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You are here: Home / Archives for Vancouver Sun

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

And the gate goes on. PNE and the Lions satisfy football fans.

June 21, 2010 By Brian Wawryshyn

Readers of this blog will recall that Sunday was going to be a special day. It was the first fathers day without my dad, and I wanted to do a nice tribute to him by cooking his French Toast at the tailgate party on the site where he took me to my first professional sporting event.

I never got to do that because of the tailgate issues, and along with some of the food I had purchased, the idea went to waste.

I have to admit, that last night I was pretty down. What should have been a great day filled with great memories had a real damper put on it, and I wondered if I would ever bother to tailgate again. I didn’t blog last night because I wanted to do so of clear mind and I wanted to see what today would bring.

I have to say, I’m thrilled with what has transpired today.

I did a lot of media requests today. Global TV, The Bill Good Show, The Sun, The Province and 24 HOURS. I received a nice call from the BC Lions and was informed that President Dennis Skulsky personally spoke to the PNE. Then late this afternoon, I got the call from the same media outlets that claimed the PNE was going to allow the tailgates to proceed.

Our group has always been respectful, and tried to do things the proper way. We prove ourselves by our actions, and back up our promises. It’s the reason why we already have an open invitation to return to the lot given to us last season.

There are many people to thank here:

  • First to our regular group, that took yesterday’s news in stride. No one lost control, no one was disrespectful, and I think that was probably relayed in the discussion that took place today.
  • Then there was the media. Starting with Global’s Ted Field and ending with CKNW’s Jim Mullin. These two really got the ball rolling for us in the last 24 hours, Jim especially. Jim has been a regular visitor to the tailgates for years, and his football knowledge and experiences proved to be a valuable tool for our cause.
  • The BC Lions for quickly addressing the issue, and trying to work on our behalf. Arlene Stewart-Irvine took the time to personally call me and that was a nice gesture.
  • To the PNE for letting common sense prevail. I promise our group will not disappoint you, AND we will ensure people new to tailgating are educated on the culture.

If you’re new to tailgating, and are thinking of joining the fun there is a basic code you need to follow to ensure you and others around you have a good time. Here is the one we live by and will be promoting in the lot.

So…it’s “gate” on for July 10th and time to get back to enjoying all of this again, in a beautiful new place to watch a game! Unfortunately all this talk about the price of parking and the tailgate situation detracted from what was a great first game at Empire Field. The Lions have done an outstanding job and I can’t wait for the next one!

See you there!

[tweetmeme]

Filed Under: Den Talk, Featured, Tailgating Tagged With: BC Lions, CFL, Global TV, Jim Mullin, Tailgate Party, Vancouver Province, Vancouver Sun

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