Full Court Press

I am a Blackhawks fan for more than 50 years. I think you are right on and I predicted the same move months ago. Pat Foley not only brings his knowledge of the game but is part of Hawks tradition. His play by play is second to none..His voice on broadcasts is sorely missed. No offense to Dan Kelley but we all know you grew up a Blues fan, not your fault but it is obvious. Lets get back to play by play calling and not hearing about your personal life as much...

how long is Kelly under contract? And how much longer does Foley have on his? Getting Foley back would be another excellent step forward

Roman responds: I believe they both have one more year. And I think Kelly is pretty good. Ironically, he sounds a lot like Foley.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't one of the factors Foley left/got fired before was because the Hawks organ-I-zation wanted to stop simulcasting the TV broadcast on radio and go with 2 separate teams? I wonder if Foley would come back to just be the TV voice b/c I don't see them getting rid of the current radio crew. Does Tallon have any pull here? You'd think he'd welcome Pat back with open arms after all the years they worked together.

I'm with you also, Roman, and I will also put money on it as well... BRING BACK PAT FOLEY! The sooner, the better.

I have to admit, Kelly and Eddie-O have been pretty good this year but Foley is a legend. However, he should only have to do TV, without the radio broadcast. I'm sure with Scrooge McWirtz gone, the Hawks can afford both sets of broadcasters. I just can't wait to hear the great Foley line...

AAAAAANNDD A SAAAAAAAAAVE!!!!!!!!!

Roman, I agree that Foley will re-unite with the Hawks. However, there are some hurdles in the way before it could happen.

First, the Wolves are in the midst of another playoff run, and they could go deep in the Calder Cup playoffs. The Wolves' success and how far they go in the playoffs will hurt the timing of a move for Foley. Plus, it's going to put the Wolves in an unfortunate spot. Already having lost Judd Sirott to HDNet (even though he does come back as a 3rd wheel to the Wolves' playoff coverage), losing Foley would put them in a bind.

Secondly, it's something which you brought up, and that's Dan Kelly's contract situation. He's signed through next year, and I'm not sure the Hawks/CSN would let him go for the PR/fan-friendly move of re-hiring Foley. It may be more cost-effective to keep Kelly around next year, rather than bringing Foley back. I also agree with Tom that the Kelly/Olczyk crew is pretty good, but it's not great. Maybe it's just me, but I don't like the whole nepotism within play-by-play announcing. Add that to the fact that Kelly was in the Blues' environment throughout much of his life, and I can't buy the fact that he is a fan (much in the way that us Chicagoans are) of the Hawks.

The third hurdle is something that Tony D. brought up in his comment, and that was the Hawks' desire at the time to have dual broadcast teams. I really like the Wiedeman/Murray crew on The Score, as I think Wiedeman sounds more like Foley than Kelly does. But, that's neither here nor there. If Foley and the Hawks re-unite, he'll have to choose one or the other. And, I think Foley would be better suited from a team and fan perspective to be the one on camera. His presence, combined with the Hawks airing every game, will add more to the team having a bigger effect in the city's sports landscape.

But, if I had to hedge a guess, and knowing John McDonough, I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear that an announcement that Pat Foley will return to call Blackhawk hockey comes at the Blackhawks Convention in July. Your thoughts?

Wiedeman/Murray are really very good. Kelly sounds like he's 12. When I watch on TV, it's with the sound off and the radio on. (Same for the White Sox).

Bring Pat Foley back to handle TV duties.

As a long time Blackhawk fan, I believe bringing back Pat Foley would be one of the smartest moves the organization could make. That whole bridge-mending show with Hull and Makita was brilliant. Then came the Tony Esposito show. Now the possibility of Foley back in the fold?? Git 'er done!!! Cold Steel on Ice baby!!

Pat Foley is hopefully the next move. Im sick of Dan Kelly asking Eddie if that was a good play or should he do this or that. No the game if your gonna announce. The thing I am wondering is if Pat will leave Billy Gardner. I think for some reason the Hawks are attached to Eddie. Why have an announcer who cant even commit to your team? He has to go on his "assignments". Pat Foley is a hall of famer. Please bring him and Billy back.

Pat Foley is not a very good hockey play by play man, he talks over the game most of the time and thinks he is very funny. I think interjecting humor is great, and can add to the telecast but he greatly over does it. Kelly does a much better job at describing the play and works very well with Eddie. I would rather see Bill Garndner come over than Pat, but with 2 excellent guys in Eddie and Troy that is probably not going to happen.

Please bring back Pat Foley, but only for TV. I think John and Troy are fantastic.

