You know Canucks hockey has become toxic when...

[Provost]

Folks should go look at the entire thread, it isn't what it seems like one tweet out of context.

Sekeres was bemoaning the fact that Sportsnet has decided to cut costs by broadcasting coverage mostly from Toronto and not even having the reporters come out to attend games.  How can they have any useful insight when they aren't within a thousand miles of the team.

The Toronto-centric approach is something we all complain about.  I am super glad I don't have to listen to Sekeres anymore but in this case he is actually arguing on our behalf for better coverage... not having a personal fight with MacIntyre.

I mostly stopped watching TSN due to the Toronto only nature of it.  Sportsnet started doing great regional programming, then they slowly got rid of it and became a Toronto channel as well.

I long for the days of Sportspage when the guys were actual reporters who were plugged into the local sports scene including high school/college... and not just some talking heads who read stuff online and regurgitate talking points from Ontario.

The thread from Sportsnet basically says, suck it out West... this is the way the future is.  20 guys covering the Leafs at the expense of anyone coverinng other teams.

Edited November 27, 2021 by Provost

[-DLC-]

Here's all I need to know about Sekeres...he's been here for just over a decade and he's the "go to" for our hockey team?  I don't think so.

RaptorsHQ - 1. How did you get your start in sports writing or in journalism in general?

Matt - I started by volunteering at the school paper at Carleton University (the Charlatan) where I covered football and basketball games. I eventually became a sports editor, then became the editor and chief and parlayed that into a weekly amateur sports column with the Ottawa Sun. From there, I had a few internships with the Globe and Mail and Ottawa Citizen and in the fall of 2001, I was offered a job by TSN doing audio and written reports on Leafs for their website - TSNmax.ca. A year later I found myself back at the Citizen doing football and I started covering football at large providing Can Con in American Football ranks on top of my coverage of CFL and the Ottawa Renegades. I also covered the bankruptcy of the Ottawa Senators for six months and the eventual purchase by Eugene Melnyk. Finally, it was just this winter that I got a call from the National Post asking if I’d do basketball. This was a great opportunity, especially given the rebirth of the Raptors.

HQ - 2. What's it like being so up and close and personal with the players you cover?

M - There’s not a huge difference truthfully as it’s not like you get to intimately "know" the players. Up close, athletes tend to "put up the curtain." And if they let you behind the curtain, it’s usually only to see another one.

HQ - 3. Where were you born and how did you end up in Toronto?

M - I was born in Montreal but raised primarily in Ottawa spending some time in Calgary as well. I moved Toronto at the end of April for third time in last seven years!  He should go back home.

HQ - 4. What are some of your favourite sports teams?

M - As a kid – the Chicago Bears, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Chicago Bulls and all University of Michigan sports teams.

HQ - 5. Currently you're covering basketball for the National Post, were you always a bigger basketball fan than one of other sports?

M - Football was the bigger game but basketball second, mostly for two reason:

1) I was always tall so played basketball. 2) People my age grew up in the MJ world or what I like to call "The basketball generation." It was nearly impossible therefore to escape its impact.

HQ - 6. How surprised were you concerning the Raptors turn-around last season? How many games did you expect them to realistically win going into the pre-season?

M - I thought they had a chance to be better than people thought until that 2-8 start. After that I was worried it was going to be another reckless year, one in which the team would make progress internally in terms of "building" but that that would not be reflected in their record. I therefore thought that if they got to .500 that would be sensational.

HQ - 7. Did you think Toronto was going to beat New Jersey in the playoffs? From your vantage point, what did you see as the main reason Toronto lost the series?

M - No I did not. And I think the main reason they lost was due to lack of experience. The Raptors need to learn how to win in the playoffs however got some valuable experience this past year.
HQ - 8. The off-season is upon us. After such a successful year, what do you foresee the Raptors doing this summer to upgrade the team?

 

From 2007, but HE'S our "hockey" expert?  On our team?  Did he take a crash course?

 

Imposter alert.  More blah blah blah here....

https://www.raptorshq.com/2007/6/18/1116143/15-questions-with-the-national

 

HQ - 12. When you are researching or compiling an article do you read other sports blogs? Have you read the HQ and do you think a site like ours offers something that traditional media can’t always deliver?

M - I have, for example I’d monitor message boards etc, but it’s not a consistent thing. It depends at times on the type of article I’m working on.

 

[Ajax-]

And sickening how many Esteemed CDCers jump all over it as truth and started spewing toxic  garbage posts with no fact to be found. I guess no need to quote them, way to many and YOU all know who you are.

 

 

 

[Hairy Kneel]

Speaking of journalists, I haven't seen much or heard much of Juice lately?

I'd love to hear his take on the current state of affairs here. 

[Dazzle]

17 minutes ago, Ajax- said:

And sickening how many Esteemed CDCers jump all over it as truth and started spewing toxic  garbage posts with no fact to be found. I guess no need to quote them, way to many and YOU all know who you are.

 

 

 

Is there really not a potentially toxic exchange going on? I am confused because my original post believes that the two have had a misunderstanding with each other. We can read what the words say. And because of that, we can see what eventually led to Imac's response.

 

You're overreacting.

[Pickly]

18 minutes ago, Ajax- said:

And sickening how many Esteemed CDCers jump all over it as truth and started spewing toxic  garbage posts with no fact to be found. I guess no need to quote them, way to many and YOU all know who you are.

