I don't believe I've heard her. I'm not making this about the gender of the broadcaster, Leah Hextall shouldn't be doing PBP of NHL playoff games.
- PLindbergh31

Yeah I didn't think that you were. I'm pretty sure Cassie is doing color for some of the American playoff broadcasts - just not sure which. I believe she was paired with Gord Miller for Game 4 of the Avs/Preds.

“Stuck in neutral?”

That’s being very very generous.

They look to be in reverse and hitting the pedal to me
- Stayin alive

I finally managed to get rid off Comcast. Honestly, i have had easier times breaking up with some clingy girlfriends from my youth than with them.

Now I am with Fios. The costs are way lower. The speed is way faster. The customer service is way better. And the goodies they give out are so much its actually quite hard to believe and I am nervously waiting for the other shoe to drop.

With 5G home Internet around the corner, and a revolution brewing (Google Fi already piggybacks mostly on TMobile, which has some of the fastest 5G speeds), the Comcast model seems kinda doomed. They seem to be sticking to what is increasingly an outdated model: relying on advertising to try and make up the shortfall and making it really hard to leave.

Thank god they run the Flyers differently.

I read the dang post. All I was saying is that qualifications and merit often can only be determined after gaining some experience. To get that experience, someone has to break the status quo. And live with the learning costs.

These female announcers are not going to remind you of Gene Hart from day 1. Just like you need to endure some bad years to have a decent chance to ice a good team, you have to take the long view.

Now, I have said the exact same thing 3 times, so y'all will have to excuse me.


- PT21

Your first statement is completely false. You don't start at the top. You start in the lower leagues and earn your way up the ladder in most professions. You don't gain that experience to see if you're qualified and have merit by starting at a high level position.
No, as fans, we don't have to endure bad play by play or color to determine if it is indeed bad. That determination can be made immediately.

Your first statement is completely false. You don't start at the top. You start in the lower leagues and earn your way up the ladder in most professions. You don't gain that experience to see if you're qualified and have merit by starting at a high level position.
No, as fans, we don't have to endure bad play by play or color to determine if it is indeed bad. That determination can be made immediately.
- MJL

I agree. I have been listening to sports broadcasts my entire life. I dare say I am an export on the subject. Way more than 10K hours invested in the research. I am confident I know when a broadcast is not good.

I agree. I have been listening to sports broadcasts my entire life. I dare say I am an export on the subject. Way more than 10K hours invested in the research. I am confident I know when a broadcast is not good.
- mickel25

Correct, play by play or color commentary on a pro sports broadcast is not an OJT position. Your either good at it or you aren't and we as consumers have a right to say they suck immediately. Like the woman who does the Sixers play by play. Nothing to do with being a woman and everything to do with being horrible at it to the point of drastically reducing the enjoyment level of watching a game.

I really don’t see a difference between what Carchidi used to write for the inquirer and what Han and Reiner do now. I think you just don’t like them because they are young.
- Dkos

Carchidi's columns had a lot more bad takes in them. Like when he was so high on Patrick that he wanted NP installed as the Flyers 2C in his rookie season.

I finally managed to get rid off Comcast. Honestly, i have had easier times breaking up with some clingy girlfriends from my youth than with them.

Now I am with Fios. The costs are way lower. The speed is way faster. The customer service is way better. And the goodies they give out are so much its actually quite hard to believe and I am nervously waiting for the other shoe to drop.

With 5G home Internet around the corner, and a revolution brewing (Google Fi already piggybacks mostly on TMobile, which has some of the fastest 5G speeds), the Comcast model seems kinda doomed. They seem to be sticking to what is increasingly an outdated model: relying on advertising to try and make up the shortfall and making it really hard to leave.

Thank god they run the Flyers differently.
- PT21

The only reason classic cable companies are still relevant is because old tired white peoples that resist change and progress. Yes I’m talking conservatives. I have several of these fine peoples family members that I routinely laugh at for paying $250 or more for cable/WiFi packages all the while female doging that prices continue to go up. Every once in awhile I try to explain to them other ways to lower cost. And also thank them for paying such high prices and providing me much laughter.

Comcast markets to them knowing until that generation dies off they’ll take in enough profits to be relevant. Same applies to old tired flyers.

They know what’s coming. They aren’t dumb. Hence gritty and other ploys to try to keep the gravy train going.

Change is inevitable. Progression is natural.
BOTH CAN BE PROLONGED.

So in your case wait til you see “the other shoe drop” and explore the wonderful world of illegal streaming and such. You’ll get there. 400 speed WiFi all cable stations and sports packages. Pay per view events. All movie channels plus theatre movies. $55 a month. So nice

Defending such moves would have more merit, had the Flyers not just clearly overpaid to acquire but also extend Rasmus Ristolainen. Coveting such a player, which are Fletcher’s own words I believe is a very easy recent example of the continued antiquated views this team holds.
- FlyerFan3260

They paid a huge price for Risto cause they wanted to be hard to play against, but they certainly were not hard to score against at except for when Braun was out there.

