MLSE and John Saunders ?

_MidNight_ · Post #1 » by **_MidNight_** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:32 pm

I'm just wondering what happened between MLSE and John Saunders contractually, because I'm watching him on RAPTV right now and i can't figure out for the life of me why the would get rid of this guy in favor of Chuck... Can someone shed some light on what happened between the two sides ?..

T.Duncan21 · Post #2 » by **T.Duncan21** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:34 pm

I don't know but I agree that listening to Saunders is so much better than Swirsky

NeverGoingToWin · Post #3 » by **NeverGoingToWin** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:35 pm

It could be that he wanted to leave for bigger opportunities.

_MidNight_ · Post #4 » by **_MidNight_** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:38 pm

AirCanada_1515 wrote:It could be that he wanted to leave for bigger opportunities.

I've heard that someone said that he really wanted to stay in Toronto but i could be wrong...

Post #5 » by **Cyrus** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:42 pm

Appearently he wanted to stay, but for whatever reason MLSE and him, or the networks couldn't come up with a deal.

Same thing with Dan Shulman, I take either over Swirsk in a heartbeat. I'm tired of all the self promotion that Chuck does, and all the over top business, which is fine once in a while, but get tiring when it's every other time, whether it's a3 pt shot from insert town name, to get out the umbrella's it's rainning tray's, etc.

Shak23 · Post #6 » by **Shak23** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:45 pm

John Saunders is a great PBP man.

alysomji · Post #7 » by **alysomji** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:46 pm

One of the biggest mistakes in MLSE history was letting this guy go. He's awesome.

A nail in the coffin to the likes of biased commentators like Swirsk.

Live Free · Post #8 » by **Live Free** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:48 pm

haters keep hating chucks swagger

_MidNight_ · Post #9 » by **_MidNight_** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:51 pm

alysomji wrote:One of the biggest mistakes in MLSE history was letting this guy go. He's awesome.

A nail in the coffin to the likes of biased commentators like Swirsk.

I know how you feel, it's so refreshing listening to this guy with out all the catchphrase and self promotion i can't believe they got rid of this guy...

yucatan87 · Post #10 » by **yucatan87** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:56 pm

Cyrus wrote:Appearently he wanted to stay, but for whatever reason MLSE and him, or the networks couldn't come up with a deal.

Same thing with Dan Shulman, I take either over Swirsk in a heartbeat. I'm tired of all the self promotion that Chuck does, and all the over top business, which is fine once in a while, but get tiring when it's every other time, whether it's a3 pt shot from insert town name, to get out the umbrella's it's rainning tray's, etc.

I think MLSE wanted an 82 game play-by-play guy, and with Saunders' ESPN commitments, he couldn't do it/

saturn28 · Post #11 » by **saturn28** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:20 pm

Sanders or Shulman are light years ahead of Swirsky. Sanders used to work for City tv back in the day.

Jer15Jer · Post #12 » by **Jer15Jer** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:30 pm

You guys are nuts. Chuck is one the best damn announcers in the NBA.

That, and he's becoming a Canadian citizen. That says a lot about how much he lives for this team AND this country.

Typically unappreciated by this ridiculous fan base.

Rainin'Treys · Post #13 » by **Rainin'Treys** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:51 pm

yucatan87 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I think MLSE wanted an 82 game play-by-play guy, and with Saunders' ESPN commitments, he couldn't do it/

That's the reason.

gei · Post #14 » by **gei** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:53 pm

Jer15Jer wrote:You guys are nuts. Chuck is one the best damn announcers in the NBA.

That, and he's becoming a Canadian citizen. That says a lot about how much he lives for this team AND this country.

Typically unappreciated by this ridiculous fan base.

I think in reality 90+% of raptors fans like and appreciate chuck. I too think he's one of the greatest and appreciate everything he does.

Don't forget that realgm only represents a tiny portion of the total raptors fan base. And the posters on here generally seem to be whiny and uptight.

On top of that the whiners are generally the ones who post the most. For every 1 member of realgm who whines about chuck there are probably 100 others who like chuck and just arent saying anything.

El Presidente · Post #15 » by **El Presidente** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:08 pm

spartacus416 wrote:I'm just wondering what happened between MLSE and John Saunders contractually, because I'm watching him on RAPTV right now and i can't figure out for the life of me why the would get rid of this guy in favor of Chuck... Can someone shed some light on what happened between the two sides ?..

Dude, I said the exact same thing in my podcast last night. I always bring him up every time there's a Chuck/Leo thread around.

Saunders was head and shoulders above any other play-by-play man we've ever had. He left to call CBS college games and then was the host of their halftime show. He was simply awesome and called the game perfectly. I think him, Dan Shulman and Tom Cheeks were the best Toronto ever had. Obviously I'm not counting hockey because who cares about that.

Bones · Post #16 » by **Bones** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:22 pm

yucatan87 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I think MLSE wanted an 82 game play-by-play guy, and with Saunders' ESPN commitments, he couldn't do it/

Saunders actually said that he was prepared to quit ESPN to become the Rap's play by play guy as he preferred to stay in Toronto. But instead of approaching Saunders to talk about it MLSE went out and signed Chuck.

It's too bad. Instead we're stuck with the self serving Mr. Salami and Cheese.

C Court · Post #17 » by **C Court** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:22 pm

John Saunders was the BEST play-by-play guy in Raptors history.

John Saunders wanted to continue doing Raptor games for his hometown. Yes, he's a LOYAL Canadian. However, his ESPN duties meant he could not do all games. He was calling Raps games at a discounted rate. (He makes well over $1 million at ESPN).

So MLSE decided to promote their radio guy (Chuck Swirsky) to TV and fire Saunders. MLSE said they wanted a 'signature' voice for all 82 games.

William Houston in the Globe & Mail reported that Swirsky had campaigned long and hard for the TV gig - a claim which Swirsky denied.

Apparently, Saunders was very unhappy with MLSE and Chuck because he felt he was stabbed in the back.

How much is true and how much is rumour? I don't know.

Bones · Post #18 » by **Bones** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:25 pm

El Presidente wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Dude, I said the exact same thing in my podcast last night. I always bring him up every time there's a Chuck/Leo thread around.

Saunders was head and shoulders above any other play-by-play man we've ever had. He left to call CBS college games and then was the host of their halftime show. He was simply awesome and called the game perfectly. I think him, Dan Shulman and Tom Cheeks were the best Toronto ever had. Obviously I'm not counting hockey because who cares about that.

Yah, Saunders was very good. Dan Shulman was and still is my favourite. BBall, football, baseball; he can call almost any sport and sound great.

Bones · Post #19 » by **Bones** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:35 pm

Centre Court wrote:So MLSE decided to promote their radio guy (Chuck Swirsky) to TV and fire Saunders. MLSE said they wanted a 'signature' voice for all 82 games.

They got a 'signature' voice, that's for sure. Cornball is all I can say. If he would just call the game and leave out most of the 'schtick' I wouldn't mind him.

Bones · Post #20 » by **Bones** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:39 pm

El Presidente wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Obviously I'm not counting hockey because who cares about that.

I could care less as well now a days but I remember when I was growing up, I used to love to listen to Danny Galivan. His descriptions of the action on the ice were very colourful but, were not over done.