 

 

 

 

Live look at Ajax 

[Ajax-]

2 minutes ago, Dazzle said:

Is there really not a potentially toxic exchange going on? I am confused because my original post believes that the two have had a misunderstanding with each other. We can read what the words say. And because of that, we can see what eventually led to Imac's response.

 

You're overreacting.

“Players obviously will hear things that come out in the media,” Green said. “And I think with our market, sometimes you hear things that are flat out not true. And we've heard a lot of things lately that are going on inside our locker room that are fabricated. They're made up. Whoever is saying them are lies. We've got a close group in there.

"There was something about Horvat and Miller yesterday, which is ridiculous. These two guys sit in the room (next to each other). They're good friends. They get along, they care for each other. There's zero rift at all between anyone of our team. They're a close-knit team. They want to win. They don't like losing.”

 

[Ajax-]

3 minutes ago, Dazzle said:

Is there really not a potentially toxic exchange going on? I am confused because my original post believes that the two have had a misunderstanding with each other. We can read what the words say. And because of that, we can see what eventually led to Imac's response.

 

You're overreacting.

Who's overreacting? 

[Ajax-]

2 minutes ago, Pickly said:

 

Live look at Ajax 

Nice!

[the_impersonator13]

2 hours ago, Odd. said:

Glad iMac put him in his place. 
 

iMac’s one of the brighter spots of all media here.

I agree. IMAC is a consumate professional and his opinions and views are respected by major media outlets and knowledge fans alike. Sekeres is a whinny little teenager in his moms basement trying to antagonise people on social media platforms by making up the biggest lies and stirring up pointless crap. No one with any credibility has any respect for him.

[Bathgate]

2 hours ago, Provost said:

Folks should go look at the entire thread, it isn't what it seems like one tweet out of context.

Sekeres was bemoaning the fact that Sportsnet has decided to cut costs by broadcasting coverage mostly from Toronto and not even having the reporters come out to attend games.  How can they have any useful insight when they aren't within a thousand miles of the team.

The Toronto-centric approach is something we all complain about.  I am super glad I don't have to listen to Sekeres anymore but in this case he is actually arguing on our behalf for better coverage... not having a personal fight with MacIntyre.

I mostly stopped watching TSN due to the Toronto only nature of it.  Sportsnet started doing great regional programming, then they slowly got rid of it and became a Toronto channel as well.

I long for the days of Sportspage when the guys were actual reporters who were plugged into the local sports scene including high school/college... and not just some talking heads who read stuff online and regurgitate talking points from Ontario.

The thread from Sportsnet basically says, suck it out West... this is the way the future is.  20 guys covering the Leafs at the expense of anyone coverinng other teams.

I watch Donny and shall (?) For this reason

[Provost]

57 minutes ago, Bathgate said:

I watch Donny and shall (?) For this reason

Yep, I listen to them via the podcast version.

 

Far superior to any of the network guys.

[JeremyCuddles]

Not a IMac fan, but Sekeres is legit garbage. That last line from IMac absolutely fried Sekeres. And that alone made me respect IMac more.

[Salacious Crumb]

5 hours ago, Kevin Biestra said:

Matt Sekeres.  A face for radio, a voice for silent film.

I always thought he had a face only a cannibal could love. He can shove his smarmy, holier than though graduated top of my class attitude up his.

[Angry Goose]

[kanucks25]

5 hours ago, JM_ said:

"diarist" is a pretty big insult tho, he's basically saying Iain is a paid puppet. Add to that they just cleaned up Sekeres lies about the locker room.

Sekeres is definitely a douche bag but there's no doubt iMac is a bootlicker.

 

He's been Benning/Aqua's PR man since Benning got the job. I'm not saying he's a "bad guy" or anything because I don't know him personally but an unbiased reporter, he is not.

 

That said, iMac definitely dunked on Sekeres here lol.

[Dr. Crossbar]

3 hours ago, Ajax- said:

Esteemed CDCers

 

[JM_]

10 minutes ago, kanucks25 said:

Sekeres is definitely a douche bag but there's no doubt iMac is a bootlicker.

 

He's been Benning/Aqua's PR man since Benning got the job. I'm not saying he's a "bad guy" or anything because I don't know him personally but an unbiased reporter, he is not.

 

That said, iMac definitely dunked on Sekeres here lol.

I don't think iMac is Benning's shill, he just doesn't go negative. Considering how much of that we get maybe its not bad to have one of those in the mix. I don't find him particularly insightful either, tho.

 

I'm glad someone put MS in his place tho, much needed. 

[kanucks25]

1 minute ago, JM_ said:

I don't think iMac is Benning's shill, he just doesn't go negative.

I guess, but that's pretty much him indirectly doing what I'm accusing him of.

 

If 90% of Benning's time here has been negative, and he doesn't go negative ever, it comes off as PR/damage control.

 

I'm always accused of being biased here because I allegedly never say anything positive about the team (not true, but people see what they want to see). So it should go both ways.

[-DLC-]

11 hours ago, Provost said:

Folks should go look at the entire thread, it isn't what it seems like one tweet out of context.

I am super glad I don't have to listen to Sekeres anymore but in this case he is actually arguing on our behalf for better coverage... not having a personal fight with MacIntyre.