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| Holding my Induction Plaque |
For 36 years I have been covering the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Melfort Journal. During those years I have been writing a column for the Journal called "On Sports".
Each year my wife, Sharon, and I have been driving from Melfort to Regina for each Rider home game. Prior to my sons graduating from high school they would be with us.
It is a 300 km drive to Regina. The 600 km round trips have totalled 180,000 km since 1978.
In my acceptance speech I said the 6 hour drives in the van have given me a lot of time to think about football and life.
In my speech I discussed how and why I came to write a sports column:
"When I grew up on the farm at Meskanaw the CFL was a distant league. I had no access to a daily paper. Few games were on T.V. I listened to games on the radio.
I have always loved words. I enjoy reading, speaking and writing. I like organizing words to inform, to explain, to persuade. I realized early in my life that my greatest skill was the ability to use words.
I have equally loved sports through my life. Whether playing sports, not well I admit, or organizing or coaching or teaching or refereeing or watching I have a passion for sports.
I have wanted to know "why" as early in my life as I can remember.
Writing a column has let me write words about sport and ask why since 1978."
It was an honour I never expected. I am the first journalist from a weekly newspaper to be inducted.
I have not been posting this week as I have been caught up in the activities of Grey Cup Week in Regina. (The Grey Cup is the equivalent of the Super Bowl.)
The Saskatchewan Riders are both playing and hosting the game. Our whole province has never been more excited.
I will put up my next post about the game.
Today has already been a great day for me.
Congratulations, Bill! Such a well-deserved honour - I know you must be very proud. Thanks for sharing your special day with us.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCongrats and as I type this the hometown boys are well ahead in the Grey Cup. It's great that they finally acknowledged a reporter for a weekly.
ReplyDeleteBill, many congratulations! I'd no idea you were a journalist too, apart from being a lawyer, or that you wrote a sports column. I'd love to read some of your articles in the Melfort Journal. I hope they're online.
ReplyDeleteWow, Bill - ALL of that is really impressive. What a commitment. And how nice to get such deserved recognition. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteBill, that is so cool. Not only receiving recognition for your dedication and hard work, but sticking with it for so many years. I am happy for you and glad to see that you have such passion.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. Since I started writing the blog I have gained friends around the world and wanted to share my news.
ReplyDeleteScott: Thanks for the kind comment.
ReplyDeleteKent: Thanks for the good wishes. There is good writing in rural Canada.
ReplyDeletePrashant: Thanks for the comment. Some of my articles are online. My column on the game was posted today. Tomorrow I will have some reflection on the blog.
ReplyDeleteMoira: Thanks for the comment. It is a commitment I have enjoyed. It was one of the ironies of my life that I live but a few blocks from my law office but have to travel 300 km to cover the Roughriders.
ReplyDeleteTracyK: Thanks for the kind words. I started writing the column by hand in 1978. The changes in technology make me realize how long I have been writing the column. At the game yesterday there were reporters constantly tweeting and texting during the game. I am doubtful the sports experience has been enhanced by social media.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's quite a new side of you. Congratulations on what is clearly a well deserved honor. As Tracy & "Clothes in Books" said - some commitment! The 6 hour commute alone would've done me in well before the fifth year. You obviously love the sport!
ReplyDeleteJohn: Thanks for the congratulations. I appreciated hearing from you. Going to Roughrider games has been part of my life since my mid-20's. Having the chance to interview players, coaches and management about a game I love has been great!
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