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Will You Miss Al Strachan?
by Paul on 10/21/09 at 09:51 AM ET
Comments (16)
from Bruce Dowbiggin of the Globe and Mail,
Looks like Al Strachan is out of the Hot Stove and into the fire.
On Tuesday, Usual Suspects received the following e-mail from Jeff Keay of CBC: “Hot Stove has a number of guest contributors who we rotate through the lineup. At this time, we’ve made the decision to take Al out of the regular rotation and to use some of the other personalities we’ve added to the broadcast over the summer.”
Translation: Strachan has been dropped from the Hockey Night In Canada segment a second time, having first been let go in 2005.
added 1:04pm, from William Houston of Truth & Rumours,
The inside story of how Al Strachan lost his job at Hockey Night In Canada shines a bright, not so pretty light into the world of sports television and how decisions are made.
Strachan refused to comment on his sudden ouster as a regular on Hockey Night’s Hotstove intermission segment, but publishing sources confirmed today that his departure is tied to a book he wrote with the no-so-subtle title of Why The Leafs Suck.
The book, released a few weeks ago by Harper Collins, apparently incensed the CBC, because Strachan was identified on the cover as being “from Hockey Night In Canada,” despite the fact permission had not been given by the network for the show’s name to be used on the cover of the book.
“Scott Moore (the head of CBC Sports and also head of marketing and advertising for the network) went ballistic,” said one insider.
Filed in: NHL Media, Hockey Broadcasting, CBC HNIC | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Al+Strachan,
Comments
Neither Al nor Mike add much to the segment imo. Friedman was a good addition last week, and then they can get Duhatchuk (sp) we usually get some nice info as well. Wonder if they will invite Bruce Garrioch? Maybe April 1?
Posted by WingMan from The Q C on 10/21/09 at 10:39 AM ET
Great day for HNIC!!!
Posted by Shawn on 10/21/09 at 10:45 AM ET
If only they would boot Milbury too.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 10/21/09 at 11:29 AM ET
Another great contribution, Primis.
Posted by shazam88 from California
Really? Do I need to rehash my argument that pretty much everyone involved with HNIC needs to be let go so maybe they can regain some respect—not just on-air, but off-air? And that it will continue to suck until they do?
Posted by Primis on 10/21/09 at 11:47 AM ET
The person to replace Strachan, James McNobody, has also recently authored a book, this one titled: ‘Why the Leafs are the most amazing thing ever. Like, for real ever. Ever and ever. I love you Brian. Call me!’
Posted by HockeyinHD on 10/21/09 at 12:41 PM ET
Not that I care a whole lot about Al Strachan, but if the reason he was let go was because of a “Leafs Suck” slur, then that’s pathetic. I could see if the Leafs had won a cup in the last several decades, or made the playoffs in recent memory or won a game this season! The Leafs do suck and I am sick of CBC and the rest of the Canadian media’s “The Leafs are the greatest thing since sliced bread” attitude. Luckily I have CI and can choose to watch any game I want, but for those in Canada that don’t have CI or a dish with multiple CBC feeds, have to endure the same Leaf garbage Saturday in and Saturday out! It would be nice every once in a while to see someone other than the Leafs in the early HNIC game. Look no further than this weeks sched…Leafs/Canucks 4pm Pacific start in Vancouver just so the “beloved” Leafs can be on the early game! OK, I’m off my soapbox! BTW I’m also Canadian, so I don’t want to hear any of this anti-Canada crap! Done.
Posted by Mac on 10/21/09 at 01:41 PM ET
Good riddance, Strachan’s lack of hockey knowledge and adverse opinions was an extreme eyesore. Next up is hopefully milbury, I really hate these 2 guys, and wonder how they ever got the opportunities they received.
Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 10/21/09 at 01:44 PM ET
The inside story of how Al Strachan lost his job at Hockey Night In Canada shines a bright, not so pretty light into the world of sports television and how decisions are made.
The inside story of how he GOT the job shines an even unprettier light.
Posted by Jerry from Prague on 10/21/09 at 02:18 PM ET
Really? Do I need to rehash my argument that pretty much everyone involved with HNIC needs to be let go so maybe they can regain some respect—not just on-air, but off-air? And that it will continue to suck until they do?
Oh hell, there’s some garbage associated with their broadcasts, but IMO you overreach when you plop out a one line absolute. I’d much rather hear some reasoning than just naked negativity.
The Leaf + Hab-centric nature is definitely at the forefront of their problems, as it has been for decades. Getting more balanced, dynamic speakers would be nice as well. The days of Howie Meeker and Peter Puck filling an intermission slot are long gone, but the CBC is still moving slowly. Grapes, fwiw, isn’t going anywhere, as he has a fan base that enjoys him, while taking him with a large grain of salt. Milbury has never thought outside the box and should definitely be given his walking papers.
Posted by shazam88 from SoCal on 10/21/09 at 02:20 PM ET
I’d prefer seeing Duhatschek, Friedman, and LeBrun hold court with MacLean than anything else…but if you’ve got Mike “My lips are usually within a few feet of Gary Bettman’s hockey pants” Milbury in the lineup, Strachan provided a nasty-but-necessary counterpoint and a line of independent (even if insane) thinking that off-set Mad Mike’s, “Players are sissies, the union sucks, old time hockey, Eddie Shore” spiel.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 10/21/09 at 03:31 PM ET
It seems that I may be in the minority here, but I like Al Strachan on the hot stove. I am finding it harder and harder to watch H.N.I.C lately. What with the demotion/shunting/early retirement of Bob Cole, and the absolutely unwatchable P.J. Stock, what was once a Saturday night must, is no longer must see tv.
I still try and catch Coaches Corner, although the CBC and the bleeding hearts have managed to remove most of his bark over the past 5 years.
That brings me to Mike Milbury. I am hoping to see one of the other guests on Hot Stove let that Jack A## have it but good live on the air one Saturday night. Milbury is nothing but a bully, and a uninformed,loudmouth one at that. He constanly cuts off other guests and insists that he alone is correct. Al Strachan was the only member of that panel to stand up to the idiot, and tell em he was wrong on most any topic he was blathering on about.
Milbury was a absolute joke of a GM, and no other team would hire him, not even expansion teams, and so know we are forced to suffer this jerk on two national networks.
Funny we never see Grapes and Milbury on air together isn’t it? My guess is that grapes, at 70 + years of age would not hesitate to take a shot at Milbury when he cut grapes off one too many times.
Posted by Down River Dan on 10/21/09 at 04:27 PM ET
Milbury vs. Cherry cage match!!!!
This I would pay good money for.
Posted by dwgs on 10/22/09 at 09:17 AM ET
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Rats, I was hoping to see Milbury remove Strachan’s shoe and beat him over the head with it.
See ya Al (and don’t come back).
Posted by dash_pinched from Rumour Mill Bay on 10/21/09 at 09:57 AM ET