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An Eskimos-Roughriders game was delayed 59 minutes due to poor weather. Once play resumed, Saskatchewan rallied to win 39-32. - @robvanstone Leader Post, Aug. 20, 2007
For the 1st time ever, the behind-the-scenes, story of that dramatic night.... 1/11
For the 1st time ever, the behind-the-scenes, story of that dramatic night.... 1/11
I was working at CBC Saskatchewan then, when CBC had broadcast rights to @CFL. It was a hot, muggy one with a bleak forecast. Typical Rider game night forecast. But this storm actually did happen and caused the game to be delayed an hour.... 2/11
In the production truck, a talented CBC TV technical team sat by waiting for the game to resume along with the broadcast. In Toronto master control, they had been ordered to fill with a movie chosen earlier for this purpose (movie long forgotten.) ...3/11
The storm passed, the lights came back on at the darkened Taylor Field. I was sitting in my Regina home listening to the CKRM980 radio broadcast. Now, at the time I was in charge of CBC Sask radio, TV and web. ...4/11
The excellent CKRM @RodPedersenShow was telling the province that kickoff was approaching. Meanwhile, on CBC TV, the movie droned on. I sensed disaster looming. I knew if the movie stayed on once the game resumed, all hell would break loose. ...5/11
You don't do that in Rider Nation, or anywhere else in this league. I was breaking into a sweat, praying that @CCpxpSN would pop up on the screen. He didn't. I dug up a number for Toronto MCR. After what seemed an eternity someone answered. ...6/11
I asked if he saw the output of the production truck in Regina.
Toronto: "Yes. But I was told to run a movie."
Me: "The game is about to resume."
Toronto: "The movie is half over, gotta stick with it."
Sweat is now pouring down my brow. ...7/11
Toronto: "Yes. But I was told to run a movie."
Me: "The game is about to resume."
Toronto: "The movie is half over, gotta stick with it."
Sweat is now pouring down my brow. ...7/11
With radio announcers telling me kickoff is two minutes away, I did my own version of a Hail Mary.
"I am a regional director and I am telling you to put that game on in Saskatchewan."
Toronto: "Is this an order?"
"Yes."
"Ok, fine." ...8/11
"I am a regional director and I am telling you to put that game on in Saskatchewan."
Toronto: "Is this an order?"
"Yes."
"Ok, fine." ...8/11
Seconds later the football feed popped back up on the screen, just as the kickoff took place. The broadcast didn't miss a single play.
I fully thought I would get a tongue lashing, or worse, from head office for overstepping my authority. Crickets.
...9/11
I fully thought I would get a tongue lashing, or worse, from head office for overstepping my authority. Crickets.
...9/11
But I forgot one thing. In my near panic I forgot to order the same broadcast for the Edmonton area. Oops. There the phone lines lit up with fans furious that CBC had aired a lame movie over a classic western rivalry on a most dramatic of nights
.... 10/11
.... 10/11
In the @CFL not all the excitement happens on the field. 11/11
And no one in @RiderNationCFL was any the wiser.
