bob mccown

Twelve years ago the notion of replicating a radio-like interview was something aspirational to me. The idea that I could interview someone and have people listen in and ask questions radio-style seemed very cool. Not knowing what the hell I was doing, with literally no interview experience at all, I was fortunate enough to land Mattew Sekeres as a subject, and he agreed to be guest number one. At the time Sekeres was a sports reporter for the Globe and Mail out in Vancouver. Fast forward 12 years and he is now embarking on a massively important and foundational new career, launching a live streaming radio program sans radio, as for me, well I am in Seattle still learning how to interview people.

Sekeres has the unique distinction of being part of a radio station that was actually winning the local battle against the competition only to have the mothership pull the plug. TSN Radio Vancouver was beating the completion when Bell decided to change the format, giving up on sports talk in Vancouver, ceding the market to Rogers. Sekeres and his partner Price were the drive home show hosts and they are now moving into the digital era.

In this episode, Matt talks about getting the boot while winning, what the landscape may mean in a digital era when people return to work and how live content is still critical in this day and age. Jonah and Matt then discuss the changes that are coming in the rating world; what it means for advertisers when they have real, timely data to sell, and how listener engagement, specifically women will benefit.

Finally, the CFL is currently in a quiet period as their fans await what a partnership with the XFL will look like. Sekeres is a HUGE supporter of the league and he is having to consider the possibility that 3 down football could be dead in order for the league to survive in Canada.

Andrew Walker grew up in rural Saskatchewan before making his way to Calgary, where he joined Rogers-owned sports radio show. Several years later he was about to move to Vancouver to cross-streams and join the AM radio scene with Bell in Vancouver when Don Kollins came knocking. The Fan 590 in Toronto needed a new partner for incumbent Greg Brady and their morning drive show. Toronto scooped Walker out from Vancouver and off he went to the Fan 590 where he stayed for 4 years.

His stay in the morning slot was not all that long as Dean Blundell was brought in to host an all-new morning show with, Walker by his side. The move did not sit well with Andrew and as a result, despite a press release being issued naming him as Blundell's sidekick, Walker declined, and as a result, joined Brady in the slot once occupied by Tim and Sid.

Unlike Brady, Walker remained at The Fan after cuts were made until he was moved to his new home, Sportsnet 650 Vancouver where he helped launch the station, now co-hosting their afternoon drive show.

A Blue Jays fan with knowledge of all major sports, Andrew joins Jonah Sigel, talking about:

• His career, from Saskatchewan, through Calgary, Toronto, and now Vancouver
• Differences between Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver as sports markets
• Moving to Toronto and having to host alongside the person he was hired to replace
• The one rule at the Fan 590 about "the competition"
• How his partner broke said rule
• His reasons for not joining the Blundell Show
• Life along with Bob McCown
• A potential return to Toronto

Long-time media executive Don Kollins joins Jonah Sigel to discuss why all the job losses in media- especially sport media are counter-productive, why the pivot to the team and player-controlled stories are going to hurt the medium, and why radio as we know it is dead.

For over 45 years John Shannon has been involved in sports media. John has worked for the NHL, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and was Executive Producer of Hockey Night in Canada. John was a frequent guest on Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown as well as a co-host too. John knows the x's and o's of broadcast sports as well as the business side of things as well.

John and Jonah talk about the Academy Awards, Dave Hodge, Hockey Night in Canada, Don Cherry, the future of NHL broadcasting in Canada and the United States, Masai Ujiri and rumors he could be leaving the Toronto Raptors for New York and Bob McCown.

Long time sports reporter David Shoalts joins Jonah Sigel in the Pressrow. David talks about how he got started in media, covering the Arizona Coyotes trial, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the effect of the Rogers deal on the media landscape, Bill Houston, Bob McCown, his love of OverDrive, Don Cherry and his involvement in the David Frost saga.

David Shoalts started his career as journalist in 1979 continuing on until 2019. David has written about sports and hockey broadly, The Toronto Maple Leafs, the NHL, Media, the CFL and more. He was the first journalist to spend a significant amount of time covering the legal proceedings involving The Arizona Coyotes, Jim Balsilie. in close to 40 years on the beat David has seen it and reported on it all. If you are into sports media, you will Love this.

Enjoy!

One of the longest serving, active members of the press covering golf, Bob Weeks joins Jonah in the Pressrow. Bob Weeks reports on both golf and curling for. He was the editorial director of SCOREGolf magazine. He also served as host for SCOREGolf TV. Bob covered Curling for more than 25 years for the Globe and Mail .

Jonah and Bob talk about Kobe Bryant and golf and how it is that professional athletes in other sports also play golf. Bob also talks about the growth of the game from Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer to Tiger Woods and today. They talk about Bob McCown and Jeff O'Neil reputations as golf players and the growth of Top Golf in the world today. Finally they talk about the best tours to see and the best courses to play.