Many years ago, on Coach's Corner.
MacLean, "Yes Don, but Bob Cole says...."
Cherry (interrupting), "You mean Bob Cole and his buddy, Captain Morgan....?"
MacLean, "Whoa, so how's about those Leafs...!"
I wonder if MacLean is finally happy he doesn't have to be the defuse man to Don. Always having to change the subject cause Cherry is derailing or trying to end a man's career on air.
Can confirm. Ran into Ron in a bar in Charlottetown PEI one night in 08 or 09 while on tour with a band I was in. He hung out at our table all night drinking with us and telling stories. It was great. He knows music really well too.
Then later on in 2016 ish he came into the club I worked at in downtown Toronto a few times. Got drunk and danced with the ladies.
He gets so much shit from people on the internet but he's a great guy and has been there every step of the way in my hockey fandom for the past 35 years.
> He gets so much shit from people on the internet
Wtf, where are these people who are talking shit about a national treasure like Ron and why haven't they been arrested yet?
As an Islander I can confirm Ron gets pretty banged up every time he comes here lol. There's the infamous shirtless photo doing air guitar, and another time he wandered onto the golf course half dressed at 6 am haha. I love how much he promotes PEI on the air.
A bit harsh. Cherry is and will always be a true Canadian and national treasure.
Everyone knows by this point they were just looking for a way to get rid of him.
We Americans who were fortunate enough to get HNIC are also very appreciative of his voice and Maple Leafs broadcasts over the years. No one ever said Detroy-IT better! Sad to see him go…..
I recently started watching baseball more regularly (going to my first MLB game next month!) and wow is the difference between the US announcers vs. Canadian is mind blowing. And Buck Martinez sure has a distinct voice!
There's been a hell of a drop-off in PBP since we lost Cole and then Hughson. I like a few of the current guys, but nobody comes close to those two, and even then, Hughson was just a shadow to Cole.
Hughson called Game 7 of the SCF with all the excitement of Columbus against Arizona on a Tuesday night in November. Bob's vocal command was so brilliant you could be 2 rooms away and race to the TV because his voice told you something big was about to happen.
I would say, Foster invented it, Bob perfected it. Without Foster Hewitt we don't get Bob Cole. I read an article yesterday by LeBrun stating that Foster including Newfoundland in his HNIC intro was great inspiration to a young Bob, listening to hockey games when he was paid up with a leg injury.
As many have said, Bob Cole is the voice of my hockey memories. We were so lucky to grow up with him on the mic. He will be truly missed.
Right? You almost took him for granted because his voice was so synonymous with the game. We were spoiled for so long. His minimalist style and knowing when to let the crowd take it away was phenomenal.
Bob Cole and Harry Neale were the best part of HNIC when growing up. They were a team that had immaculate sense for the game, never been a better duo since.
bob cole and harry neale are the voices of hockey for me. i grew up watching HNIC and also remember hearing them do commentary for nhl games. not sure how many, but i remember nhl2k on dreamcast for sure.
Bob Cole and Harry Neale together were my favourite broadcast team. Bob with his legendary play-by-play calls and Harry with his sense of humour mixed in with his analysis.
I was at a grocery store in St. John's back in the early 2000's and saw Bob Cole over by the meats with what was probably one of his daughters. Me, being a fucking moron, went straight up to him and said "Hey! You're Bob Cole! Huge fan" He gave me dirtiest look and mumbled "yup, just trying to buy groceries in peace." I felt like such an idiot for not respecting his privacy and intruding the way I did and have always cringed when thinking about it. He should have told me to f+ck off but was pretty classy about doing it politely.
Hahaha I met Jamie Macoun in a Sobeys once. I said "Hey you're Jamie Macoun" turned to my gf and said "That's Jamie Macoun" in all awe. He said hi, and turned as if to chat, but I was blown away that Jamie Macoun was doing groceries. I still feel like a tool. That was almost 15 years ago.
The best play by play announcer ever, I grew up listening and watching on Hockey Night in Canada. even if it was a Leaf game I still watched. RIP Bob! LEGEND!
Owwwww Baby RIP my friend. The greatest hockey commentators of all time....so many of his calls are stuck in my brain....YZERMAN SCORES!!!!!!@ LOOK AT LEMIEUX OHMY GOODNESS WHAT A GOAL WHAT A MOVE, OWWWWWW BABY!!!!
How many legendary hockey announcers have died this week? Al Shaver, who called Minnesota North Stars games before they moved to Dallas, died the other day as well.
And Fuck Norm Green.
RIP Bob Cole. For many of us Americans living near the border, you made HNIC a family event for us every Saturday night. His iconic calls of the Leafs playoff games in the 90's will forever be etched in our minds.
Absolute legend. Voice of my childhood and the voice that is sewn into the sport of Hockey for many Canadians. RIP
Many years ago, on Coach's Corner. MacLean, "Yes Don, but Bob Cole says...." Cherry (interrupting), "You mean Bob Cole and his buddy, Captain Morgan....?" MacLean, "Whoa, so how's about those Leafs...!"
