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 - Thursday, July 22 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: John Shannon
Guests: Rob Becker, legal analyst; the Golf Channel's Iain Page; Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner; Keith Law from ESPN; defensive end for the Edmonton Eskimos, Kitwana Jones.

Bobcat - you are GIVING books away??? To whom?!? How'z 'bout you signing my book that was bought on the first day it was released (the FIRST edition!)

It must be hard for Bobcat to show restraint on Daly. After all, he has called the guy a liar before regarding the Coyotes mess (and truthfully, he is!) Having said that, today the two were cordial, and even 'playful' with each other. It amazes me that all the guys in the sports business, or most, have pretty thick skin.

Thanks Bob for not taking a run at the Sens when discussing the issue of the exercise bikes! It was a softball that you could have killed us on, and you laid off. Thanks for becoming an honorary Sens fan!!

So, what are the odds that Bobcat will be away on Monday....ohh, how I hate Mondays!!!

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown - Monday, July 20 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown

Co-Host: Bruce Arthur

Guests: Daryl Jones, Research Edge LLC managing director; Toronto Blue Jays radio play-by-play announcer, Alan Ashby; roundtable with Bob McCown, John Shannon, and James Deacon.

(My opinion on the Heatley situation, which continues to be ignored by Prime Time Sports:)
There is a parallel between the Heatley-Sens situation and the Halladay-Jays situation. As Beeston said a couple of days ago (paraphrased), "If someone wants Doc, it's gonna have to *hurt* them with the pieces they are going to give up. He's a quality pitcher and you are going to have several quality pieces to get him".

I applaud Murray for 'standing pat'. What's the worst that could happen if Heatley is forced to return? Or if Heatley accepts the move to Edmonton, but the Oil don't put up any more compensation to deal with the 4 mill the Sens dished out? There's no way Heater would sit out on the Sens, especially during an Olympic year. This decision will be as pivotal for the Sens as is the Doc decision is with the Jays. It will set the Sens up well for the next few years or set us back a few if the decision isn't the right one. If there are no suitors, I say wait it out and bring Heater back.

OK Bobcat, let's can the baseball discussion and get to the story behind you and Watson... What happened? Why is he such an a-hole?

EDIT: Reader Sensfan commented that Heatley was discussed to death while I was away...apologies to PTS and Bobcat. Well, what did the glassed-eyed-one have to say on Heatley??

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

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guests: Thursday: Nick Kypreos, hockey analyst for Rogers Sportsnet; the Toronto Star's Doug Smith; George Stroumboulopoulos from "The Hour" on CBC; Rob Becker, New York-based attorney; Mitch Melnick, show host for Team 990 in Montreal.

"If someone pretended to be me on Twitter, I wouldn't sue Twitters ass, I'd sue his mother!"

The bias about Martin as a Coach is laughable. The Sens were the highest scoring team when Martin left and haven't been back there since! Boring hockey, probably...but the results are solid, insofar as bringing the Sens to the post season (which for the Habs and Leafs are about the
only thing that matters these days!)

Strombolopolous suggests a "Jay Dog" that has Blue ketchup is the answer to engaging the Jays in the cultural landscape in T.O.??? Strombo talks the way I would talk if I was ever on the show - fast and asking more questions than answering...LOVED IT and hope he's back!

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Monday, June 1, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guests: Bill Walker, spokesman for Jim Balsillie; GM of the Hamilton Tiger Cats, Bob O'Billovich; roundtable with Bob McCown, Stephen Brunt, and Gord Kirke.

Let's get June 9th already to decide what the next step is for the Coyotes issue. Whatever is the result, you know there will be appeals and this will drag through the courts, but at least it's a new chapter. I'm getting tired of being on the same page!!

If Bobcat's assertion is that the success of the Wings, while indeed talented and possessing intelligent management, has to do as much with 'luck' as anything, then do the Ottawa Senators also have the same 'luck' as a backdrop for their lack of playoff success?

