Swirsky Officially Becomes a Canadian

Dr. J. Naismith · 01-14-2008, 10:57 PM

Congrats to Chuck .... nauseating to some because of his homerism, but can't fault the guy for his passion of Raptors basketball and for his love of this country. I'm happy for him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Swirsky

Today I will officially become a Canadian citizen. I am humbled and honoured.

I would like to thank MLSE for their support over the years as Richard Peddie, Tom Anselmi, Liana Ward Bristol, John Shannon and Chris Hebb have been encouraging. The folks in 307-Raps TV: Dan Gladman, Nicole Anderson, Frank Hayward and Ashley Boland have been invaluable as well. Our TV traveling crew of Jack Armstrong, Matt Bloom, Troy Clara, Paul Graham, Leo Rautins and John Rusin are outstanding professionals. Nelson Millman of the Fan 590 brought me here 10 seasons ago and without question it's the best professional decision I have ever made. I owe a lot to Nelson Millman, a man who is a pioneer in sports talk radio in Canada. It would have been a very safe choice to hire a home grown Canadian in 1998 to call Raptors' games but Nelson thought outside the box and persuaded me to leave WJR Radio and the University of Michigan for the NBA.

I flat out love Toronto and admire what this country stands for. As a dual citizen I will maintain my passion and enthusiasm for Canada when discussing personal and business opportunities with associates in the United States.

By nature I am a positive person. That's the way I was raised and I haven't changed. I always look for the good in people and hopefully that reflects in my broadcasting style. I want to express that to all Canadians that you should be proud of "our" country and to be patriotic and proud.

And Mike Ulmer's little blurb on Chuck becoming Canadian today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Ulmer

There were homemakers, businesspeople, civil servants and one sports announcer. Seattle native Chuck Swirsky, the voice of the Toronto Raptors, waved his tiny flag with the rest. It’s been a decade since Swirsky drove across the Ambassador Bridge that links Detroit and Windsor. He was coming for a try in Canada. When he was a kid all he knew about Canada was that the bacon and maple syrup were good and that Vancouver was a pretty city. Even, as an adult making that drive he didn’t know a whole lot more.

“My first impression when I made that drive from Detroit was ‘this is a huge city, a huge market” he said. There was opportunity for Swirsky, but there was also something more.

“What I love about Canada,” he said, “is the people, the diversity, the connection people have with each other here.”

Link - Click here

**'trane** · 01-14-2008, 11:00 PM

I just can't contain my enthusiasm...

Any less of a penalty for assassinating a Canadian instead if an American?

**Benzo** · 01-14-2008, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coltrane

I just can't contain my enthusiasm...

Any less of a penalty for assassinating a Canadian instead if an American?

**Acie** · 01-14-2008, 11:30 PM

Let's not kid ourselves, he only did this to make getting through customs easier for himself.

Sick, Wicked and Nasty! · 01-15-2008, 08:42 AM

Well obviously i'm a supporter of the swirsk. I consider it asinine to pay enough mind to a team's announcer to have a hate-on for him... but whatever floats a person's boat. Congrats to the Swirsk for becoming one of us

MikeToronto · 01-15-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coltrane

I just can't contain my enthusiasm...

Any less of a penalty for assassinating a Canadian instead if an American?

Could I please, please carry the ammo?

**'trane** · 01-15-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeToronto

Could I please, please carry the ammo?

Hey, I don't need all the fun to myself. We can just do it Caesar-style. I just get to go first.

**'trane** · 01-15-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sick, Wicked and Nasty!

Well obviously i'm a supporter of the swirsk. I consider it asinine to pay enough mind to a team's announcer to have a hate-on for him... but whatever floats a person's boat. Congrats to the Swirsk for becoming one of us

With all due respect SWAN, how can you keep him out of mind when you have to listen to him all game, every game, spewing the same catch-phrases, the same ludicrous nick-names, the same weak-ass ball-busting arguments with Leo - talk about asinine. He just yammers away the whole time, rarely commenting on the game at hand, and always delivering the lamest possible commentary on the action.

Now, we can disagree on whether his commentary is good or not - obviously I think it's terrible - but the point is that if you find it irritating, it's impossible to keep it out of mind. It takes away from the enjoyment of the game. Constantly.

MikeToronto · 01-15-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coltrane

Hey, I don't need all the fun to myself. We can just do it Caesar-style. I just get to go first.

Et tu, Brute?

**'trane** · 01-15-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeToronto

Et tu, Brute?

Let me be surrounded by fat men.
Sleek-headed men, such as sleep o'nights.
Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much, such men are dangerous.

MikeToronto · 01-15-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coltrane

Let me be surrounded by fat men.
Sleek-headed men, such as sleep o'nights.
Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much, such men are dangerous.

