In my Chicago Tribune column (please access via my Twitter feed), I wrote about how Eddie Olczyk, a former Blackhawks player and its current TV analyst, won’t play favorites in his role as analyst for NBC during the Stanley Cup Final.
Of course, the perceptions always are going to be there.
From the column:
Don’t think for a minute some viewers won’t notice the Chicago connection in Boston.
Olczyk knows there will be Bruins fans who will accuse him of favoritism toward the Hawks. He got a taste during the Pittsburgh-Boston series in the East Final. Olczyk spent eight years as a player, coach and analyst with the Penguins.
“I had Boston people saying I was favoring the Penguins because I used to work there,” Olczyk. “And you know what? There were people in Pittsburgh who thought I was favoring the Bruins. That means I’m doing my job. The perceptions always are going to be there. People are going to hear what they want to hear.”
Olczyk insists he has the same approach with Emrick as he does with Pat Foley. He admits there might be a bit more “shtick” as far as nicknames and other banter during local telecasts of Hawks games. However, he didn’t become one of the best in the business by playing favorites.
“My job is tell people why something happened,” Olczyk said. “If a guy makes a mistake, I’m going to call him out. It’s not any different on a local game or a national game. I take great pride in being consistent. I’m very comfortable in the chair that I sit in.”
Olczyk certainly isn’t dropping the “for all you young hockey players out there” line on the national broadcasts.
He is great with the telestrator andI am amazed how quickly he gives details about how the play is set up. He doesn’t have time to rehearse this and he is always spot on. I actually learn a lot from him and glad he is in Chicago during the regular season.