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: Monday, October 5th, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Bruce Arthur
Guests: Chicago Blackhawks general manager, Stan Bowman; Tom Anselmi, VP and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment; Paul Godfrey, former president of the Toronto Blue Jays; ESPN.com's Lester Munson; baseball columnist for the Toronto Sun, Bob Elliott; Don Banks, Sports Illustrated NFL writer.

Sorry for the lack of updates last week. Both of my kids under 3 have been sick and it's been kleenex hell dealing with all the runny noses (sniff, sniff!) I blame it on McCown infecting my family with whatever he had last week through the radio!! No updates from Thursday and Friday as a result...apologies!

Blackhawks remind me of the Sens from the Yashin days - tons of potential and sky's the limit.

Why can't the NHLPA fire the Executive Committee and bring back Kelly? I think Kelly would come back under the right circumstances. If not, the NHL should hire him. It's a lot easier to leave Kelly fired than keep Kelly and fire Penny, Pink and Hardgrove of the NHLPA. It's hard to believe that the NHLPA will do what's right. More likely, they'll do what's easy as their track record clearly shows. Lester Munson and Bob McCown circled around the same themes in their interview.

Which mess would you rather be part of - the Jays or the NHLPA???

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guests: Hockey analyst for Rogers Sportsnet, Nick Kypreos; USA Today's Michael Hiestand; David Branch, CHL president and OHL commissioner; former director of players affairs for the NHLPA, Glenn Healy.

Bobcat has MORE than one vice, Brunt. Gambling and smoking! Probably the best first segment between Brunt and McCown that spread to TFC, fishing, smoking, golf, murdering, soccer hooligans, guns, vices and interests of both Brunt and McCown. Great radio!

OK, so Healy et al can't talk about what 'really' happened regarding Kelly and the NHLPA. Why doesn't someone go to Bob McCown and TELL him what happened and allow Bobcat to report this information confidentially?

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Monday, September 21, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guests: Ed Olczyk, hockey analyst for Versus and NBC; Hamilton Tiger Cats GM, Bob O'Billovich; Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner; Trent Edwards, quarterback for the Buffalo Bills.

The leafs get a bonnifide 35-goal scorer for 2 first round picks and a second? If Murray made that deal in Ottawa, he'd be fired.

On the Daly interview, I thought both McCown and Brunt were out of line a couple of times. Daly answered questions up front and a couple of times, both Brunt and McCown hinted at owners not talking as they were "afraid of getting their wrists slapped." The two times they did this, they did not give Daly an opportunity to respond, although it was more of a cheap shot than a question. Daly answered the questions honestly and it seemed (at least initially) that both McCown and Brunt had an axe to grind.

...and out of nowhere, McCown hit Daly with the referee lawsuit question. To my recollection, I don't remember this issue ever being discussed. As a listener, it would have been nice to get more context before Daly was asked the question.

On the positive, a great answer by Daly on the whole NHLPA-Kelly firing. "Shocked" was the word Daly used.

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown - Thursday, September 3 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Guests: Phil Esposito, NHL Hall of Famer; USA Today's media columnist, Michael Hiestand; interim executive director of the NHLPA, Ian Penny; ESPN baseball play-by-play announcer, Dan Shulman; Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star

Bobcat simply put, you should have hung-up on Penny's ass. It was an absolutely hideous interview with me as a listener getting nothing except for frustration from his lack of answers...

As a fan of hockey, the NHLPA firing matters. When Kelly first came onto the scene (oh, those many days ago), his candor was something that I came to worry about. He was a top prosecutor and his comments worried me about future labour strife. Through the months, his willingness to discuss tough issues and common-sense approach was one I came to really respect (especially when interviews were done on Prime Time Sports.)

Kelly's departure leaves a lot of unanswered questions, and Prime Time Sports is normally where questions are answered. This week has been disappointing for me as a listener when ultimately we are talking about the 2nd most powerful man in hockey.

The future of the NHL has never looked as bad as does now (and that's saying a ton!)

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Guests: President of the Hamilton Tiger Cats, Scott Mitchell; Anton Thun, NHL player agent; Paul Kelly, former NHLPA executive director; Vancouver Canucks GM, Mike Gillis; columnist for the Globe and Mail, Stephen Brunt.

"Stunned, saddened and disappointed." - Paul Kelly

The interview with Kelly showed one thing. He's unbelievably loyal. Almost to a fault. Although he didn't want to speak about the details of his firing, he refused to take shots at the NHLPA. Class the entire way through, and one hopes that Bobcat rips into the NHLPA when their representation comes into Prime Time Sports tomorrow. (Did I mention class?)

Best lines again from "BruCown"
McCown: "I have a new use for the Globe and Mail!"
Brunt: "You got a dog???"

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 (6:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Guests: Sports Illustrated football writer, Don Banks; Lester Munson from ESPN.com; GM of the Toronto Argonauts, Adam Rita.

Only 1 hour for the review today as the podcast was reduced due to the Jays doubleheader.

Kelly appearing on tomorrows show in his first and so far only interview after being fired from NHLPA.

Bobcat stated today, "While they are the most likable, most approachable of all professional athletes, NHL Players are collectively the most stupidest group I have encountered and demonstrated this (their lack of business knowledge) repeatedly through the years."

I simply don't understand this move. In the era of professional sports, so much is kept hidden from the people that pay the bills. Why does Heatley *really* want out? What does the NHL *really* find objectionable in Balsillie? ...and why did the NHLPA *really* fire Kelly? I'm not sure it serves everyone best by not divulging these issues, as in the age of the internet, sports radio and the wider fan interest in sports, rumours and speculation carry with it more legitimacy than ever before.

In this case, the NHLPA and their constituents (by their silence) look completely unjustified in firing Kelly. Perhaps more importantly it leaves a downright scary glimpse into what the future of the NHLPA and collective bargaining with the NHL could be.

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.

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Tuesday April 21, 2009 (6:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guests: NHLPA Executive Director, Paul Kelly; David Leadbetter, golf coach

McCown has been all over the Coyotes situation for (at least) the past 2-3 years. I recall Bettman saying in an interview that the Coyotes weren't getting cash infusions but were only getting advances to their share of the pie which was going to come anyways in the off season. Bettman has had a knack of getting franchises out of these kinds of binds by bring the knight riding the white horse to the rescue (note: reminder to myself to send Melnyk a thank you note!) To quote Paul Kelley, "(Bob) I like you am a little bit sceptical." How many times can Bettman do this? With Tampa? With Nashville? With Dallas? According to Bobcat - up to 8 different NHL franchises are up for sale.

I'm sure David Leadbetter was interesting. Heck - looking for other writers for the blog exactly for cases like this!! Drop me an email if interested!

Interesting that Brunt commented on the Hawks saying that they haven't won a cup since 1961, bad ownership, enormously long drought, and a backwards franchise. But if you play good hockey, people will appreciate it and turn it back into a hockey town and make it work. C'mon Brunt, doesn't this logic work for football in Ottawa??