For the most part, Mike Milbury is an excellent studio analyst. He's outspoken, not afraid to say what he thinks and, despite a love for hockey's distasteful blood lust, is right about a lot of things. But sometimes the guy forgets to turn on his brain filter.
Take last Saturday, for example, when he mocked Pierre Lebrun's backing of a new helmet designed to protect players from suffering head injuries in fights. When Lebrun replied that ``some guy died last year" from a head injury incurred in a fight, Milbury retorted: ``Some guy's going to die every day."
The ``guy" referred to was Donald Sanderson, who was only 21 when he suffered fatal head injuries in a senior hockey game. His father was not pleased with he heard from Milbury.
``That hockey player who died was my son Donald .. and it was only 10 months ago," Michael Sanderson wrote in an e-mail to me. ``The comments were a lack of respect to Donald and our family .. as we all are fans of hockey and we will watch the leafs as fans. To have someone on national television make such comments makes we wonder if the producers of Hockey Night in Canada have any respect for there viewers."
CBC Sports head Scott Moore said Milbury didn't intend any offence.
``I am sure that Mike's comment on Saturday was not meant to be insulting or to diminish Don's tragic death," he said.
I'm sure it wasn't, either. But that's not how it came off.
Next time, think before you speak Mike.
WHAT'S GOING ON: Setanta Sports Canada has secured rights to the top northern hemisphere rugby club competitions for the next four years. That includes the Heineken European Rugby Cup, Magners League and Guinness Premiership. ... Mike Toth is officially divorced from the Rogers family. After he took a buyout from Sportsnet, the FAN 590 decided against renewing his deal to work with Mike Hogan on the Bullpen. Hogan is flying solo, which might lead one to assume this is part of the wave of cost-cutting at Rogers Media. ... Don't forget the kids who often wake up on Christmas without gifts. Go to http://www.thestar.com/santaclausfund and give generously to The Star's Santa Claus Fund.
How about last weekend's tv ratings? Remembrance Day shouldn't exclude them from being published.
Posted by: canuck | 11/13/2009 at 03:16 PM
Perhaps Chris thinks it is now too late to post them. Bill Houston has them over on his Truth and Rumours website. The NHL and CFL dominated the ratings once again.
Posted by: argofan | 11/13/2009 at 07:34 PM
Yes Chris!!! Where can we find last week's ratings!!?? Thank you.
Rod Pedersen
Regina, SK
Posted by: Rod Pedersen | 11/15/2009 at 11:16 AM
I feel a bit bad for Mike Toth. I mean, I don't think he was any great shakes but if he was leaving the TV side of Rogers Media to work on radio and then finds out he's not wanted there then his gamble failed. Hopefully he can get back on his feet again.
Posted by: Chris F. | 11/16/2009 at 12:25 PM
Weekend cfl games set one record with most ever for a semi at 1.55m for Edm/Cal. 1.36m also for early match.
leafs/flames hit 1.8m. Late match hit 876k. Raps on Sunday got 191k. Curling on TSN Saturday afternoon got 455k. Top NFL match was Sunday night at 621k. Figure skating on CBC Saturday got 399k.
Posted by: moosy | 11/17/2009 at 06:29 PM