The Universal Cynic

ESPN.com's Bill Simmons did an NHL Entry Draft blog while watching feed from TSN (and torched the network quite thoroughly in the process). There's typical Canadian vs. U.S. humour (i.e. staid currency jokes from a country that still thinks the CAD is operating at 65 cents) -- but seeing a broadcasting regular like Bob McKenzie referred to as "Announcer No. 2" is quite amusing.

P.S. I hate spelling "defenseman" with a "c". Who the hell started that?

I don't know how many of you caught TSN's "revolutionary" broadcast on Friday, where Glenn Healy and Chris Cuthbert called the Rangers-Sabres game from ice level, between the benches.

Utter nonsense.

First of all, it would have been a worthy event had they shot the game from ice level (although I doubt anyone, including myself would approve). But the last time I checked, the commentators were not the sole reason for tuning into the game -- and yet, that's what TSN attempted to have the viewers do. In fact, there were moments during the game when the broadcast went to a picture-in-picture format, and showed Cuthbert and Healy speaking live.

Who needs to see this?

The game is the show, not the commentators -- I can't think of any that deserve so much attention. Furthermore, what does it say about the product being iced if TSN feels the need to "enhance the experience" with irrelevant bells and whistles?