I always missed Lloyd Pettit. Pat became, for me, an "acquired taste" realizing I had too much Pettit-in-my-listening-ear. John, while a wonderful announcer in his own right, also somehow seems to me to have a little Lloyd Pettit in his voice. Pat, whom I like, sounded too much like a high-pitched Skip Caray (Atlanta Braves, and perhaps the worst announcer in sports)

Dan K. doesn't do it for me at all and may, in fact, have the Blues in his blood.

I would like to see Pat Foley and Billy Gardener back in the broadcast booth. I know I'm not the only one who hits the mute button when Eddie speaks.

Why not have Dan Kelly in the studio with Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk doing the games on TV. And keeping the SCORE broadcast the same with Wiedeman and Troy Murray and Jesse Rogers in the studio.

But, one guy I hope doesn't come back is Wayne Messmer. His anthem was cool, but, the Hawks current singer brings more emotion and electricity. And, Messmer is part of the Wolves ownership. Would he sell out again to come back to the Hawks?

Plus, Messmer is in the Chicago Celebrities 'Top Five' of the 'All-Time Worst Tippers' in Chicago. Only Scottie 'No Tippin' Pippen is worst.

I think Dan Kelly is the most boring hockey play-by-play announcer I have ever heard. He's usually 2 or 3 plays behind the real time action and is totally not exciting to listen to at all. I don't know what happened to Pat Foley and the Hawks when he left but putting Kelly in his place was a train wreck. I can't wait to see and hear Pat doing the Hawks games again and it will happen, hopfully by next season. Foley is as much a part of the Blackhawks as the Indian head on the jersey. Foley is an exciting announcer to listen to. He even gets excited with an icing call. How great is that. As far as a color guy, Dale Tallon was the best. The 2 of them together were the best pair of hockey announcers there ever were. Although now Tallon is making more of a positive impact in the front office, he was the best in his time. Note to Tallon, get a Brett Hull type shooter.

Pat Foley is ok if you don't care to know what's going on in the hockey game. When you listened to him on the radio, you never were told the score and what was happening on the ice. While giving his stories you knew you were missing the action on the ice because you were able to hear the skates and the pucks hitting sticks after passes.

But if you must bring him back to satisfy fans who are nostalgic over nothing, please do it for TV only. Then you can watch the game and it doesn't matter what he says. But please do not let him near a radio mic, especially since the current guy, Wiedeman, is one of the best play by play hockey announcers I have ever listened to.

I have seen it suggested that, with WGN carrying 20 or so games next season, Pat Foley could be brought back to do those telecasts (assuming his schedule would allow it). This arrangement would permit Dan Kelly to continue doing the games on Comcast and fulfill his contract. There is already precedent for this structure. The Bulls' games on Channel 9 have Wayne Larivee as the play-by-play voice while Tom Dore does the games on Comcast. I also think having Billy Gardner back as color commentator working with Pat Foley for the games on WGN would be a real plus.

Steve R. has no idea what he's talking about. Foley was the only reason people were listening to the Hawks games for many seasons because the franchise was struggling for its very life in the NHL.
He's unbelievably funny and entertaining, and his knowledge of the game of hockey and it's players are unsurpassed!! BRING HIM BACK!! The sooner the better. I hope he gets his due in the spotlight too like Stan and Bobby did. Foley is as much a part of that team, serving them incredibly well throughout 25 seasons!!
As soon as I hear his voice, I will be a full-fledged fan again!
Make it happen Hawks!

I had to respond to Joe....You can not be from Chicago with those comments....You really missed the boat...Pat Foley is the best play by play guy we have had covering Chicaho Hockey since Lyoyd Petite...and Eddie O is great...Don't tell me if your boss sent you on assignment due to the fact you are good at what you do don't tell me you would not go...Pat and Eddie would be a match made in Hockey heaven....Rocky/John I am praying make the move..

[quote]Posted by: Steve R | April 12, 2008 03:00 PM

Pat Foley is not a very good hockey play by play man, he talks over the game most of the time and thinks he is very funny. I think interjecting humor is great, and can add to the telecast but he greatly over does it. Kelly does a much better job at describing the play and works very well with Eddie.[/quote]

You can't be serious....
You obviously haven't had to listen to them enough.
Eddie Mr. I'm tired of hearing Stop it right there Olczyk has nothing better to do each game but talk about himself and his playing days, in which he wasn't anything special as is and Dan Kelly is the furthest thing from a homer there is.
When I have to listen to my home team whether its TV or radio the last thing I want to hear is my guy get all excited over the other team scoring and if you even try to go there and say he doesn't then you haven't watched enough of him.
Kellys father was 10 times the announcer he is. Listening to Kelly reminds me of listening to Chip Carey for the Cubs. Their hearts are obviously with other teams, or so it seems. Foley was thee voice of the Blackhawks in the 80/90's & so on.
I'd take Foley & Tallon over anyone, even the current ones out there.
I'd even take Foley over 'Doc' Emrick, as good as he is.
Kelly HAS I will admit gotten better as of late but Olczyk is still stuck on himself and I hope he goes to NBC where he belongs. Hes much better as a National colorman than he is as a hometeam guy, period!
If you think Foley is also not a good play by play man then you don't listen to Wolves games either. Go to their site, listen to some of his broadcasts, knowledge is power. Theres nothing wrong with his play by play and it seems the fan concensus that Foley has, can and once again just may run circles around Kelly in the broadcast department. You must not read alot of the hate posts on Kelly on the Blackhawks boards. That or this is the I love Dan Kelly gathering place .....

