Word's going around that Morley Scott won't be partnering with Rod on the Oilers radio broadcasts this season. Hicks has a blurb in the Edmonton Sun and CISN was mentioning it in their sports coverage this morning. Anybody know what the deal is? I know he's been doing a lot of tv work over the past few years, so is he stepping into that role, or did the Oilers just cut him loose? Morley's a good guy, so I'm hoping it was his decision to pull the plug and that he has something much better lined up.

I thought I read Ferarro joined TSN. Maybe Scott will assume the TV colour job on a permanent basis?

Here, I'll just quote an email I received

"STAUFFER JOINS OILERS BROADCAST TEAM

Colour commentator Bob Stauffer is the newest member of the Oilers radio broadcast team.
The Edmonton Oilers have named Bob Stauffer as the team’s radio colour commentator, joining Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Rod Phillips in the broadcast booth for the 2008-09 season.

Stauffer joins the Oilers radio broadcast team after five years with the Team 1260 radio station in Edmonton, taking over the position of colour commentator formerly held by long time Oilers broadcaster Morley Scott.  Bob Stauffer was the host of ‘Total Sports”, the Team 1260’s afternoon drive show from September 2003 to August 2008.

Oilers Vice-President of Broadcast and Communications Allan Watt says, “Adding Bob to our radio team is going to give new meaning to the term colour commentary.  He’s established himself throughout our community with his experience and I really believe he’s going to help bring out the passion and valued opinions of Oiler fans throughout Oil Country.  I’d like to thank Morley Scott for his years of service and dedication to the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club and wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

Born and raised in Edmonton, the University of Alberta grad served as the play-by-play voice for the University of Alberta Golden Bears hockey and football teams for 13 seasons, calling six CIS University Cup national hockey championships. He also served as the Communications Officer and Broadcast Director for the University of Alberta’s Department of Athletics for seven years from August of 2000 to August of 2007.

Stauffer has an extensive background in sports broadcasting, having been part of the production crews for Hockey Night In Canada, TSN, Rogers Sportsnet, ESPN and Molstar Communications.

During the 2000-01 season, Stauffer made his debut in an NHL broadcast booth in Edmonton.  After a car accident sidelined Dan Rusanowsky, the voice of the San Jose Sharks, Stauffer provided play-by-play for the Sharks broadcast team."

LOL.  Should be interesting.  Do you think Stauffer will tone down his demands for MacTavish to be fired now that they are co-workers?  In a way, I'm kinda disappointed to hear that Stauffer will be feeding from the Oiler trough.  His regularly candid assessment of the Oilers play and management will be mised.

So anyways, where'd Morley go?

The funny part is, I got the email at 2:18pm from the "Edmonton Oilers Pipeline" through the Oilers website.  I just tuned in toThe Team 1260 and I'm currently listening to Bob's show, live.  I assumed he'd be gone, so I'll guess that the Oilers might have sent the email a little early.

He's great on The Team.  He really does speak freely and I enjoy that.  I hope they don't muzzle him or he lets himself be muzzled.

An interesting move overall. Morley will certainly be doing colour. And I too enjoy Stauffer's candid take on his show. And it's for that one reason alone he'll have to tone it down. I mean, wouldn't he? I think a 'muzzle' in this type of situation is perhaps like an unrwritten condition of employment. It would be great if he remains straight-up in his assessment of the team with the day job. But can he, really?  

Rumblings on the TV gig?
Louie Debrusk, who's been broadcasting games in Arizona. Does a great job and the word down south is that he's on the move north. Hmmmmm. Former Oiler, and you know how much that means around here?!

The Oilers release on Stauffer replacing Morley, had some wonderful parting words for Scott. Not the kind of words you'd expect from a team that would indicate that he's coming back to the TV thing. It sounds kind of final.

Interesting.  The Journal says that Louie Debrusk is going to be the color man on Sportsnet.

Where oh where is Morley going?

Anyone had a chance to listen to the new Oilers' colour-man Bob Stauffer on CHED?

He's definitely got a different style than Morley Scott but admittedly, is pretty entertaining.  Stauffer got Rod Phillips going the other night when he described a hit as "knocking the snot rockets" out of a player, lol.  Good to see Stauffer moving on with his career but he leaves a void with no one in the city to question MacT.

BTW, anyone heard what initiated Morley's demise?  Heard him reading sports on CHED one day but that's it.

Not sure, but we could speculate!

It probably has something to do with INEWS.

INEWS is bad.

INEWS is evil.

INEWS is unprofessional.

INEWS is staffed with rookies.

INEWS stole my bike.

Just thought NBEACON would require a daily dose of INEWS-Bashing.

I don't know what's happening with Morley. But boy that INEWS sure gets my goat!

Cheezy!  Welcome back.  Your wit was noticeably absent for the past two months since you last bashed Shannon Tyler.  Classy.  Been busy trying to keep your job over at Corus?

I heard that Daryl Katz and Stauffer go way back.

iNews may have stolen Morley, too, Cheesy.  I think I heard him there also.

I tuned in last night, and the anchor was pretty good.  I do wish they would say their names more often though - I can never tell who is who.  Its not my usual station, but when I do tune in, I'd like to know who I'm hearing.