Reddit Speculation: JK to Announce for LA Kings

[Bubble4427]

Tradition in St. Louis Blues greats should not have been messed with
The Kelly name with Blues is the same meaning as the Bucks are to the Cardinals
Sad

But in the 90's John left the Blues to go to Colorado for more money.

Was tradition not important then?

He left because he and Ken Wilson were sharing the booth. One would do the first and third periods, the other would do the 2nd. They would alternate each game. If memory serves me correctly, Wilson was not a fan of that schedule and often bullied himself into doing 2 periods. John would back down….and just felt like it wasn’t worth the hassle working like that over the long haul…so he left. After Wilson left, more and more stories came out that he was an arrogant jerk that didn’t interact with the team well at all. He wasn’t well liked by any of the players. I’m pretty sure I am remembering this correctly, but I’m getting forgetful in my old age so….

[TheJackBurton]

Tradition in St. Louis Blues greats should not have been messed with
The Kelly name with Blues is the same meaning as the Bucks are to the Cardinals
Sad

But in the 90's John left the Blues to go to Colorado for more money.

Was tradition not important then?

He left because he and Ken Wilson were sharing the booth. One would do the first and third periods, the other would do the 2nd. They would alternate each game. If memory serves me correctly, Wilson was not a fan of that schedule and often bullied himself into doing 2 periods. John would back down….and just felt like it wasn’t worth the hassle working like that over the long haul…so he left. After Wilson left, more and more stories came out that he was an arrogant jerk that didn’t interact with the team well at all. He wasn’t well liked by any of the players. I’m pretty sure I am remembering this correctly, but I’m getting forgetful in my old age so….

Yes, but he still left. At what point is one loyal and the other isn't?

I"m not saying one is right and the other is wrong, I'm just saying business is sometimes that, just business.

[82birds]

Kelly does not strike me as a LA type guy but I wish him the best.

He should be right here where he belongs.

+1

[MattyIce]

Tradition in St. Louis Blues greats should not have been messed with
The Kelly name with Blues is the same meaning as the Bucks are to the Cardinals
Sad

But in the 90's John left the Blues to go to Colorado for more money.

Was tradition not important then?

He left because he and Ken Wilson were sharing the booth. One would do the first and third periods, the other would do the 2nd. They would alternate each game. If memory serves me correctly, Wilson was not a fan of that schedule and often bullied himself into doing 2 periods. John would back down….and just felt like it wasn’t worth the hassle working like that over the long haul…so he left. After Wilson left, more and more stories came out that he was an arrogant jerk that didn’t interact with the team well at all. He wasn’t well liked by any of the players. I’m pretty sure I am remembering this correctly, but I’m getting forgetful in my old age so….

Ken Wilson is the one I'm upset about. Not JK. JK seems like a great dude and loves the Blues. But, Ken Wilson was a legend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3nR2LZbY58

[Bubble4427]

Tradition in St. Louis Blues greats should not have been messed with
The Kelly name with Blues is the same meaning as the Bucks are to the Cardinals
Sad

But in the 90's John left the Blues to go to Colorado for more money.

Was tradition not important then?

He left because he and Ken Wilson were sharing the booth. One would do the first and third periods, the other would do the 2nd. They would alternate each game. If memory serves me correctly, Wilson was not a fan of that schedule and often bullied himself into doing 2 periods. John would back down….and just felt like it wasn’t worth the hassle working like that over the long haul…so he left. After Wilson left, more and more stories came out that he was an arrogant jerk that didn’t interact with the team well at all. He wasn’t well liked by any of the players. I’m pretty sure I am remembering this correctly, but I’m getting forgetful in my old age so….

Yes, but he still left. At what point is one loyal and the other isn't?

I"m not saying one is right and the other is wrong, I'm just saying business is sometimes that, just business.

John left because he was a part time announcer with a difficult colleague. You can't blame the guy for looking for greener pastures.

[Bubble4427]

Tradition in St. Louis Blues greats should not have been messed with
The Kelly name with Blues is the same meaning as the Bucks are to the Cardinals
Sad

But in the 90's John left the Blues to go to Colorado for more money.

Was tradition not important then?

He left because he and Ken Wilson were sharing the booth. One would do the first and third periods, the other would do the 2nd. They would alternate each game. If memory serves me correctly, Wilson was not a fan of that schedule and often bullied himself into doing 2 periods. John would back down….and just felt like it wasn’t worth the hassle working like that over the long haul…so he left. After Wilson left, more and more stories came out that he was an arrogant jerk that didn’t interact with the team well at all. He wasn’t well liked by any of the players. I’m pretty sure I am remembering this correctly, but I’m getting forgetful in my old age so….