I only hope that Pat stays with the Wolves. He is the best. I dont know why Ed Oly is doing the Hawks. He is so loud. Maybe, have Steve K. do the games. Ed has to decide next year, if he is a hawks guy or on Versus and NBC. With the hawks on tv all next year, the hawks should ask him where his heart is, doing hawks games or elsewhere.

I'm glad you brought up Foley & the Wolves because this brings up the next hurdle for the Blackhawks: The Atlanta Thrasher's AHL Chicago Wolves.

It's probably the most successful AHL franchise, & the Blackhawks need to find a way to weaken it while they strengthen their own Rockford IceHogs.

Getting Foley away from the Wolves would be a good start, but they also need to let the IceHogs play at the UC on open dates when they can.

When Bill Wirtz had the chance to buy the Wolves he passed on it because he viewed the Wolves as competition. He never understood the value of marketing the team as the future of the Hawks. Rocky gets that, so I expect him to do that with the IceHogs.

Pat Foley is the best in the game. If I have the Wolves game on, I keep thinking it's the Blackhawks just from his voice. until I remember the Hawks aren't televised.
I think Dan Kelly is absolutely awfull! I can't even listen to him.
Their is no chemistry between him and Eddie. Kelly has no personality. His voice is forced and doesn't flow with the game. To bring back Foley, fans would be very happy. Especially when the games are televised. He's a class act.
They can afford to eat Kelly's contract. Look at the money wasted on
so many players, past and present that they ate and are still eating.

For the last years of Pat Foley's tenure announcing Hawk games he was disinterested; and it showed in his broadcasts. The only thing you could count on in a Foley broadcast, game in and game out was the ridiculous notion of how the officials had a vendetta against the Blackhawks.
Kelley has the skills that Pat Foley once exhibited, and Wiedeman is one of the best out there (even if he is saddled with the dull and English speaking impaired Troy Murray) I have had the NHL Center Ice Package for years and hear broadcasters from all over the league and Wiedeman is one of the best at describing play by play without a visual.
Bringing everything back from the glory years isn't always a good idea.

Kelly isn't too good. He doesn't have the call leading up to a goal. While excitable, he's just another announcer. He has one more year on his deal.

Weideman should stay put for years, as long as he likes the radio gig. He creates a good image for the listener, something sorely missing for many on the radio in sports today. I'm 50/50 on Troy Murray, mostly because of his playing days here and that '85-'86 Selke Trophy. He's just OK on color.

Gardner may or may not still be under contract with the Wolves; I'm not sure. Foley I think just signed another 1 year deal heading into '07-'08 so he's open. Judd Sirott can come back to the Wolves if Pat leaves for the 'Hawks. I'd certainly keep Eddie-O on the TV side. That is unless he gets the national gig but that won't happen until ESPN steps back into the NHL.

Foley is coming back to the Blackhawks. DeMaria getting the boot is just the final sign it'll happen. McDonough/Rocky are still cleaning house. There will be some more lower level cleaning during the off-season. Depending how deep the Wolves go in the playoffs - we could be talking mid June here - JohnnnyM will try to secure Pat before the convention.

Ed from Sacrmento, I am from Chicago and am a long time season ticket holder. I like Pat as a person, he was great, not anymore, why did no other NHL team grab him instantly? So he could go work minor league hockey?? I think it is interesting that he was let go AFTER Dale Tallon took over as GM, if anybody could have saved him it would have been Tallon his old partner. Tells you something........

You got my comment and Walter Brzeski's comment mixed up. I wrote the one praising Pat Foley, you listed for him. He apparently wrote the one you listed me of writting. I would never sae that. Can you please correct them. Thanks, John K

John K: What are you talking about? I like Foley as well.

Check out my letter...from 2007

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/fans/cs-071115hawkview,1,2302124.story

Dear Dopes,

The name of the blogger is underneath the post, not above it.

DUH!

Roman responds: This post was not written by me. In fact, it appears to be a first-time poster. As we all know, I'm the blogger (as is Ricky occasionally and Culzie was once). You guys are the poster. But welcome.

