1 of 1- unclefester
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Joe Bowen
Longtime Maple Leaf broadcaster Joe Bowen has announced he is retiring.
Bonesy has called more than 3 thousand Leaf games
He's 74
The 25-26 season will be his last
Last edited by unclefester (June 13, 2025 8:19 am)
- RadioActive
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Re: Joe Bowen
Here's his official announcement on Twitter/X. (Although I'm not sure it was wise to put in stationery that displays his cell phone number!)
- RadioActive
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Re: Joe Bowen
Now that it's official, the next question is: who will replace Bowen? After 44 years, that's not going to be an easy decision. Will it be someone currently calling games for an OHL team? Another professional NHL announcer working for another team they hire away? Or someone totally out of left field?
I have an out-of-the-box guess, without admittedly knowing much about this guy. But maybe Joe Bowen's own son could take his dad's place in the booth. He's already doing some minor league games, and the publicity of replacing a dad with his offspring would be a publicity bonanza. (Or, perhaps, Bowen-anza.)
It's happened before, of course. Ben Shulman is now doing the radio version of the Jays games, while dad Dan does his thing on TV.
- Binson Echorec
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Re: Joe Bowen
RadioActive wrote:
But maybe Joe Bowen's own son could take his dad's place in the booth. He's already doing some minor league games, and the publicity of replacing a dad with his offspring would be a publicity bonanza. (Or, perhaps, Bowen-anza.)
Sports has a history of father-son broadcast combos. And it's been done before here so it could happen again.
That aside, I won't be surprised if they go with Sportsnet audio.
- torontostan
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Re: Joe Bowen
Now that it's official, the next question is: who will replace Bowen?
The frontrunner is: nobody. I'd bet money on it....
- Easily Amused
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Re: Joe Bowen
A moot point, since after the NHL denies Atlanta its third (richly deserved 🙄) expansion franchise, nefarious agents will have the Leafs relocate to Atlanta.
(Don't worry...they'll relocate to Saskatoon after 3 years.)
Last edited by Easily Amused (June 13, 2025 12:03 pm)
- RadioAaron
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Re: Joe Bowen
Now that it's official, the next question is: who will replace Bowen?
The frontrunner is: nobody. I'd bet money on it....
Cynically agree.
Though I said that about the Jays and was happily wrong.
- Muffaraw Joe
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Re: Joe Bowen
If Joe's son takes over, how will he mesh with Jim Ralph, would they need a fresh new team?
It is really amazing that Joe has been at this for over 40 years. I remember working with Telemedia radio in Midland in the late 80's and Joe Bowen was doing play-by-play then, what an amazing career.
The world would be so good if it weren't for some people...
- RadioActive
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Re: Joe Bowen
Now that it's official, the next question is: who will replace Bowen? After 44 years, that's not going to be an easy decision. Will it be someone currently calling games for an OHL team? Another professional NHL announcer working for another team they hire away? Or someone totally out of left field?
I have an out-of-the-box guess, without admittedly knowing much about this guy. But maybe Joe Bowen's own son could take his dad's place in the booth. He's already doing some minor league games, and the publicity of replacing a dad with his offspring would be a publicity bonanza. (Or, perhaps, Bowen-anza.)
It's happened before, of course. Ben Shulman is now doing the radio version of the Jays games, while dad Dan does his thing on TV.
I guess I wasn't the only one wondering about this...
Holy Mackinaw! Could The Maple Leafs Hand Joe Bowen's Mic To His Son, David?
- RadioActive
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Re: Joe Bowen
Here's a story I'm betting most of us have never heard.
Joe Bowen started his Maple Leafs career with a 'f*** you'