An Interview With Joe Bowen, Maple Leafs Play-By-Play Man

Late last week I had the absolute honour and privilege to sit down and talk hockey with the legendary Joe Bowen. 

Having called Maple Leafs games for over 25 years and being a lifelong fan of the Blue and White, it was fascinating to get the chance to go one-on-one with the man who has possibly the coolest catchphrase in all of sports broadcasting. 

Admit it, there has been one point in your life at a family function where you tried to slip in your own "Holy Mackinaw!"

Derek: As a broadcaster you have had the privilege to call over 2,000 Toronto Maple Leafs games.  You have seen a lot of great ones and it is probably hard to narrow it down to one answer, but in your opinion what was the most memorable Maple Leafs game you've ever gotten to call?

Joe: I would have to think it was the seventh game in Detroit in 1993 with Nicky Borschevsky scoring the goal because it was really a turning point in the franchise's history.  Cliff Fletcher had taken over the year before and really with Harold Ballard's regime we never had a chance of winning so that was really a turning point in the franchise and it turned out to be a jump off point for a pretty exciting run that went to the semi-finals and a seventh game loss to Gretzky and the Kings, but that goal, and that whole game was as exciting as I've ever had.

Derek: We are approaching the middle of July and the Maple Leafs have about 25 players under contract with a payroll of about $50 million.  However, Mats Sundin remains out there.  What are your thoughts on the current situation with Mats and do you believe he will be back in Toronto come October?

Joe: Well I think it's Mats' situation, and I think what he is weighing right now is whether or not he wants to come back and play at all.  I think the longer this goes on, the chances are he will be here in Toronto.  Other teams can't sit and wait for Mats and since the Leafs are in such a rebuilding mode that at this time they certainly can sit and wait.  With all the things Cliff has done and wants to do, he still has some room under the cap to accommodate Mats if he does decide to come back.

Now having said that, Mats walks to a different drummer.  He certainly has enough money to put him on easy street for the rest of his life and he is going to get married this year or next, and he just may decide you know what?  I don't know need it any more and I'm going to kick my feet up at my cottage in Sweden off the ocean and enjoy life.  That is what Mats is battling most I think.  It's a twelve month job to be in shape and train and condition and things like that, especially the older you get.

In fact he is probably going through the same thing that Brett Favre is going through with the Packers and now we're hearing that he is getting that itch to come back and play because he still thinks he can play at a very high level and that is the same situation Mats is in.

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