Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Monday, January 4th, 2010 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guests: Boxing expert, Bert Sugar; Darrell Davis, columnist for the Regina Leader-Post, Sports Illustrated's Don Banks; Rob Becker, attorney and legal analyst; Dan Dunleavy, radio play-by-play man for the World Junior Hockey Championship.

…and we're back in 2010! Better than EVER! Hope everyone out there had a great holidays and looking forward to a fantastic year here at the PTSR!

In the opening segment, McCown asked Brunt "It would be hard to send Eric Tillman to the Boys and Girls Club, wouldn't it?" ...and in that question epitomized the point of no return for Tillman. Tillman's only option as I see it is the Roughriders taking him back as no other organization would bring him on in any capacity. Being in Ottawa and remembering what impact Tillman had on this city, there is a tinge of sympathy for the predicament he's in for someone with vision shouldn't have. At the same time, at the time the allegations were made, he insisted that he would be given a complete discharge. Having said that, I don't think anyone thought the complete discharge would come under these admissions. Tillman is guilty. Ultimately the court of public opinion will judge his fate.

Bobcat also feels arenas should be located where people live and not downtown. As a result, I expect to hear absolutely NO negative feedback for the Senators building their arena in Kanata!!!

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 (4:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: John Shannon
Guests: Don Banks, Bob Elliott, Bert Sugar, Nick Kypreos, Glenn Howard, Michael Hiestand, Doug Smith.

Hiestand in trouble with NBC about comments he made on Prime Time Sports? Wow, I guess our Ameri-friends really do listen to this show, eh? Ah well, Hiestand is a big boy and has been a long time PTS contributor. Hope he doesn't change his condor on the show.

I spit out my drink when I heard McCown ask Kypreos the following, "Kipper, when you won the Hart trophy, would you feel hard done by if they changed the name?" Funniest line ever! Well done McCown!

Good chemistry between John SHHHHHHHHHHHHanon and the Bobcat. Good flow, and fantastic interchange on many occasions.

Interesting note from today's show: "Bobcat" received the name "Bobcat" as an adult. No other details provided, but enquiring minds want to know.

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, September 14, 2009 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guests: Darren Rovell, CNBC sports business reporter; Globe and Mail tennis expert, Tom Tebbutt; Al Morganti from Comcast SportsNet, and Neil Smith, former NHL general manager; Buffalo News reporter, Jerry Sullivan; Bert Sugar, boxing historian.

Kanye West and Serena Williams have NOTHING on Doug MacLean.

Absolutely insane numbers here at the 'review from the MacLean/McCown argument. Welcome and howdy everyone! Stick around and feel free to contribute to the discussion.

No discussion about Heatley or the Heatley trade early on. This was the trade that so much of us (well from Ottawa and maybe Edmonton anyways) were waiting for, for months. This was a day where Prime Time Sports really showed it's Toronto-centricity, which I find it doesn't display regularly. Perhaps it's the fact that our local sports radio station was completely absent on the weekend, choosing FOX Sports radio to be aired instead of analysis. The conversation with Morganti and Smith on the Heatley deal was simplistic and void of any detailed analysis, which again is rare for their weekly segment.

Can't wait for the Sundin speculation to begin on a daily basis on Prime Time Sports.

Brunt's new book on Gretzky is coming out shortly. In non-Bobcat fashion, he wants to actually READ this one before he talks to Brunt about it. Usually he talks to the author first and reads second. Wonder why the switch on Brunt's book?

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown - Monday, July 13 (5:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Bruce Arthur
Guests: Bob Elliott, Toronto Sun baseball columnist; boxing writer and historian, Bert Sugar; roundtable with Bob McCown, Bruce Arthur, and Michael Grange.

I'm back! Mommy and babies are doing well. RIP Michael Jackson.

I am liking Bruce Arthur. Second time I've heard him, but really impressed with his facts and putting Bob in his place a couple of times. He doesn't seemed intimidated by the Bobcat like the others in the co-host chair have been (including at times, Brunt.)

