CSN's Response to Cousy

[newdusk]

Dear Daniel,
 
Thank you very much for taking the time to call us about Bob Cousy.  Many of us at Comcast SportsNet New England, including myself, are native New Englanders and we understand the importance of the team’s history in the hearts of fans across the region.
We have been honored to have Bob join Celtic legend Tommy Heinsohn and Dorchester native Mike Gorman on our broadcast team as the third man in the booth for ten games during each of the past nine seasons. 

For this upcoming season, we have made several changes and have opted to go with a two-man booth.  For personal reasons, Tommy will not do road games.  Donny Marshall, who last season proved himself to be a terrific addition to our on-air team, will fill Tommy’s shoes for road games.

We share your sentiment that Bob Cousy is a classic and important part of the Celtics’ history.  As such, we have offered to work with him to find other roles within our network.  Unfortunately, he has chosen not to accept that offer.

Respecting the Celtics tradition is extremely important to us. We have been the proud home of the Celtics for the past 28 years and it is the passion of fans like yourself that makes every one of our telecasts a privilege.

With another potential championship season on tap, I hope you will join Tommy, Mike, Donny and the entire Comcast SportsNet team in closely following the new season.

Sincerely,
Skip Perham
Comcast SportsNet

I don't know if anyone else got a letter back. I personally like Donny Marshall but I would rather someone with a Celtics connection. Again I would nominate JoJo White to replace Tommy

[slamtheking]

someone else got the same letter and posted it in a similar thread ---see "CSN Fired Cousy!!"

[jimmyt]

yeah i got the same e-mail too. I guess this means a lot of people have been complaining. The letter means nothing. It doesnt change the fact that they got rid of him. It is a shame but obviously we cant do anything about it. Hopefully Cousy will still be at all the games along with other familiar faces of celtics past.

[thirstyboots18]

I got the same letter.  That's the problem with computer....one reply, a click, and everyone is written off...not much thought required.

[TrueGreen]

I got the same email back. I originally sent it to tfitzpatrick@comcastsportsnet.com. I got an auto reply that he was "out of the office" and referred me to mquilter@comcastsportsnet.com. I then received to same email as listed above. I replied to the email saying that I wasn't happy with their answer. I then forwarded that to the 2 other addresses I listed. I know it will have no effect, but at least it will fill up everyone's email address at Comcast.

[CsfanNH]

It is a bunch of garbage no matter how it pans out. Cousy isn't a fantastic commentator, but I enjoyed the times he was able to stop in and join in with Tommy/Mike. When Tommy and Cousy would go off on a tangent about how things were in their day, or something else from the past, I enjoyed hearing about it.

I myself am not a fan of Mr. Marshal, and for that reason, detest away games. I simply don't enjoy listening to him and would even rather have Dickerson doing that job on road games along with his normal tasks. I love Tommy and hope he can do home games for many years to come, but Mr. Marshal needs to go. He can have his Celtics show and also co-star with Mr. Tanguay, but stay out of my 48 minutes of game time + overtime and time outs.

Mr. Marshall never played for the Celtics and his commentary is nothing special. Give Mike a different sidekick for away games.

CsfanNH

[yall hate]

I feel bad that Cousy's feelings were hurt, but frankly, I am glad he wont be on anymore.  Putting aside the sentimental aspects, he was awful.  flat out awful.  he spoke like he had marbles in his mouth, and more importantly, he just didnt have enough knowledge of the team.  Its the same crap when you get the game on one of the other networks and the sportscasters see the team 2-3 times a year.  they just dont know the players and end up talking about skills players dont have and end up sounding like idiots. 

I'd rather have a sportscaster who is knowledgeable and can keep up with the team and actually offer insight rather then just a sentimental pick to get up there and talk about garbage.

[KJ33]

Nice try Comcast, but no cigar.  They bought the station that has done the broadcast for 28 years, this is their 2nd year and this is one of their first moves, nice.  Their explanation is beyond weak, is Cous going to do a weekly magazine at 80 or anything else that requires his time?  The games were something he could just show up for and do, his current knowledge of NBA players is limited, but everyone understood this, they made him an offer they knew he would not accept.  

And this business about going with a 2 man booth?  It is and always has been a 2 man booth, Cous stopping in for 10 games, did not make the model a 3 man booth, so offering that this is simply a format change is disingenuous at best.  This is like banning Pesky from the bench(now the man has his # retired) or booting Red from the job of President as Pitino did.  Did it really hurt the "2 man booth" to have Cous drop in a few times a year, give us his unique take on things, as well as the obvious chemistry he has with Tommy and Mike?  By the way Comcast has gone out of their way to say how fantastic Donny Marshall is (basing this solely on broadcasting appeal, nothing to do with being a Celtic, which shows Comcast's disconnect), I suspect Donny did not like the long shadow cast by Cous, and asked if it could be just a "2 man booth"

[KJ33]

I feel bad that Cousy's feelings were hurt, but frankly, I am glad he wont be on anymore.  Putting aside the sentimental aspects, he was awful.  flat out awful.  he spoke like he had marbles in his mouth, and more importantly, he just didnt have enough knowledge of the team.  Its the same crap when you get the game on one of the other networks and the sportscasters see the team 2-3 times a year.  they just dont know the players and end up talking about skills players dont have and end up sounding like idiots. 

