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You are here: Home / Archives for Mike Beamish

Another Media Loss For BC Lions Fans

April 21, 2017 By Brian Wawryshyn

Growing up as a young sports fan, there was no internet, no cell phones, many games weren’t even televised. Every morning for years my dad would fetch the Vancouver Sun from our front door, and he would take out the sports section for me. It was a must do ritual, as I couldn’t get enough of the articles about the BC Lions, the Canucks and the Whitecaps.

Sports writers are storytellers and conduits of information for sports fans across the province, and I often dreamed of doing the same for a living one day, though I never followed that dream.

Within the last two years, Vancouver and the province of British Columbia have lost two of the best and two men who provided BC Lions fans with the most reliable, professional and in-depth coverage of the team.

Mike Beamish
Mike Beamish

First, it was Lowell Ullrich of The Province, and today Vancouver Sun writer Mike Beamish announced he was retiring after 43 years on the job, many of those covering the Lions. Thankfully others have brought Lowell aboard so we can continue to enjoy his work.

Hired: Nov. 27, 1974. Retired: April 21, 2017. After 5 decades of sports writing, my @VancouverSun career ends. Farewell faithful readers.

— Mike Beamish (@sixbeamers) April 21, 2017

Shoutout to @Sixbeamers at end of #CFHOF career, impossibly difficult to write against for yrs. Sadly, VcrSun Sports demolition all but done

— Lowell Ullrich (@FifthQtr) April 21, 2017

The industry has claimed another victim, but maybe Mike was ready to go anyway. He’s worked hard and has earned a relaxing retirement, but what’s happened in the newspaper industry is a shame. The talented journalists who have brought us up with their stories are being forced out, skeletal staff remain and we the readers are the worse for it.

Social media has created a whole new world of competition for the papers, radio stations and television stations. Everyone has a camera, everyone has access to information as it happens, or thinks they do anyway. What do we need newspapers for?

Well for one, we need the talent that these writers possess. We need the diligence that they do their jobs with to ensure that a story is correct. Journalists are the ones that hold people accountable, and report the news has it should be by getting it right the first time.

I’ve always enjoyed talking about sports and particularly took a liking to the CFL and the BC Lions. Writers like Lowell Ullrich and Mike Beamish were part of that, as I’m sure they have been for many, many others.

I started this blog because of that dream I talked about earlier and because I felt there just wasn’t enough Lions coverage in a Canucks crazy market. I had the pleasure to deal with both Lowell and Mike over the years and they treated me with nothing but respect. They were always accommodating to me as a blogger and a podcaster, even allowing me to bounce a few fact-checking questions of my own off them from time to time.

However the media rebrands and reinvents itself, it’s important that we support it. Journalism is an important part of our society, and we should never, ever let it die. Lions fans have lost two hall of fame worthy writers in the last two years. They won’t be easily replaced.

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Featured, Lions Notebook Tagged With: BC Lions, CFL, Lowell Ullrich, Mike Beamish, The Province, Vancouver Sun

The BC Lions Den Pawdcast – Episode 51

June 4, 2015 By Brian Wawryshyn

steward_400x489Episode 51 finds the BC Lions training camp is in full swing and Brian and Mojo check in with Mike Beamish of the Vancouver Sun as well as Lions radio colour man Giulio Caravatta who are both in Kamloops. We discuss the latest rash of injuries surrounding the Lions including tackle Hunter Steward who is once again on the shelf, re-injuring the same foot he hurt last season.

Follow our guests on Twitter:

Mike Beamish: @sixbeamers

Giulio Caravatta: @caravatta2

This show was recorded on June 2nd, 2015.

Subscribe to the BC Lions Den Pawdcast on iTunes.

Filed Under: BC Lions Den, Featured Tagged With: Andrew Harris, BC Lions, BC Lions Den, Brian Wawryshyn, CFL, Giulio Caravatta, Hunter Steward, Jeff Tedford, Mike Beamish, Mojo Kemp, Podcast, Training Camp, Travis Lulay

The BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast – Episode 40

October 2, 2014 By Brian Wawryshyn

pawdcast-featured_ep40In our 40th Episode we look back at a 14-7 loss to the Calgary Stampeders and the loss of star running back Andrew Harris, who has been the heart and soul of the BC Lions defence. Vancouver Sun BC Lions beat writer Mike Beamish joins us for Lions and CFL discussion.

To stay up to date with our podcasts, blogs and other Lions news, follow us on Twitter @BCLionsDen Please leave us a comment on the site and let us know how we’re doing. You can also leave us a ranking and a review on iTunes, we would really appreciate it!

You can follow our guest on Twitter: Mike Beamish, @SixBeamers.