They paid a huge price for Risto cause they wanted to be hard to play against, but they certainly were not hard to score against at except for when Braun was out there.
- Feanor

Which is completely dumb because that’s not how regular season is played. And they won’t sniff playoffs with those bums. Just a stupid stupid team

Which is completely dumb because that’s not how regular season is played. And they won’t sniff playoffs with those bums. Just a stupid stupid team
- Stayin alive

Risto had the chance to get traded to a playoff team and show that his style of play would be extra effective in the postseason.

But he chose to take the guaranteed money and possibly never play a playoff game in his career.

I’m sure a ton of you are watching the Panthers as well, Forsling has been an absolute beast. Talk about a new age two Dman, constantly getting shots through. Up and down the ice but picks his spots very well. These other guys are brutal tho, who told Montour he should join the rush or pinch every chance he gets. Chiarot and especially Weegar have been awful. Even the best GMs have some blemishes.

I really don’t see a difference between what Carchidi used to write for the inquirer and what Han and Reiner do now. I think you just don’t like them because they are young.
- Dkos

They have a certain formula... Write a common knowledge set of fact (scores, shots in each period, who scored, who was denied...)
Then use quotes from people.
Then recite some common knowledge history: Flyers miss playoffs two seasons in a row, where they finished, things like that ..


It's odd. I am mindful of their youth and of the need to incur the transitional cost thing I wrote about in this sports town. Hopefully they will improve.

If not, as I mentioned before, I would think of them individually as poor reporters, while wholeheartedly supporting the general imperatives that may have led to their employment.. 😀

Or, you could just chill out.
- Angus4444

Totally chill here. Just sick of all the "lefties this," "righties that" political nonsense that people feel the need to spew on sports message boards.

They paid a huge price for Risto cause they wanted to be hard to play against, but they certainly were not hard to score against at except for when Braun was out there.
- Feanor

What do you make of Braun being terrible in NY?

The only reason classic cable companies are still relevant is because old tired white peoples that resist change and progress. Yes I’m talking conservatives. I have several of these fine peoples family members that I routinely laugh at for paying $250 or more for cable/WiFi packages all the while female doging that prices continue to go up. Every once in awhile I try to explain to them other ways to lower cost. And also thank them for paying such high prices and providing me much laughter.

Comcast markets to them knowing until that generation dies off they’ll take in enough profits to be relevant. Same applies to old tired flyers.

They know what’s coming. They aren’t dumb. Hence gritty and other ploys to try to keep the gravy train going.

Change is inevitable. Progression is natural.
BOTH CAN BE PROLONGED.

So in your case wait til you see “the other shoe drop” and explore the wonderful world of illegal streaming and such. You’ll get there. 400 speed WiFi all cable stations and sports packages. Pay per view events. All movie channels plus theatre movies. $55 a month. So nice
- Stayin alive

The only reason classic cable companies are still relevant is because old tired white peoples that resist change and progress. Yes I’m talking conservatives. I have several of these fine peoples family members that I routinely laugh at for paying $250 or more for cable/WiFi packages all the while female doging that prices continue to go up. Every once in awhile I try to explain to them other ways to lower cost. And also thank them for paying such high prices and providing me much laughter.

Comcast markets to them knowing until that generation dies off they’ll take in enough profits to be relevant. Same applies to old tired flyers.

They know what’s coming. They aren’t dumb. Hence gritty and other ploys to try to keep the gravy train going.

Change is inevitable. Progression is natural.
BOTH CAN BE PROLONGED.

So in your case wait til you see “the other shoe drop” and explore the wonderful world of illegal streaming and such. You’ll get there. 400 speed WiFi all cable stations and sports packages. Pay per view events. All movie channels plus theatre movies. $55 a month. So nice
- Stayin alive

Care to share?

I don't believe I've heard her. I'm not making this about the gender of the broadcaster, Leah Hextall shouldn't be doing PBP of NHL playoff games.
- PLindbergh31

ty

What do you make of Braun being terrible in NY?
- ClaudeFather

He wasn't terrible in the regular season. 4 goals allowed in 123:49. A better ES GA/60 than he had in Philly.

In the playoffs their goalie has turned into a pumpkin.

They paid a huge price for Risto cause they wanted to be hard to play against, but they certainly were not hard to score against at except for when Braun was out there.
- Feanor

The bigger issue is that they're scouting and player evaluation skills couldn't see that Ristolainen is not hard to play against. When he is on the ice, the opposition gets shots and scoring chances galore. Don't sorry though, their crack analytics department has provided them with an age distribution chart.

I read the dang post. All I was saying is that qualifications and merit often can only be determined after gaining some experience. To get that experience, someone has to break the status quo. And live with the learning costs.

The rap on black qbs used to be that they had happy feet, scrambled too quick out of the pocket, and couldn't read defences. I was with my dad at the LA Coliseum when Houston Oilers with Warren Moon visited and stunk it up. I think this was 84 or 85. it was a Raiders game, and a lot of the biker types were chanting seriously racist stuff to that effect. I was 15 and I couldn't believe what they were shouting.

