What you are about to watch was the very start of a three year series of shows that ran on Cable 9 TV. The first two years were taped at the 405 Ogilvy Avenue studio that was the home of CFCF-12 (later CTV Montreal) and, for the longest time, CFCF Radio 600 (before it became CIQC and moved to McGill College and then to Gordon Avenue in Verdun).
Mitch Garber all but hounded me into doing this. Unlike most people in my position, I had very little interest in working in television. I had plenty of friends who worked in TV and there were always some higher ups in the building who wanted me to do a lot more than an occasional guest shot and/or the odd reporting gig I did for their Saturday evening hockey show that I think was originally called Dick Irvin’s Hockey World (eventually Rob Faulds hosted).
I know there were a couple of important producers on site who felt I was ungrateful for the on camera opportunities I was given but that was not the case. I just wasn’t interested in working in television. I was a radio guy who simply did not possess a burning ambition or desire to leave it or to “advance my career” in any way through television. And I don’t regret it for a second.
So I had gotten to know Garber by then. I loved his energy. He clearly had a higher calling and the ambition to match it. But in 1993 I was a relatively new dad – and loving every second of it – with a busy enough work schedule. But Garber was relentless. And promised that it wouldn’t take more than a morning or two per month (we taped three shows at a time). When he was able to convince me that we’d actually be able to generate a little money (and some cool jackets) I agreed to co-host.
Lining up guests was easy. Some of you have already watched the show with Red Fisher. I don’t know if Red would have come on if he did not have a book to sell (he never agreed to join me went I went more mainstream in the late 90s as host of The Habs This Week, suggesting there were some lingering issues he had with a couple of the TV people) but the two Mitch’s and Red made for a good threesome. I only wish I had saved some email exchanges from back in the day.
Among the guests that we’ll share from upcoming shows are Steve Shutt, Pete Mahovlich, DeLino DeShields and Marquis Grissom, Henri Richard and so many others plus almost every radio host and newspaper guy in the city. You’ve been warned. Time will spare nobody (except maybe Terry Haig who looks the same).
Dan Duquette was 35 years old when he stepped into the studio with us prior to the start of the 1993 MLB season. He had just been named Baseball’s Executive of the Year by The Sporting News (he’d win it again 12 years later with the Orioles). He had joined the Expos as Director of Player Development in 1987, before replacing Dave Dombrowski as Vice President and GM when Dombrowski jumped to the expansion Marlins in 1991.
After a rough start to the 1992 season (manager Tom Runnels was fired after 37 games with a record of 17-20) the Expos showed a lot of promise once Felipe Alou took over as manager. Duquette had named Felipe “interim” manager, with the belief that bench coach Kevin Kennedy would eventually take the job. But after going 70-55 under Felipe to finish the season with 87 wins, second in the NL East to the Barry Bonds-led Pirates, the interim tag was lost for good.
The ’92 Expos already had DeShields, Grissom, Larry Walker, Moises Alou, Darren Fletcher and a 20 year old Wil Cordero who was about to bump Spike Owen out of the starting job at shortstop. Ken Hill, John Wetteland (stolen by Duquette as part of a 3-way deal with the Dodgers and Reds. It cost the Expos Willie Greene, Dave Martinez and Scott Ruskin), Mel Rojas and Jeff Fassero were already key members of the pitching staff.
That’s the backdrop.
Garber, clearly flashing a keen business mind, already seemed very concerned about Duquette’s ability to keep the young team together. It’s a fascinating conversation to listen to, even 26 years after the fact.
I hope you enjoy it. I think the cool Starter jackets showed up for the second series of tapings.
Once again, from the late winter of 1993, here is the inaugural Sports Hot Seat TV show.
