‘Critique so stinging, so biting, so good’: ‘The Pauser’ known as some pictures on air, and off, at Sportstalk

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 a long time. Right here is an excerpt:

Article content material

One present, one host, 30 years. Longevity made attainable due to viewers loyalty. A minimum of one full era of Vancouver sports activities followers grew up with our present.

Article content material

It nonetheless surprises me how typically my voice is acknowledged whereas procuring, at a financial institution or simply out and about with my household. It’s occurred sufficient to make me surprise how actual celebrities deal with continually being recognized. By nature, I’m typically shy, extra nervous talking in entrance of a room of fifty than I used to be speaking to twenty,000 folks on radio or on tv with a minimum of 10 occasions extra. Most individuals who cease me are typically type. If feminine, the listener invariably takes nice delight to inform me, as if she was the one one who had considered this, “I am going to mattress with you each evening.”

Article content material

Others will say: “I take heed to your present each evening, however have by no means known as.”

Nonetheless others ask: “How do you set up with among the callers?”

Like an orchestra conductor, I’d prefer to assume that dealing with calls, dancing by way of our telephone board, altering the tempo, assessing how a lot time a caller ought to be afforded and the way a lot rope others ought to get, providing point-counterpoint, generally debating, from time to time providing empathy, and generally laughing had been Sportstalk strengths.

This brings us to “The Pauser” (Paul Lafleur), a Sportstalk creation who, with out debate, is the preferred caller within the historical past of Vancouver discuss radio. He and I made nice radio collectively, each instinctively figuring out our roles. The Pauser was the shit disturber and I used to be the pawn grasp. He was so common that even Don Taylor, who had briefly taken over my CKNW time slot, as soon as invited The Pauser as a visitor and requested him how he acquired his nickname.

Article content material

Article content material

“I used to name in when the present first began,” he answered. “Once I first got here on, Dan was completely again on his heels. My critique of the Canucks’ administration was so stinging, so biting and so good that Dan wasn’t positive if he ought to let me go on as a result of he knew he’d must reply to (Pat) Quinn and firm. So he would rush me. And the extra he rushed me, the extra useless air I gave him.”

That was just about it, aside from the Quinn half.

However his pacing was extra good than many seasoned broadcasters. He would communicate quickly, decelerate, construct up once more, then abruptly jam on the brakes simply as his sentence was about to finish. I keep in mind lastly saying to him, “Give up pausing. You’re nothing however a pauser.”

And it caught.

Most individuals assume he drove me loopy. Generally he would, however I principally used him to drive the rankings. I might even promo that The Pauser was on maintain. Who else does that? Who promos an precise caller, then holds the viewers for as much as 20 minutes earlier than placing him on? I used to listen to from listeners who mentioned they sat of their driveways ready to listen to him whereas questioning what their neighbours thought of a lone occupant sitting in the dead of night of their automotive.

Article content material

As soon as on, Lafleur might entertain, worsen or each. He was at all times ready, full of what he thought had been cutting-edge concepts and opinions. Deep down, as a Vancouverite, he wished the Canucks to do properly however provided that they did issues his approach.

Lafleur additionally menacingly started exhibiting up on the Canucks’ coaching camp websites from which we had been broadcasting. One evening in Parksville after the gamers had returned from a pre-season sport down the street in Cowichan, just a few of them started heading as much as their rooms. However earlier than the elevator might shut, The Pauser caught his hand into the opening, inflicting the doorways to reopen. That allowed him to say to future Canucks basic supervisor Jim Benning, loud sufficient for your entire foyer to listen to, “You’re a fringe participant.”

Article content material

Not a foul participant. Fringe!

Whereas coaching at Victoria’s Memorial Area, The Pauser cornered Quinn in one of many nooks and crannies close to the dressing room and began telling the Canucks’ super-boss the best way to run his group. I watched that change carefully, not fully sure Quinn wasn’t going to drill him.

Later that very same evening we tried to not permit the disruptive LaFleur wherever close to our dwell broadcast location within the foyer of Harbour Towers. Unable to disrupt from inside, The Pauser jockeyed his approach right into a small backyard exterior the window proper beside our distant setup.  After loudly knocking on the glass to get our consideration, he then rotated, dropped his pants and, with cheeks touching the window, confirmed us a full “Pauser” moon.

Article content material

The Pauser argued, berated and agitated higher than anybody, whereas mixing in self-deprecating humour. I’d prefer to assume I introduced out the very best in him, however perhaps it was the other.

The Pauser additionally took nice enjoyment of bragging to our listeners about how Sportstalk made him a star and that he typically ate free of charge at sure east-side eating places as a result of the homeowners cherished him.

After he died at 60 in 2009, his Vancouver Solar obit included: “Often called ‘The Pauser,’ Paul may also be remembered by many aged pals and hockey followers. Sportstalk won’t ever be the identical. All the time entertaining, informative and a pleasure to listen to. Who’s going to maintain Brian Burke, the Canucks and Dan Russell in line now?”

The reply was: nobody. A minimum of, by no means in the identical approach.

Article content material

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 discuss present juggernaut
• Excerpt: 2: ‘Thanks for having me on, Dan’: Brian Burke as Sportstalk’s finest visitor ever
• Excerpt 3: With ‘McKeachie-isms … you by no means know’: A pricey, maddening buddy to Sportstalk
• Excerpt 4: ‘Critique so stinging, so biting, so good’: ‘The Pauser’ known as some pictures on air, and off, at Sportstalk
• Excerpt 5: ‘We linked’: Recalling Sportstalk’s evening in ’94 riven by Rangers and riots

For extra info, go to danrussellsportstalk.com.

Extra information, fewer adverts, 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 by way of the Vancouver Solar or The Province.