A fan thanks Bob Cole during his last game with "Hockey Night in Canada" after 50 years of play-by-play in Montreal on April 6, 2019.
The passionate emotions that the Stanley Cup playoffs can bring to Canadian hockey fans hit a sudden thud Thursday morning with the sobering news that “Hockey Night in Canada” play-by-play legend Bob Cole had died at the age of 90.
It reminded me of the June 1, 1997, news of the death of Rose Cherry. Her husband, Don Cherry, bowed out of the rest of “Hockey Night in Canada” playoff coverage. A few weeks later, Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman hoisted the Stanley Cup and said: “It would have been nice to have Don here.”
I started working part-time in the press box on game nights for the Maple Leafs in 1975. Back then, I was just as awe-struck to meet the prominent sports media figures as I was to get to meet the players and executives on the Leafs and other NHL teams.
The “Hockey Night in Canada” crew, with their distinctive powder blue jackets, were in a special class. They were the cool Rat Pack of Canadian sports broadcasting, much like ABC’s “Monday Night Football” crew of Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell and Dandy Don Meredith were in their distinctive canary yellow jackets.
I met Leafs stars Darryl Sittler, Börje Salming, Lanny McDonald and others, but I was just as thrilled to meet Bill Hewitt, Brian McFarlane, Dave Hodge, Danny Gallivan, Dick Irvin, Bob Goldham, Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker, John Davidson, Ron MacLean and Cherry (who never wore the powder blue jacket).
I also got to meet Bob Cole.
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Bu hikaye Toronto Star dergisinin April 27, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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