2/8/10 - 200 posts later...hiatus and a possible change of format...

This is post #200 here at Prime Time Sports Review.

As you have probably seen around here lately, updates are becoming like Toronto Maple Leaf playoff appearance - few and far between!! Truthfully, the extra 4-5 hour broadcast has caused a bit of a disruption with the personal routine (whoever thought more McCown would be a bad thing?!?!) That in addition to a new workout routine have really played havoc with me listening to PTS as religiously as I have in the past. Although I still end up hearing the vast majority of the shows a week, it's difficult to keep up!

We will be on hiatus here at Prime Time Sports Review until the Olympics are over, failing some incredible McCown/PTS news. We are also evaluating whether or not to go to a weekly format to review Prime Time Sports. As always, feel free to email us if you are interested in guest blogging regarding anything surrounding Bob McCown or Prime Time Sports. ...also, feel free to comment at anytime about anything!

Before I sign off for the next few weeks, I wanted to offer my deepest condolences to the Burke family on the loss of their son Brendan. Amazing story between Brian and Brendan appeared in an ESPN article this past December. It is absolutely recommended reading for all parents and young adults.

As much as I despise the leafs, Burke has my deep respect even more so since the article was written - I blogged about it last year.

In the meantime, check out our friends at Total PTS. Some awesome inside info for you that you'd otherwise never here! Amazing job by them to let you "inside" PTS.

Signing off...(for now!)

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: John Shannon
Guests: Nick Kypreos from Rogers Sportsnet; Toronto Star basketball columnist Doug Smith, Sports Illustrated NFL writer, Don Banks; Paul Kelly, former head of the NHLPA; John Buccigross from ESPN.com
Hearing Bobcat read Winnie the Pooh was CLASSIC! Well done Bobcat!!!

We're down to 30% of our current staff at work, so the round table discussions will be missing this week!

Good to hear Paul Kelly back, and equally surpassing that he decided to stick around in the hockey landscape, as opposed to returning back to his roots as a prosecutor. As indicated, this is probably due to the fact that he still has a strong interest in returning to the Leadership of professional hockey is some capacity.

As a Sens fan, hearing that the Leafs are having problems selling boxes and there current predicament and performance is a source of great joy I take. The deep respect I have for Burke for the handling of the news of his son, is at a very high level. There is something more to Burke than meets the eye, and definitely more than his public persona would indicate. Read the full story here. Burke may not want to be a role model as a family member in this regard, however he definitely is that. You can bet Cherry won't touch this on Saturday night, as much as Ronny may want to!

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, October 23, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Roundtable with Bob McCown, Jim Kelley, Bruce Arthur, and Neil Smith.

If the Senators played Dodgeball during practice, the Toronto media would have a flippin' field day. I can't believe the number of journalists defending the Leafs. Soon the tide will turn on Burke. The early play of the Leafs seems to be Burke's "bogey" by the media, and everyone but McCowns love affair with Burke is continuing. I admit that I was skeptical of how McCown would handle criticizing Burkey, but he definitely stepped into Burke with some pretty big fists questioning his vision for the team.

McCown's line of the week saying if he were GM he'd tell the players, "If you don't play better, you'll be driving a truck next week!!"

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Jim Kelly
Guests: GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brian Burke; ESPN broadcaster Dan Shulman; Paul Waldie, writer for the Globe and Mail; Rob Becker, attorney and legal analyst.

After a painful week without McCown, he returned from the brutal cold he had to conduct a fascinating interview with Burke. A must listen for any hockey fan. As a Sens fan, it's my duty to hate the leafs with a passion (and I am proud to do so.) But you can't help but be amazed by the charisma Burkey speaks with. The leafs are in good hands.

You can really see the connection between Burke and McCown. All will go well between these two as long as the leafs are winning. If something goes off the rails, McCown will be ready to call Burke out, and Burke will surely stand his ground making for some interesting radio (like there hasn't been enough of that recently on PTS?)

...and after the months of crap with Balsillie, her falls on his sword trying to paint himself as a Canadian hero? My respect ends for Balsillie on what he's achieved for RIM and Blackberry, although it has greatly diminished by the way he has tried to acquire the Phoenix Coyotes.

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown - Wedneday, July 22 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: John Shannon
Guests: Tuesday: Scott Simmons, RCGA executive director; president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brian Burke; ESPN's Dan Shulman; National Post writer, Bruce Arthur; Brendan Taman, Saskatchewan Roughriders football administration director.

The relationship between Brian Burke and Bob McCown is going to be an interesting one to follow over the course of this season and through the duration of Burke's contract. There are two men with large history in the sports landscape, two experts on how the media is used and most importantly 2 owners of massive egos. Burke came on the show today and called McCown "Mac". I don't recall anyone calling McCown this before. It's common knowledge that McCown and Burke met to discuss hockey earlier this summer and McCown even posted an article on fadoo.ca. Burke spoke about how the media and sports franchises use each other, and was very open in discussing this point.
I wonder how this interesting relationship will play itself out. Can these two really get along, or are they inevitably headed for a massive collision of ideals? What about when Bobcat brings up Bettman with Burke (a long time Bettman supporter)?