I wonder if MacLean is finally happy he doesn't have to be the defuse man to Don. Always having to change the subject cause Cherry is derailing or trying to end a man's career on air.
Perhaps, but it's funny how Ron is actually a beautician himself and could drink any of us under the table.
Can confirm. Ran into Ron in a bar in Charlottetown PEI one night in 08 or 09 while on tour with a band I was in. He hung out at our table all night drinking with us and telling stories. It was great. He knows music really well too. Then later on in 2016 ish he came into the club I worked at in downtown Toronto a few times. Got drunk and danced with the ladies. He gets so much shit from people on the internet but he's a great guy and has been there every step of the way in my hockey fandom for the past 35 years.
> He gets so much shit from people on the internet Wtf, where are these people who are talking shit about a national treasure like Ron and why haven't they been arrested yet?
90% of people in any NHL live game thread on Reddit.
Mainly right wingers still whining about Cherry being let go.
As an Islander I can confirm Ron gets pretty banged up every time he comes here lol. There's the infamous shirtless photo doing air guitar, and another time he wandered onto the golf course half dressed at 6 am haha. I love how much he promotes PEI on the air.
Yeah, well, Grapes, Bob's buddy Captain Morgan never wrecked his career like your buddy "Big Mouth" did yours...
God, Cherry was/is such a piece of shit
A bit harsh. Cherry is and will always be a true Canadian and national treasure. Everyone knows by this point they were just looking for a way to get rid of him.
We Americans who were fortunate enough to get HNIC are also very appreciative of his voice and Maple Leafs broadcasts over the years. No one ever said Detroy-IT better! Sad to see him go…..
A Newfoundland legend
One of our greatest.
I think we can all agree… “OOOOHHHH Baby!! What a legend!!”
I live in T.O., never a Leafs fan but man Bob's voice is SO iconic. Rest in peace legend.
When I think of watching Montreal games in my childhood, I picture his voice commentating. RIP.
Him and Pierre Houde are my childhood
No one else did it better.
RIP. When you think of guys like this, it's mind-blowing how bad the ESPN teams are
It's insulting even, that you have these legends at their craft, and then you have the degenerates at ESPN making a mockery of it.
Not just hockey either, our baseball broadcasters are legends compared to some of the US ones
I recently started watching baseball more regularly (going to my first MLB game next month!) and wow is the difference between the US announcers vs. Canadian is mind blowing. And Buck Martinez sure has a distinct voice!
Buck Martinez blows.
We were spoiled growing up with Cole and Neale.
There's been a hell of a drop-off in PBP since we lost Cole and then Hughson. I like a few of the current guys, but nobody comes close to those two, and even then, Hughson was just a shadow to Cole.
Cuthberts better than Hughson. Dick Irvin and Cole were the two best in Canada.
Cuthbert is too much of a Leaf homer. The guy sounds downright dejected on any goal call against the Leafs.
Honestly I found Hughson the same
Hughson called Game 7 of the SCF with all the excitement of Columbus against Arizona on a Tuesday night in November. Bob's vocal command was so brilliant you could be 2 rooms away and race to the TV because his voice told you something big was about to happen.
Absolute GOAT. (For my generation. No disrespect to foster. ) He will be missed.
I would say, Foster invented it, Bob perfected it. Without Foster Hewitt we don't get Bob Cole. I read an article yesterday by LeBrun stating that Foster including Newfoundland in his HNIC intro was great inspiration to a young Bob, listening to hockey games when he was paid up with a leg injury. As many have said, Bob Cole is the voice of my hockey memories. We were so lucky to grow up with him on the mic. He will be truly missed.
The voice of hockey to me, along with Gary Thorne. The best ever. His calls during the Flames cup run in 2004 SCF will forever be etched in my mind.
Sundins 500th goal. Karlssons assist in the ECF.
Jeeeeeo Sakic scores! And that makes it 5-2 Canada! Surely that's gotta be it!
Very sad. He just sounded like hockey to me. RIP
Right? You almost took him for granted because his voice was so synonymous with the game. We were spoiled for so long. His minimalist style and knowing when to let the crowd take it away was phenomenal.
Will definitely have to tune into game 4 a bit early for the pre game on Saturday, they should have a great tribute for Mr. Cole. R.I.P. Bob.
Absolute legend.
Wow that’s sad - he’s a legend
His SLC 2002 calls are etched in my mind forever 😭
Surely ... that's gotta be it!
Nobody can deny that he LOVED hockey and you could feel it.
Thank you for giving us so many memorable moments, Bob. Rest in peace.
RIP Mr.Cole
Bob Cole and Harry Neale were the best part of HNIC when growing up. They were a team that had immaculate sense for the game, never been a better duo since.
Oh baby, it's been a dandy, Bob!
Now the Leafs have to win
Steep price to pay. But I couldn't think of a better tribute to the legend.
bob cole and harry neale are the voices of hockey for me. i grew up watching HNIC and also remember hearing them do commentary for nhl games. not sure how many, but i remember nhl2k on dreamcast for sure.