Ken Wilson is the one I'm upset about. Not JK. JK seems like a great dude and loves the Blues. But, Ken Wilson was a legend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3nR2LZbY58

Ken Wilson was an arrogant jerk. He just showed up 30 minutes before the game and did his thing. He NEVER interacted with the players on game days...he never worked to get more than just the most basic information. Players thought he was lazy and arrogant. I do remember listening to him after he left and addressing some of those issues. His replay was something along the lines of "whether I interact with the players or interview them before a game...doesn't affect my ability or quality of calling a game. I think its pretty standard for announcer and color guys to at least speak to some of the players and coaches before games. Wilson didn't think so. Don't get me wrong, I loved his calls as much as anyone...it's just more came out about what kind of a person/employee he was after he left. He moved to Hawaii, I couldn't tell you if he is still there or even alive at this point...

[moose-and-squirrel]

Tradition in St. Louis Blues greats should not have been messed with
The Kelly name with Blues is the same meaning as the Bucks are to the Cardinals
Sad

But in the 90's John left the Blues to go to Colorado for more money.

Was tradition not important then?

He left because he and Ken Wilson were sharing the booth. One would do the first and third periods, the other would do the 2nd. They would alternate each game. If memory serves me correctly, Wilson was not a fan of that schedule and often bullied himself into doing 2 periods. John would back down….and just felt like it wasn’t worth the hassle working like that over the long haul…so he left. After Wilson left, more and more stories came out that he was an arrogant jerk that didn’t interact with the team well at all. He wasn’t well liked by any of the players. I’m pretty sure I am remembering this correctly, but I’m getting forgetful in my old age so….

Ken Wilson is the one I'm upset about. Not JK. JK seems like a great dude and loves the Blues. But, Ken Wilson was a legend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3nR2LZbY58

Ken Wilson was an arrogant jerk. He just showed up 30 minutes before the game and did his thing. He NEVER interacted with the players on game days...he never worked to get more than just the most basic information. Players thought he was lazy and arrogant. I do remember listening to him after he left and addressing some of those issues. His replay was something along the lines of "whether I interact with the players or interview them before a game...doesn't affect my ability or quality of calling a game. I think its pretty standard for announcer and color guys to at least speak to some of the players and coaches before games. Wilson didn't think so. Don't get me wrong, I loved his calls as much as anyone...it's just more came out about what kind of a person/employee he was after he left. He moved to Hawaii, I couldn't tell you if he is still there or even alive at this point...

who cares? thank goodness that ahole is gone.. and for a 'legend' kinda strange other teams weren't fighting to bring him in to their organizations

wonder why

[TheJackBurton]

Tradition in St. Louis Blues greats should not have been messed with
The Kelly name with Blues is the same meaning as the Bucks are to the Cardinals
Sad

But in the 90's John left the Blues to go to Colorado for more money.

Was tradition not important then?

He left because he and Ken Wilson were sharing the booth. One would do the first and third periods, the other would do the 2nd. They would alternate each game. If memory serves me correctly, Wilson was not a fan of that schedule and often bullied himself into doing 2 periods. John would back down….and just felt like it wasn’t worth the hassle working like that over the long haul…so he left. After Wilson left, more and more stories came out that he was an arrogant jerk that didn’t interact with the team well at all. He wasn’t well liked by any of the players. I’m pretty sure I am remembering this correctly, but I’m getting forgetful in my old age so….

Yes, but he still left. At what point is one loyal and the other isn't?

I"m not saying one is right and the other is wrong, I'm just saying business is sometimes that, just business.

John left because he was a part time announcer with a difficult colleague. You can't blame the guy for looking for greener pastures.

And I don't blame him for that. He did what he had to do to advance his career and improve things for him and his family.

Which is my point. Many are saying that we shouldn't have let John go, but we don't know his contract demands, we don't know fan duels financial situation, the marketing dollars, the budgets any of it.

If this is what has to be done so that I don't have to pay for yet another streaming service, then it will suck to not hear JK anymore but that's simply sometimes the way business goes.

[Cahokanut]

Tradition in St. Louis Blues greats should not have been messed with
The Kelly name with Blues is the same meaning as the Bucks are to the Cardinals
Sad

But in the 90's John left the Blues to go to Colorado for more money.

Was tradition not important then?

He left because he and Ken Wilson were sharing the booth. One would do the first and third periods, the other would do the 2nd. They would alternate each game. If memory serves me correctly, Wilson was not a fan of that schedule and often bullied himself into doing 2 periods. John would back down….and just felt like it wasn’t worth the hassle working like that over the long haul…so he left. After Wilson left, more and more stories came out that he was an arrogant jerk that didn’t interact with the team well at all. He wasn’t well liked by any of the players. I’m pretty sure I am remembering this correctly, but I’m getting forgetful in my old age so….

