Rivers v Vitale

[Red7]

Personally, I prefer Rivers over Vitale as the color guy. What I propose is this: Rivers v Vitale in a cage match. Winner is the color guy. Loser leaves town forever. PPV and, of course, live gate. All proceeds go towards buying out Faulk’s contract.

[bluetunehead]

When he started I was very skeptical, but Rivers commentary really grew on me. I’d take him any day over Vitale. I’d take Chase or Pang over either.

[Backesdraft]

Rivers doesn’t do much for me but he’s a billion times better than Vitale. The Blues/Fanduel giving Vitale so much love is bizarre. Vitale is a joke and kind of a [ablution] too. Of all the great former players who could handle color duties, not to mention great announcers out there who aren’t former players…how in the world is it that we’ve suddenly found ourselves stuck with this wanker?

[BobbyOrr]

Rivers,
Vitale was a bad choice from the beginning, Like Kermit the Frog, Strickland.

It must be some type of Nepotism.

[TheJackBurton]

I would imagine that Vitale understands what plays on radio won't play on TV. He'll have to tighten up his announcing and keep it more focused.

But c'mon it's hockey not a formal dinner, it's ok to show some humor and be a little crazy from time to time.

I get it many don't care for him going off on tangents, and I'm not a huge fan of it either as you missed chunks of the game, but he's not going anywhere so it's up to him to make the necessary changes.

[TAFKAP]

I would imagine that Vitale understands what plays on radio won't play on TV. He'll have to tighten up his announcing and keep it more focused.

But c'mon it's hockey not a formal dinner, it's ok to show some humor and be a little crazy from time to time.

I get it many don't care for him going off on tangents, and I'm not a huge fan of it either as you missed chunks of the game, but he's not going anywhere so it's up to him to make the necessary changes.

When he's on, he's on. I like his voice more than Rivers, but, I think Rivers is better for TV. Joey's best was the fill in to Maroon's 2OT series winner. IMHO it was almost perfect observation on the fly.

[dhsux]

For me the Blues have now lost their 2 best broadcasters in the past few years.

Nothing personal against the remaining staff but I do resent what I call shortsightedness in just how they have chosen to cut costs in the highest rank of public relations with their fans.

I don't know what else to call it but plain stupid.

[schwartzwatch]

I would imagine that Vitale understands what plays on radio won't play on TV. He'll have to tighten up his announcing and keep it more focused.

But c'mon it's hockey not a formal dinner, it's ok to show some humor and be a little crazy from time to time.

I get it many don't care for him going off on tangents, and I'm not a huge fan of it either as you missed chunks of the game, but he's not going anywhere so it's up to him to make the necessary changes.

This is why simulcast is a problem, even at its best. Radio is picture-painting. Doesn't really matter what you say as long as the listener finds the picture created in his mind worth looking at. Television is analysis and critique of someone else's painting. You're effectively competing with the viewer for the most accurate perception. And even if you are really good at both, you can't do them at the same time without someone in your audience feeling cheated.

[SameOldBlues]

Ive never heard Vitale more than a second here or there, but Rivers comes across as smug and arrogant on his radio show, and is an overbearing homer on the broadcast, so Id vote for a mute if it was in a matchup with Rivers.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

Ive never heard Vitale more than a second here or there, but Rivers comes across as smug and arrogant on his radio show, and is an overbearing homer on the broadcast, so Id vote for a mute if it was in a matchup with Rivers.

It's kinda harsh. But I agree.

[danno]

Yeah they're both bad in their own distinct ways

Vitale is a goof and routinely says some really dumb off the wall shtuff that's not even related to the game or hockey in general. He's gonna get annoying real quick.

Rivers is monotone and boring. I've never listened to another color commentator who uses so many words to say basically nothing about the play.

I take that back. Bernie has Rivs beat in that category

[Hazelwood72]

The Ghost of Gus Kyle offers the following opinions on color commentary:

“Heh, heh, heh, that’s laying the old lumber on him, eh Dan?”

“We got a real barn burner at the Arena tonight!”

“Thursday we go to Boston to play the Broons.”

My neighbor was a school teacher and hated Gus Kyle’s pronunciation of Bruins! . And she said it often!

God love him, ol’ Gus could really fracture the King’s English. He was the Blues equivalent of Mike Shannon!

And don’t get me started about Noel Picard!

“Dat Bobby Gassoff, he real tough cookie. He shoot he skate he fight he do a lotta tings out dere. I don’ know what he do but he do a lotta tings!”

And his infamous mispronunciation of our owner’s son, Sidney Salomon III:

“Sid da Turd”

[Chubbs0910]

I like Rivers, he's objective and where Vitale is endless optimism.

You have to remember the announcers are basically the company spokesman. They dont want objectivity, the main goal is to sell.

[FunSeeker]

Rivers > Vitale

[Russdv14]

So from this thread it looks like we are losing a 3rd commentator or announcer. So we lose "The Institution", John Kelly and the Kelly family of great Blues announcers, Alexa Datt, and Jame Rivers too (from the Blues broadcast but not on 101, I would guess). This is similar to losing Randy Karraker and Brooke Grimsley on the 101 morning show. I don't think the effect will be the same because a radio station can be turned off and we can change the dial to another radio station, but we can't hear the Blues play by play any other way, so we will live with this change to follow our favorite team.

Here is what I wonder: Things are going to happen, like when Kerber missed a few games in a row late last season due to illness I believe. Bernie and Alexa rotated out of the pre & post game show. Any word on how those segments and the in between periods will be handled? And here is the point I intended to make; What happens when someone can't show up? Kelly and Datt and Rivers probably can't live on part time gigs and may be long gone, so I have a feeling we are going to have some pretty (bleep) broadcasts with substitute amateurs here and there. I'd much better keep the situation we have, but money talks so we are in for some lousy broadcasts I suspect.
As for the subject, I love Joey's long winded stories but they are made for interviews and preferring the tv viewing when I can, I am not really up on how Joey interjects during the long games (since ESPN +) Jamie is a bit gruff around the edges. Both know their hockey and the Blues. I suspect Jame stays on 101 so will be used as a substitute. The news about John Kelly does not sit right whoever thought about this and implemented it. We as fans lose out . Hockey broadcasts are entertainment to me. Kerber does great, but so does Kelly. .Again-when Kerbs is subbed for it's gonna be rough and NOT entertaining anymore.

[rightthinker4]

The Ghost of Gus Kyle offers the following opinions on color commentary:

“Heh, heh, heh, that’s laying the old lumber on him, eh Dan?”

“We got a real barn burner at the Arena tonight!”

“Thursday we go to Boston to play the Broons.”

My neighbor was a school teacher and hated Gus Kyle’s pronunciation of Bruins! . And she said it often!

God love him, ol’ Gus could really fracture the King’s English. He was the Blues equivalent of Mike Shannon!

And don’t get me started about Noel Picard!

“Dat Bobby Gassoff, he real tough cookie. He shoot he skate he fight he do a lotta tings out dere. I don’ know what he do but he do a lotta tings!”

And his infamous mispronunciation of our owner’s son, Sidney Salomon III:

“Sid da Turd”

Thanks for the memories. Loved Gus Kyle and Noel Picard.