I've had enough. Sign the petition.

**larry** · 05-12-2006 10:31 AM

Bob Cole has got to go.

www.firebobcole.com

Take a look, sign the petition and pass it on to every Sens fan you know!

**Shushu** · 05-12-2006 11:19 AM

Awesome!!...Love it. Signed it. Although I think they should throw Don Cherry's name in there....and the guy who painted "Thank you Leaf Fans" on their ice, instead of like everyone else who just painted "Thank you Fans".

**LobWedge** · 05-12-2006 11:37 AM

Why would you want him fired? He's one of the best play callers of all time. Is it because you percieve that he shows some allegiance to one particular team? Here's a bit of free info for you, every play-by-play man in the league is also a fan.

Are you saying that Dean Brown or Dave Schreiber don't show some preference toward the Sens? Mike Emerick to the Rangers/Devils? How about Mike Lange with the Penguins? Jim Hughson with the Canucks? The list goes on...

"Boo hoo, my homers don't get to call the game!"

Get a grip...

**el tigre** · 05-12-2006 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by LobWedge

Why would you want him fired? He's one of the best play callers of all time. Is it because you percieve that he shows some allegiance to one particular team? Here's a bit of free info for you, every play-by-play man in the league is also a fan.

It has nothing to do with his allegiance or lack thereof. He's gone senile, or blind, or something.

Learning the names of the players would be a start. I'm sick of constantly hearing that a play was made by "the Ottawa player". He's supposed to learn their names and numbers so he can tell us who they are.

And although Chara is probably the easiest Sens player to recognize on the ice, apparently nobody told Bob and Harry that his first name is Zdeno. They both seem to think his first name is "Big" - or maybe they think his last name is "Bigchara". Yeah, he's a tall guy - I think most people know that now.

Learning the rules would help too. Especially the one about a delayed penalty being called when the offending team gets possession of the puck. I realize they can't see everything, but after hearing "Oh its the _____ that are getting the penalty" for the 100th time when everyone else in the rink knows what's going on, it starts to get a little stale.

**LobWedge** · 05-12-2006 12:08 PM

So then why is the petition on behalf of Sens fans? Seems to me that it's venting because your overpaid, under-achieving team is on the brink of elimination yet again...

**Shivas Irons** · 05-12-2006 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by LobWedge

He's one of the best play callers of all time.

...GOOD ONE!

It's not that he's a homer, he should be - he's from Toronto, and I'm fine with that. Dean Brown does the same thing, but he usually knows the names of the playes on BOTH teams.
Even a marginal play-by-play caller should at least learn the players names, and let's face it, some of the stuff Bob says doesn't even make sense. I think Neale and Cole are hammered half the time they're doing the games.

**Golfbum** · 05-12-2006 12:25 PM

I am a SHARKS FAN and even I want to see Bob Cole retire. He calls players by the wrong name, he doesn't know what penalties are being called. He constantly has to remind us there is no score, meanwhile there is a box with the score and time right on our screen (Bob must think we are still watching B&W TV's from the days the score was not shown on the screen)
There are far better play by play guys with CBC.
Bob has had a good run, he has plenty of hockey knowledge, but his time in the booth as play by play should come to an end after this season.
Everyone has to retire at some point in their life.

**Indio** · 05-12-2006 03:05 PM

I don't say Cole should be fired, but he and Neale should definitely retire. It has nothing to do with being 'homers' or lack of hockey knowledge but it has everything to do with statements like these gems.........

1. Alfredson shoots, and Emry makes the save
2. The Ottawa players break out of the zone leaving the Sabres player in their wake....... (doesn't know their names)
3. The Big guy Chara is...... (Chara wasn't on the ice)
4. If he would have scored instead of missing the net wide, we would have a tie game.....
5. Whats wrong with Arvedson in this series (self explanitory)
6. And the Leafs lose a close one in Overtime (Game 3 of Ottawa vs Buffalo)
7. You have to wonder if Hasek will ever wear a blue jersey again... (hmmmmm)

Need I go on? They just don't prepare themselves for a game properly. I don't have a problem with them favoritizing one team over the other, every home broadcaster does but good lord do we have to go through wrong names, no names at all and absolutely assenine comments like #4????

**Shivas Irons** · 05-12-2006 03:14 PM

My favourite from last night was "the refs really wanted a penalty there" ...huh? If they wanted a penalty they would call one.
Cole was also good enough to point out that while the play was in the Sabres end Emery wasn't really doing anything. What a brilliant insight!
Either he's drunk or he's senile.

