Bob Cole
Let's talk some more about the voices of the game. One of my favourites was Bob Cole. There was nothing better than watching Bob Cole on Saturday night hockey night in Canada.
Bob's vocabulary - My three favourites
Oh Baby!
One of my favourite Bob Cole sayings was "Oh, Baby." It seemed to light up the room whenever I heard it. When you heard Bob say "Oh, baby," you knew it was something special. What made it so powerful was that he didn't use it for any play. He only used it at the most significant parts of the game; he was the perfect storyteller in every way.
Wow!
I love how he would say "Wow!" at the end of the play. It's the perfect way to describe a great save or a great goal. It was his tone that made it so good. You knew this was the most important part of the game. He's probably up in heaven announcing a legendary game as we speak, happy as ever. He was always talking to people. He loved the game. He loved the people who were part of the community in the game.
And the crowd goes crazy
"And the crowd goes crazy," sent chills down my spine. It would evoke either joy or sorrow, depending on whether the result was in my team's favor or not. The term was perfect for the atmosphere; it described exactly what was going on.
Bob's best calls
Joe Sakic's breakaway goal 2002
Has to be one of my favourites. Canada is trying to hang on. "They get a break. It's gonna be a break. It is Joe Sakic… scores! Jiiiiiiiiooooo Sakic scores!" All Canadians were hanging on his words.
"They are going home" from the 1976 Super Series in Philly
The epic call when the Soviet Red Army left for the dressing room. The Red Army Team was leaving after a controversial hit by Flyers defenceman Ed Van Impe. Bob's repeated call that "they're going home" was epic.
Final word
Bob was the fans' mouthpiece and representative for the game. He was the one who paved the way for announcers today. He set the standard. Bob was the master.
No comments:
Post a Comment