Thursday night will be the last time Philadelphia Flyers fans hear Steve Coates on the radio. The legendary broadcaster announced earlier this month that he is ready to retire after 43 years as an analyst for the team on both radio and television.
It’s not easy to replace a beloved figure in franchise history, and it sounds like the Flyers may not be up for the challenge.
“A couple of little birdies have been in my ear about something,” John Kincade said cryptically Thursday on his morning show on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia. “Do you believe that they will replace Cotesy as color analyst?”
His colleagues could not believe the suggestion. Tim Saunders has called Flyers games since 1997 and has never been without a partner. Kincade agreed with the shock saying that it would be “an extreme mistake” to not have an analyst on the radio broadcast next season, but it isn’t a possibility he will dismiss.
“A lot of teams cost-cutting across pro sports and I was just told to keep my ear to the ground on that one, so we’ll watch.”
Producer and co-host Pat Egan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He isn’t saying that it can’t happen. He says he has been pleasantly surprised the franchise did not try to take broadcast crews off the road permanently following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Given the state of the Flyers on the ice though, he isn’t sure why anyone would want to listen to a solo broadcast of the games.
“The last couple of years, the team being the way it is, some of the best moments have been the banter between Timmy and Cotesy that has absolutely nothing to do with the game,” Egan added. “That’s what makes that broadcast so great. They have fun! It’s hard to have fun by yourself.”