**Indio** · 05-12-2006 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Shivas Irons

My favourite from last night was "the refs really wanted a penalty there" ...huh? If they wanted a penalty they would call one.
Cole was also good enough to point out that while the play was in the Sabres end Emery wasn't really doing anything. What a brilliant insight!
Either he's drunk or he's senile.

There were so many last night I lost tabs on them but yes your right, I had forgotten about that one.... those pesky refs wanting a penalty and somone wouldn't call it for them..... sheesh, the nerve of those hockey players not to call a penalty on themselves.

**jonf** · 05-12-2006 05:29 PM

Bob Cole and Harry Neale both need to retire, and it has nothing to do with their Leaf bias. It has everything to do with their senility and inability to call a game. Took them about five minutes last night to realize that Pothier scored, despite the fact that he's not six foot ten, he's not number three, and that Chara wasn't on the ice. The graphic finally came up that said Potheir scored, and they just sounded so shocked. In the third period, schaeffer and roy, I believe, got offsetting minors. Took these two guys, in the arena, 5 minutes to decide who got the penalties, whether it was 5 on 5, 4 0n 4, or a power play. They are absolutely clueless. They can't figure out who has done what, what team they are on, why it was a penalty, how a player got injured, etc. Maybe these two used to be great commentators (although I doubt that), but they certainly aren't now. Just because their voices have become synonymous with HNIC, it doesnt mean that they SHOULD be.

Bob cole, last night, when Eaves let the puck go at the blueline because he would have been offside, was going crazy. He couldn't figure out for the life of him why Eaves had "turned it over". "why did he let that go, what a foolish play" etc. Shockingly, Harry Neale jumped in and actually said something intelligent, reminding Bob Cole that he would have been offside. I tell you what, I ran downstairs to the basement and grabbed my hockey helmet as quick as I could, certain that the sky was about to fall.

**jeffc** · 05-12-2006 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by LobWedge

Why would you want him fired? He's one of the best play callers of all time. Is it because you percieve that he shows some allegiance to one particular team? Here's a bit of free info for you, every play-by-play man in the league is also a fan.

Are you saying that Dean Brown or Dave Schreiber don't show some preference toward the Sens? Mike Emerick to the Rangers/Devils? How about Mike Lange with the Penguins? Jim Hughson with the Canucks? The list goes on...

"Boo hoo, my homers don't get to call the game!"

Get a grip...

I guess the difference is that Bob and Harry work for the CBC, which at last I checked, was a taxpayer funded network, not a leaf funded network. Furthermore, there inability to actually learn the players names is a bit irritating.

**EDSGOLF** · 05-12-2006 10:03 PM

LOL, funny website!

Andru · 05-14-2006 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by jeffc

I guess the difference is that Bob and Harry work for the CBC, which at last I checked, was a taxpayer funded network, not a leaf funded network. Furthermore, there inability to actually learn the players names is a bit irritating.

Get a grip buddy. HNIC pays for itself it's profitable. Your 5 cent contribution to the CBC isn't going towards any of their salaries.

**Law** · 05-14-2006 01:20 PM

I though they had a moment or two last night, like when Ottawa was on the powerplay in the third, with the game @ 2-2 and "a shot, resulting in a goal would allow the Ottawa Sens to tie up this game" Umm the game is tied, thanks for coming out. I think they are more comical than anything and should not be fired yet. What will they come up with next?

**Golfer_Gofer** · 05-14-2006 02:00 PM

I am a leaf fan.. and i watch hockey night in canada every saturday all season long.. and for the past 2 or 3 seasons both Bob Cole and Harry Neil have been the worst play by play / colour man team I've ever seen. Bob Cole never knows what the stopage of play is for and Harry Neil doesn't even seem to know which team Toronto is playing.. Both men need to retire and let younger play by play / colour team step in... PS.. Sens suck

**jeffc** · 05-14-2006 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Andru

Get a grip buddy. HNIC pays for itself it's profitable. Your 5 cent contribution to the CBC isn't going towards any of their salaries.

look...there's a big perception issue in my opinion. Whether or not HNIC funds itself is not the issue. It's run under the CBC umbrella and should be less biased that it is with respect to Neale and Bob and their Leafs centric schedule.

Andru · 05-14-2006 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by jeffc

look...there's a big perception issue in my opinion. Whether or not HNIC funds itself is not the issue. It's run under the CBC umbrella and should be less biased that it is with respect to Neale and Bob and their Leafs centric schedule.

Nonsense. HNIC is there to make money. The leafa centric schedule is because they(Leafs) draw ratings, which generates advertising revenue.

