Lots of buzz over this...

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/internet-viral-press-conference-john-chayka-steve-simmons

I still find it hard to believe that MLSE hired Pelley as their CEO. He was allegedly let go by Rogers in 2015 when Guy Laurence took over and allegedly wasn’t thrilled with Pelley’s NHL broadcast deal, the $5.2B deal which Rogers has been tight lipped about, especially the ROI of the deal.

I can only see Pelley making more terrible choices, like hiring Chayka as the Leafs GM, terrible. Even with the Leafs winning first draft pick, I think I’ve lost faith in them, plus Matthew’s is grumbling about not returning to Toronto, what a mess. Good thing we have the Sceptres!

Saul wrote:

Sometimes things have to crash and burn in order to correct course. Though sometimes they keep on crashing and burning...

 
…and crashing and burning!

Thanks for the laugh Saul, I have to remind myself sometimes it’s only a game!

Shorty Wave wrote:

And the sad part, they’ll still sell out games.

And that is precisely why nothing has really changed since 1967!

Shorty Wave wrote:

g121 wrote:

Wow ..  what a bush league, ass move by Simmons. 

There's an appropriate time and place for questions are all types.  For Simmons to table those questions in that manner with that belligerent, condescending presentation at the introduction of Leafs new executive while the new guys are sitting right there is a unforgiveable lack of judgement, utter disrespect & pure lack of class.  Personally, I wouldn't blame anyone associated with the Leafs or MSLE if Simmons was never given the time of day going forward.

 
I couldn’t disagree with you more g121. When, for example, would be an appropriate time to ask questions about the new GM other than at the “New GM Press Conference”? And although Simmons went for the jugular, I think he brought to light just what type of person Pelley had hired for the most profitable team in the NHL, and that maybe Pelley has made a bad choice.That what journalists do.

I don’t see things going well for the Leafs for the foreseeable future, especially with the leadership they have. And the sad part, they’ll still sell out games. Hopefully they’ll get their mojo back within the next decade!

 
I’m with Shorty Wave on this one.  In this day of “rally-round-the-flag and cheer for the home team” sports journalism, it’s refreshing to see a journalist demand answers from the questions fans have been asking.  It was a news conference, not a campfire family gathering of Kumbaya singers.

This is why I so admire Vassy Kapelos. It doesn't matter which party a politician is from, she'll confront them with a statement they made or something they've said or done in the past and she'll listen to their initial B.S. answer - and I can assure you it will always be a Talking Point B.S. answer - and then say, "Yes, but with all due respect..." then drill them with the same question all over again, backed by evidence. 

We need a lot more people like that in the news business but they are sadly becoming fewer and fewer as time goes by.

RadioActive wrote:

This is why I so admire Vassy Kapelos. It doesn't matter which party a politician is from, she'll confront them with a statement they made or something they've said or done in the past and she'll listen to their initial B.S. answer - and I can assure you it will always be a Talking Point B.S. answer - and then say, "Yes, but with all due respect..." then drill them with the same question all over again, backed by evidence. 

We need a lot more people like that in the news business but they are sadly becoming fewer and fewer as time goes by.

 
Excellent point RadioActive! Kapelos is tenacious and usually gets a response after getting the runaround, and we do need a lot more people like that! Where did they all go?

g121 wrote:

I'm not against the "hard questions".  It's the manner/style/timing I had issue with.   It was literally their 1st day on the job .. Chayka  & Mats were sitting right there .. Simmons was basically a rude "full of himself" jerk.

Simmons could have re-phased his questions & asked without the condescending belligerence to get to same points & actually get a much better answer; which is the goal of the session.   Be a "dick", then don't be surprised you get a "dick" response.   Simmons was "grandstanding", the story shouldn't be able the reporter. 

Plus it was pretty darn short-sighted.   Going forward, Simmons will be last-in-line to hear anything from MSLE.   Dave Feschuk (of the story) is prone to the same "grandstanding" in hopes he looks like the "hard hitting" reporter .. look up when Feschuk asked Phil Kessel "if he was a coach-killer".  Phil just called Feschuk an idiot & walked away.  It was pretty funny to watch Feschuk grovel to Phil in a feeble attempt to regain any kind of relationship.

Chayka  was on OverDrive last night.  A good discussion where all 3 hosts asked real questions without being belligerent 'dicks'.

 

Sounds to me as if you had a pre-conceived notion of Simmons before the news conference.  Would you be as critical if it was an unknown reporter asking the questions?  Look, demanding questions occasionally require a demanding approach.  You mention OverDrive.  This is the show that featured one member reacting to the Leafs winning the draft lottery the same way he’d react if he won the LottoMax draw.  People are so used to fans being part of the media that they don’t recognize impartially.

Last edited by maybo (May 7, 2026 10:38 am)

Saul wrote:

maybo wrote:

Look, demanding questions occasionally require a demanding approach.

The opposite approach can work wonders. It takes skill, precision and 'soft sell' rather than pure brawn. The reporter finds a way to ask the hard question softly; to gently tease it out. Reporters should more or less know the story before they go for the interview (keeping an open mind for what they don't know), and have a game plan for eliciting what they need when there's any hint of potential contention or challenge; and be able to think on the fly. My experience is in print, and I acknowledge that this may be somewhat of a challenge, perhaps impossible, on live TV (or radio). But I do think attitude needs to be carefully measured before application.

Saul, I don’t think other outstanding sports journalists, like Dave Perkins or Red Fisher gave a moment’s thought about whether the feelings of the interview subject might be ruffled.  Nor should they have.  Keep in mind that they, like Simmons are/were columnists, not merely reporters.  To be tasked with giving printed opinions for a living and defending those opinions can harden an approach to interviews.  As for radio/TV, the sports landscape is filled with people who rant and rave when the red light is on but turn into pussycats when tasked with interviewing people who were subjects of their wrath.

On a personal level, in my working days, I was a terrible interviewer.  But after more than 40 years of attending news conferences in the sports world, I discovered the most honest answers came from people who were pushed a bit.  In today’s world, so many people hate tough-talking reporters/columnists because they dare to hold their sports heroes to the fire when controversy arises.  These days, with conglomerates employing both teams and media outlets, never is heard a discouraging word.  Folks have gotten used to that, so when an old-school media member bucks the trend, they react with personal attacks against the messenger.