I’m a Broadcaster and I Hate Your Team!!!

 

It’s become an annual tradition, as long as fans have been forced to listen to non-team employed broadcasters they’ve accused said voices of hating their team.  What’s great now with social media is that you can see both teams’ fans in any given playoff game simultaneously claiming that Doc, Eddie, Pierre, Panger, etc. are biased against their beloved so-and-sos.

 

Here’s the thing, just about every single guy on the call of a game is doing it because he loves hockey.  Trust me, you don’t stick with the junior and minor league lifestyle long enough to make it the NHL if you don’t.  As a result they’ve watched a lot of hockey, and it’s only natural to develop an affinity for some teams and in turn to dislike some others.

 

In my three seasons in the NAHL between two markets (Chicago and Minot) I’ve already developed a respect for Brookings and Topeka.  Conversely I dislike Janesville and Austin, Bismarck (outside of broadcaster Paul Teeple) makes my skin crawl; and yet I’d root for Bismarck to beat Amarillo any day.

 

What’s the point of all this you ask? Well it’s simple, despite my varying levels of distaste for an opponent I’m a professional.  When I know that the other team’s fans are forced to listen to my call I play it down the middle.  Now, if the other team brings their broadcaster with them all bets are off, but that is no different than when you get your local NHL call.

 

If I can put my feelings aside when calling a game for the team that pays me, I promise you that the likes of Doc Emerick can.  Just because a broadcaster criticizes your favorite player for a bad play or compliments the opponent doesn’t mean he is out to get you (same goes for refs).  We think about almost everything we say before we say it, if we don’t  like someone trust me you’ll know it.