The Puck Whisperer: Ron MacLean-A Media Hero.

Welcome to the first installment of “The Puck Whisperer”. 

You know him as the straight man on  CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada.  He tries to keep  Don Cherry out of trouble, which is hard for anyone to do.  Sometimes, MacLean causes his own fiasko as he did with his recent inteview with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.  You might even say that he got under Bettman’s skin, to which most of us would say good!

His intelligent and thought provoking questions certainly generate conversation, and usually some good banter between himself and his guests and, co-hosts.  He is a tireless worker, and probably one of the most well informed hockey analysts we’ve come to know.  He is especially knowledegable about the Canadien side of things and has been a strong supporter of the players.  he also probably knows more about the CBA aggreement that most general managers. Never afraid to ask a question or make a comment, he gives it to us and to his guests straight up.  Like it or not, he would never do it in a way that would embarrass or provoke anger.

On Wednesday his interview with Gary Bettman caused all sorts of ruckuss in the hockey media as he was doing his job by askng Gary direct questions.  Gary became a little hot under the collar and came off as his usual snobish self.  No yelling, and of course no foul language, but you could tell, Ron had pinched a nerve in the mind of the hockey czar.

In a matter of less than 24 hours though,  MacLean went from media instigator to media hero.  In case you haven’t heard, and maybe you didn’t, while having lunch with his sidekick Donald S. Cherry in Philadelphia Thursday afternnon, MacLean performed an act of human service that I’m not quite sure how many of us would.   A man was about to attempt suicide by jumping into the Delaware River.  MacLean heard the cries for help from a woman who came into the restaurant where he and Cherry were lunching, yelling for help.

The woman was said to have had a heavy french accent, and was screaming that a man was in the water and that he needed help.  MacLean jumped from his seat, grabbed a red velvet rope that the restaurant used as a divider, and raced to aid not only the jumper, but the screaming woman’s husband who had also jumped into the river to attempt to save the man.

The jumper was wrapped in yellow rope and had tape wrapped around his mouth.  The woman’s husband had stripped down to his scivies prior, before jumping in to help make the rescue.  Now, I’m listening to this  description of the story on the radio as I’m driving Thursday afternoon, and I actually can’t believe what I’m hearing.  MacLean so calm, yet almost telling the story in a bit of a comical way, was almost embarrassed by it all it seemed.

Host Jeff Marek who might have been trying to find some humor in the whole escapade asked Ron about what Don Cherry was doing at the time?  MacLean’s response, “Supervising”.  “He was just overseeing to make sure everything was ok at this point. We knew that the guy wasn’t going to drown at this point”.  Well I guess that’s what we would expect from Don eh?  We can’t expect a man at his age to go jumping in the water can we?  I mean he’d ruin whatever colorful sport jacket he was wearing!

As Ron continued to finish the story, the man who may now be famous for being in his underwear, had safely put the jumper on a raft that was close by, and pulled him into safety.  MacLean then assisted with an employee of the nearby hotel in bringing the jumper to shore.  Something I imagine the jumper wasn’t counting on.

So after the whole incident is basically overwith and Ron gets back to the table with Grapes (Cherry), and Cherry says, “‘Well that’s just great. I’m telling a wonderful story about Dave Bolland, enjoying a nice lunch and you go running down to the river.”  Ah, Mr. Cherry, the perfect snare drum response.

MacLean never got to meet Mr. Briefs, as he took off after the whole thing was over since he was scantily dressed, and was obvioulsy not up for any additional attention.

Just another day at lunch?  You’d say you would do the same thing or something similar?  Would you?  Think about it, and not from the aspect of being a hero, but if a situation like this arose, would you step into action?  I can’t say for sure that if this situation came up that I would do what MacLean did.  But that’s because I can’t swim!

What’s your excuse?

Better yet, who has a similar story?

In the end, Ron MacLean does his good samaritan deed, and as usual, was very humble about it.  But just like Ron and Don Cherry, always doing something interesting together.

Thanks for reading.

Your comments are always welcomed and appreicated.

Cheers