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CBC broadcaster Don Wittman dies

WILLIAM HOUSTON

Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:47 AM EST 21/01/08

Wittman, a familiar face on CBC television for more than 40 years, died of cancer Saturday at age 71, William Houston writes
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  1. Dogen . from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Baritone? Don was never known for a deep voice. A good solid tenor, perhaps, who would get up in the soprano range when he got excited, though not as squealy as Chris Cuthbert.
  2. Steve Arniotis from Montreal, writes: After the Annis Stukis and Johnny Esaw tandem, Don Wittman was the best play-by-play commentator for CFL football on television. He had a great voice for describing the play as well as a wonderful sense of humour that amused one and all. He will be missed. My condolences to Witt's family. We've lost a good one.
  3. B G from Canada writes: His call of Simon Whitfield's gold medal sprint in Sydney still gives me chills when i think of it.
  4. Ricky for a Centrist Canada from Canada writes:
    A Canadian legend has left us.

    Don Wittman was a professional in every sense of the word, and one of the nicest folks ever to don a microphone in any country, in any sport.

    Rest in pace, Witt.
  5. boo bear from saint john, Canada writes: one of the best.
  6. Ian Gunn from Minneapolis, United States writes: Thank you Don for entertaining my family for years. Mr Wittman was one of the good ones. Thank you sir. Rest in Peace.
  7. Esker Doon from Montreal, Canada writes: RIP Don.
  8. don key from calgary, Canada writes: One of the very best broadcasters this country has had, we will all miss him very much! My best wishes to the family and his many close friends.
    CBC will never replace him!
  9. Geof Wyght from Cincinnati, United States writes: Part of my past. A great one.
  10. P McLean from Canada writes: Dogen, you're seriously going to quibble about whether he was a baritone or not?

    RIP, sir. You will be missed.
  11. Travlaki Souvlaki from Vancouver, Canada writes: Very sad. He was a consummate professional. I always wondered how he could be so knowledgeable about so many sports, that he could call CFL, NHL, skiing, curling and on and on. Whenever a big game was on, if Don was on the crew you knew he would enhance the game rather than interfere with it. He knew when to say something and when to just let the crowd noise do it for him.

    This is a great loss for Canadian sports fans.
  12. Clark The Mighty from Canada writes: RIP

    Truly he represented the Best the CBC could ever be.

    His inspired calling, especially during the 84 Olympic swimming contests, displayed a wonderous 'this is a big event, I'm Canada's man calling it' vibe.

    Great loss for all sports fans and those who appreciate great broadcasting!
  13. Derek Holtom from Swan River, Canada writes: sad news indeed. he was a long bright spot at the cbc. he was a homer, and loved to mention winnipeg every chance he got, but that was part of his charm
  14. HC Bargs from Canada writes: He will be greatly missed. I'll never forget the call he made at the Olympics when Donovan Bailey won gold. Still gives me chills. He was a Canadian icon. All best to his friends and family.
  15. Carl Baldin from Canada writes: Try watching a Monday Night Football game. Bla bla bla....horrible announcers.

    Don Wittman was truly Canadian - modest, never tried to make it his show, and quite a humble person. There are a few of his likes left, however, I hope that he stands as a mentor for the young bucks rather than that 'wanna be American on steroids' announcer for TSN.....Pierre McGuire - what a fool.
  16. The Habs from Toronto, Canada writes: Condolences. The tribute they showed on HNIC recently must have been a great way to say good bye for him. Some great work on hockey through the years. He helped a lot of people @ CBC.

