I don't know a lot about hockey. It's fast and cold and the players seem to be quite cool themselves, but the gist of the game remains foreign to me, but its grown on me and I'm a certified San Jose Sharks fanatic. Can you imagine that? Of course you can.
Part of my unbridled fascination and interest in the game involves the Sharks dynamic TV broadcast duo of Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda. This just in: Hahn is good, very good. And Remenda, with a distinctive Howie Mandel bald top, is straight out of the "where the hell did this guy come from? dept."After the 05-06 season, Remenda left for a job with CBC's hockey night in Canada, and the departure was tough for San Jose fans. But they needed to stop worrying, as their broadcaster would return to his old job after only one season away from his buddy Randy.
Remenda has wit, grace, presence, and the amazing, innate ability to talk at great length and make you stop and listen, even though he's speaking about something I, (and thousands of other Bay Areans frankly) haven't a clue.
While hockey remains a virtual mystery in many Bay Area locales, it is numero uno in San Jose and parts south. The Sharks have a rabid fan base and routinely sell out 17,000plus HP Pavillion. Although the team is having an early-season hiccup, the Sharks are still considered among the elite in the NHL and will probably make the playoffs. (Which given past results bodes well that the San Josers are not at the top of the list)
Hahn, (who is, by the way, married to CBS5 weather hottie, Roberta Gonzalez) is a no-nonsense, immensely professional to the P play-by-play man with a great set of tonsils and gives you the game without the slightest bit of homerism. Oh sure, Hahn revs up a home goal big time if the situation merits, (as he should) but its credible and quite exciting. Just go on the Internet and give a listen. Case closed.
Remenda does one better. He provides a distinct, clear commentary of the game at hand and will explain and provide the crucial element of just how so and so set up this play and made the goal possible. Remenda is knowledgeable and has a knack for self-depracating humor in his performance. Better yet, if the Sharkies play like crap, he's not afraid to criticize the home team. In fact, when the Sharks looked and played like guppies in their opening round loss last year to eight-seeded Anaheim, Remenda was spot on in his pointed put down of the #1-seeded SJ team. It was refreshing and quite lucid.
Remenda is so good and likable, he often can be seen chatting with fans inside the arena and has his picture taken regularly. I've never met Remenda, but given his worldly NHL status and girth of knowledge, on other things, I'm sure he'd be a blast.
Hahn and Remenda, plus radio play-by-play man Dan Rusanowsky are terrific. Rusanowsky on radio, (98.5 FM) reminds me of the late, great Bill King doing Warriors basketball. His pinpoint, descriptive analysis is A-grade and listening to him describe the action is akin to being right there on center ice.
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Right on the money, Rich. The only mis-step I can remember Randy Hahn making was hosting that evening magazine show a few years back. The poor guy never looked comfortable in that role.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree on that one.
ReplyDeleteSeems like Rich forgot to mention Jamie Baker -- and while I really like Randy & Drew, I keep KFOX on for the real insight from a player's point of view. Baker is a riot and sees the game like my hunting dog sees a field of quail.....he just has vision of elements that I miss. Seven or eight years in the NHL gives a valuable perspective that sportscasters don't have. Thanks !!!!
ReplyDeleteI think you overlooked mentioning the commentary by former SJ Shark, Jamie Baker in your assessment of bay area hockey coverage. I've really come to appreciate his insight into the game, and the direction the Sharks are taking. Not only does he talk the talk on TV, but his dedication to the sport in the area by ways of coaching youth leagues and promoting the sport means he walks the walk. Just an observation.
ReplyDeleteSorry not to have mentioned Baker; I will listen more to his analysis and comment further in a later post. He seems to have a lot of fans.
ReplyDeleteDrew is great for his comraderie with Randy. He does get to be a little over the top with his love of Joe Thornton (the best player in the NHL, according to Drew) and opposing players (especially ones that Sharks fans generally hate - like Pronger or Turco), but he definitely knows his stuff and is quite entertaining.
ReplyDeleteBut if you want real , in-depth hockey analysis, with great insight and breakdowns of the play, you have to go with Jamie Baker, which is why he's getting so much love here. He takes a play, breaks it down to point out the flaws and successes, and puts it in easy to understand terms. Honestly, I'm surprised that NBC or TSN hasn't picked him up as an analyst, he's that good.