The 'bias' you refer to, is Ottawa's own insecurity. I can't help you with that. The truth is we've all been through it before with the Jays back in the 80's we all thought they ( NBC. CBS ) were bias. I've watched a few of those games on the Classic sports staion and they weren't bias. It was me. it was us.

If you and every other sens fan is willing to dish out another 100 bucks a year in taxes to support showing more senators games, then set up the fund to cover the loss in revenue they'll absorb, and put a contract in place. Otherwise, stop complaining, no one owes the sens fan anything. Ottawa is the easiest place in Canada to get NHL tickets. and they're cheap too. Besides a few. weekday, out of town games, virtually all sens games are on tv. so what's the problem?

**jonf** · 05-15-2006 02:28 AM

Here's my theory. I can't disagree that Toronto has the most fans in Canada. BUT, they are also the most hated team. Most of the time, if Toronto is the game showed on CBC, I just won't watch, and I think its the same with many non-Leaf fans. If, on the other hand, there's a game with any other Canadian team playing, I will watch. My theory is this. You put the leafs on, and all the leafs fans watch, but nobody else does. You put anybody else on, and most non-leaf fans will watch, and many leaf fans too, because (for the most part) Leaf fans don't seem to have anything against other teams. Not showing the leafs would piss off a good number of people, but I don't know that it would hurt in the ratings

**jbrace** · 05-15-2006 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Shivas Irons

It's not that he's a homer, he should be - he's from Toronto...

For the millionth time...He's NOT from Toronto!

Originally Posted by Golfer_Gofer

I am a leaf fan.. and i watch hockey night in canada every saturday all season long.. and for the past 2 or 3 seasons both Bob Cole and Harry Neil have been the worst play by play / colour man team I've ever seen. Bob Cole never knows what the stopage of play is for and Harry Neil doesn't even seem to know which team Toronto is playing.. Both men need to retire and let younger play by play / colour team step in... PS.. Sens suck

Agree 100%

**sharkhark** · 05-15-2006 09:33 AM

I don't mind bob cole. He is like the favourite old uncle of yours who occasionally forgets who you are.
Zipping in and out of the present.
His familiar voice from the past, mixing up names etc is comforting.
The last game he said at one point "The crowd is really urging their team on now to get a goal, chanting let's go sabres, let's go sabres."
..uh..I thought they were in Ottawa.

Andru · 05-15-2006 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by jonf

Here's my theory. I can't disagree that Toronto has the most fans in Canada. BUT, they are also the most hated team. Most of the time, if Toronto is the game showed on CBC, I just won't watch, and I think its the same with many non-Leaf fans. If, on the other hand, there's a game with any other Canadian team playing, I will watch. My theory is this. You put the leafs on, and all the leafs fans watch, but nobody else does. You put anybody else on, and most non-leaf fans will watch, and many leaf fans too, because (for the most part) Leaf fans don't seem to have anything against other teams. Not showing the leafs would piss off a good number of people, but I don't know that it would hurt in the ratings

That's a theory, if that were actually the case. CBC would do it as it would mean more dough for the network.

Not watching the Leafs because you have a pre determined hate on for the team is your choice. That's your protest, it's a free country, your allowed to make that decision. Turning off the TV is always a good decision regardless of the motives.

People watch if you like the leafs. you cheer for them if you don't you cheer for anaheim or whomever they're playing. But ppl watch. The question I have is, Since the flames are out, are Calgary fans cheering for edmonton now?

**Go_Leafs_Go** · 05-15-2006 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by sharkhark

I don't mind bob cole. He is like the favourite old uncle of yours who occasionally forgets who you are..

How very true.

**lngdrvcantputt** · 05-15-2006 01:17 PM

i had to get my 2 cents, in here, ok i agree they are somewhat biased, but like everyone as said all home town color commentators, will favor their team, same goes with my team the Canadiens. But reading some of mostly SENS FANS comments, u guys dont know hockey yourselves, ONE GUY "jonf" starts talikng for everyone else "if your not a leafs fan you dont watch leafs hockey" BS. We tru hockey fans, probably hate u SENS FANS more then LEAFS FANS. SENS FANS have to be the cockiest fans out there, probably reflects on the team "guaranteeing a cup for their beloved fans" how the hell can u predict the cup winner in October. U guys call yourselves fans, i guarantee that within 10 years, the Senators will be gone from Ottawa, just like the Renegades, Ottawa needs to be contenders eveery year or no one will show up, i guarrantee if Ottawa falls below what is considered a mediocre team, the franchise will have no choice but to move, and thats because u stuborn so called sports fans, really dont know sports stick to golf.

**Shivas Irons** · 05-15-2006 01:38 PM