‘We linked’: Recalling Sportstalk’s night time of Rangers and riots in ’94

Article content material

In Nice Good Night — A Memoir: My 30 Wild and Turbulent Years of Sportstalk, host Dan Russell recounts the highs and lows of internet hosting a call-in radio sports activities program in Vancouver for 3 many years. Right here is an excerpt:

Article content material

With the desk set, it was off to the Massive Apple and Madison Sq. Backyard to cowl arguably the best Stanley Cup Remaining in league historical past. The NHL had divided media seating into 5 classes, and I drew the fifth location, excessive above the online the place Greg Adams scored the Recreation 1 additional time purpose. It was there that broadcaster Dave Hodge, sitting just a few seats away, knowledgeable me that O.J. Simpson was a suspect within the homicide of his ex-wife and her boyfriend.

Article content material

A number of hours earlier than Recreation 7 in New York, I ran into an extra-nervous Sandra Quinn, little question “hockey distancing” herself from her husband, Pat. Each of us have been misplaced for phrases in attempting to explain the magnitude of the second. To move the time till the 8 p.m. ET begin I walked for a lot of hours within the June warmth, attempting to take all of it in. So many scattered ideas ran via my head. As an grownup, I used to be knowledgeable within the media now. However the boy within me, an unique Canucks fan, was desperately hoping to witness a Vancouver championship. How fortunate am I, having adopted the Canucks since I used to be a younger boy … because the day they entered the NHL … and right here they’re … and one way or the other right here I’m … on the planet’s biggest metropolis about to look at them play one recreation to win the Stanley Cup.

Article content material

Article content material

As soon as once more I used to be in Press Field 5, and with Vancouver down a purpose within the third interval, I nonetheless bear in mind pondering that, in a playoff full of well timed targets, it was solely a matter of when, not if, the Canucks would tie it after which discover a approach to win. That sentiment gave the impression to be shared by many New Yorkers. Their staff had gone 54 years with no title, and through stoppages in play within the remaining minute I noticed followers flip their backs to the sport, unable to look at, anticipating the worst. Earlier than the sport’s remaining faceoff, I even noticed two followers on their knees praying.

We exited after ending our dressing room interviews and shared an elevator with the long-time Rangers announcer Marv Albert, who was delighted. It was again to the Westwood One radio studios, adjoining to the Ed Sullivan Theatre from the place David Letterman did his present each night time, to attend for our 1 a.m. ET Sportstalk begin on CFMI. Whereas placing the ending touches to my intro and attempting to edit a few dressing room interviews, I began listening to via my headphones about unrest in downtown Vancouver. Once we hit the air minutes later, it had escalated to the purpose the place I discovered myself internet hosting riot protection that I may hear however not see.

Article content material

It was riveting, if not scary.

We had a staff of reporters, largely from CKNW, on the streets of Vancouver, but in addition our personal Brook Ward in addition to Stephen Snelgrove, who did a stay hit whereas being hit with tear fuel. Our riot protection lasted three hours, then we talked concerning the recreation for the subsequent 4 hours. We signed off at 8 a.m. ET and walked out of the darkish studio into a particularly vibrant, heat and muggy Manhattan morning. The very first thing I heard — so much like what’s depicted in lots of films — was a newspaper hawker shouting: “Further! Further! Rangers win the Cup … Rangers win the Cup … Learn all about it.”

I had been extremely targeted on riot and recreation protection in the course of the earlier seven Sportstalk hours, and now this was the primary time it actually hit me — particularly the boy in me who had hoped his whole life to see it — that the Canucks didn’t win the Cup. It was like I used to be in an emotional tape delay. Now I felt bummed out.

Article content material

Producer Scott Woodgate and I went again to our lodge, the Grand Hyatt, grabbed our baggage and headed straight to LaGuardia. Our first flight took us to Toronto. Then, whereas on the Air Canada connecting flight, we lastly noticed TV protection of the riot. After spearheading protection for hours, this was the primary time I’d really seen any footage. It was worse than I initially thought.

Sitting on my own behind the aircraft, I ought to have been capable of sleep, however I immediately grew to become emotional, practically overwhelmed, whereas reflecting on the physique of labor Woodgate and I had supplied via 4 magical playoff rounds. I took nice satisfaction realizing that we had turn out to be the most important gathering spot for Canucks followers on recreation nights and off nights. I cherished extending lots of our exhibits — together with seven hours after Recreation 7 — as a result of I knew your complete province was locked in on the Canucks and tuned in to Sportstalk. I’ve by no means felt such satisfaction earlier than or since. It was as if all the things I had accomplished — beginning once I grew to become hooked on radio as a younger boy — had come collectively to offer a worthy service loved by hockey followers round British Columbia.

Article content material

We fulfilled the operate radio is meant to — we linked.

Once I mirrored again to the shortage of Canucks protection in 1982, which was the impetus for Sportstalk, it practically introduced me to tears. As a result of, I reasoned, we had efficiently stuffed that obtrusive void with a program I had created from scratch.

Learn extra excerpts from Nice Good Night — A Memoir: My 30 Wild and Turbulent Years of Sportstalk:

• Excerpt 1: ‘Sportstalk, go forward’: Beginning a Vancouver radio speak present juggernaut
• Excerpt: 2: ‘Thanks for having me on, Dan’: Brian Burke as Sportstalk’s greatest visitor ever
• Excerpt 3: With ‘McKeachie-isms … you by no means know’: An expensive, maddening pal to Sportstalk
• Excerpt 4: ‘Critique so stinging, so biting, so good’: ‘The Pauser’ known as some photographs on air, and off, at Sportstalk
• Excerpt 5: ‘We linked’: Recalling Sportstalk’s night time in ’94 riven by Rangers and riots

For extra info, go to danrussellsportstalk.com.

Extra information, fewer advertisements, sooner load time: Get limitless, ad-lite entry to the Vancouver Solar, the Province, Nationwide Publish and 13 different Canadian information websites for simply $14/month or $140/yr. Subscribe now via the Vancouver Solar or The Province.