The enigma of Bob Cole
Robert Cecil Cole, or Bob Cole, is a walking mystery.
His resume says he should have called his last hockey game a decade-and-a-half-ago when he was a member of the 1996 Hockey Hall of Fame induction class. Despite all odds though, the time-tested media industry veteran has yet to hang up the microphone for good – even as he approaches his 80th birthday in 2013.
Cole’s legendary play-by-play voice that began to popularize on the airwaves in 1969 and became infamous for his radio call of Paul Henderson’s Summit Series goal three years later has been featured alongside countless monumental hockey events across six consecutive decades.
As a man most recognized in the hockey world for his 28 years as primary announcer onCBC‘s Hockey Night in Canada, Cole’s often ambiguous and broad-spectrum style of announcing is unlike any of his peers.
“I don’t think anyone really does it as well as Bob Cole,” said National Post sports reporter Sean Fitz-Gerald.
Fitz-Gerald told The Good Point that although there are some phenomenal play-by-play personalities across Canada, especially in hockey, Cole is in a league of his own.
A worthy example of his excellence is his third period call during the 2002 Winter Olympics gold medal game as it quickly became the sound bite of the entire Salt Lake City Olympics. “It is Joe Sakic scores! Joe Sakic scores!” was heard by approximately 10 million viewers across the world.
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Even though he is well into his senior years, the Newfoundlander still makes appearances as an NHL commentator. In Round 1 this year his persistent pipes managed to effectively call an ultra-exciting seven-game duel between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens.
One of his colleagues, Brian Spear coordinating producer for Hockey Night in Canada is amazed that Cole has yet to lose his appetite for the game.
“The most striking thing is that after all those years he’s still so passionate about doing the games and so excited when doing them – so excited to be around the rink and going to the morning skate,” Spear said.
On a personal level, Spear has found working with Cole a humbling experience.
“It was still is a big thrill the first time I did a game with him and Harry Neale,” Spear said.
During Game 6 of the aforementioned series, Cole offered viewers another timeless account of the visuals occurring in front of him. After a flurry of action, he blurted out, “Everything is happening! It’s unbelievable!”
In today’s social media obsessed world, this particular Cole classic went viral.
Some hockey fans and pundits on Twitter joked that a t-shirt reading “Everything is happening” would be an appropriate homage to the legend’s unique calling style.
“He has a way of conveying the importance of the game with his pacing, with his tone, with his use of descriptors, and the way he calls the action,” Fitz-Gerald said. “As a viewer, I don’t really feel like I need somebody to say ‘Jones passes to Smith, passes to Jones, back to Smith, over to the point’.”
Instead of continuously rhyming off players’ names or trivial statistics, Cole typically opts for commentary on the atmosphere of the building, an old memory he and his long-time partner Harry Neale have experienced together or, simply, less specific play-calling.
According to the man himself, quitting the job he adores is not on the agenda until fans think it’s time for him to go.
As a 1977 baby, Fitz-Gerald is too young to have heard Cole during the 1972 Summit Series. However, he, along with millions of others, have been loyal supports of the colourful announcer for decades.
“I just know that when I sit down in front of the television in the playoffs and his voice comes across I know it’s a big game.”
He’s even jumping on the “Everything is happening” t-shirt bandwagon that surfaced on Twitter following Cole’s latest memorable call.
“I love that, I think it’s outstanding and I desperately want that t-shirt.”
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