I'd rather have a sportscaster who is knowledgeable and can keep up with the team and actually offer insight rather then just a sentimental pick to get up there and talk about garbage.

Not sure how this even makes sense.  Cous joined the broadcast for 10 games, he did not replace the #1 analyst, so your points about having a "sportscaster who is knowledgeable" etc., has no bearing on this move.  When Cous is there, the same 2 guys who do all the rest of the games are there too, so his shortcomings don't have the weight you assign since his role is not to provide that information.  Cous always asks Tommy and Mike about "this kid" which I find endearing, it is not as if the other 2 have no idea, so as a fan we are not going to miss that info.  Cous always shared insights both into execution and the mental side of the game, which supplemented Heinsohn's own philosophies.  He always had shortcomings in terms of announcing skill, so did Johnny Most, but like with Most, that is not what was the appeal.

[yall hate]

Not sure how this even makes sense.  Cous joined the broadcast for 10 games, he did not replace the #1 analyst, so your points about having a "sportscaster who is knowledgeable" etc., has no bearing on this move.  When Cous is there, the same 2 guys who do all the rest of the games are there too, so his shortcomings don't have the weight you assign since his role is not to provide that information.  Cous always asks Tommy and Mike about "this kid" which I find endearing, it is not as if the other 2 have no idea, so as a fan we are not going to miss that info.  Cous always shared insights both into execution and the mental side of the game, which supplemented Heinsohn's own philosophies.  He always had shortcomings in terms of announcing skill, so did Johnny Most, but like with Most, that is not what was the appeal.

For the 10 games, it was unbearable.  did you watch the games?  While the others were there we got treated to Cous speaking nonsense.  frankly, as you have pointed out, he didnt bring anything regarding info, he didnt provide play by play action, he didnt provide anything insightful.  he filled time with stories about nonsense.  You say he shered insight into execution and mental side, i dont think i can recal single execution insight he has provided other then 'run' 'run' lol. 

[The4Time2Doctor0]

he doesn't need to be knowledgeable of the players to be knowledgeable of the game. hes the Cous and this is a shame. he invented the mordern exciting point guard play. hes an old man and we're not going to have the pleasure of his incite for too much longer. i'm going to write a letter everyday until i get tired of doing it.

[jaketwice]

i'm going to write a letter everyday until i get tired of doing it.

I mean, THAT is threatening! I am going to protest until something else strikes my fancy, personally!  Later, I'll be an active supporter of causes I care about... ...unless Law and Order SVU is on. I am going to stand up for Justice! Turth! and Noble Ideas! like... those... ...well, until I get distracted by - wait, what's that over there?

 LOL

 

[jaketwice]

Not sure how this even makes sense.  Cous joined the broadcast for 10 games, he did not replace the #1 analyst, so your points about having a "sportscaster who is knowledgeable" etc., has no bearing on this move.  When Cous is there, the same 2 guys who do all the rest of the games are there too, so his shortcomings don't have the weight you assign since his role is not to provide that information.  Cous always asks Tommy and Mike about "this kid" which I find endearing, it is not as if the other 2 have no idea, so as a fan we are not going to miss that info.  Cous always shared insights both into execution and the mental side of the game, which supplemented Heinsohn's own philosophies.  He always had shortcomings in terms of announcing skill, so did Johnny Most, but like with Most, that is not what was the appeal.

For the 10 games, it was unbearable.  did you watch the games?  While the others were there we got treated to Cous speaking nonsense.  frankly, as you have pointed out, he didnt bring anything regarding info, he didnt provide play by play action, he didnt provide anything insightful.  he filled time with stories about nonsense.  You say he shered insight into execution and mental side, i dont think i can recal single execution insight he has provided other then 'run' 'run' lol. 

You forgot to mention how painfully sinal (sinus-y? gutteral?) his voice is. He was a great player, no doubt. But CSN is right to show the fans some mercy.

[guava_wrench]

CSN's move shows us something. It shows us that it is only a minority of viewers who want to hear Cousy on the air. Don't be fooled by the number of diehards here who consider this a travesty. Many of us diehards are happy about the move, and way more casual fans will be happier or won't even remember about the guy with the annoying voice.

I love Cousy as a Celtic, and now I can like him even more now that I don't have to hear him during broadcasts.

[Andy Jick]

this is THE boston celtics...we can do a hell of a lot better than donny marshall...