TAFKAP wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026 09:39 am
I understand the venting, but, nobody has mentioned the fact that Fan Duel is going under.
Again.
Didn't the Cardinals just terminate their deal after New Years?
I mean the channel probably lasts through the season and that's about it. The sale to DAZN didn't go through so main street is essentially broke. I still don't understand why this fact keeps completely getting ignored. He isn't cheap, and main street needed to cut costs, it's as simple as that. One way to cut costs is not renew the contract of a long time employee who makes a lot of money.
Anyone who thinks the Blues dishonored him aren't looking at this subjectively because the company who needed to pay him, has no money.
As we sit today, the Cardinals, the freaking Cardinals, have no idea where their games will be televised and currently have no tv contract. Does everyone understand now?
Just asking.
So the Blues taking the temperature in yhe room as it were couldn't find a way to make it work from their end?
After all it is their product.
They do not control the tv contract or who are hired. They can give an opinion but don't actually do any of the day to day.
It is what it is, no job is ensured, and JK outpriced himself. Whose to say JK didn't request a raise or wanted guarantees that main street couldn't give. It takes 2 to sign a contract.
Im saying cut through the [nonsense] and the Blues pick up the difference.
Simply put it as a marketing expense because that's exactly what this has turned out to be.
TAFKAP wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026 09:39 am
I understand the venting, but, nobody has mentioned the fact that Fan Duel is going under.
Again.
Didn't the Cardinals just terminate their deal after New Years?
I mean the channel probably lasts through the season and that's about it. The sale to DAZN didn't go through so main street is essentially broke. I still don't understand why this fact keeps completely getting ignored. He isn't cheap, and main street needed to cut costs, it's as simple as that. One way to cut costs is not renew the contract of a long time employee who makes a lot of money.
Anyone who thinks the Blues dishonored him aren't looking at this subjectively because the company who needed to pay him, has no money.
As we sit today, the Cardinals, the freaking Cardinals, have no idea where their games will be televised and currently have no tv contract. Does everyone understand now?
Just asking.
So the Blues taking the temperature in yhe room as it were couldn't find a way to make it work from their end?
After all it is their product.
They do not control the tv contract or who are hired. They can give an opinion but don't actually do any of the day to day.
It is what it is, no job is ensured, and JK outpriced himself. Whose to say JK didn't request a raise or wanted guarantees that main street couldn't give. It takes 2 to sign a contract.
Im saying cut through the [nonsense] and the Blues pick up the difference.
Simply put it as a marketing expense because that's exactly what this has turned out to be.
Can you tell another company who to hire and who to let go? Can you just pay another company to keep an employee?
That's not how the world works. As has been shown with both the Blues and the Cards, they get a say in who is hired and who isn't but it ultimately comes down to the actual employer, in this case the company that is about to become insolvent.
TAFKAP wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026 09:39 am
I understand the venting, but, nobody has mentioned the fact that Fan Duel is going under.
Again.
Didn't the Cardinals just terminate their deal after New Years?
I mean the channel probably lasts through the season and that's about it. The sale to DAZN didn't go through so main street is essentially broke. I still don't understand why this fact keeps completely getting ignored. He isn't cheap, and main street needed to cut costs, it's as simple as that. One way to cut costs is not renew the contract of a long time employee who makes a lot of money.
Anyone who thinks the Blues dishonored him aren't looking at this subjectively because the company who needed to pay him, has no money.
As we sit today, the Cardinals, the freaking Cardinals, have no idea where their games will be televised and currently have no tv contract. Does everyone understand now?
Just asking.
So the Blues taking the temperature in yhe room as it were couldn't find a way to make it work from their end?
After all it is their product.
They do not control the tv contract or who are hired. They can give an opinion but don't actually do any of the day to day.
It is what it is, no job is ensured, and JK outpriced himself. Whose to say JK didn't request a raise or wanted guarantees that main street couldn't give. It takes 2 to sign a contract.