I remember that! Bought the game just for the announcers, and to hear Bob Cole announce the Leafs as champs.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/bob-cole-obituary-1.7184556
Wait, what ???
Nooooooo 😨😢
That really sucks, the definitive voice of hockey for generations of Canadians.
Cole's call of Lemieux's incredible goal versus the North Stars is my absolute favourite. "Look at Lemiuex! Oh my heavens! What a goal! What a move!"
I know lots of people who say he wasn't as good as he got older but I always enjoyed when he called games. He was the perfect voice for hockey.
It's true, age caught up, but he did it for generations. And his 50% was still better than pretty much every other broadcast.
Bob Cole and Harry Neale together were my favourite broadcast team. Bob with his legendary play-by-play calls and Harry with his sense of humour mixed in with his analysis.
Favourite call of his was the 2002 Olympics gold medal game, I get chills just thinking about it
'What a play by Lemieux!'
I was at a grocery store in St. John's back in the early 2000's and saw Bob Cole over by the meats with what was probably one of his daughters. Me, being a fucking moron, went straight up to him and said "Hey! You're Bob Cole! Huge fan" He gave me dirtiest look and mumbled "yup, just trying to buy groceries in peace." I felt like such an idiot for not respecting his privacy and intruding the way I did and have always cringed when thinking about it. He should have told me to f+ck off but was pretty classy about doing it politely.
Hahaha I met Jamie Macoun in a Sobeys once. I said "Hey you're Jamie Macoun" turned to my gf and said "That's Jamie Macoun" in all awe. He said hi, and turned as if to chat, but I was blown away that Jamie Macoun was doing groceries. I still feel like a tool. That was almost 15 years ago.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Cole. You entertained us well.
Even though I’ve never lived in Canada, his goal calls are forever etched in my memory as much as Gary Thorne and Doc Emrick. RIP Bob 💔🇨🇦
🫡
Everything is happening!
God damn, this one stings
To truly understand what a magician this man was in the booth, one need only hear him call the OT in 2000. Game 5, Leafs and Sens. Legendary.
RIP 🙏🏻
A voice that will live forever
Loved to hear him every Saturday. Rip
RIP Bob Cole. Time for your commentary on the rink in the sky.
RIP 😔
The best play by play announcer ever, I grew up listening and watching on Hockey Night in Canada. even if it was a Leaf game I still watched. RIP Bob! LEGEND!
Bob Cole and Harry Neal were the announcers of my youth. He's the best ever.
He's going home. RIP Bob.
Legend.
RIP Legend
Bob Cole and Harry Neale still narrate my dreams
Aww man that sucks
All the best to his family.
Wow goosebumps. Absolute LEGEND! rest in peace Bob. 🙏
The first half of my life was listening to this man call games. RIP Mr. Cole
Best wishes to his family, he was a presence in so many lives. Rest in peace Mr. Cole.
Greatest of all time 🥺
I could listen to his calls all day long. Absolutely the voice of my childhood growing up watching hockey on Saturday nights. Hell of a career.
Nooooooo!!
I don't think he ever gave up announcing. Rip.
RIP
Condolences from the US to all of Canada on the loss of a National Treasure. RIP sir.
RIP. Still to this day I’ll randomly yell out: Deh-TROY-IT!!!!
The greatest to ever do it. In any sport. Period.
First RJ now Bob Cole. The sound of my equidistant Sabres/Leafs based childhood
The GOAT
RIP GOAT
Owwwww Baby RIP my friend. The greatest hockey commentators of all time....so many of his calls are stuck in my brain....YZERMAN SCORES!!!!!!@ LOOK AT LEMIEUX OHMY GOODNESS WHAT A GOAL WHAT A MOVE, OWWWWWW BABY!!!!
RIP :(
The Saturday night soundtrack of my youth. He was the best.
Voice of multiple generations... rest well good sir.
Oh no 😟
How many legendary hockey announcers have died this week? Al Shaver, who called Minnesota North Stars games before they moved to Dallas, died the other day as well. And Fuck Norm Green.
Bob and Harry. Legendary stuff. RIP.
The greatest ever. He was so iconic and by the sounds of truly beloved by all.
Legend!
Class.
Shit. RIP you absolute legend!
Legendary
Legend. RIP.
Winter nights seemed less cold and dark when Bob was calling the game
Sad.. Big part of my childhood, what a legacy.
RIP Bob Cole. For many of us Americans living near the border, you made HNIC a family event for us every Saturday night. His iconic calls of the Leafs playoff games in the 90's will forever be etched in our minds.
The best play by play guy on the planet
He narrated my tween years when EVERYTHING was hockey. I hung his every word. RIP
Love you Bob. Rest easy, old friend. Never forgotten.
They did a tribute before the Marlies game on Friday and it was so thoughtful. Rip to a legend.
And Detroyit wins the Stanley Cup! Will live forever in my heart! RIP Mr. Cole G.O.A.T!