January 19, 2008 THE CANADIAN PRESS WINNIPEG – Don Wittman, whose smooth baritone voice called some of Canada's most signifiant sports, has died of cancer. He was 71.
For more than 40 years, Wittman was a familiar face on CBC television. He did the play-by-play for Grey Cups and Stanley Cups, plus covered curling, golf and track and field. He was a fixture at both summer and winter Olympics.
"He is truly a first-generation television sports legend. He's one of the pioneers of our industry," Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports, said in January.
"He has done almost everything and done it all well."
It was Wittman who called Ben Johnson's steroid-fuelled 100-metre victory at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and he was on hand when Donovan Bailey sprinted to gold in the same event in 1996 at Atlanta.
He saw Wayne Gretzky win Stanley Cups and was in Czechoslovakia in 1987 for the Canada-USSR brawl at the world junior hockey championships.
During the 1972 Olympics in Munich he stood on a balcony and looked into the masked face of one of the terrorists who kidnapped nine Israeli athletes.
"It was then the reality of it really struck me," Wittman said in a 1984 interview about the incident. "Here was this man with a hood over his face standing there."
Born in Herbert, Sask., Wittman got his start as a news reporter with CFQC radio in Saskatoon in 1955. He also worked for CJNB radio in North Battleford. He was only 24 when he joined CBC Winnipeg on New Year's Day 1961.
During his career, Wittman won two ACTRA awards and in 2002 was named Broadcaster of the Year by Sports Media Canada. He also was a member of the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame, the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame and Manitoba's provincial sports hall of fame.
"He is the voice of football in Canada in my mind," said Moore, who grew up in Montreal watching Wittman call Alouettes games.
The respect held for Wittman was evident at a ceremony in January, when he was inducted into the CBC Sports Hall of Fame. The guest list was a who's-who of the sports world. Hockey Night In Canada's Ron McLean, Winnipeg Blue Bombers general manager Lyle Bauer and New York Rangers GM Glen Sather were among those on hand. Wayne Gretzky and others sent video tributes.
Wittman was choked with emotion, saying he was humbled by the tributes.
Wittman is survived by his wife July, two daughters and a son.
Don Wittman will be sorely missed. His versatility and professionalism were easily equaled by his talent and passion for sport.
I have many fond memories of Don Wittman, most especially his call of Donovan Bailey's 100 metre gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics. And of course, as a Canucks fan, who can forget his Pavel Bure OT winner against the Flames?! He was one of CBC's best and brightest.
Sad to hear the news. I remember when he use to call out the Lotto 649 draw each Wednesday. Cancer I hope can be curable one day. When your number is up go in peace.
Who was doing play by play on CBC Hockey Night In Canada tonight Vancouver Game?
William Houston's story on The Globe & Mail website has unique elements that should be repeated here. posted January 19, 2008 at 12:45 PM EST
To appreciate the range and ability of sports broadcaster Don Wittman, who died Saturday morning of cancer, you need to look no further than his role as a reporter for the CBC at the Munich Olympic hostage tragedy in 1972.
Wittman, who was at the Games to call the sporting events, snuck into the athletes' village along with producer Bob Moir — they both posed as team doctors - and reported live for to the television audience in Canada.
In addition to his versatility, Wittman, 71, was remembered today as enormously skilled at his job and personally courageous. On Saturday night, Hockey Night In Canada dedicated its telecast to him.
His former curling broadcast partner and friend for 40 years, Don Duguid, said Wittman showed enormous bravery when he learned in September that he had lymphoma.
In the early stages of the illness, he continued to work. His last assignment Oct. 13, when he called an Ottawa Senators-New York Rangers game.
Duguid, who lives in Winnipeg, drove Wittman to the hospital for treatments. The cancer quickly spread to his lungs, liver and brain.
"I could see him sliding every day," Duguid said. "It was a terrible thing to see."
Before Christmas, Wittman chose to be admitted to hospital rather than stay at home.
"He didn't want to be a burden to his family during the Christmas season," Duguid said. "He was a very thoughtful man and very courageous man."
On Jan. 8, the CBC arranged a retirement luncheon in Winnipeg, during which Wittman was also inducted into the CBC Sports Hall of Fame. He was in poor condition and Duguid told him he didn't have to attend.
"I said, 'You know Don, it you don't feel like going, you don't need to go. They can make a tape of it and bring the tapes here.'
"He said, 'No, a lot of people are coming from all over. I'll go.' He was in a wheelchair and he was a trooper through the whole thing."
Those in attendance at the luncheon included Peter Mansbridge, the anchor of the CBC's National, New York Ranger president Glen Sather and St. Louis Blues president John Davidson, a former broadcast partner of Wittman.
Scott Moore, the head of CBC Sports, today described Wittman as a pioneer in TV sports. His career in broadcasting started in radio in 1955 when he was 18. He joined the CBC in 1961.
"I grew up listening to Don as did many Canadian sports fans," Moore said. "He was the voice of football to me, as well as curling. But as good as he was at those sports, he and [analyst] Geoff Gowan were the best ever at track and field. His talent is irreplaceable at CBC Sports."
"He was a world class broadcaster," Davidson said. "For four decades he was at the top of his field in curling, in track and field, in the CFL and NHL and Olympics. I don't know anybody else in any country who has done that."
With Davidson, Wittman called the famous NHL battles of Alberta in the 1980s between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. He was involved in the CBC's curling telecasts for 35 years, first as a host and then as the play caller.
The only hint of controversy in his career occurred in 1996 when the CBC removed him as play by play voice of Grey Cup. He was later taken off the network's CFL telecasts entirely. The move was made because the CBC wanted to bring in younger broadcasters. Wittman, known for years at the pre-eminent football voice in Canada, was deeply hurt, but didn't complain.
"In an ego-driven business, this guy had no ego," said John Shannon, the head of broadcasting for the NHL who worked with Wittman at the CBC's Hockey Night In Canada in the 1980s and 1990s. "He was a veteran who called a multitude of Grey Cups and multitude of Olympics.
"In the early 1980s us kids were walking around thinking we knew everything about the game of hockey. We were the young guns of Hockey Night in Canada. And this guy was a friend to us. There was never an angry word. He was the consummate professional."
Duguid said Wittman loved to work. In 2001, he underwent two operations to have a melanoma removed from an ear, but he didn't miss an assignment.
"He loved his job and his career with the CBC," Duguid said. "He had chances to go to other places. NBC courted him for a while, but he loved working at CBC."
Duguid said one of Wittman's strengths was his memory.
"He could recall events," he said. "Some use cue cards or a monitor. Not him. He never missed a name. He had a photography memory and a big powerful voice.
"And he was great person. He had tremendous integrity. He was a really good family man, loved his wife and children."
He's one of those voices that will always stand out in Canadian sports. Foster Hewitt and Danny Gallivan would be two others. Thanks Don for all the great sports memories.
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