How do the Jays hang their all-star, moneyball pitcher, Doc Halladay out to dry at the all-star game? Someone who has meant this much to the team and the city. It's a shame that more people aren't going to watch games, especially when he's pitching. There isn't a 'bump' in
attendance when he's pitching, so maybe the fan reaction to him leaving will wake Rogers up. Maybe not this year, but in years to come.

Sugar was so poetic (yet again), in discussing the death of Gatti. Love to hear Brunt's take on Gatti's passing.

Part of the Round table discussion about all-star games and their worth...ho hum...same discussion 3x a year, and it's getting old (the game AND the discussion).

Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown: Tuesday April 28, 2009 (6:00-7:00)

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Jim Kelley
Guests: David Branch, OHL commissioner and president of the CHL; Bert Sugar, boxing author and historian; Canadian Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Angela James

Man, I wish I had more to write about Bert Sugar, but listen to this interview and the poetry in the man's voice…he's a legend. You can tell that McCown has been heavily influenced by his slow speech, thoughtful responses and overall mannerisms. I love how the interview ended:

McCown: "(Bert), Have a safe flight will ya?"
Sugar: "Don't tell me, tell the Pilot!!!"

Classic.

Here's the background information of another legend, Angela James.
McCown, Kelley, James, Branch, Sugar

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

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Stephen Brunt
Guests: Jeff Hunt, Bert Sugar, Alondra Johnson

Jeff Hunt came on in the first segment. I've heard Hunt on Over the Edge radio show in Ottawa on the Team 1200, and Hunt's candor on today's show was much more open…maybe it's *who* he was talking to.

Hunt was right when he said that this debate amongst residents of Ottawa has turned into a soccer/Kanata vs. a football/Ottawa debate. As mentioned earlier here, I'm a resident of Kanata (and for that matter Ottawa too.) I have no problems with building infrastructure in the Ottawa region as long as tax dollars aren't spent. What the City of Ottawa is doing is downright laughable. The City is currently spending $4/million a year to maintain the dump that is Frank Clair and Lansdowne. They will also have to spend $25 million to keep this dump up . I'm not sure what the plans of the City could be that would deal with this eye sore and "massive problem" that as little as a few months ago needed to be partially imploded due to safety concerns.

Hunt's plan can be found here.

McCown/Brunt love listening to Bert Sugar…so do I…what a legend!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - 6:00-7:00

Host: Bob McCown
Co-Host: Jim Kelley
Guests: Lawyer and legal analyst, Rob Becker; David Broughton of SportsBusiness Journal; Bert Sugar, author and boxing historian

(Hello) Becker was on and admitted he rarely goes to court...PUNK! Jim Bowden was talked about first - nothing really compelling in this story IMO. Bonds was next up to bat (sorry, had to use that line!) Bobcat is right - I am fatigued by this story. I really would just like a conclusion to it.

Not sure why, but I do like the A-Roid story more - maybe because the dude is so comical! According to Becker, the statute of limitations is probably run out on A-Roid, and he has never testified saying he 'hasn't' used steroids, so other than looking like a goof, there ain't much that will happen to him (unlike Bonds, Clemons, etc...)

David Broughton from Sports Business News came on to discuss the economic climate as it relates to MLB. (I don't think this guy has been on PTS before.) From the discussion, it looks as if ticket prices are coming down pretty much across the board to meet the recession head-on. Nothing compelling about this interview.

Burt Randolph Sugar (according to Bobcat, "one of my favorite guests") spoke to Bobcat. Burt is one of the few guests that Bobcat allows to ramble on and seems to genuinely enjoy it. They spoke about movies, etc. About Holyfield/Tyson III, each are getting 35 million in Abu Dhabi. Who would be dumb enough to go? Sugar hypothesizes that Holyfield needs the cash. Sugar asks, "Who gives a damn?" According to Bobcat, "Leaf fans will go" :)

Parting Shots:
Kelley: Someone wants Canseco dead.
Bobcat: There's never a shortage of stupid people.