32 Niagara IceDog Broadcasts on YourTV Niagara/CHL TV
15 McMaster University volleyball and basketball doubleheader broadcasts for OUA.TV
7 McMaster Football Broadcasts for 900 CHML Hamilton
3 OUA playoff games for oua.tv and cbcsports.ca
5 U Sports volleyball games for cbc.sports.ca
When you total it up it was a total of 60 broadcast days and 77 games or matches that I called. There were doubleheaders in the same venue, doubleheaders in two different venues, traffic jams, accidents (non caused or in), speeding (guilty), blowout games, overtime games, games that were called well by me, and games that were, well, called by me. There were new friends and new colour commentators and the solidifying of old friendships. The common thread in all of this was the fact that for 63 days and 77 matches or games, I had a microphone or headset on and wherever I sat or stood was the best seat or vantage point in the house. You do it for the pay cheque for sure, but the main reason is watching some talented, elite athletes excel at their sport and their passion. If they are doing that, I try to bring that same energy.
The things is at age 51, I did not think I'd still be doing this. In my other job I'm 6-10 years away from retiring, depending on the day, the financial outlook or how I feel about the school system. In broadcasting however, I think about stepping away, or more concisely, stepping back and reducing my workload just about every year. That might happen as family considerations are always topmost and life gets busier. I could also choose to walk away, or the people I broadcast for are always subject to budgets and maybe the guy calling the games is the first cut. We all know where legacy media is going, but I still feel there's room for live sports on any medium, be it radio, online or just regular old cable television. Those are the things out of my control. They are also a topic that is worth a whole other commentary.
All I know is that while the years pile up, and the industry gets younger, my voice is strong, and I'm at the top of or close to the top of my game. However, I'm not convinced the networks are looking my way. In fact I'm not at Lloyd Christmas' "so you're saying there's a chance?" territory yet but I do know youth, demographics and cost certainty are driving factors for networks and teams are giving radio a long look and ascertaining what its role will be going forward. For me, a man with a family, in his early 50's with all the financial burdens that come with it, it has to be a pretty specific opportunity as well.
That said TSN is covering the OHL, QMJHL and WHL Finals in their entirety and then the Memorial Cup. Hello? Broadcaster with 16 years OHL experience, two years AHL experience, and World Junior games on my resume. I think, no, I know that I could do a good job, and represent the league and product well.
If The Rock, who is the same age as me and roughly in just about as well conditioned, can come back and headline Wrestlemania and be at the top of this game, then surely someone just as iconic like me can say "Finally, Clark has come back to TSN!". Think about it, but not for too long because you'll realize that The Rock is also arguably the biggest movie star in the world, and I'm the third most talented member of my three person family. In all seriousness, it's a long shot consideration. They likely already have their person (by the way I can't stand that word on the Bachelor: "I'm looking for my person" Yuck!), but if not........I'll let the rest hang, if you smell what I'm coookin'
Steve Clark- 16 year hockey broadcaster on TV (OHL/AHL/Hockey Canada), and a host of other sports as well as a founding member of the Four Horseman
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