinda like it.

by general borschevsky on Dec 23, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

Is he really even that biased? I never thought it was so bad. Joe Bowen? No question. But Bob Cole? Sure, maybe senility has set in a bit, and he may have trouble remembering names of players on other teams, but I don’t recall him being so pro-Leaf.

by JP Nikota on Dec 23, 2009 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

Joe Bowen is a hometown announcer. He doesn’t need to be impartial.

A Nation of Masochists Waiting is the hardest part.

by furcifer on Dec 23, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

At least our hometown announcers don’t crack terrible jokes about deceased hockey royalty…

Resident Capologist

by clrkaitken on Dec 23, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

I Luled

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 23, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

Duh.

by JP Nikota on Dec 23, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

Jim Hughson is a grease ball.

He’ll wear a tweed suit and sell used refrigerators in hell.

by JP Nikota on Dec 23, 2009 1:57 PM EST reply actions

I’ve got zero problems with Jim Hughson and I was definitely not impressed with Cole in the last few years.

But I swear I’m a good person!!

"I will take the subway - we were on the subway last night...I'm not above riding the subway or riding on a bus, I don't care. As long as people don't hit me." --Ron Wilson

by Jo4nny on Dec 23, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

ugh, hughson is terrible
he has a great voice for the job, but thats where it ends

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 23, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

Mr Cole is awesome and truly missed.

Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!

by blindfolded tank driver on Dec 23, 2009 1:59 PM EST reply actions

so true

although I find it delightful that Habs fans, who possibly hate Bob Cole more than anyone else, are stuck listening to him now. But I do so wish we had him back.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 23, 2009 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

It is to trick them into thinking they are on the national broadcast.

by Leaf in Habland on Dec 23, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

I thought it was so they’d torch their TVs and not their own city?

"I will take the subway - we were on the subway last night...I'm not above riding the subway or riding on a bus, I don't care. As long as people don't hit me." --Ron Wilson

by Jo4nny on Dec 23, 2009 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

Bob Cole’s voice is the sound of hockey to me. A modern Foster Hewitt for generations of hockey fans.

As much as I love the tone, cadence and rythyms of his broadcast, he had clearly lost a step post-lockout. Too many guys were simply, “the Leafs skater” or “a Senators player.” Too many times a penalty or an off-side would be called and Cole couldn’t identify why there was a stoppage in play.

He’s like an aging jazz great who still has the pipes but no longer remembers the words.

I’m not sure what’s sadder: Cole’s decline or the fact that there’s no one in the wings to replace him, no candidates showing even a hint of potential that they could be the next great voice of hockey.

Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...

by mf37 on Dec 23, 2009 2:26 PM EST reply actions

Bob Cole’s voice is the sound of hockey to me.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Dec 23, 2009 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

I’m not sure what’s sadder: Cole’s decline or the fact that there’s no one in the wings to replace him, no candidates showing even a hint of potential that they could be the next great voice of hockey.

What else is modern science for if not to restore Cole through any chemical, medical and/or robotic means possible?

The Leafs really mean nothing to me, but I miss Cole. Classic voices like that. Seems like a lot of people love him, but Hughson never grabbed me (metaphorically speaking, literally speaking that statement is subject to court seal), but he fell down a few more rungs after he became the voice of EA’s NHL 199_. All of the things I don’t like were drilled into my head, and now I can’t look past them.

Lighthouse Hockey: Eyes on Tavares, mug full of Moulson.

by Dominik on Dec 23, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

i think i heard somewhere that he’s calling saturday’s game…not sure though

by leaflover4ever on Dec 23, 2009 2:49 PM EST reply actions

I Miss Bob.

If his replacement were somebody tolerable then I could probably have handled the transition but Jim Hughson’s voice is suited.

It would be nice if CBC acknowledged Bob’s departure. This may not be the case but it seems as though one day during the offseason some yuppie executive at CBC decided they needed something “fresh” for the broadcast.

It’s a damn shame is what it is. A damn shame..

Why do we do this to ourselves?

by Kenjamin on Dec 23, 2009 3:30 PM EST reply actions

oops...

“…is suited better for American Gladiators.”

Why do we do this to ourselves?

by Kenjamin on Dec 23, 2009 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

I think he is

I’m relatively sure that there was a post somewhere floating around saying that boxing day would be his return to leafs broadcasts. I miss Bob Cole and Harry Neale, nobody has done it better since, and no one ever will.

A Leafs fan stuck in western Canada.

by doggit on Dec 23, 2009 4:41 PM EST reply actions

If I could have one hockey related Christmas Wish this holiday season, it would only be for Bob Cole to call the Leafs’ next Saturday game on CBC, the Boxing-Day telecast against the Montreal Canadians. Please CBC, please make this happen. Please grant this one Christmas wish and give that annoyingly plastic Hughson a holiday vacation, and give Maple Leafs fans a real treat for that Boxing-Day matchup. BOB COLE’S VOICE.

You, me, and Leafs fans everywhere got their wish. It was a pleasure to hear Bob Cole call the Habs-Leafs game on Boxing Day. I’m sad and still a little angry that the Habs tainted it with another fluke OT win, but hearing Cole again was great.

Even with him sometimes missing part of the play or not remembering a player’s name, I’d gladly trade Hughson’s fake sincerity and enthusiasm for Bob Cole any time.

leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.

by stucky on Dec 31, 2009 12:35 PM EST reply actions