Pierre McGuire Takes a Hit

It is not that often you get to see one media person take a run at a colleague.  That's why Hugh Adami's column (Reg Req'd, or go here) in today's Ottawa Citizen is worth a read. 

Adami's target is Pierre McGuire, TSN hockey guy, columnist, former coach & radio personality.   McGuire does a regular call-in segment on Ottawa's Team1200 Sports Radio during which he mostly talks intelligently and insightfully about hockey.  Adami does a nice job skewering McGuire's style, particularly his tendency to name drop, pat himself and Team 1200 personalities on the back, and fawn over his favorite players, coaches & team execs.  McGuire also has a tendency to start every sentence off with something like "As I have said before..." implying that there are few hockey-related ideas that didn't germinate in cranium. 

McGuire is usually entertaining and always well-informed.  He appears to have cultivated an amazing network of informants who share behind-the-scenes information on NHL front offices, coaches & players.  I tune in to hear McGuire on the radio when I can.  He does have insights and information that don't show up elsewhere, but he'd be much easier to take if he lost the sycophantic style. 

Comments

[David Johnson]

McGuire is a showman, has an ego, likes to hear himself talk, definitely name drops, and you definitely have to take what he says with a grain of salt. He likes to think he knows everyone, anything and everything related to hockey but he doesn't. He does like to name drop, he does like to pat himself on the back, but he also likes to play to the audience. I have heard him say one thing on Toronto radio and then say almost the opposite on Ottawa radio. Early in the year he said the Senators were a team in trouble, now he is clearly back on the band wagon. He has been talking for months how there will be some 'separation' among teams in the eastern conference playoff race but he was dead wrong about that.

McGuire also picks favourites and the Ottawa Senators are definitely one of his favourites. Right now he is on the anti-fighting bandwagon but he sounds more like a buffoon when talking about it than someone who has a well thought out opinion and he will cherry pick examples to try to prove a point of his. He also seems to believe that anyone who doesn't agree with him is a dinosaur or a neanderthal living in the stone ages because no intelligent human would ever have an opinion different than his.

I totally despise watching a hockey game on TSN when he is the color man. He won't shut up and constantly interrupts Gord Miller, often with completely useless information. He is irritating and annoying and I have turned off games because of him. Just listen to him during a hockey game. Every period he will pick one player to either praise immensely or on occassion criticize immensely and he won't shut up about that player for the whole period. Then the next period it will be someone different.

I remember one game early last season when the Senators were down a goal in the third period and Bryan Murray put the big three players together on one line and they scored. McGuire went crazy over how brilliant Murray was for making that move. He talked about it for a few days but the reality is anyone with half a clue about hockey would realize that if you are down a goal late in the third you put your best offensive players on the ice. It was a move that probably 99% of coaches would make. But McGuire loves coaches and he loves the Senators so he talked about it for days.

[George Pirie]

Re: Pierre McGuire

McGuire is the most "un-Canadian" sports broadcaster I have ever had the displeasure of listening to.

Thanks to the mute button on my remote control, I can at least limit my intake of his never-ending arrogant, condescending, self-promoting, self-righteous, and bush-league remarks, as well as his many team/player/coach biases.

In fact, if McGuire would quit interrupting Gord's excellent play-by-play announcing, I would not have to listen to him at all, as I could simply hit the mute button at the end of each play, and then turn the sound back on once play resumes.

Since McGuire started at TSN, I have missed every World Junior and Memorial Cup broadcast, as well as many regular season NHL games, solely because of my utter distaste for his broadcasting style and comments.

Given the number of excellent and talented sports media personnel that our country has produced, together with the obvious and ever-growing number of viewers who vehemently hate McGuire's manner of broadcasting, I cannot believe TSN's continued love affair with him.