    Shame so many pass from cancer. Cure or finding out the root cause; when will we find this ?
  17. Bill G from Calgary, Canada writes: RIP, Mr. Wittman. You were and are a part of our cultural fabric.
  18. Alyssa Watson from Canada writes: RIP Mr Wittman. A true Canadian.
  19. Dennis O'Keefe from saskatoon, Canada writes: He will be missed. The combo of Wittman, Frank Rigney & Ernie Afaganis was the best ever for broadcasting football games. Johnny Esaw!!!
  20. sidney Goldberg from Vancouver, writes: Growing up in Winnipeg my favorite memories include Johnny Esaw on CKRC and Catus Jack Wells on CKY covering the Winnipeg Blue Bomber games play by play. Don Wittman was a that rare broadcaster who knew how to cover sports play by play with energy, knowlege and excitement, while letting the game itself be unforgetable. Unfortunate for all of us that the era of the two Don's on this side of the border along with Ray Scott and Pat Summerall is over and people like Mike and Tony, Al and John sometimes forget they are doing a game at all. May you rest in peace and know that you provided the leadership and heritage to many people going into broadcasting on how to do it with class. Sydney Joel Goldberg
  21. K Anderson from Nova Scotia, Canada writes: A sad day for Canadian sports and Canada as a whole. RIP Don. We shall miss you.
  22. M. Perry from Canada writes: The curling tournaments will be starting soon with a missing spirit and voice in the announcers' booth. RIP Don !
  23. warren standerwick from North Vancouver, Canada writes: When I think about it, I believe he was the greatest sports announcer ever, on either side of the border. Nobody had the range- from curling, to track and field, to football, to hockey, etc. His voice was distinctive, but his broadcasting was never about him- it was about the athletes and events he was reporting on.

    I find that in the last few years I am often hitting the mute button when I watch sporting events because the announcers make such inane comments and seem to think the event is all about them and what they have to say.

  24. Flames Forever from Canada writes: Don Wittman did broadcast international events as a true porofessional and should be remembered for it but I always felt he was a bit of a homer when broadcasting CFL games involving the Blue Bombers.
  25. Terry Johnson from Canada writes: Like many so many Canadian personalities, Don Wittman was probably taken for granted. It just seemed his voice was always there - football, hockey, curling, Olympics. I had more than one tear as I reflected on some of the events he broadcast and then realized I would never hear his voice again. Where have you gone, Don Wittman? A true understated professional.
  26. Karen Johnson from Edmonton, Canada writes: He was a good guy and a great broadcaster. Part of our heritage left us today. He will be missed. Rest in peace sir.
  27. Frank Black from Vancouver, Canada writes: CBC broadcaster Don Wittman dies

    So ?
  28. Frank Black from Vancouver, Canada writes: We all gotta go sometime eh!
  29. Frank Black from Vancouver, Canada writes: He should have lived and CBC should have died...
  30. Gill Bates from Wroxton SK, Canada writes: A great, great shame that a man of his cailbre was taken too early. Besides covering a wide range of sports, he could instill excitement into an event without resorting to melodrama and shouting. I wondered recently what he was doing, and I'm truly sorry to hear of his passing. He was the best ever.
  31. J R Ewing from Dallas, Texas, United States writes: Don Wittman was a most welcome and popular voice in my home growing up in Canada. Track & field, curling, hockey, football and so much more. A class act. A knowledgeable man. He will be missed. The CBC has lost a great sports voice.
  32. M Poland from Canada writes: Canada lost a great voice, and on-air presence. The CBC lost when it removed him from some telecasts--never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity, eh? Mr. Wittman did enjoy some curious pronunciations, e.g. Eskimoes .. a bit drawn out, that.
    Frank Black, your comments are unworthy of you. I think you must be a teenager.
  33. Bill M from Canada writes: I don't know where Frank Black lives or how old he is but he way off base.

    Don Wittman and CBC were/are part of our sports culture in Canada they matured together. CBC TV Sports is as good or better than any of the American Networks and Don Wittman was a big part of that, he was Mr Versatility when it came to sports.

    Bill
  34. G R from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Frank Black should come back and appologize for being an idiot. I hope you sleep well tonight afater that first comment....