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Wednesday April 29, 2009 (6:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Jim Kelley
Guests: Ken King, president and CEO of the Calgary Flames; Comcast SportsNet's Al Morganti, and former GM of the New York Rangers, Neil Smith; head golf club designer for Callaway Golf, Roger Cleveland.

It's great to hear Morganti and Smith again and hear the boys talk hockey which has been incredible over the past couple of weeks!

In argument #28 in Bob McCown's book "The 100 Greatest Hockey Arguments", McCown argued that "The Sens have earned the reputation of choking dogs." He goes into detail explaining that in the 11 years the Sens made the playoffs in a row, it translated to the following:

• One Cup Final
• One Eastern Conference Final
• Four series victories in nine years
• Five first round knockouts

On today's show, we heard from Ken King, Prez of the Flames after a disastrous knock out by the Flames the night before from the up and coming Chicago Blackhawks. King is a long time guest of Prime Time Sports and his candor is normally straight up, and if he can't answer a question, he'll say so.

I couldn't believe how easy both McCown and Kelley were on King. I realize Kelley doesn't have any previous connection with the Flames (that I know of) as opposed to the Sens who kicked out a good friend of his, John Muckler. Kelley has enjoyed taking shots at the Sens, including GM Murray and their playoff history.

Bobcat on the other hand seemed like he had no interest dissecting why things went awry nor leveling any criticism the way both he and Kelley did when Sens Management has been on in the past. Understood that I don't remember Murray being on the show, but other Management on the Sens have been.

...and the comparison McCown had of Iginla to Yzerman...wow...for Sens fans, that sounds all together familiar. Only problem is, Yzerman's story is so special that it can't be repeated. Players like Iginla and Alfredsson will never be able to carry their team and make those around them better (with one or two exceptions in their career) like Yzerman did.

Bottom line - 4 straight first round exits by the Flames may not earn them the title of "choking dogs", but they certainly have earned half of that title (I'll let you all choose).

Prime Time Sports: Wednesday, March 31st, 2009

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Jim Kelley
Guests: Pat Brisson, Don Banks, Jack Armstrong
2010 - the year the cap in the NHL will drop a minimum of $5 million...The cap will hit no team harder than the Sens with the 7 year deals for Spezza/Heatley at 8 million+ per year. Check these numbers out:
2009/10 - 35 million on Heatley, Spezza and Alfie
2010/11 - 23 million on Heatley, Spezza and Alfie

2009/10 will be ok for the Sens as the cap should remain above the $50 million mark. What the hell are the Sens going to doin 10/11 if the cap goes down to $45 million (according to Pat Brisson on Prime Time Sports this afternoon)? 1/2 the salary on 3 players? In 2011/12, the Sens have committed 30 million on only 6 players….YIKES! ATTN: OTTAWA MEDIA…you may wanna get on this story!! To see your team and how brutal the next few years will be, click here.

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown - Monday, March 23 (6:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guest: Brian Cooper
As the Gillette saga in Montreal unfolds, I will be really interested to see how McCown handles Brunt's personal relationship with Gillette. When the MLSE had their Brian-Burke-for-GM search committee and Gord Kirke was part of it, it was amazing to see how McCown didn't back down from asking questions to Kirke on the status of the search. McCown was relentless and pushed Kirke like crazy during those months. I'm not so sure McCown will be pushing Brunt for more info on Gillette, given how close Brunt and Gillette are. But he certainly should. Brunt may not know anything more, but if the Habs ownership questions continue, it will be impossible for McCown to ask Brunt questions that 'only a friend would know.' As McCown stated tonight, "It's just barely beginning."

Who would have thought the Habs would be more screwed up than the Sens?

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown - Monday, March 16 - 6:00-7:00

Host: Bob McCown
Guests: Roundtable with Stephen Brunt, and Gord Kirke
A touching intro by Kirke who just returned from Kandahar with NHL stars, and Canadian celebrities. Another earth shattering revelation this week - Bob McCown and Alan Frew from Glass Tiger are 'buds'…another who knew moment!

The boys discussed the World Baseball Championship in the first segment. If I'm Rogers, I spend the extra dough to get a more competitive team asap. At least spend money to bringing in someone brighter than non-productive, pencil necked tool that is JP.

