![]() Petersburg, Russia, as well as the 2002 U.S. Johnson served as an assistant coach with the 2000 World Championship in St. He also led a pair of area high schools, serving as head coach for Verona for 1994-95 and as the assistant coach for Madison Memorial for 1993-94. Johnson's coaching career began when he led the expansion Madison Monsters to a 37-30-7 mark in the 1995-96 season, while earning Colonial Hockey League Coach of the Year honors. Following his Olympic experience, Johnson embarked on a successful 11-year NHL career, garnering 203 goals, 305 assists and 508 points with five different teams from 1980-90. Olympic Team's gold-medal-winning effort with 11 points, including two goals in the "Miracle-on-Ice" game against the Soviet Union. In addition, the two-time first team All-WCHA pick and a two-time All-American was named as the 1978-79 WCHA MVP as well.įrom there, Johnson went on to represent USA Hockey as a player in several international tournaments. Johnson would emerge as a star in Madison, becoming the school's second all-time leading scorer with 256 points in just three seasons. Raised in the Badger State, Johnson went on to play hockey at the University of Wisconsin and led the Badgers to the 1977 national championship during his freshman campaign - garnering WCHA Rookie of the Year honors along the way. I’d make him watch a replay of the utter disrespect he showed toward Mike Johnson.Growing up the son of legendary hockey coach "Badger Bob" Johnson, it was no wonder Mark Johnson would go on to achieve greatness. As such, if I were TSN president Stewart Johnston, I would suspend O’Neill without pay from the TV and radio networks for one week. I suspect, that the prime Overdrive sponsor, Pinty’s Food Inc., would applaud. That decree was rolled upon when O’Neill told Johnson to shove the stat up his ass. The CRTC has mandated a level of decorum long before Jeff appeared on the scene. I liked him… a lot.īut, when the lights go up each afternoon in the TSN studio, or from his home studio during COVID, he is no longer in a dressing room. Jeff was unfailingly cooperative, humorous and self–effacing. You’ve got to know that this is nothing personal in fact, I had an excellent rapport with O’Neill in my radio reporting role at The FAN–590 during his two seasons with the Maple Leafs (2005–07). But, he does tend to cross the line, as he clearly (and gracelessly) did with Johnson. Such candor in today’s submissive media climate has made him a refreshing subject. Though largely placid on the ice, he has morphed into the tough guy on radio and TV, speaking irreverently about virtually every topic. O’Neill, to his credit, has fashioned a solid media career after scoring 237 NHL goals for Hartford/Carolina and Toronto between 1995––07. It was a, repulsive, low–ball insult to an exceptionally fine hockey analyst and co–worker. ![]() In this case, the remark went beyond a mere cuss word. Whether or not O’Neill understands, there is a difference between Spittin’ Chiclets and TSN Overdrive. ![]() That’s Internet and Satellite speak not the sort of remark an impressionable youngster should be exposed to on a cable network that appears in millions of homes across the country. But, on a national network governed by the Canadian Radio/Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), it is highly inappropriate to tell a colleague (or any person) to shove something up his ass. ![]() When the boys get together, nary a sentence passes without an f–bomb or other pleasantries dotting the discussion. Now, I’ve been around sports long enough to know that professional athletes - past and present - are fond of sailor talk. After a moment of awkward silence, Hayes said “go ahead, Johnny”, at which point Johnson finished his argument. Hayes and Feschuk, without time to process the remark, laughed obligingly, while Johnson was stopped in his tracks. “I’m sorry, Johnny, I’m not buying it… you can shove that stat right up your ass,” he said, talking over the telephone guest. Brodie may not be as solid as the adoring Toronto media suggests, O’Neill interrupted rather boorishly. As Johnson deployed an advanced metric to show that the Leafs No. O’Neill has never shrouded his man–crush on TSN’s “home” team who can forget the sorry spectacle of O–Dog pumping his fist and exclaiming “Yes!!!” when the Leafs won the 2016 NHL draft lottery and the right to select Auston Matthews first overall? But, his response to an argument posed by Johnson on Tuesday was altogether different. 22) - It was nothing short of a disgusting, demeaning reply… and O–Dog should pay the price.ĭuring Tuesday afternoon’s edition of Overdrive across the TSN radio and television networks, Jeff O’Neill joined host Bryan Hayes and co–host Dave Feschuk (of the Toronto Star) in a discussion about the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were embarrassed in Montreal on Monday night, losing 5–2 to the National Hockey League’s worst club. ![]()
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