never were a fan if they tune out because of the panel
Exactly!
The TSN panel was down a couple pints with Dunigan retired and Milt on indefinite leave (I suspect Milt will return sooner vs. later to the panel as the guy is addicted to cameras). Looks like Carnival Barker doesnāt like to travel west anymore and the rest of the guys are prepping to be on panels in their own games this week.
PLOP (Lapolice) is now the most versatile guy at TSN - he can panel, coachās show, sideline report or do colour. Heās great at coaching breakdowns, average or slightly better at all other functions. BUT HEāS SUPREMELY versatile.
Also have to believe Dunigan will return around Labour Day if heās feeling alright and put together a half-season of work at TSN - a few colorman games, a few panel appearances before bidding adieu live-on-air.
TSN woulda loved to have brought in Doug Brown as an analyst but Brown makes $300,000+ a year selling medical equipment. Adam Bighill might also be OK, but Bighill is sitting in the bushes waiting for one last opportunity should injuries inflict any of the CFL teams. Kate is the steady leader of the band - mixing insightful analysis with crazy talk - and thats the definition of a good panel. Look at Sportsnet/CBC - McLean & Bieksa are freak shows, Luke Gadjic is in serious freak show training. Jennifer, Scott Oake & Honeydew Amber are all staunch and mostly serious folks who seldom stray into FREAKVILLE.
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Wow. No way is that Doug Brown going to show up when he has a job that pays like that.
Wait, so Bighill hangs with the sasquatch these days? From what I heard recently from a guy who returned for the season here at the CFL Forum, they do put guys through grueling but effective training.
Iām pleased to hear Kate is on point again this season.
What freak show training is this?
The others you mention sound like they think they are sports librarians. Screw that. There has to be a happier medium.
So one thing Iāve noticed, the last couple of weeks with the last preseason games and then the first week of the season. When the panel had just Kate, Henoc and Davis, I could hear what they were saying. Then they expanded to four panelists and I couldnāt hear a thing, as they all talk over each other. Maybe some people love that, but Iām a bit hard of hearing and it really doesnāt work for me.
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Part of TSNās need for 4 motor-mouths (plus Kate) on the panel is that usually half of them are marble-mouthed. When a marble-mouth starts mouthing incoherent, another shooter starts in quickly as if to organically save the marble mouth from further continuation. Sanchez and Dunigan usually were the ones getting steam-rolled by Milt or Barker, sometimes even Plop, but Plop is usually the best-mannered of all. Muamba looks like he was gonna be just another marble mouth but for the most part heās well-spoken and succinct. Dunigan was just having neurological problems that caused others to jump in. Sanchez is basically illiterate for the most part. Barkerās main disability is to maintain a train of thought. Miltās kryptonite was allowing himself to get carried away talking about himself. Kate does a phenomenal job - given the clay provided her.
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More Luke Wilson please
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Well fine then Iāve been convinced, also because Iāve heard enough and the show must go on.
YOU go on the panel Lyle!
But donāt pull any of that ZZ Top beard or pornstache malarkey you darn galoot!
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How 'bout my Charlie Chan hat?
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Passionate, knowledgeable, legitimate, articulate, and has a flair for entertaining. Yes please
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This may surprise you but I have no problems with Jenn Botterill., especially with some of the mopes Iāve seen on TSN panels (they donāt do many NHL games) and the current roster of Sportsnet/CBC deadbeats doesnāt entice me to watch the pre-game or intermission panels.
Ron McLean has definitely reached his best before date but heās not alone. Too many crusty good ol boys still cashing Sportsnet cheques to time immemorial. But 45 yr old Jenn Botterill is earning her keep.
He has a long way to go. He was a mulleted and moustached stiff.
Just like Starsky and Hutch
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Ron McLean is just the moderator. The panel is Bieksa, Hrudey and Botterill. Pounder knows hockey, Botterill is an idiot.
Heās still on the panel though, but good point he does play a different role.
I barely know who or what this is, for that was well before my time, and I have to wonder how many here do as well, but letās just say for almost all pop culture on TV before 2000, as I reference to many of the young people as āancient history,ā well āit was a different time.ā
So to help out some others reading this, here, nice hat:
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Before your time, eh?
Well, Charlie Chan was just about before everyoneās time. . . . . even old fogs like Donald J Scump & Joe Biden.
But his sayings are priceless - even better than mine and 10x better than Sogmaster Ron McLean.
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I was impressed with both LaPo and Luke Wilson in the MTL-TOR broadcast last week. Initially, Wilson felt a little loud and gratuitous, but he came across with some nice insights throughout the broadcast and he wasnāt afraid to be critical in his comments about Torontoās performance, which is something I appreciate and very much find lacking in the existing crew.
LaPo has amped up his enthusiasm a lot more than the last time I heard him doing colour and it was appreciated. Heās obviously always brought the Xs and Os side, but I previously found him boring and monotonous. Good on him for evolving in the booth.
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Wilson brings enthusiasm to the broadcast. I hope he ends up in the booth
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Yes and he brings character too, anyone that has a mullet these days is going to be entertaining.
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