MONTREAL – One month after letting the Bird fly, CHOM has decided to take Stock.
P.J. Stock, former NHL journeyman-turned-broadcaster, confirmed last night he will fill the spot vacated this month by the resignation of CHOM veteran Ted Bird beginning Feb. 1.
"It's ironic because Ted was the one who spoke to me (last year) and asked me what other things I'd like to do," said Stock, who's played for the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Rangers, the Philadephia Flyers and the Boston Bruins and whose subsequent broadcasting career has included regular segments on the Team 990 sports radio channel and Hockey Night in Canada, as well as RDS's l'Antichambre.
"He was just talking to me as a friend ... It escalated into ... my agreeing to do a five minute call-in (commentary on CHOM) in the morning."
"Then I went on away for a couple of weeks and there were all kinds of rumours floating around CHOM that Ted wasn't too happy ...Then someone called and said: 'Did you hear Ted quit?' "
Soon after CHOM management called the 34-year-old Stock and offered him more than five minutes on the phone.
"I'm on from seven to nine Monday to Thursday," said Stock, who will join Chantal Desjardins and Pete Marier on the CHOM morning show. Stock who acknowledged last night that comparisons with the man he'll replace are inevitable.
"I'm kind of replacing Ted, but I'll never be Ted," he said, "I grew up with Ted ... I don't think anyone will ever be Ted and that's a compliment to him.
"At the same time, I don't think they're hiring me because I am Ted. I do what I do, and if they didn't like it, they wouldn't have asked me to join the team.
"If people want to make comparisons, so be it."
Bird, a 32-year radio veteran and an institution in local broadcasting - and CHOM - for more than two decades, announced earlier this month he had resigned from CHOM because of "philosophical and creative differences" with station management.
Last night, Bird said Stock's arrival wasn't exactly a surprise.
"I knew it was coming, I was the one who talked them into hiring him," he said, "I think it's great for him, I think it's a great opportunity for him and he'll be a good fit there."
Stock said the prospect of appearing on a radio morning show not devoted exclusively to sports wasn't a daunting prospect.
"What kind of background has anyone else got in radio? Why are they great at it? Have got their doctorates in anything? They're great at talking to people.
"Say what you will about Don Cherry ... I don't think Don has a masters in too much besides entertainment."
jmennie@thegazette.canwest.com
PJ stock and Bad Pete. I DON'T THINK SO.
Bad Pete doesn't play well with others.