Sick, Wicked and Nasty! · 01-15-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coltrane

With all due respect SWAN, how can you keep him out of mind when you have to listen to him all game, every game, spewing the same catch-phrases, the same ludicrous nick-names, the same weak-ass ball-busting arguments with Leo - talk about asinine. He just yammers away the whole time, rarely commenting on the game at hand, and always delivering the lamest possible commentary on the action.

Now, we can disagree on whether his commentary is good or not - obviously I think it's terrible - but the point is that if you find it irritating, it's impossible to keep it out of mind. It takes away from the enjoyment of the game. Constantly.

First off have you ever listened to other team's broadcasts? Their broadcasters are just as homeristic and biased...only few of them have a personality..they're just drones that lull you to sleep. In other words, dont' hate chuck for supporting the team he is paid by..he's pretty complimentary of other teams, coaches and players as well and may not rip the Raps when they're sucking but he doesn't ignore their weaknesses either.

Second you comment about him rarely commentating on the game is untrue and unfair. If you really listen and not through your anti-chuck fuzzy pink ear muffs you'll notice when the action is on he's calling it...what he does do is interject historical comparisons and anecdotes for Leo or Jack to comment on from a basketball perspective, and while you may or may not want to learn about that aspect of the game, it's history and people...some of us do. I guess if you dont' that could be annoying?

Third..you DO have another option. Put your radio or internet broadcast to the fan 590 and listen to Paul and Eric!

**'trane** · 01-15-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sick, Wicked and Nasty!

First off have you ever listened to other team's broadcasts? Their broadcasters are just as homeristic and biased...only few of them have a personality..they're just drones that lull you to sleep. In other words, dont' hate chuck for supporting the team he is paid by..he's pretty complimentary of other teams, coaches and players as well and may not rip the Raps when they're sucking but he doesn't ignore their weaknesses either.

Second you comment about him rarely commentating on the game is untrue and unfair. If you really listen and not through your anti-chuck fuzzy pink ear muffs you'll notice when the action is on he's calling it...what he does do is interject historical comparisons and anecdotes for Leo or Jack to comment on from a basketball perspective, and while you may or may not want to learn about that aspect of the game, it's history and people...some of us do. I guess if you dont' that could be annoying?

Third..you DO have another option. Put your radio or internet broadcast to the fan 590 and listen to Paul and Eric!

1. I don't hate on him for being a Raps supporter and a homer. I hate on him for being such an obvious company man. You'll never hear a bad word about BC or MLSE from Chuck, you can bet on that. There's a huge difference there.

2. Meh, if that's what you like, then so be it. We'll just have to disagree. He knows a ton about sports, there's no doubt, and the history is important to some. What I hate is all the other garbage - breaking balls with Leo, the whole salami and cheese insanity, calling out the threes from 'downtown wherever'. It's the same crap every game. It drives me nuts that he has to be talking at all times. This is why I love watching soccer. The commentating is sparse, well informed and necessary to the enjoyment of the game. Now I realize that this is apples and oranges, but when Chuck's not talking about the game, he's not interesting IMO, and that's a good 50% of the time.

3. Oh, I do, all the time. But it irritates me that I have to. And I know I'm not the only one. And Eric and Neal are pretty bad too. Bring back John Saunders!!!

Two other points:
1. The catch phrases are so silly by now. I'm willing to be that we couldn't tell the difference between the talking bobble-head Swirsk and the real thing. It's just bad Chuck cliche after bad Chuck cliche, all the time. He's like a robot, inserting excitement by using pre-programmed cliche phrases and vocal tones even when it's not exciting - "OH BABY WHAT A PLAY!!!!!" when it's just a lay-in, for example.
2. He has no idea what he's saying. "Eating some rim", "NBA facial", c'mon, is nobody pointing the obvious out to him? How can you be such a goody-two-shoes to not know what those terms mean? This kind of thing drives me nuts. I just find him to be such a douche.

I'm sorry I felt the need to get on Chuck a bit here. Your opinion is yours, and mine is mine, and we don't need to argue about it. I certainly don't mean to insult you, but I just can't take Chuck anymore. I find every moment of his commentary excruciating.

MikeTO and I can't be the only ones, can we?

ClingRap · 01-15-2008, 03:44 PM

Cling is with you coltrane. maybe i can drive the getaway chariot if mike is carrying the ammo!

MikeToronto · 01-15-2008, 04:44 PM

The soccer comment is bang on - I would love to listen to at least one Raps game commented by Jack Armstrong alone and to have him in as laconic mode as possible. I'd much rather be listening to the noises of the game (squeaks, swishes, occasional play call or even swearing) than all that "the fade, the fire..." nonsense.