Interesting discussion on Goaltending. McCown pondered, "Stanley cups are certainly a function of the team you have in front of you." Man, the Sens wished that were true Bobcat!!

Monday, March 9 - 6:00-7:00

Host: McCown
Co-Host: Kelley, Grange

Kelley and the gang had no problem understanding the coaching move the Gainey Canadiens made, but had problems when the Sens did the same. The respect that they have for Gainey to go behind the bench is dramatically different than the arrows that were slung towards Sens GM Murray.

Kelley rambled on for what seemed like forever about the Bills management ineptitude, and the manifestation of this fact in hiring T.O.. Even Bob McCown tried to jump in to reason with Kelley, but Kelley was nothing short of possessed!

Bob McCown then took a shot at Sportsnet for interrupting a WBC game that had been on for 8 innings to show the Canada-US WBC game. My, how things have changed (see below from wikipedia:

"On March 14, 1987, Dave Hodge was the in-studio host as the CBC carried a game between the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs , which ended early. The network then switched over to a regional game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens for the end of the third period. It ended in a tie just before 11:00 PM Eastern Time, meaning it would require overtime. CBC executives, however, decided that only viewers in Quebec, who had seen the game from the start, would get to continue watching after 11:00, while the rest of the network would cut away. "That's the way things go these days in sports and at this network," Hodge said in disgust, flipping his pencil in the air. "We'll leave you in suspense. Good night from Hockey Night in Canada." Hodge was replaced the following week by western correspondent Ron MacLean and eventually fired from the network"

I think radio vets like Bob McCown owe a debt to guys like Dave Hodge - what difference time makes, eh?

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

Roundtable with Bob McCown, Stephen Brunt, James Deacon, and John Wells
"Due to your performance Brunt, you are getting exactly what you are worth…NOTHING!" - Bob McCown.

(I really have to start a javascript quotation generator with Bob McCown's quotes!)

A wonderful exchange off the top (which turned into an entire segment) between Brunt and McCown on Brunt wanting to talk about "Tobogganing". McCown maintained he's going to be excited about the games, but don't expect him to be excited up until a week before and a week after. As this "unholy alliance" continues, it's going to be really interesting to see how McCown's mood is going to affect what the network wants to achieve. A lot is at stake, and I'm sure Bobcat will get a talking to as we get closer to put on the pompoms and do the rah-rah-rah thing more and keep the comments against the alliance to a minimum! (Anyone from Prime Time Sports want to email me on that hypothesis, feel free and bobcat_idol@hotmail.com!)

Hey Deacon in response to your comment "Imagine the Ottawa fans thought about Gerber's win?" - we thought exactly what Bob McCown said 2 seconds later…we hope he takes the leafs RIGHT into 9th place! Go Gerber GO! The highlight of my season will be when Gerber looses the last game of the season and costs the leafs from getting into the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. (Of course, there is an alternative which my mind mentally cannot go to!)

Then, shock of shocks, the roundtable started to discuss my hometown Kanata. Lots of guessing here and not much of homework done by the panel. For the record, the links to both proposals are located below:

Ottawa's MLS bid
and
Ottawa's CFL bid
Melnyk is asking for land to be donated by the City that he wishes to build MLS Soccer on. I hate Bob McCown's take on the CFL not returning to Ottawa based on it's previous failures. I have heard this time and time again, and to hear the 4 guys from Toronto take shots against what's happening in Ottawa. Truth is Bobcat, as a former Renegades Season Ticket holder, we have had attendance that was equal to the product on the field. SI was going to write an article the year the Renegades folded that the Ottawa CFL team was the most "loosing-est" (Bobcat, you may cringe now), franchise of all time. You can't continue to go for support to the public when the ownership is so incompetent.

In terms of the relationship between the CFL and MLS, what is happening is all part of negotiating, the EXACT same way it was with the Leafs and Raptors looking for facilities. I'm not saying necessarily that it will work, but the posturing is the same. Where I have been influenced by Bobcat is, as long as my public money doesn't go into the franchise (land or otherwise), I'm a-ok.