Im saying cut through the [nonsense] and the Blues pick up the difference.
Simply put it as a marketing expense because that's exactly what this has turned out to be.
Can you tell another company who to hire and who to let go? Can you just pay another company to keep an employee?
That's not how the world works. As has been shown with both the Blues and the Cards, they get a say in who is hired and who isn't but it ultimately comes down to the actual employer, in this case the company that is about to become insolvent.
Oh cmon we're not talking about IBM we're talking about an image of a highly scrutinized sports franchise in a city that has only one pro sports team in the late fall and winter and a name synonymous with that franchise.
Francis Park Thug wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026 12:16 pm
I think it's mostly the older posters that are disgruntled.
They like their announcers to be like John Kelly,
Professional, knowledgeable, prepared and boring. [John Kelly]
There's nothing wrong with that.
They are now targeting a new, younger audience who want to be entertained.
H.G. Wells said it best. "Adapt or die."
I'd concider the "older posters" suggestion. I am one myself and admit that Dan had an amazing, easy knowledge of all things hockey. And when he became a member of the Blues family, fans included, he combined it all together. "And" he was fair to the other team when calling Games. It would be unfair in my old eyes to compare other announcers to him. John had a lot of similar attatchments if not outright knowledge, and it played well for me. As someone else mentioned, you eyeball the game not just the puck. I learned a lot of that from Dan Kelly and am forever greatful.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026 20:51 pm
I’ll never understand why this move was made
it was an extremely bad move and I'd bet they will never admit to it. But the only reasoning I could come up with ws evolving access to the players. Kelly never did anything outside of the game. Kirbs does both radio and the game. And Vitale does all of their social media prep stuff and does the radio segments and player interviews. I'm assuming they were betting on the future.
Kelly may not have done as much as far as access to the players but his research on the team and the opponent every night was stellar. He was very knowledgeable - much more than what we currently have - about every game and most of the NHL players the Blues played on every given night.
He was able to talk hockey the entire game because of this. Unlike what we have now where it is just tangent after tangent.
TAFKAP wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026 09:39 am
I understand the venting, but, nobody has mentioned the fact that Fan Duel is going under.
Again.
Didn't the Cardinals just terminate their deal after New Years?
I mean the channel probably lasts through the season and that's about it. The sale to DAZN didn't go through so main street is essentially broke. I still don't understand why this fact keeps completely getting ignored. He isn't cheap, and main street needed to cut costs, it's as simple as that. One way to cut costs is not renew the contract of a long time employee who makes a lot of money.
Anyone who thinks the Blues dishonored him aren't looking at this subjectively because the company who needed to pay him, has no money.
As we sit today, the Cardinals, the freaking Cardinals, have no idea where their games will be televised and currently have no tv contract. Does everyone understand now?
Just asking.
So the Blues taking the temperature in yhe room as it were couldn't find a way to make it work from their end?
After all it is their product.
They do not control the tv contract or who are hired. They can give an opinion but don't actually do any of the day to day.
It is what it is, no job is ensured, and JK outpriced himself. Whose to say JK didn't request a raise or wanted guarantees that main street couldn't give. It takes 2 to sign a contract.
Im saying cut through the [nonsense] and the Blues pick up the difference.
Simply put it as a marketing expense because that's exactly what this has turned out to be.
Can you tell another company who to hire and who to let go? Can you just pay another company to keep an employee?
That's not how the world works. As has been shown with both the Blues and the Cards, they get a say in who is hired and who isn't but it ultimately comes down to the actual employer, in this case the company that is about to become insolvent.
Oh cmon we're not talking about IBM we're talking about an image of a highly scrutinized sports franchise in a city that has only one pro sports team in the late fall and winter and a name synonymous with that franchise.
That's how this world works.
