Article content continued

Reached at home in St. John’s Tuesday afternoon, Cole was doing what he does everyday, which, he said, means getting ready to watch a hockey game at night — on television — from his couch, far away from the action and the arena where he would rather be.

“I liked what I was doing, and it hurts, not to be doing it anymore,” Cole said, in Bob Cole’s unmistakable voice. “I don’t know. It is a touchy subject. It is pretty tough when you are told you are not included.

“It is my work. Maybe it was the right decision. I am still kind of wondering what has happened, to be honest. I shouldn’t say too much. I am just disappointed. It hasn’t hit me yet, that I can’t do it. But that’s me. And maybe I am right, and maybe I am wrong.

“But I sure feel okay.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9gIqHFwzgM&feature=youtu.be&t=42s

Photo by RHONDA HAYWARD/STR/ QMI AGENCY

Cole explained it has been heartening, when he is out and about in St. John’s, to have people come over — strangers — telling him the playoffs are lesser without his voice in them. But what about the tweeting? Was it him, his way of making the greater loss easier to take?

“It’s not me,” Cole said. “I heard about it, though. But I am not in on the tweet program. I haven’t signed up, and I don’t intend to, at least not yet.”

About his Twitter imposter, Cole didn’t seem to mind. Perhaps neither should we.

@BobColeBaby. Is not. Bob Cole. But in. Each tweet. There is poetry. Spirit. His. Maybe. Hockey folks. Not Cole. But somehow. Close.

• Email: joconnor@nationalpost.com | Twitter: oconnorwrites