ClingRap · 01-15-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeToronto

The soccer comment is bang on - I would love to listen to at least one Raps game commented by Jack Armstrong alone and to have him in as laconic mode as possible. I'd much rather be listening to the noises of the game (squeaks, swishes, occasional play call or even swearing) than all that "the fade, the fire..." nonsense.

indeed. all of the schtick, chuck or any other broadcaster who subscribes to cliche, muddies the opportunity for differentiating perspectives of a given event. the possibilites for seeing some of the nuances, what sort of things a given viewer's attention is drawn to is greatly polluted by the commentator, and what they see. there are some whom i like, like armstrong. i like what they see. chuck only sees what he's paid or instructed to see.

**Claudius** · 01-15-2008, 06:24 PM

I too have been in the anti-chuck campaign.

Hell, I have a friend of mine who lived in Detroit when he was broadcasting there. He was run out of town for being such a poor announcer. This is Detroit. A city that knows it sports. They hated him. Toronto saw him and then scooped him up because he had experience in play calling and would give them a stable team (it went from ugh Rod Black, to John Saunders and back and forth).

And again, I too would love to see a soccer type of presentation. Let the game speak for itself. Fuck, god knows how many times I have said that already....

**Acie** · 01-15-2008, 11:29 PM

I loved John Saunders. Too bad the Raps told him he had to live in Toronto year round.

Sick, Wicked and Nasty! · 01-16-2008, 09:31 AM

Well i have this then to say to all you anti-chuckers... na na na na na he's the broadcaster deal with it

**fancylad** · 01-16-2008, 11:11 AM

My opinion:

Chuck's OK. and that's it. somtimes, fine OFTEN, he's a bit much to handle and truthfully he is a corny mofo. but i've gotten used to him. And having listened to other commentators, i don't mind the job he's doing.

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01-14-2008, 11:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
'trane is getting tired of shifting hope around giant steps Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 15,386 Representing:	I just can't contain my enthusiasm... Any less of a penalty for assassinating a Canadian instead if an American?

01-14-2008, 11:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Acie is landry fields forever Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 20,465 Representing:	Let's not kid ourselves, he only did this to make getting through customs easier for himself.

01-15-2008, 08:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sick, Wicked and Nasty! is adoring his baby girl. Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada eh? Posts: 3,288 Representing:	Well obviously i'm a supporter of the swirsk. I consider it asinine to pay enough mind to a team's announcer to have a hate-on for him... but whatever floats a person's boat. Congrats to the Swirsk for becoming one of us

01-15-2008, 03:44 PM	#14 (permalink)
ClingRap is enjoying having the keys to destiny perusing ancient database Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The far side of the Universe. Posts: 1,817 Representing:	Cling is with you coltrane. maybe i can drive the getaway chariot if mike is carrying the ammo!

01-15-2008, 04:44 PM	#15 (permalink)
MikeToronto is Gam zeh ya'avor The Gatekeeper Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,544 Representing:	The soccer comment is bang on - I would love to listen to at least one Raps game commented by Jack Armstrong alone and to have him in as laconic mode as possible. I'd much rather be listening to the noises of the game (squeaks, swishes, occasional play call or even swearing) than all that "the fade, the fire..." nonsense.

01-15-2008, 06:24 PM	#17 (permalink)
Claudius is contemplating The Killing Joke Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Burkina Faso, Disputed Zone Posts: 9,642 Representing:	I too have been in the anti-chuck campaign. Hell, I have a friend of mine who lived in Detroit when he was broadcasting there. He was run out of town for being such a poor announcer. This is Detroit. A city that knows it sports. They hated him. Toronto saw him and then scooped him up because he had experience in play calling and would give them a stable team (it went from ugh Rod Black, to John Saunders and back and forth). And again, I too would love to see a soccer type of presentation. Let the game speak for itself. Fuck, god knows how many times I have said that already....

01-15-2008, 11:29 PM	#18 (permalink)
Acie is landry fields forever Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 20,465 Representing:	I loved John Saunders. Too bad the Raps told him he had to live in Toronto year round.

01-16-2008, 09:31 AM	#19 (permalink)
Sick, Wicked and Nasty! is adoring his baby girl. Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada eh? Posts: 3,288 Representing:	Well i have this then to say to all you anti-chuckers... na na na na na he's the broadcaster deal with it

01-16-2008, 11:11 AM	#20 (permalink)
fancylad is travis pickin' nosce te ipsum Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: east side. Posts: 13,871 Representing:	My opinion: Chuck's OK. and that's it. somtimes, fine OFTEN, he's a bit much to handle and truthfully he is a corny mofo. but i've gotten used to him. And having listened to other commentators, i don't mind the job he's doing.