Not sure of Wells said more than 10 words the entire 2 hours. (In a loving way, of course!)

...and Prime Time Sports, brought to you by Harvey's? Very cool shout-out Bobcat!

Thursday, February 26 - 6:00-7:00

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Jim Kelley
Guests: President and CEO of Sports and Entertainment L.P., Brian Cooper; NHL player agent, Anton Thun; Greg Logan, Newsday writer

The need for NHL clubs to have access funds is hitting an alarming rate. 50% of NHL teams need access to NHL reserves this year, but yet according to Bettman,life is beautiful:

(to the guys in Toronto with Bobcat, please don't show him the above link or he'll jump from the studio offices!)

$5.69/ticket for seasons tickets in Tampa Bay in the nosebleeds next year? Giddy-up! At least with the crappy economy, we'll see better deals for tickets. We've already seen the deals in Ottawa already. (Mind you, that probably has to do more with the Sens stinking up the arena, than the economic climate!)

Thursday, February 26 - 5:00-6:00

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Jim Kelley

Got a comment to provide my feedback instead of a full summary of the show. Will try that today.

The comments on Phoenix relocating can't help but make me look at how Bettman saved the Sens. In the late-90s (or so), the financial problems the Sens were having were massive. I am convinced that if it weren't for Bettman, the Sens would be gone. Doesn't mean I love the man, but his stubborness allowed only for a guy like Melnyk to come forward as opposed to a Balsille-wannabe shipping this town out of town. That in addition to the Sens competitiveness at the same time really ensured that this team will be in Ottawa for the long haul (or at least until Melnyk runs out of cash - Sens fans, repeat after me - GO ECONOMY GO!!!)

Some more discussion on Tiger Woods returning and how the marketing is really amped . Here are the commercials the Boys were talking about:

Monday, February 23rd - 6:00-7:00

Well, both Kelley and Brunt are part of the mini-roundtable tonight. (For the record, Kelley kept the co-host chair, and Brunt took the 'guest' chair!)

Tom Renney was discussed and the relevant merits of him as a Coach. I agree with discussion that surrounded Tortorella as incoming Head Coach. As far as cashing two cheques goes - in the rare times it happens in ones life, I say TAKE IT! :)

The boys discussed the trade deadline and how it's more for show then anything else. Bobcat brought up the point that he brought up in his book saying that the trade deadline is all hype and even the busiest teams never materializes into anything significant in the standings.

I tend to disagree - the pressure on GMs to make a deal only occurs twice during the year - the draft and trade deadline. Other than these times, it's virtually quiet during the NHL year. The media scruitny on GMs will push them into actions they normally wouldn't make. I predict there will be a blockbuster deal this year (lecalvier/spezza.)

They then proceeded to do a cross Canada tour spending (shock of shocks) considerable amount of time on the Leafs. Kelley continues to have a major axe to grind on Murray as he's a feverish Muckler supporter. The reality is Murray has had one draft. There isn't any decision Murray has made that has been questionable at the time he made it. The age-old scare tactics of PTS really came out when they spoke about how viable the Sens would be if they were on the decline. Even in a brutal economy, the Sens are 2nd in attendance (source). The Sens have built a solid base here and this team isn't going anywhere...

In terms of the Spezza-Heatley debate, it's sad to see the 3 wise men not take note of Heatley's NTC. Heatley simply can't be moved anywhere, unless he waives his NTC. Spezza is the only option for the Sens. Not sure why this point is missed so much by the media (not only PTS).

In summary, here's how they broke everything down:
Sens - buyers/sellers - who the heck knows?
Leafs - sellers
Habs - buyers
Flames - buyers
Oilers - not sellers
Canucks - buyers

The worst Coach in the NHL according to Bobcat - Wayne Gretzky.

Parting shots:
Kelley - 99% of trade rumors you hear are false, so calm down...
Brunt - Jays are screwed
Bobcat - yep, Jays are screwed

(Just a quick edit - I worried a lot about agreeing with everything the Bobcat said, but this inaugural post makes me feel much better!)

ps. what do you guys think?