Did you know that the NHL Network's NHL on the Fly does not have its own website? And did you know that the NHL Network doesn't have its own website? As the flagship program for the only sports network reporting on the NHL, it is utterly amazing to me that these two media outlets do not have their own websites. Upon realizing this, my first reaction was to categorize this fail as just another example of how archaic, poorly prioritized and woefully inept the League seems handle its media.
Adding this complaint observation to an already long list that includes the fact that neither its local contracts with all Fox Sports channels, nor Center Ice have "HD" broadcasting requirements, it becomes easy to believe the rumor that Doc Emrick is still broadcasting the play by play with a transistor radio plug in his ear.
And if that is the case, perhaps we've all been too hard on Pierre McGuire... You make the call.
more after the break...
more after the break...
Really though what should I have expected when less than 10% of the players in the league have twitter accounts, and those that do get censored by the league? (BIZNASTY2point0 for the win)
But the NHL's technological inadequacies are not the reason I started this blog, merely an incredulous aside as I went searching the interwebs for today's NHL on the FLY broadcast. This blog is really about flawed, lazy gossip mongering and unsupportable analysis on the only damn sports news show that covers the NHL.
See Dave Amber and Mike Johnson, who hosted NHL on the FLY this morning, recapping last night's games, are maroons. And if they are not maroons, then the fools writing their copy are maroons.
It was bad enough that they decried Ryan Kesler's 3rd period routine wrist shot in a 6-0 routing over a struggling Phoenix team as the "play of the night", over Johan Franzen's historic 5 goals, and the Dipietro-Johnson brawl....
How funny was it to see Ricko-Suave laughing as Johnson grabbed his sweater. And BTW, anyone who thinks Rick "got dropped" probably ought to consider that what likely went down was Rick saying, "Alright you're mad, get one good shot in and then I'm protecting my head."
But then, Mr. Mike Johnson waxed ecstatic about Jimmy Howard's "failing" career, proclaiming that Howard is lacking confidence, convinced that the team has no faith in him and that he has to "fight for the No. 1 goaltending spot", all apparently evidenced by the Nabokov offer.
How sad is it when a lawyer living in Los Angeles, who has never played the game and cannot even score on "Holograph Richter" @ the HHOF, has better insight and understanding of the league than a former Maple Leaf who is supposed to be a top notch sports broadcaster?
For the record, Mr. Johnson, you - or the people who write your copy- are misguided, maroons or mere mouthpieces. And if you didn't do your own research, and don't write your own copy, then I extend my apologies for calling you a maroon, but I re-emphasize all lazy, gossipy, mouthpiece criticisms.
Here is why you are embarrassingly wrong about Jimmy Howard.
A 25-8-3 record sets him atop of the league with wins, tied for first with TT who has a 25-5-6 record.
Further- Jimmy Howard is currently 8th in league for GAA. He's still winning game after game covering the net for a team that has spent the last month rolling more lines of Grand Rapid Griffins than Detroit Red Wings. Oh yea, and he's doing it without a back up (sorry Joey!) , while coming off an injury.
And let me remind you, Mr. Johnson, how the "26 year old" rookie carried our broken and battered team in the playoffs last year. When you pontificated that the Wings went hunting for Nabby because Jimmy is unproven in the playoffs, I seriously wondered if you had ever played the game. How can you possibly imply -with a straight face- that Nabby has a better showing in the playoffs than Jimmy? Sure he's seen a few extra overtime periods, but that perennial second rounder has not yet proven to anyone that he has what it takes. In fact quite a few people would tell you Nabby has proven just the opposite.... But this is not about Nabby, who I do like, who I do think is an elite goat-tender and whom I would have loved to see come to Detroit. As a back up.
The Wings are NOT looking for a starting goaltender and if they were, do you really think Wiley Ken-otye Holland would pick a likely out-of-shape, un-worked 35 year old from the KHL? The Wings-Nabby deal was either a favor to Nabby, or intended to fill the void Ozzie's surgery has created, to bring a still very skilled, top notch goaltender into the fold as a bargain back up and insurance. Even Holland basically said the salary was too good a deal to pass up.
On what basis do you support the claim that Red Wing Organization was looking for anything other than a back up/insurance/ some rest time for the goaltender that has been almost singlehandedly managing the net for the Wings since last March?
Further Mr. Johnson: on what basis can you possibly justify implying that Jimmy Howard doesn't deserve and hasn't earned starting goaltender status on any team in this league, let alone a perpetually elite team? How on earth can you possible argue that the Wings have even sent any mixed signals? It's very clear to all of Detroit, the entire Detroit Red Wing organization and her fans everywhere that Jimmy is the real deal. Everyone has confidence in Howard, and he continues to prove his elite status night after night.
For every answer you have to these questions I repeat: Jimmy Howard is currently the most winning goalie in the league (with TT) and in his rookie season he played like a BOSS for the Wings 2010 playoff run.
Nabby was a lark that would have been a nice back up if it worked out. The Detroit Red Wings have no doubts about Howard and what he is capable of. Jimmy Howard has no doubts about himself, his abilities or his standing as the Starting Goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings. The fans have no doubts.
So please. Stop being lazy, and give some thought to your on air analysis. Stop instigating thoughtless rumor and stirring controversy where there is none. We take our Wings seriously in Hockeytown, and we will call you out.
Now about that "play of the night":
So, in short: "I miss Dave Reid"
ReplyDeleteMore importantly, why has On The Fly recently gone from showing every goal in a highlights package with the commentary to only doing that for some of the games, with the rest being chopped up and having the analysts talk over them? Was much better how it was before.
I noticed that too. Seriously, I might have to re-think my distaste for Mr. Reid if his influence would change things.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'd begrudge him knowing more than some of these guys, analysis-wise. But that's just because I'm stubborn.
Reid is certainly a better analyst than Johnson. But NOT Weekes. Kevin Weekes is the BOSS.
BTW- why did we have to suffer MacKenzie's mug on "OTF" recently? there is a reason he's a journalist.
You may have answered your own question with the words "former Maple Leaf".
ReplyDeleteBilly Jaffe said something about Howard recently too during a Versus intermission break. Basically the same thing as the former Maple Leaf - that signing Nabokov meant the Wings weren't happy with the goaltending. I never thought for a second the Wings were thinking of replacing him, just that with the timing of the signing (Osgood having hernia surgery and, immediately before the signing, Joey MacDonald's utter failure during Howard's brief injury), it's pretty clear the Wings needed to sign a capable backup so Howard wouldn't have to play the next 30-something games in a row. But apparently Jaffe and former Maple Leaf had other ideas...