Jim Hughson slams Maple Leafs fans for bias accusations
Not everyone has to like Toronto Maple Leaf mania. Legendary Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Jim Hughson reflected on the ups and downs of calling Leafs games every Saturday night and it understandable why this wasn't a smooth ride.
I find it kind of sad reading Leafs fans on Jim Hughson because they weren't and still aren't smart enough to understand that the main job of a national broadcaster is NOT to be a homer, but to bring unbiased play by play to a nationwide audience.
His high-profile position meant he called the most popular game of the week, which was almost always a Leafs game at 7:00 PM (EST). His enthusiasm varied on those nights, sometimes praising the other team as much as the Leafs, which didn't sit well with fans.
Jim Hughson on being a national broadcaster calling #Canucks & Leafs games on HNIC:
"Local people didn't think I was a big enough fan...when I broadcasted the Maple Leafs, one of the downsides of having the top chair on Hockey Night in Canada is basically you become a Toronto Maple Leafs broadcaster...everybody in a local fanbase expects their broadcasters to be like them...it's a hard one to win."
"Local people didn't think I was a big enough fan...when I broadcasted the Maple Leafs, one of the downsides of having the top chair on Hockey Night in Canada is basically you become a Toronto Maple Leafs broadcaster...everybody in a local fanbase expects their broadcasters to be like them...it's a hard one to win."
Hughson had a 42-year broadcasting career from 1979-2008, and was the lead voice of the Maple Leafs from 1982-1987 , but his main gig was with CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. Being the voice of the Leafs on Saturdays pegged Hughson as a homer, though he covered other teams throughout his career like his hometown Vancouver Canucks for 19 seasons.
Source: Maple Leafs Daily
Legendary HNIC broadcaster makes shocking admission about working Leafs games
Legendary HNIC broadcaster makes shocking admission about working Leafs games
| POLL | ||
18 JUILLET | 102 ANSWERS Jim Hughson slams Maple Leafs fans for bias accusations What do you think of Jim Hughson's career as a broadcaster? | ||
| Bias towards the Leafs | 39 | 38.2 % |
| Fantastic neutral broadcaster | 63 | 61.8 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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