Bill Waters

[Insidious Von]

So this hypocrite has his own show.

When he was part of Leafs management he was more than happy to drink the Kool - Aid. Every time there was discussion about a player that could potentialy turn the team into a legitimate Cup contender, there was Waters to pour cold water on the possibilities. He was ever ready to spout of about the budget, the budget, THE BUDGET. The Leafs peaked in 2002 and Rob Blake became available. Sports reporters began to speculate that he was just what the Leafs needed to get over the top. Sure enough, there was Waters explaining why Blake didn't fit in with managements plans and he appeared to enjoy doing it.

Now that he's no longer employed by MLSE, he has made a radio career out of bashing the Maple Leafs. Am I the only one that thinks his pompous, hypocritical sermonizings are downright phony? I hope McCown royally kicks his ass in the ratings.

 

[bonghitter]

I dont think he is pompous, he just donest work for MLSE anymore and doesnt have to tote the company line anymore.

 

[TechSeller]

I am not a huge Waters fan myself. Been a loyal Fan590 listener since day one and in particular, love the Bobcat's show. As far as ratings...no contest. Prime Time was rated the no 1 sports presentation in North America last year. That, and the fact that Waters is a one trick pony - hockey!

 

[train]

So this hypocrite has his own show.

When he was part of Leafs management he was more than happy to drink the Kool - Aid. Every time there was discussion about a player that could potentialy turn the team into a legitimate Cup contender, there was Waters to pour cold water on the possibilities. He was ever ready to spout of about the budget, the budget, THE BUDGET. The Leafs peaked in 2002 and Rob Blake became available. Sports reporters began to speculate that he was just what the Leafs needed to get over the top. Sure enough, there was Waters explaining why Blake didn't fit in with managements plans and he appeared to enjoy doing it.

Now that he's no longer employed by MLSE, he has made a radio career out of bashing the Maple Leafs. Am I the only one that thinks his pompous, hypocritical sermonizings are downright phony? I hope McCown royally kicks his ass in the ratings.

Turns out that Blake wasn't the answer for anyone. The Leafs had one of the higher payrolls in the pre-lockout era so spending wasn't the problem - drafting and player development was the problem along with trading away all the 1st round picks.

Watters was just the asst-GM anyway.

 

[stang]

He's a legend in his own mind.

But his knowledge is as good or better than any of the other talking heads anyways

 

[Neverenuff$]

C'mon Bill asked for it...

no really he probably asked a number of times and MLSE finally removed his photo's .. probably sent Bill a invoice for photoshop .

 

[BallzDeep]

I think when someone loses their job in the hockey world and they're not offered another one and have to resort to radio, that speaks volumes to his credibility.

 

[yaya17]

Isn't it ironic that WIlbur still works for the station that broadcast's Leaf games!

 

[Herodotus]

I think when someone loses their job in the hockey world and they're not offered another one and have to resort to radio, that speaks volumes to his credibility.

I think you killed your own credibility there. (Just kidding.)

Seriously though, ever hear of Ted Nolan? He was blacklisted because of flaky Dominic Hasek and good old boy John Muckler after winning Coach of the Year... only crazy Charles Wang saved him from being a footnote in the annals of hockey history - almost 10 years later.

As for Watters, he is in a position to both know what's going on and having an axe to grind. I think he knows that he has no shot at being a hockey executive again (too old and outspoken, not enough respect or experience within the league) and therefore has to make a "name" for himself on the radio.

And anyway, it's fun to see someone in the media take unabated shots at the top of MLSE, since they are the root cause of the current problems.

 

[TechSeller]

And anyway, it's fun to see someone in the media take unabated shots at the top of MLSE, since they are the root cause of the current problems.

No argument there. The MLSE board members should adopt the strategy they use with the Raptors and quit meddling with things they know nothing about... HOCKEY

 

[Insidious Von]

MLSE is Banning Bill Watters

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has erased all images and references to AM 640 announcer Bill Watters from the Air Canada Centre, the kind of thing the old Soviet Union used to do with those who had fallen into disfavour.

This would be a shocking move anywhere else, but this is the same organization that moved quickly to sack the team's dental staff after missing the playoffs two years ago.

So what has Watters done to merit disappearance?

According to MLSE, it considered Watters' criticism of the organization and bosses Larry Tanenbaum and Richard Peddie to be personal in nature.

http://www.thestar.com/Article/308739

This is nothing new; Harold Ballard had Dave Hodge fired from HNIC.

 

[hunter001]

This is nothing new; Harold Ballard had Dave Hodge fired from HNIC.

Harold Ballard didn't have anything to do with it. This is what I remember from wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Hodge

On March 14, 1987, he was hosting a game between the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs, which ended early. CBC then switched the full network over to a regional game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens for the end of the third period. It ended in a tie just before 11:00 PM Eastern Time, meaning it would require overtime. CBC executives decided that only viewers in Quebec, who had seen the game from the start, would get to continue watching after 11:00, while the rest of the network would cut away. "That's the CBC for you," Hodge said in disgust, flipping his pencil in the air as he signed off the telecast. Hodge was fired two days later and replaced by western correspondent Ron MacLean.

 

[21pro]

Watters is a good hockey man with a very EASY job.

being a critic is very easy. and kudos to Bill for getting rich by doing so...

i also give him credit as he is still a leafs fan.