Yes and changes get made every single day. Hell Panger, long considered the best color man in the game, has now been a color guy for multiple teams. It happens. Kerber has been an announcer for the Blues longer than Kelly has, doesn't he deserve to have an opportunity? He's been the radio guy for 25 years, Kelly was the tv voice for 20.
Does Kerbers time not matter just because his father wasn't a TV broadcaster for us?
TAFKAP wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026 09:39 am
I understand the venting, but, nobody has mentioned the fact that Fan Duel is going under.
Again.
Didn't the Cardinals just terminate their deal after New Years?
I mean the channel probably lasts through the season and that's about it. The sale to DAZN didn't go through so main street is essentially broke. I still don't understand why this fact keeps completely getting ignored. He isn't cheap, and main street needed to cut costs, it's as simple as that. One way to cut costs is not renew the contract of a long time employee who makes a lot of money.
Anyone who thinks the Blues dishonored him aren't looking at this subjectively because the company who needed to pay him, has no money.
As we sit today, the Cardinals, the freaking Cardinals, have no idea where their games will be televised and currently have no tv contract. Does everyone understand now?
Just asking.
So the Blues taking the temperature in yhe room as it were couldn't find a way to make it work from their end?
After all it is their product.
They do not control the tv contract or who are hired. They can give an opinion but don't actually do any of the day to day.
It is what it is, no job is ensured, and JK outpriced himself. Whose to say JK didn't request a raise or wanted guarantees that main street couldn't give. It takes 2 to sign a contract.
Im saying cut through the [nonsense] and the Blues pick up the difference.
Simply put it as a marketing expense because that's exactly what this has turned out to be.
Can you tell another company who to hire and who to let go? Can you just pay another company to keep an employee?
That's not how the world works. As has been shown with both the Blues and the Cards, they get a say in who is hired and who isn't but it ultimately comes down to the actual employer, in this case the company that is about to become insolvent.
Oh cmon we're not talking about IBM we're talking about an image of a highly scrutinized sports franchise in a city that has only one pro sports team in the late fall and winter and a name synonymous with that franchise.
That's how this world works.
Yes and changes get made every single day. Hell Panger, long considered the best color man in the game, has now been a color guy for multiple teams. It happens. Kerber has been an announcer for the Blues longer than Kelly has, doesn't he deserve to have an opportunity? He's been the radio guy for 25 years, Kelly was the tv voice for 20.
Does Kerbers time not matter just because his father wasn't a TV broadcaster for us?
That doesn't mean its for the better and in this case it certainly isn't.
If you can actually follow the play and have any idea what's going on during the broadcast your either psychic or you wouldn't have a clue in the first place.
In your way of thinking anybody should be given a chance to do play by play.
THe only way he got this job is by knowing the right people it sure as hell wasn't on talent.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026 20:51 pm
I’ll never understand why this move was made
Greed. $
I mean, could JK really be THAT expensive? I’m sure Kerbs is cheaper but the Blues are a billion dollar enterprise.
Precisely said.
JK is an employee of RSN Fanduel and he wasn't fired he was relocated to a much larger market in L.A. There's way more revenue to pay him. He has stated it's worked out quite well for both he and his family. Meanwhile Fanduel is losing money on their overall RSN's nationwide and you can bet are paying less to have Kerbs and Vitale simulcast. Don't blame the Blues for this.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026 20:51 pm
I’ll never understand why this move was made
Greed. $
I mean, could JK really be THAT expensive? I’m sure Kerbs is cheaper but the Blues are a billion dollar enterprise.
Precisely said.
JK is an employee of RSN Fanduel and he wasn't fired he was relocated to a much larger market in L.A. There's way more revenue to pay him. He has stated it's worked out quite well for both he and his family. Meanwhile Fanduel is losing money on their overall RSN's nationwide and you can bet are paying less to have Kerbs and Vitale simulcast. Don't blame the Blues for this.
There is a ton of blame to be laid on the Blues for this. Kelly was a brand name for this franchise, FanDuel or not.