"The only thing you could count on in a Foley broadcast, game in and game out was the ridiculous notion of how the officials had a vendetta against the Blackhawks."

I always got that from Tallon. Every penalty called was part of a conspiracy. I never thought Foley did it as much or with the conviction Tallon did, and then only after 20 years of hearing it from his sidekick. This is one reason why I want to see Tallon stay as GM (beside the obvious one, to make the Hawks a better team).

Foley was the best Hockey announcer the Hawks had, period. He, like Harray Carray for the Cubs, was as recognizable as any Blackhawk player. And did as much as anyone if not more to "brand" the Blackhawks for the fans. I can still remember his almost trademark calls of Murray Bannerman making saves in goal for the Hawks. "BBBBAAAAANNNNNNNNerman!!!!!" Bringing him back into the Hawks fold would be a great move for Hawks fans.

That said I really like the radio broadcast team the Hawks currently have. Driving back and forth from the city to the burbs, I have listened to a lot of Hawks games on the radio and I really like their play calling. On the flip side however, watching the Hawks on TV is almost like watching a nationally televised game where the announcers are supposed to be neutral. This is a home telecast? Yuck. What fun is that?

Maybe they could do a weird thing like the Cubs and WGN did in the early 80's when Harry Carray came over from the Southside. He and Milo Hamilton used to swap TV and Radio Booths every three innings. I could handle the Hawks doing that with Foley and Weideman. Just get rid of the current TV guy, Kelly.

Whatever obstacles there are in bringing Foley back to the Hawks, they can be overcome. Bringing back the announcer that presided over so many great as well as heartbreaking Blackhawk memories over the past 25 years or so would be another great way to repair a proud tradition that was almost completely destroyed by Wirtz Sr., Pulford and co. Bringing Foley back would be a great and classy move by the Hawks to their fans.

TO: Blackhwak Management
FROM: BLackhawk Fans

BRING PAT FOLEY BACK TO THE BOOTH!!!

After they bring Foley back, the Blackhawks will almost have exhausted their list of good deeds (sounds like an episode of My Name is Earl -- I understand that Rocky is a huge fan).

About the only thing left is to invite back the descendents of Blackhawk so they can once and for all "commit to the Indian."

Did someone say Indian?

Needing to vent my frustration over Dan Kelly a few days ago, I decided to send in a complaint through the hawks website. Since I'm sure it will never be read by anyone, I figured I'd share it here.

The best marketing move that can be made this offseason is to somehow replace Dan Kelly, regardless of what it takes to do it. The only positive that Dan Kelly brings to a telecast is found in his comedic value; the problem is, he's not trying to be funny, he’s just laughably bad. In fact, he is so bad at times that it is no longer humorous to listen to him, but downright painful. He would be more suited for a gimmicky team like the Blue Jackets, whose bandwagon fans may actually fail to see through his corny and unnecessarily dramatic play-by-play. Finding a way to bring back Pat Foley would be the absolute best option, but even if there is no way to do this, the fact remains that Dan Kelly must go. After reading numerous message boards and talking to many fans, I feel extremely confident in saying that I speak not only for myself, but on behalf of all Blackhawks fans when I say that we deserve better than Dan Kelly. In fact, with every game being televised next year and undoubtedly increased viewership, the organization would be doing itself a great disservice to retain Dan Kelly. The casual fan will be annoyed and driven away immediately, as it is a struggle to make it through three frustrating hours of his hackneyed, non-flowing crooning for even the biggest of fans. Whether it would be for current Blackhawk fans or for continuing to gain fans in the future, Dan Kelly must be released.

Roman --

You say that Dan Kelly sounds like Pat Foley. Did you mean to say that John Weidemann sounds like Foley? Weidemann and Troy Murray are fantastic on the radio, and they should not be replaced at WGN. Dan Kelly, on the other hand, is horrible on TV.

THIS IS A DREAM OF MINE......THE BLACKHAWKS NEXT YEAR ARE GONNA BE THE HIT OF CHICAGO, PAT FOLEY,HOME GAMES ON TV, AND A WINNING TEAM~~!!!! I CANT WAIT FOR OCTOBER TO COME.... GO HAWKS!!!!!!

Whoever this Steve R. character is, he's a complete idiot. This site is not for bashing Ed Olczyk. So why don't you take it easy. Sure he does relate back to his playing days (Over 1000 games played and 794 points and a stanley cup; guess that's not special), but that is only when asked about it, or if something he did in the past relates to a play in the game or curren issue among the National Hockey League. And about Edzo not being a good hometown guy. He was born in chicago, played all of his childhood hockey in the area, and was drafted by his hometown team for obvious reasons. So take it easy when you say he's stuck up, because he is not, and has worked for everything he has obtained in his life.