[Jimmy]

Pierre played peewee hockey and was a pylon

[Brad Chapman]

Here is an email i sent to TSn regarding the need to fire this asshole.
RE: Pierre McGuire

THIS GUY IS KILLING YOUR RATINGS AND CREDIBILITY! I am passionate as well as many others about maintaining integrity for our game and being able to simply enjoy live hockey telecasts. How you could ignore the hockey population regarding an obviously-hated man is beyond me.
I would like to personally speak with whoever is in charge of personell at TSN. This man is not helping your ratings. He is generally hated or disliked in the hockey community and by players alike. I can personally name 10 000 people on facebook in various Pierre McGuire hategroups who admit to not wanting to hear him and turning the station or volume down on games he broadcasts. Easily the most hated man in hockey broadcasting history. How can you ignore at least 10 000 people in your fan base. If I do not receive a response I will continue to push on with more and more intense ways of making a statement that will garner a response. Why is he hated? Need some reasons?
Read these links on what people think. Here are numerous hate sites dedicated to this moron;

The Wonderful World of Pierre

1. Complete lack of actual hockey logic/ knowledge

2. He looks like Dana Carvey as that turtle in that no-name movie he was in.

3. Monster Performers? (What the hell)

4. Active Stick (ok this kind of made sense but he uses it incessently)

5. His love of no-name 4th line crap players

6. His love of random mundane hockey occurences such as icings, offsides and dump-ins (give me a break you idiot!)

7. Screaming and yelling constantly for no reason

8. Continuous ramblings about being an NHL coach and 'winning' a stanley cup
(he was an awful assistant and head coach with a losing record and was a scout on the penguins cup team with jagr and lemieux (who he had no ties to bringing to that team) - why should we listen to a losing coach and mediocre scout?

I am not going to stop pushing for you to get rid of this man. True and pure hockey fans detest him and he is doing nothing positive for TSN but making you look like utter fools. Please take a quick look at these groups and comments posted by true hockey fans.

Petition to Ban Pierre McGuire from Sports Broadcasting - 1816 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2266981462

End Pierre McGuire's Stupid Comments

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2226692048

If Pierre McGuire was on fire I wouldn't piss on him to put him out - 1556 members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2219275128

The I hate Pierre Mcguire group - 1276 members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2253701613

I hate Pierre McGuire - 811 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2211739898

Pierre McGuire is a Douche Bag - 527 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2300362904

I Fucking Hate Pierre McGuire

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2371952487

Pierre McGuire is the worst commentator Ever - 341 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2211886040

Get Pierre Off the Air - 273 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2235615504

I Want to Fight Pierre McGuire! - 256 members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2298469430

I've Had Enough of Pierre McGuire! - 163 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2328224709

Pierre McGuire is a Homo - 169 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2248731710

Pierre Mcguire - Worst Color Guy in Hockey - 163 Members

Pierre McGuire needs to go - 129 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2239223891

Pierre Mcguire is a HUGE fag... worst cannot describe the hate I feel - 123 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2227995196

I HATE Pierre F'n McGuire (NHL "Analyst" for TSN) - 118 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2247581212

Let's Fire Pierre McGuire!! - 107 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2364004343

We Hate Pierre Mcguire - 105 members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2272888077

Pierre McGuire must DIE - 100 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2229721082

Fire Pierre McGuire! - 105 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2214171350

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2364004343

Official Pierre McGuire Hate Group - 74 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2227688356

GET THE FUCK OFF THE BENCH PIERRE!! - 75 Members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2369916113

"I hate Pierre Maguire" group - 65 members

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2245342576

Please take the time to reply to me at
bradchapman27@hotmail.com

I look forward to a discussion.

[Gary Smith]

We at HABS INSIDE/OUT think it is wrong for him to send fans to HOCKEY db.com so people will see the Habs missed ten first rounders that didnt make the NHL from 1989-2001, or that they passed up Marian Hossa, Kopitar, Staszny and Getzlaf in recent drafts.

[D.D.]