The Blues role in this is huge and it has been acknowledged and reported as such.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026 20:51 pm
I’ll never understand why this move was made
Greed. $
I mean, could JK really be THAT expensive? I’m sure Kerbs is cheaper but the Blues are a billion dollar enterprise.
Precisely said.
JK is an employee of RSN Fanduel and he wasn't fired he was relocated to a much larger market in L.A. There's way more revenue to pay him. He has stated it's worked out quite well for both he and his family. Meanwhile Fanduel is losing money on their overall RSN's nationwide and you can bet are paying less to have Kerbs and Vitale simulcast. Don't blame the Blues for this.
There is a ton of blame to be laid on the Blues for this. Kelly was a brand name for this franchise, FanDuel or not.
The Blues role in this is huge and it has been acknowledged and reported as such.
Reported where? It wasn't the Blues decision to relocate JK. He's still employed by Fanduel. This was strictly done because L.A. generates more revenue than StL and FD wanted to decrease costs in StL. Same with Pang although FD did not make an offer to keep him.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026 20:51 pm
I’ll never understand why this move was made
Greed. $
I mean, could JK really be THAT expensive? I’m sure Kerbs is cheaper but the Blues are a billion dollar enterprise.
Precisely said.
JK is an employee of RSN Fanduel and he wasn't fired he was relocated to a much larger market in L.A. There's way more revenue to pay him. He has stated it's worked out quite well for both he and his family. Meanwhile Fanduel is losing money on their overall RSN's nationwide and you can bet are paying less to have Kerbs and Vitale simulcast. Don't blame the Blues for this.
There is a ton of blame to be laid on the Blues for this. Kelly was a brand name for this franchise, FanDuel or not.
The Blues role in this is huge and it has been acknowledged and reported as such.
They were asked, they gave their opinion. They were asked because his contract came up and the RSN owners are about fully dissolved. They were cutting costs. Unless he was going on the Blues payroll the odds of him being back were incredibly small. The Blues gave the PR answer that's all.
TAFKAP wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026 09:39 am
I understand the venting, but, nobody has mentioned the fact that Fan Duel is going under.
Again.
Didn't the Cardinals just terminate their deal after New Years?
I mean the channel probably lasts through the season and that's about it. The sale to DAZN didn't go through so main street is essentially broke. I still don't understand why this fact keeps completely getting ignored. He isn't cheap, and main street needed to cut costs, it's as simple as that. One way to cut costs is not renew the contract of a long time employee who makes a lot of money.
Anyone who thinks the Blues dishonored him aren't looking at this subjectively because the company who needed to pay him, has no money.
As we sit today, the Cardinals, the freaking Cardinals, have no idea where their games will be televised and currently have no tv contract. Does everyone understand now?
Just asking.
So the Blues taking the temperature in yhe room as it were couldn't find a way to make it work from their end?
After all it is their product.
They do not control the tv contract or who are hired. They can give an opinion but don't actually do any of the day to day.
It is what it is, no job is ensured, and JK outpriced himself. Whose to say JK didn't request a raise or wanted guarantees that main street couldn't give. It takes 2 to sign a contract.
Im saying cut through the [nonsense] and the Blues pick up the difference.
Simply put it as a marketing expense because that's exactly what this has turned out to be.
Can you tell another company who to hire and who to let go? Can you just pay another company to keep an employee?
That's not how the world works. As has been shown with both the Blues and the Cards, they get a say in who is hired and who isn't but it ultimately comes down to the actual employer, in this case the company that is about to become insolvent.
Oh cmon we're not talking about IBM we're talking about an image of a highly scrutinized sports franchise in a city that has only one pro sports team in the late fall and winter and a name synonymous with that franchise.
That's how this world works.
Yes and changes get made every single day. Hell Panger, long considered the best color man in the game, has now been a color guy for multiple teams. It happens. Kerber has been an announcer for the Blues longer than Kelly has, doesn't he deserve to have an opportunity? He's been the radio guy for 25 years, Kelly was the tv voice for 20.
