The whacking of star sportscaster Chris Cuthbert by CBC Sports has triggered some conspiracy theorizing.
Some excerpts from The Globe and Mail story:
Nancy Lee, the head of CBC Sports, terminated Cuthbert's contract on Tuesday, citing budget cuts caused by the cancellation of the NHL season. She described her decision to let Cuthbert go as one of the most difficult she's had to make, but the question asked by those who admired the 47-year-old broadcaster and his work was simply: why him?
Cuthbert was the number-two play-by-play man for Hockey Night in Canada, so there wouldn't be much for him to do right now. But check this out:
He also had a freelance contract with the CBC that allowed for renegotiation if the NHL cancelled its season. According to the terms of the contract, Cuthbert could have taken a sabbatical until the NHL returned, or his salary, believed to be about $350,000, could have been renegotiated, depending on what he was assigned to cover.
"This decision doesn't makes sense," an industry source insisted. "Nancy Lee creates a position [manager of program acquisitions for CBC television sports] in order to hire her friend Sue Prestedge last year, then gets rid of Chris Cuthbert. I know Chris makes more money, but why hire Prestedge when the threat of a lengthy [NHL] lockout was so real?"
Several sources requesting anonymity believed Cuthbert's strong opinions may have rubbed Lee the wrong way. When the CBC chose to drop its popular Hockey Day in Canada broadcast this winter, it is believed Cuthbert disagreed and voiced his concern. The CBC was widely criticized for its decision, then it watched as rival network TSN staged a Hockey Day of its own.
Lee was out of the country and could not be reached for comment yesterday.
News of Cuthbert's firing had been relayed to him by his agent, Elliott Kerr.
Firing someone who is really good at their job because they rubbed a manager the wrong way? Simply because they questioned a decision? I refuse to believe that would happen in this meritocratic day and age! :)