Tell all those Maple Loffs to stop trying to buy and cheat a contender. Tavares will be drafted like all other players... this isnt the age of territorial rights anymore. HABS INSIDE/OUT rules. Toronto drools.

[grabbed the cup]

Personally i like Pierre, he tells it like it isand pulls no punches. We need more like him in Montreal, notice how poorly we make trades and draft, and everyone says what a wonderful job Gainey has done? HABS INSIDE/OUT

[Jeff]

Pierre is THE reason I like watching the TSN broadcasts - he has a personality, has coaching experience and has a passion for the game that most broadcasters don't even come close to.

To: grabbed the cup

You obviously have no clue!

[Jo4nny]

I stumbled onto this page because I was trying to see if McGuire is doing colour on the Leafs-Sabres game tonight.

I always try to stick it out when he's commentating, but he drives me so crazy with his "McGuire's Monsters" and his unabashed man-crush on Phaneuf and Crosby that I have to put it on mute. Ten minutes later I get sick of watching it on mute and turn it off entirely.

He is the epitome of "short guy complex" and I can't stand him. And I'm a pretty easy-going guy.

[Les]

McGuire is a refreshing and flamboyant hockey personality. It amazes me that so many people love dull and boring comentating.
I've been watching hockey for forty years and you rarely get guys that will disect the game with great insight and detail as he does. I admit that he could have a little more humility at times but his love for the game cannot be denied.

[Zoboo]

Hey I like commentators who love hockey and are passionate about the game as much as the next guy. But that guy is so in love with his own voice, he doesn't even let Gord Miller do the play by play, he just talks about the most useless and inane things ever that having nothing to do with anything!! I hate him!

[craig carter]

i like alot of other hockey fans dislike pierre for the same reasons. i will not list them as for what i read sums up what i would of said. i am very surprised of how many people are against this man and tsn should do something about this cause i myself find the mute button or just not watch a game.

[TK Fisher]

I like many others will either mute the sound or just change the channel.
I love hockey & have for 40+ yrs.
Maguire is an idiot & I cannot understand why he is still employed by TSN???
His sequence & identifying is sickening.
What is he doing at ice level asking the players dumbass questions during the game?
He has no business being down there, the players have there job to do & he has his but he seems to think he is a part of the team.
With any luck he will take a hard body check and be on the reserved list.
Get him off the TV.
\\\\fish

[Mikey Boy 24]

You guys are taking it a little far. Pierre can be annoying, it's true, but I don't generally have a problem with his hockey analysis. It's his arrogance that drives my up the wall.

I listen to him on the Team 990 (Montreal) daily at 5:25pm to hear his insider takes on the Habs and the NHL. That part I like. I hate the non-hockey stuff that he's constantly going on about. But more than that I hate his cocky sayings. Here are some of my "faves":

"He GETS it!" Implying that people that agree with him get it and all others are uninformed outsiders.

"Fans, it's okay that you don't know this. It's not your job to know this. You don't need to know this stuff." And then he'll usually spout off about a minor league player that may or may not be a prospect.

"I've said it before." He's constantly referring to situations he supposedly saw coming WAY before anyone else.

"You already know that, Mitch. You're a goalie. You've played the game." He usually throws in a "You get it" here as well.

"This is not scripted, right Mitch? We never script this." That's usually in response to some random comment he makes that happens to jive with what Steven Brunt said on the show an hour earlier. Usually there's barely even a connection between the two statements.

Really, the more I type the more I realize that I could go on writing for another hour, so I'll stop here.

I do like Pierre, I just wish he'd tone it down about to about 20% of his current levels.

What I DO have trouble understanding, though, is why anyone would care so much about getting Pierre turfed while Bob Cole is still doing play-by-play!

[Shawn O]

Pierre McGuire is a lying sack of dirt, exaggerator extraordinaire and all-round dipshit. He must have photos on somebody to keep his job. Perhaps the same photos, complete retard Bob Cole has in his possession.

