Bernie Miklasz weighs in on John Kelly's firing

[Big_G]

TONE-DEAF AND SHAMEFUL

[rezero]

Well said. Does anyone know the reason behind the firing?

[Big_G]

Well said. Does anyone know the reason behind the firing?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[a smell of green grass]

This commentary from Bernie sure didn't age well.

He compares the Cardinals to the Blues, and said the Blues do everything for the fans...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeI2mp_NHuE

[Big_G]

This commentary from Bernie sure didn't age well.

He compares the Cardinals to the Blues, and said the Blues do everything for the fans...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeI2mp_NHuE

If you would have watched this video, you would have known he mentions the previous video and says he was wrong in this instance. He says he held off making this video because he thought, like many on this forum thought, the Blues would realize the mistake they were making and surely bring Kelly back.

[rezero]

Well said. Does anyone know the reason behind the firing?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It feel like there has to be more here. Did they want a different dynamic in the booth for some reason?

[TBone]

Well said. Does anyone know the reason behind the firing?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It feel like there has to be more here. Did they want a different dynamic in the booth for some reason?

How old is John Kelly? It could be as simple as 101 moving out Karraker and Miklasz for younger / cheaper alternatives.

New people are in charge at Bally's (or whatever they're calling it). And new people love making their own mark. Happens all the time.

[John Cocktoastin]

Whenever you wonder why an organization made a strange and unpopular move, follow the money.

[TBone]

OK... Here's a story I just read and it mentions the name Norby WIlliamson as in charge of the company who instigated the change.

https://awfulannouncing.com/local-netwo ... -move.html

He was in charge at ESPN for four decades. Do you want to know a few opinions on Williamson. From The Athletic...


In recent months, Williamson had been in the news after Pat McAfee — host of “The Pat McAfee Show,” which airs on ESPN — claimed during his show that Williamson was the source of leaked information about the program’s poor TV ratings and called Williamson a “rat.” ESPN sources said that the incident had no bearing on Friday’s decision.

“This had absolutely nothing to do with the Pat McAfee episode,” former ESPN EVP Mark Shapiro, who worked closely with Magnus and Williamson and is now the president of Endeavor and TKO, told The Athletic. “Norby wasn’t fully aligned on the content vision Jimmy (Pitaro) and Burke had set. More than anything else after his incredible run, it was time to pass the torch.”

Writer and podcaster Jemele Hill, the former ESPN personality, experienced some professional friction with Williamson, like some other on-air talents.

“My reaction is somewhere between an amused chuckle and ‘never thought I’d see the day,'” Hill told The Athletic. “I don’t know the circumstances behind his departure, but I guess it wasn’t a coincidence an earthquake hit New York City the same day this announcement was made.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/539419 ... at-mcafee/

[dhsux]

For me, this one goes down as one of the worst moves of the franchise but it's possibly the worst because of how simple it was to do the right thing.

What kind of salary delta are we talking here between Kerbs and Kelly?? Who's great idea was this? It's as dumb as a brick to say nothing of being totally classless.

And Kelly's age, whatever that means, is more reason to keep him than dump him.

Can't express how disappointed I am in Stillman and the Blues. Total Sh11t show guys.

Admit it and fix it.

[Lone_Ranger]

That's business. Business is cruel. It was a bush league move to begin with when Kelly was brought in and Ken Wilson got the boot. What goes around comes around. That's the way it goes.

[callitwhatyouwant]

Well said. Does anyone know the reason behind the firing?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It feel like there has to be more here. Did they want a different dynamic in the booth for some reason?

The issue isn't just money but money is clearly a factor. The main issue is what does Kelly currently do? He is an announcer and that is it. You get occasional 101 interviews out of him but he doesn't work for 101. Kirbs and Joey V are the direct access guys to the team and in the case of Joey V, he is the personality/Pro. What they have done is position themselves to have announcers that are multi dimensional. Kirbs does weekly interviews with 101 and is a lot more accessible. Joey V does as well. Joey V is also the social media guy with segments like the cooking with Joey stuff. So you essentially cut cost $$$$$$ and are getting more out of the same role. The product might ultimately end up in a better space, but I think that will take time. I certainly am not counting on it being that good this year.

THAT BEING SAID, John Kelly was one of the premier play by play guys in the league. He gave his career to the Blues. He is a standup guy and a true professional. FanDuel and to an extent the Blues did him dirty with this decision. Having him get his going away year would have been the right move. The fans deserved this as well. They should have known they were getting the last season with him. Panger being bought out at a higher dollar mark by the Hawks is one thing. Not renewing Kelly's contract is another. If Kelly decided he didn't want to come back then that's fine. But all indications point that FanDuel chose to go a different direction and that was very short sighted.

[TBone]

That's business. Business is cruel. It was a bush league move to begin with when Kelly was brought in and Ken Wilson got the boot. What goes around comes around. That's the way it goes.

That's pretty much how I look at it. Ken Wilson deserves to be in the Blues Hall of Fame and when I asked people who would know if it's possible the answer came back "no" because the Kelly family (amongst others) would block it. Really?? Well as you said, what goes around comes around.

Yes, Wilson mishandled the events leading up to and after his dismissal but to hold grudges for decades is bush league too.

[seattleblue]

This was the kind of move consistent with a low class organization, not a high class one like it loves to portray. How many times had Kelly himself leaned into that narrative, every time the team Does Something Good? The buck stops with Tom Stillman. This is a Stillman Era decision.

[dhsux]

That's business. Business is cruel. It was a bush league move to begin with when Kelly was brought in and Ken Wilson got the boot. What goes around comes around. That's the way it goes.

It's a dumb business move!

Take emotion out of it. They fired a local brand name they will never have again.

Comparing Wilson, who I really liked, to Kelly is a non starter. Other than both being fired....the WHY of it is night and day.

Wilson burned bridges left and right. Then a KELLY, the son of recently deceased Dan, came along.

duh....what do we do? I get that.

Not this.

[Tony Palazzolo]

It's money and I get it. I never understood why they had radio and tv productions. Now, we can argue they got rid of the wrong one. It's hard to argue setting up everything from one production team.