The Hockey Night Theme Music: A Dissenting Opinion

This is just one of many opinions already voiced in disagreement with Justin - and many others for as many reasons, not all of which agree with his own thinking - on this subject.

I spoke of this earlier at one of my own blogs, before the word got out about CTV's efforts. Then, as now, I find the current state of affairs with regards to the Hockey Night in Canada theme music unacceptable. My reasons are largely not grounded in much logic of any kind. Certainly they're not grounded well in good business practice, past student of business administration that I've been.

My opinions of the three key parties in this...I don't know quite what to call it without jumping head-first into name-calling here...are just as ill-grounded in reason. CTV, CBC Sports, even Dolores Claman and her representatives...I am tempted to find fault with them all. Even knowing the pressures involved - or some of them - I am tempted. The logic for casting that kind of blame on each of them in turn would be easy to find.

Too easy.

But that would net me nothing I want. And what I want, with no more reason than selfish nostalgia, patriotic sentiments, whatever you like to call it, is to see that music restored to what my entire life from childhood onward tells me is its proper place: at the opening of HNiC.

It's reason enough.

I don't know how to act on it yet. But I hope to find the best way to that end.

CBC Made the Right Decision: Time for a New Song

So the theme song is gone from Hockey Night in Canada. I'm ok with that. I really am. I know it's the 'second national anthem', recognized coast to coast to coast since 1968 but ultimately it's a song. It's not Hockey Night in Canada and it's not Hockey. CTV ended up buying the song, presumably just so the CBC couldn't have it anymore and that's fine. If that's where CTV wants to spend their money.

According to InsidetheCBC.com executive director of Television Sports Scott Moore claims that the song was going for 2.5 - 3 million dollars.

"“The owner’s demand of $2.5 to 3 million is well beyond—actually, three or four times as much as—what we consider to be a reasonable valuation,” said Scott Moore, executive director, Television Sports. “As a public broadcaster, it would have been irresponsible to have offered that amount.”

Mr. Moore is right. I can just hear the Conservatives and other CBC haters screaming bloody murder if the CBC had spent 3 million dollars on a jingle (no matter how famous or well liked).

This is not even the first of CBC's problems with the song. In 2004 the song's composer Dolores Claman sued the CBC over something to do with ring-tones and the song and seriously, the CBC just doesn't need the grief. Personally, I'm amazed that with all of the brilliant musicians, songwriters and composers in this country that, what is, (nostalgia aside) a relatively generic little jingle should cause such a fuss. If the music had been used for a car commercial instead of Hockey Night in Canada everyone would have forgotten about it already and Hockey Night in Canada (the important part of the equation) isn't going anywhere.

Personally I'm loooking forward to the contest where composers from across Canada will try their hand at writing the new song and the winner will net him or herself $100,000 plus royalties for years to come (and nationwide notoriety). From a Canadian perspective it's better than Canadian Idol (sorry CTV), because rather than an elaborate, televised karaoke contest people who actually know how to write music, will be asked to write a song - a song about hockey and what could be more Canadian than that?

Don Chevrier: 1938 - 2007

Canadian sportscaster Don Chevrier has passed away.

For many, including myself, Chevrier will be remembered as the original television voice of the Blue Jays. Like his radio counterpart, Tom Cheek, Chevrier provided solid play-by-play for over two decades. He was the man in the television booth during Toronto's "glory days."

As a young fan, I always viewed Chevrier as a wise and articulate elder. He seemed to know every single detail about any baseball player, regardless of whether the player wore a Blue Jay uniform, or an opponent's uniform. His voice was authoritative but not commanding.

He was a versatile broadcaster, covering a number of sports. Along with the Blue Jays, Chevrier was the play-by-play voice for the Ottawa Senators, a number of Grey Cup finals, and many Olympic events. In fact, the last time I had the pleasure of watching and listening to him was during the 2006 Winter Olympics when he covered the men's and women's curling tournament for NBC.

A fixture of the Canadian sporting scene, he described many great moments. He will be sorely missed.

RIP Don Chevrier.

CTV Is EXTREME

CTV's Sunday night prime-time schedule consisted of a documentary about Brian Mulroney and the MTV Video Music Awards. One minute, Brian Mulroney is discussing the Meech Lake Accord. The next minute, Britney Spears is strutting around in her bra and panties.

Talk about two extremes.

Besides me, does anyone else see anything wrong with that?

Tonight On CTV