Listen and Subscribe on iTunes

Filed Under: 2014, 2014 Game Recaps, BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast, CFL/League, Den Talk, Featured, Game Recaps, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: Andrew Harris, BC Lions, Brian Wawryshyn, Calgary Stampeders, CFL, Hamilton Tiger Cats, Keola Antolin, Mike Beamish, Mojo Kemp, Podcast, Stefan Logan

Den Talk – Foley Gone, Braley, Argos And More

February 8, 2010 By Brian Wawryshyn

The last football game for the season was played on Sunday, and kudos to the Colts and Saints for putting on a great show in the Super Bowl. Canadian fans now count the days, as the next meaningful game for fans of professional football will be played North of the 49th when the CFL gets going in July 1st.

Bye Bye Foley

Of course there is free agency fast approaching, and one player the Lions won’t have worry about signing is Ricky Foley. In a recent Vancouver Sun article, Mike Beamish reports that Foley is on the verge of signing a deal in the NFL.

VANCOUVER — Ricky Foley flew in Monday from San Diego — and, boy, are his arms tired.

The joke may be lame, but apparently Foley’s chances of signing with a National Football League team are not.

Paul Sheehy, the representative for the B.C. Lions rush end, is confident that Foley will be offered an NFL contract by the end of this week.

“There are three situations which are ideal,” Sheehy says. “It comes down to meshing opportunity for playing time and an opportunity to make an impact weighed against the contract opportunity. It’s a matter of doing what we think is right and not just going for the maximum dollars.”

Foley is scheduled to work out with the Seattle Seahawks Tuesday following a session with the San Diego Chargers today.

The CFL’s most outstanding Canadian in 2009 was at the training facilities of the New York Jets, St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles last week.

“He’ll be in the NFL this year,” Sheehy says. “We’re closing in on a couple of things … and we should have it wrapped up by the end of the week.”

This is a big blow for the Lions, who for the second straight season lose their top pass rusher, and a Canadian starter. CFL free agency season is getting less and less exciting. By the time free agency opens most of top talent has signed an NFL deal. Recruiting and free agent camps are going to become more and more important as more players are taking a chance to try their luck down south.

Braley/Argos Deal All But Done

Several news sources are reporting that Davis Braley’s purchase of the Argos is all but done and I’m not really sure how I feel about this. I am a big David Braley supporter, and I am not sure the Lions would be around today if it wasn’t for him. I know there is no league bylaw against it, but I’m still not sure it’s “right’. That said, David Braley loves this league, and has put his money on the line several times to help keep it alive. With this purchase, it’s pretty likely the Lions will come up for sale sooner rather than later. Braley has indicated he’ll only sell the team to local owners who have a passion for the game and the CFL. I hope that proves to be the case when the time comes, and that while he owns both he keeps them separate. Are any other Lions fans a little nervous that Wally Buono hasn’t signed an extension? Just sayin…

Orange Helmet Awards

The BC Lions are once again pleased to present the Orange Helmet Awards Dinner. It will be the seventh annual event, and will feature Darren Flutie who will emcee the event and his brother Doug who will be the keynote speaker. The awards were the brainchild of the late Bob Ackles, who’s commitment to minor league football was strong. The event goes Friday, April 9th at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

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Filed Under: Den Talk, News Tagged With: Bob Ackles, Darren Flutie, Doug Flutie, Mike Beamish, Orange Helmet Awards, Ricky Foley

Ebell signed, Johnson gone, Wally on the Hunt, tackle added

July 5, 2009 By Brian Wawryshyn

Wally Buono has begun to address injuries and deficiencies arising from Friday’s loss in Saskatchewan. The club has finalized a deal with running back Tyler Ebell, who should be on the field when practice resumes on Monday.

The Lions have also signed a new offensive tackle, Daren Heerspink, out of Bellingham, Wash. The 6’6′ 315 Heerspink was recently waived by the St, Louis Rams. Heerspink also spent time on the practice roster of the Miami Dolphins. It’s unlikely he’ll see any action this week, but he does provide a backup tackle for the Lions, which they lacked heading into the season.

Lowell Ullrich has more information on both of these developments on his blog, and also sheds some light on the injury status of both Ian Smart and Emmanuel Arceneaux.

Buono is also reassessing the linebacker situation after Jamall Johnson decided Hamilton was a better fit for his career and signed with the Ticats. He met with CFL veteran Reggie Hunt in Regina, but told Mike Beamish of the Vancouver Sun it was more of a courtesy meeting at this point, and that bringing in another linebacker was not necessarily as given.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Daren Heerspink, Emmanuel Arceneaux, Ian Smart, Lowell Ullrich, Mike Beamish, Reggie Hunt, Wally Buono

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