For decades, the stereotype persisted. In the early 2000s I was at a protest here in Philly when Rush came here shortly after saying McNabb was overrated and that people don't dare criticize black qbs. Lot of the guys (not so much Moon, but Randall, Stewart, even early Donovan) did have a tendency to leave the pocket too quickly.

Now, we have guys like Mahomes and Wilson who have revolutionized the position. The gap is not quite eliminated but it is much closer to being gone and that stereotype is much lessened (though still there).

These female announcers are not going to remind you of Gene Hart from day 1. Just like you need to endure some bad years to have a decent chance to ice a good team, you have to take the long view.

Now, I have said the exact same thing 3 times, so y'all will have to excuse me.


- PT21

McNabb was overrated

He wasn't terrible in the regular season. 4 goals allowed in 123:49. A better ES GA/60 than he had in Philly.

In the playoffs their goalie has turned into a pumpkin.
- Feanor

Didn’t watch in the regular season but he’s looked very out of place in the playoffs.

I just did a little Google search on Leah Hextall. Sounds like she’s worked her way up to doing play by play in the NHL. She’s been calling games since 2018. Been involved in sports broadcasting for over 10 years.
- Dkos

Yes, 17 years from what I see. There is so much context missing from this conversation. Don’t miss understand me, my point is not about changing folks views on Leah Hextall but rather on women in broadcasting. Did anyone mention for example that without Leah Hextall there would be zero women doing play-by-play in the NHL playoffs? That she is the very first and only one to do so, and this year is her first opportunity. That she was also the first woman to ever do so on a live television broadcast for a NHL game and that was in 2020, only 2 years ago. This fact points to the larger issue.

https://stanforddaily.com...s-in-sports-broadcasting/

Change takes time. How long did we have to continue to listen Mike Milbury’s commentary? It is going to take time to develop prospective women announcers in a field where there were none. No one chooses to do something if there is no path forward for it. The “see it, be it” of all of this is very relevant. It is hard to even see any women in play-by-play coming up the ranks. They are few and far between. So I would say, I can manage to listen to just about anything if it allows the door to open even a crack for the first time.

Here is a young woman giving it a shot and showing a solid work ethic, passion and great attitude. Another first. Trailblazer. Find more.

https://www.therinklive.c...-play-by-play-broadcaster

I’m sure a ton of you are watching the Panthers as well, Forsling has been an absolute beast. Talk about a new age two Dman, constantly getting shots through. Up and down the ice but picks his spots very well. These other guys are brutal tho, who told Montour he should join the rush or pinch every chance he gets. Chiarot and especially Weegar have been awful. Even the best GMs have some blemishes.
- ClaudeFather

Weegar hasn't been awful. He's actually be really solid. He just hasn't registered any points.

The only reason classic cable companies are still relevant is because old tired white peoples that resist change and progress. Yes I’m talking conservatives. I have several of these fine peoples family members that I routinely laugh at for paying $250 or more for cable/WiFi packages all the while female doging that prices continue to go up. Every once in awhile I try to explain to them other ways to lower cost. And also thank them for paying such high prices and providing me much laughter.

Comcast markets to them knowing until that generation dies off they’ll take in enough profits to be relevant. Same applies to old tired flyers.

They know what’s coming. They aren’t dumb. Hence gritty and other ploys to try to keep the gravy train going.

Change is inevitable. Progression is natural.
BOTH CAN BE PROLONGED.

So in your case wait til you see “the other shoe drop” and explore the wonderful world of illegal streaming and such. You’ll get there. 400 speed WiFi all cable stations and sports packages. Pay per view events. All movie channels plus theatre movies. $55 a month. So nice
- Stayin alive

moron

Remember that Caps game that 4 or 5 OT’s that Gary Thorne and Bill Clement announced in for ESPN, back before they went to NBC? It was gold! It was so long, hot, late, and tiring, that Clement took of his jacket, then his tie, wrapped his tie around his head, then his shirt. Unscripted fun! He was admonished for that. ESPN’s move to stamp out fun and move left had already started. All this nonsense is of course, based on diversity.

Why Gary Thorne et al is left out of these broadcasts is beyond stupid.

Before the lefties get their panties in a bunch, I’m not saying we shouldn’t have women in the booth, I don’t care about gender, race, sexual orientation, etc. I’m all for inclusion, but it must be based on merit and ability, not some artificial, forced decision.

The broadcasts have, as most poster’s have said, have been awful. Most of the guys from NBC last year were pretty good.
- Hokeeguy9

late to the party, it wasn't gary thorne, it was doc emerick with clement, gary thorne is in his mid 70's and left the baltimore orioles broadcasts 2 years ago because he was slowing down doing baseball play by play, i really don't think he could keep up with a hockey broadcast now. he is long past his prime, no disrespect to mr. thorne