CBC and the Cuthbert Curse

On February 4, 2005 the CBC let go of one of their best employees for a reason that was not good enough for me. He was employed there for 21 years when it happened and it came as a tremendous shock to industry insiders and staff.

I can't count all the great sports calls that commentator Chris Cuthbert has given me over the years. There have been countless Commonwealth Games, Olympics, World Championships of something, Canadian football, and of course, hockey. His work announcing their NHL broadcasts was on par with the greats. I remember when he would always call the late west coast games every Saturday night for CBC. I hoped that every playoff game would go into triple overtime because I knew the longer the game went, the more he was going to give me a legendary call.

TSN was not as stupid as CBC so on June 1 of that same year they locked him into a long term deal. So flash forward to 2010 and what has happened.

The CBC (who dumped him) were outbid for the rights to broadcast the Grey Cup by TSN (who picked him up). I believe it was just this year he broadcast one of the best Grey Cup presentations I have seen in a looooooooong time.

The CBC (who dumped him) lost the rights to Hockey Night in Canada's theme song, only to be purchased by TSN (who picked him up).

CTV/TSN (who picked him up) wrestled the Olympics away from CBC (who dumped him) and broadcast a very successful Olympic campaign.

And because of the senseless cutting of a great employee, who got to watch one of the great hockey sportscasters call one of the most important hockey goals in the history of our country on their rival network (who picked him up)........

everyone at CBC (who dumped him).