Does Kerbers time not matter just because his father wasn't a TV broadcaster for us?
That doesn't mean its for the better and in this case it certainly isn't.
If you can actually follow the play and have any idea what's going on during the broadcast your either psychic or you wouldn't have a clue in the first place.
In your way of thinking anybody should be given a chance to do play by play.
THe only way he got this job is by knowing the right people it sure as hell wasn't on talent.
No that's not what I said. He isn't some guy they just picked up off the street and gave a pair of headphones to and said Here call a game. He has been calling Blues games on the radio for 25 YEARS, he isn't just some newbie they hoped would work out. People have been listening to him call games for 2.5 decades now.
I have no problems whatsoever following the game with his call, if others can't so be it. The hand wringing though at this point is completely out of control. It's done, he's gone, like he left before.
TAFKAP wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026 09:39 am
I understand the venting, but, nobody has mentioned the fact that Fan Duel is going under.
Again.
Didn't the Cardinals just terminate their deal after New Years?
I mean the channel probably lasts through the season and that's about it. The sale to DAZN didn't go through so main street is essentially broke. I still don't understand why this fact keeps completely getting ignored. He isn't cheap, and main street needed to cut costs, it's as simple as that. One way to cut costs is not renew the contract of a long time employee who makes a lot of money.
Anyone who thinks the Blues dishonored him aren't looking at this subjectively because the company who needed to pay him, has no money.
As we sit today, the Cardinals, the freaking Cardinals, have no idea where their games will be televised and currently have no tv contract. Does everyone understand now?
Just asking.
So the Blues taking the temperature in yhe room as it were couldn't find a way to make it work from their end?
After all it is their product.
They do not control the tv contract or who are hired. They can give an opinion but don't actually do any of the day to day.
It is what it is, no job is ensured, and JK outpriced himself. Whose to say JK didn't request a raise or wanted guarantees that main street couldn't give. It takes 2 to sign a contract.
Im saying cut through the [nonsense] and the Blues pick up the difference.
Simply put it as a marketing expense because that's exactly what this has turned out to be.
Can you tell another company who to hire and who to let go? Can you just pay another company to keep an employee?
That's not how the world works. As has been shown with both the Blues and the Cards, they get a say in who is hired and who isn't but it ultimately comes down to the actual employer, in this case the company that is about to become insolvent.
Oh cmon we're not talking about IBM we're talking about an image of a highly scrutinized sports franchise in a city that has only one pro sports team in the late fall and winter and a name synonymous with that franchise.
That's how this world works.
Yes and changes get made every single day. Hell Panger, long considered the best color man in the game, has now been a color guy for multiple teams. It happens. Kerber has been an announcer for the Blues longer than Kelly has, doesn't he deserve to have an opportunity? He's been the radio guy for 25 years, Kelly was the tv voice for 20.
Does Kerbers time not matter just because his father wasn't a TV broadcaster for us?
That doesn't mean its for the better and in this case it certainly isn't.
If you can actually follow the play and have any idea what's going on during the broadcast your either psychic or you wouldn't have a clue in the first place.
In your way of thinking anybody should be given a chance to do play by play.
THe only way he got this job is by knowing the right people it sure as hell wasn't on talent.
No that's not what I said. He isn't some guy they just picked up off the street and gave a pair of headphones to and said Here call a game. He has been calling Blues games on the radio for 25 YEARS, he isn't just some newbie they hoped would work out. People have been listening to him call games for 2.5 decades now.
I have no problems whatsoever following the game with his call, if others can't so be it. The hand wringing though at this point is completely out of control. It's done, he's gone, like he left before.
They should have hired someone off the street then.
I've been listening to broadcasters and been one myself for several decades and the current crew is a disservice to a long standing fan base which deserves better.
