McCown vs. MacLean: Will there be a rematch?

There's an old joke about a guy turning on the TV to watch a fight and instead a hockey game broke out.

Well, Thursday I turned on the TV to watch this new Bob McCown-Sportsnet Connected hybrid and a fight broke out. For the record, my verdict on the McCown-Connected thing is that despite what Sportsnet says, this is about saving money. It's basically an extra hour of the radio-show-on-TV with a few updates about nothing because nothing's happening at 5 p.m.

My verdict on the fight, featuring McCown and hockey commentator Doug MacLen, isn't quite as simple.

For those who didn't see it on Sportsnet, hear it on the FAN 590 or catch it on the FAN's website, it was the radio/TV equivalent of a barroom brawl. The subject was the revelation that MacLean, who sort of has a show on the FAN, had gone to work for NHL wannabe owner Jim Balsillie. McCown and co-host Stephen Brunt kind of noted that this was the same Balsillie that MacLean had been ripping for some time.

That's when the gloves came off.

``You've crossed over a line that your drew pretty clearly in the sand," McCown said, not hiding his distaste for MacLean's flip-flop.

MacLean called that statement ``idiotic" and accused McCown of doing some flip-flopping of his own.

He then said McCown was attacking him to drive up ratings, which really seemed to set off McCown.

After saying that MacLean always turns discussions into personal attacks, McCown effectively banned him from the show. ``As long as I sit in this chair, that will be the last time I have Doug MacLean on this show," he said. ``He is what he is, and he is exactly what I thought he was."

You don't hear stuff that strong in most broadcast interviews. To hear it when the two main combatants work for the same people is even more unusual.

Some listeners have suggested the whole brouhaha was staged to promote MacLean's new gig and the expanded McCown TV show. If it was, all three parties involved should be nominated for Oscars. The anger was legitimate.

But was it proper? It was a little uncomfortable to watch, but it was also gripping.  Radio is all about strong opinions. My only complaint about this was that it did get personal, and that shouldn't happen. But it was pretty entertaining while it lasted.

FAN GM Nelson Millman said he had no problem with it and suggests it was nothing out of the ordinary. ``It wasn't that unusual," he said. ``People obviously forget Pat Marsden calling Don Landry a ``little SOB." Marsden and former co-host John Derringer also got into it regularly.

But the bigger issue is a potential conflict of interest involving MacLean. How can he be a hockey commentator while working for a potential NHL owner?

``Doug and I discussed that and as long he understands that he can't use our station to promote his personal agendas, we have no problem," Millman said. ``We've all got conflicts. But if he attacks the NHL unfairly, that's another matter."

I'll assume McCown will indeed ban MacLean from Prime Time Sports. That means it will be up to MacLean to schedule a rematch. Don't hold your breath.

Comments

[AP]

I heard about this all day. Finally listened to it online. Gotta say....Maclean did fine. He came on and explained himself pretty well. McCown wanted to turn it into more than it was, and he really waited right till the end to try and get in some digs. Then he finally just hung up. No doubt, 100% McCown was like a big bay.

Who was the golf writer, I think for the Globe, who got banned back in the day?

[Boca Junior]

Is anyone really surprised by this "incident"? Two stubborn pig-headed egos in the same room? This has been simmering for a long time now, and anytime these two got together there always seemed to be the potential for it all to kick-off.

As for McCown, everything he does is for ratings. He's the king of his castle (he thinks) and it's HIS show and HIS rules and pity any poor sucker who dares to disagree with him.

[Chris F.]

I've said my piece about the incident in a couple venues so I won't go there but suffice it to say my thoughts on MacLean were confirmed.

The thing that gets me though is the fact that MacLean is allowed to work in the media while being an adviser to Balsillie. I think Nelson Millman is being VERY naive to think that folks won't see the enormous conflict of interest. It'll also make MacLean's credibility severely questioned.

The thing I'm more upset about is the FAN adding MORE hockey coverage.

[JPJH]

I'll second your displeasure at the Fan adding yet another hour of a hockey only show. Talk about overkill.

[Ravi]

Wow...that was interesting to listen to. I think it got personal the moment Maclean started pronouncing McCown incorrectly as McGowan. He should have known how to pronounce his name correctly......considering he thought of McCown as his friend.

Maclean did explain himself....but I think it was clear that he chose a chance at getting back into the NHL over his own credibility. I've listened to him a number of times and it was clear (at those moments) that he did not agree with Balsille's behaviour or methods. If I remember correctly, I believe he may have gone as far as to say he would not want to be a part of anything like that. I don't think much has changed since then (Maclean agreed as much), so he has to accept that he is going to be viewed as a "turncoat".

It was funny to listen to them though. I think Brunt came out as the adult of the three. I do think Maclean has to accept that he put himself in the news by accepting the Balsille position, and now is receiving some of the treatment he levied on Balsille.

[Peel Fan]

I notice that those taking Maclean's side are also taking personal shots at McCown. I guess irony is lost on them, eh?

McCown was completely justified and was simply asking the questions that many of us have been asking on blogs and message boards. It's hypocrisy of the highest order and I'm glad McCown didn't gloss it over as too many on-air talents normally do.

The golf incident was from about 3 years ago and involved Lorne Rubenstein. Before going to commercial, and while introducing him as the next guest, McCown made a crack about Rubenstein never having turned down a perk or a gift in his life. Someone must have called him over the commercial break because Rubenstein laid into McCown right away and didn't let up until he hung up on him. I suspect he was "banned" because Rubenstein made it clear he would not be on his show again.

[Paul Romanuk]

Big Surprise. Someone offeres to pay someone a decent sum of money or there comes an opportunity where that person can benefit directly (for example, getting back into the "NHL club") and suddenly he "re-evaluates" his stance on something. The line forms to the right, right behind 99% of politicians, corporate executives and, for that matter, most of us (given the same set of circumstances). Move along folks... nothing new to see here.

[baseballfan]

I don't know how you can call yourself a Sports TV Insider and then come out and say that the Connected/Prime Time Sports experiment is a money saver.

From what I've seen, they still have McCormick there hosting, plus they still have a crew there to produce those updates. The updates are filled with highlights, meaning they still have people behind the scenes putting those together. Plus they still have reporters sending in stories that air during those updates.

Where exactly are they saving money? I dislike the change in programming and would never watch 2 hours of glorified talk radio on TV, but it seems that it wasn't a cost-cutting decision.

[chris]

McCown is the last person in the world to be questioning someone's integrity. Considering how chummy he is with the likes of Brian Burke, Alan Eagleson, and the owners of the Toronto Argonauts, McCown compromises his journalistic integrity on a regular basis. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.