Blair - spit out your comments will ya'? You're thinking on the fly way too much and as a listener it's hard to listen to...

Just a great article by Bruce Arthur on the Erin Andrews scandal. I have to admit I have seen the video and it's not titillating as much as making me feel like a stalker. If this was your daughter or a family member, how would you feel?

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Monday, April 20, 2009 (6:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown (welcome back!)
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guests: Doug Smith

Welcome back Bobcat…and with Brunt no less! LOVE IT!

As great as Prime Time Sports is, at the heart of it, the show is really about the "perimeter" of sports - money issues, business, legal, management etc. If you really think about it, the game is discussed very little. The great thing about the NHL playoffs is we actually talk about the game itself. The first segment was completely on this subject, and it was great (but fast) radio.

Canadiens continue to be scary bad, even in the post season. They really look identical to the Sens demise of 07-08. None of it makes sense. …and following this, it looks like the Habs will continue to do what the Sens did after last season's collapse - NOTHING. It looks as if the Habs will think that this year was a 'blip' and leave everything status quo. Gainey = Murray?

In the second segment, my ears were bleeding after hearing the high-pitched Smith defending the Raptors holding onto Bosh this year. Hey Smith, is Martin in Florida a genius for holding onto Bouwmeester?

I was waiting for McCown to give his BURKE-SPIRACY theory on Fadoo. Surprisingly he didn’t. I wonder why? This smells of Fadoo-ghost writing, dare I suggest!

Wednesday, March 4 - 6:00-7:00

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Jim Kelley
Guests: Leigh Steinberg, NFL player agent; SportsBusiness Journal's Daniel Kaplan; Glenn Howard, Canadian curler
Daniel Kaplan and Leigh Steinberg spoke about the NFLPA and where things are headed with the search for the new union boss as well as the economics of the NFL. Normally, I'm a sports business fan, but didn't really enjoy both interviews…you do get the sense Bob is doing the sniffing around the NFL issues to take direct aim at the NHL.

The shot of all shots happened earlier this week (and I'm not even *close* to being a curling fan.) Below is the shot that legendary curler Glenn Howard hit. Just remarkable!


Bob asked, "Was there performing enhancing drugs involved with that shot", and Glen responded, "Just beer!". Bob's best quote from earlier in the day,

"The fact that Burke isn't pissed at the new fighting rules tells you everything you need to know about it's effectiveness"

…and a Happy Birthday to Neil Smith's Mom! (Ahhh, good 'ol Bobcat, a softie at heart!)

Thursday, March 5 - 6:00-7:00

Hockey. Baseball. Basketball. SWEET!

In the first segment on Prime Time Sports, Bob McCown and Stephen Brunt welcomed Al Morganti and Neil Smith to talk about "hockeyhockeyhockeyhockey" Al hasn't been on in a while either. Talked about the trade deadline as well as Stanley Cup predictions:

Neil Smith: (didn't answer - CHICKEN!)
Al Morganti: New Jersey (McCown agreed)

Second segment with Jeff Blair to discuss baseball - Canada rocks and looks promising for the World Baseball Championship. A-Roid looks like he needs surgery.

Jack Armstrong came in to talk about Baketball - Raptors are out. Jack commented "You are the Johnny Carson of sports radio" and brought shivers up my spine when he suggested Bobcat get Monday and Friday's off. "It's more quantity than quality (on Prime Time Sports)", McCown quipped.

Stephen Brunt quipped at the end "I'd rather be Brian Burke than Brian Colangelo." One thing is for sure - no one wants to be JP Ricciardi!!!

Wednesday, March 4 - 5:00-7:00

Here are the ways to listen to Prime Time Sports that I am aware of:
1) Podcast
2) Sportsnet TV
3) Radio
4) Rogers Digital TV, Channel 504 (maybe Bell too?)
5) Fan590 streaming

Normally, I listen/watch using option #2 and option #1 as a plan b. During certain times, Prime Time Sports isn't broadcast on TV and unfortunately for whatever reason, viewers aren't notified in advance that this will be happening. As a result, for those of us that set out PVRs, we panic when Prime Time Sports isn't broadcasted (or maybe it's just me!) Thank god for the other options on a day like today!

Elliote Friedman made a rare appearance on Prime Time Sports today. Bob McCown and Elliote Friedman have a great chemistry together, second to only the Bobcat and Brunt. For some reason due to contractual issues between CBC and Sportsnet, he rarely comes on Prime Time Sports anymore. Perhaps his history on The Score prepped him well for live tv banter, but he always holds his ground better than most that come on. Another great job this afternoon.


The way in which Bob McCown devises questions that no one else has thought of astounds me. As today is trade deadline day, I have literally been watching TV for 11 hours. I have seen Burke interviewed at least 6 times from different news sources. When Burke came on, I figure, what else could be asked from the man that hasn't already. When McCown asks questions like, "did you make more calls today or receive more", "did you make any calls to inquire about players" and "walk us through your day - how are deals devised", you know he's on his game more than anyone else. The responses that came from Burke were equally thought provoking. A podcast to check out for sure. As Stephen Brunt said to end the interview, "on a day when many days were spoken, this (interview) was different."