Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Thursday, November 12, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guests: Brian Burke, Keith Law, Buzz Hargrove, Bert Sugar, Dan Shulman

When I heard Buzz Hargrove would be back on Prime Time Sports, I felt betrayed as a listener. After all, this was the same Hargrove (along with others), who came on the show at the time of the Paul Kelly firing, not divulging any details of what happened. Hargrove was one of the interviews who hid behind "the confidentiality of the process."

Todays interview was entirely different. Instead of me trying to summarize the entire interview, I will tell you to dig this one up. Hargrove surprisingly provided very candid details about the firing, details surrounding it, and why he left the NHLPA. My take from it? Firstly, the NHLPA is screwed up beyond even our superficial observations. Secondly, Hargrove had no problems sharing who he slept with once he left the bed. I guess he didn't have a confidentiality agreement with the NHLPA, or if he did is choosing not to observe it.

Hargrove seemed to have an axe to grind in defending his name, claiming "the media" sensationalized what happened. This very well have been the case. However, only Hargrove and the entire NHLPA are to blame for this as the silence outweighed the details. Until today. One can only hope that the others break their silence to either validate Hargrove's claims or dispute them.

...and in other news, Burke was on. McCown in the past had claimed he has a friendship with Burke, and this very well may be the case. Perhaps given the Leafs current predicament and standing within the league, Burke had his back up against the wall much more in this interview, even claiming that he only does interviews when his PR guy tells him to. McCown responded that he hopes Burkes returns based on want, and not obligation. The relationship between McCown and Burke will continue to be fascinating to watch. These are two bulls in a china shop, and so far nothing's broken, but you can definitely feel the tension starting to build.

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Friday, September 4, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Guests: Roundtable with James Deacon, Michael Grange, and Gord Kirke.

McCown to open the Roundtable: "We did our best but I must confess failed miserably in trying to ascertain why Paul Kelly was fired. After Buzz Hargrove, Paul Kelly, Ian Penny all showed up, we got nothing and apologize for the waste of time to our listeners."

Say what you want about Bobcat, he really does value his listeners time. My biggest gripe is, all of these players knew they *had* to come on Prime Time Sports. I personally feel they used the show to save face and McCown needs to evaluate these players in the middle of an interview and hang up on guests that are not forthcoming with information. If not, those who feel like "using" Prime Time Sports as an avenue to "show face" will continue to do so without answering the questions that need to be answered.

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Monday, August 31, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Guests: Brian Cooper of Sports & Entertainment L.P.; Toronto Sun baseball columnist, Bob Elliott; Buzz Hargrove, interim ombudsman for the NHLPA; Ernie Els, golfer on the PGA Tour; president and CEO of the Edmonton Oilers, Patrick LaForge.

"Kelly is smart - smart like Bettman is smart. …and whatever my differences are with Gary, I've always acknowledged this is a really bright guy."

What the hell??? Bob, have you been sipping the kool-aid while you've been away? I never thought I'd see the day that I'd hear McCown say this! I think it's safe to say that through the past couple of years, McCown had a deep 'intrigue' in Paul Kelly. He didn't dodge questions by Bobcat, was honest and was a refreshing change from the normal Hockey Executives.

I can remember McCown in the past hanging up on guests in the past for not answering questions and not wanting to waste the time of the listeners. I was waiting for McCown to hang up on Buzz Hargrove who did a great tap dance around questions without answering a damn thing. I felt my time was wasted, not by Bobcat but by Hargrove not answering the fundamental question of WHY Kelly was released as Head of the NHLPA.

Somewhere, Bob Goodenow is laughing his arse off.