[Mike]

wow all of you guys said it all.
It is basically all true...
He is extremely cocky, and he thinks he knows it all. He never lets Gord Miller speak a word because he goes on and on about useless facts that are usually about him that don't have anything to do with the game.

He does love hockey and he does know quite a lot. I just wish he wasn't such a fucking dick about it all...

[Porky]

the man is just plain downright annoying....

I long for the days of when even Howie Meaker was a joy to listen to compared to this nonsense from McGuire.....

Mute button again......

[The Shadow]

Porky:

Do you mean the Howie Meeker who, when commenting on Wayne Gretzky's play in the World Juniors, stated that "He is a prolific scorer but I'm not sure he can skate in the NHL" You mean that Howie Meeker, yes, he was a real peach.

Pierre McGuire is fun to listen to and if you have ever listened to U.S. hockey commentaries you would consider we Canadians to be lucky to have Pierre around.

[Linesman]

McGuire is a bamboozler.
Hartford Whalers 23-37-7 record in 1993–94. That's how he gets known as the Big Coach! That's his coaching carreer. It's a joke!

[Rich]

I was just browsing and im not sure who still checks this because the last post was made in July, however i could not bite my tounge. Im not sure of the amount of people who have responded to this are actually Canadian, but some on!
Pierre Mcguire to me is the name brand of broadcasting in Canada. I believe this man was an outstanding scout. He has a natural eye for talent and does wonders with broadcasting the world juniors. If it wasnt for him and Gord Miller, the world juniors just wouldnt be as special. To be honest i love when he emphasises all the little aspects of the game and points out all the little mechanics that make a hockey player great. Truly is one of the best analysts of his time. Thats my two cents

[inspectorb]

Pierre is indeed self aggrandizing,over-enthusiastic, bombastic, & plain annoying. That's his personality. That he may be able change. I listen to him on the Fan 960 out of Calgary. I find that once he's off of TSN he's a lot easier to take. He's humorous, insightful and not afraid to tell it like it is. In fact I'm listening to him right now.

To his detractors:
1. Name droppers are those who inject a name into a conversation to make it seem they are closely connected to someone important. Pierre is connected to the people he references in his conversations. It's his job. That makes me think his TV "personality" is a production thing.

2. To blame him for being down at the bench seems to be a long stretch. I presume the NHL has the last say in setting the limits on broadcasters.

3. Calling him a liar is libelous and I think I'd be a little more cautious.

The main thing is he's up there giving his opinion to MILLIONS for millions and we're here spouting off on a dweeb sports site.

For definition of dweeb see "Jimmy" - a person who has way too much time to surf for vitriolic web sites to prove a lame point.

[Ginny]

I agree with some stuff people have written above about McGuire but mostly, the one thing that drives me nuts is his incessant man-crushes on certain players.

I was watching a Habs game he was covering for TSN a couple of weeks ago when Price was benched because he sucks. McGuire's every other comment was about how Price was the future of the Habs, how he would bounce back no problem, how he's going to be the saviour...and all kinds of bullshit like that. He even turned to Price at one point, patted him on the back and told him he was the future of the club. What's that about? Who's he to make that call? It's one thing to try to boost a kid's morale when he's benched many games in a row, it's a complete other to make him think he holds an esteemed position without needing to put in any work.
Price possibly COULD be the future is he quits getting his drunken ass out or every club in Montreal at five every morning, if he loses the cocaine he sniffs a few times a week, and if he ACTUALLY stops pucks when he's required to!
Enough with the man-crushes McGuire!

[Cliff Atkins]

How much longer must we listen to the conceited, inane McGuire.

It is simply disgraceful that this man who loves the sound of his own voice gets air time.

Why are TSN risking their reputation?

[Ryan]

You know, I don't think I wish death upon the douchebag...but I would settle for simply having his tongue ripped out of his mouth.