From my memory. One was to do call play while the other did color. It ended when Ken wouldn't do color for JK.
Hope someone can confirm or not.

[Backesdraft]

I said it in the moment too, but the amount of people upset over an announcer getting fired is truly wild. Who gives a (bleep)? As long as it isn’t impacting negatively the product on the ice then seriously, who cares?

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

Ken Wilson is the one I'm upset about. Not JK. JK seems like a great dude and loves the Blues. But, Ken Wilson was a legend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3nR2LZbY58

Ken Wilson was an arrogant jerk. He just showed up 30 minutes before the game and did his thing. He NEVER interacted with the players on game days...he never worked to get more than just the most basic information. Players thought he was lazy and arrogant. I do remember listening to him after he left and addressing some of those issues. His replay was something along the lines of "whether I interact with the players or interview them before a game...doesn't affect my ability or quality of calling a game. I think its pretty standard for announcer and color guys to at least speak to some of the players and coaches before games. Wilson didn't think so. Don't get me wrong, I loved his calls as much as anyone...it's just more came out about what kind of a person/employee he was after he left. He moved to Hawaii, I couldn't tell you if he is still there or even alive at this point...

Fake News

Don't listen to this garbage MattyIce (and I think Ken Wilson is alive and well in Portland Oregon)

[Hazelwood72]

Ken Wilson is the one I'm upset about. Not JK. JK seems like a great dude and loves the Blues. But, Ken Wilson was a legend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3nR2LZbY58

Ken Wilson was an arrogant jerk. He just showed up 30 minutes before the game and did his thing. He NEVER interacted with the players on game days...he never worked to get more than just the most basic information. Players thought he was lazy and arrogant. I do remember listening to him after he left and addressing some of those issues. His replay was something along the lines of "whether I interact with the players or interview them before a game...doesn't affect my ability or quality of calling a game. I think its pretty standard for announcer and color guys to at least speak to some of the players and coaches before games. Wilson didn't think so. Don't get me wrong, I loved his calls as much as anyone...it's just more came out about what kind of a person/employee he was after he left. He moved to Hawaii, I couldn't tell you if he is still there or even alive at this point...

Fake News

Don't listen to this garbage MattyIce (and I think Ken Wilson is alive and well in Portland Oregon)

You are correct. Ken Wilson is fine and lives in Portland. Tom Calhoun’s podcast featured Wilson just a few weeks ago. Ken’s voice still sounds good, BTW. Wilson has always been a bit of an entrepreneur (maybe broadcasting doesn’t pay that well?) and has owned or part-owned low level professional sports teams in various locations. He did it here in St. Charles and Portland. He was also involved somehow in Hawaii sports.

[Hooking]

Not everything has to be so black and white.

Ken Wilson was a legend.
Ken Wilson was the worst!
JK has no loyalty.
JK is amazing!


Sometimes stuff just happens. Did Ken Wilson not interview players all the time? I don't know and I don't care. I grew up with him announcing the Blues and he was great at it. Did JK leave STL because he hated Ken? Who knows and who cares, he came back and did a great job. Did the Blues screw over JK? Don't know and may never know. Either way all of this is business and none of the people involved pee'd in my cheerio's or killed my dog so I doubt any of them are horrible people.

[SRV1990]

Not everything has to be so black and white.

Ken Wilson was a legend.
Ken Wilson was the worst!
JK has no loyalty.
JK is amazing!


Sometimes stuff just happens. Did Ken Wilson not interview players all the time? I don't know and I don't care. I grew up with him announcing the Blues and he was great at it. Did JK leave STL because he hated Ken? Who knows and who cares, he came back and did a great job. Did the Blues screw over JK? Don't know and may never know. Either way all of this is business and none of the people involved pee'd in my cheerio's or killed my dog so I doubt any of them are horrible people.

^This, x1000! Well said, sir.

[TBone]

Assuming this ends up being true, good luck to JK. Wish him the very best. Wasn’t thrilled with the move but it is what it is.

I'm hearing from someone who knows, it's true.

[Harry York 37]

Assuming this ends up being true, good luck to JK. Wish him the very best. Wasn’t thrilled with the move but it is what it is.

I'm hearing from someone who knows, it's true.

I hope so. It will be nice to hear JK when the Blues play here in Socal and I am blacked out from their broadcast.
John is definitely not what you'd think os as an "LA Personality", though. I think his warmth and down-home demeanor will be welcomed here.
I have been wrong before.