    Back to Don: In my mind he was THE best broadcaster in sports EVER. I have always said that. No one has ever made it as exiting as he has. If you look back on any sports cast it does send chills down your spine.....and Don had so much knowledge on what ever sport he broadcast. He always did his homework thoroughly. Compare him to the rest out there and there is not one broadcaster in Canada or the States that match him. I will miss him dearly and shed a tear for him today....probabaly many days ahead.
  35. Clark The Mighty from Canada writes: I think the CBC should now go.

    Add that in with another cut in the GST and in personal income taxes.

    Witman was the last (along with Cherry and Bob Cole) of what made the CBC great and important.

    There's no one now.
  36. Keystone Provincial from Canada writes: Don Wittman's great humanity reminded us that we were watching humans competing on whatever field it was. From his perspective the athletes were folks from here or there, not objects or thoroughbreds, just people doing what they do, the best they could on a given day. Mr. Wittman always seemed excited to be a part of that too. When he called an event I lost my preferences and simply enjoyed a good contest. There will never be another like him.
  37. Darlene Kaus from Winnipeg, writes: Don was one of my favourite sports broadcasters, and I miss him already. He was the consumate professional and a wonderful human being. As they used to say... "A prince of a man" which we have all too few of nowadays.

    My sympathies to his friends, family, colleagues and my fellow sports fans.
  38. Ed Korpi from Westland, MI, writes: I wept today at Don Wittman's passing, this reaction is understandable as we have lost a legend. I remember him most as a curling announcer. As a curler and a curling fan in the US, I have mainly known him for his work on curling broadcasts, but I am amazed at his versatility in othher areas. I think for me, it wasn't so much that he was the best curling announcer, whatever "the best curling announcer" means, but his apparent love for the average fan that came through his choice of words. Also, he was a man of character, what a role model for us in these times. Three of his curling calls stand out: Jennifer Jones' "amazing shot" that won the 2005 Scott ("A most difficult attempt, trying to come in off a stone on the outside, trying to get the roll to the stone at the button. They're working on it frantically, there's the contact, there's the roll, she's made it!" just the way his voice crescendos and the impeccable timing), the 8th end of the 2003 Scott (Colleen Jones vs. Cathy Cunningham, and Don saying "She gets to the inside and pushes it through cleanly!"I still can see Cathy's bright smile after the shot), and his call of the 10th end of the 2004 Brier, a heartbreaking loss for Ferbey, where on David Nedhoin's final stone big miss (2nd to last shot of the game), he says, "Does the dream of 4 remain alive?"... and then as the shot goes wide and heavy, he says "oh no" in a way that you felt like he genuinely felt bad for him. And then on Mark Dacey's final shot to win with a huge comeback, he summed it up perfectly, the heartbreak of the Ferbey rink and the utter joy for Dacey, all in two shots, "The biggest shot of Mark Dacey's career. A chance to end the 3-year run of the Randy Ferbey rink....Is he there? They have to get a piece of the 4, three brushes working frantically, it looks good, he's got it!" Rest in peace Don Wittman, may the Lord bless your soul.
  39. Darlene Kaus from Winnipeg, writes: I have flagged Frank Black's comments. Others please do so as his name does not deserve to be on the same planet as Don Wittman's, never mind the same page.
  40. Rob C from Canada writes: He was the best CBC had for a long time - their best hockey play by play man by a long shot, but he wasn't recognized as such for whatever reason...
  41. G R from Winnipeg, Canada writes: yes I totally 100% agree Rob C, he was the absolute best hockey play by play broadcaster then and now, anytime anywhere.

    The exitement was staggering when he did the play by play....and yes, he should have been given more recognition. Maybe it was so obvious, nothing needed to be said about re: his play by play...

    I also loved the fact he always mentioned Winnipeg at least once in every broadcast he did, anywhere...at least that's what my dad, my friends and myself always noticed. We chuckled about it all the time and said "YES, Witt....wayta put Winnipeg in the spotlight again"
  42. Clark The Mighty from Canada writes: END THE CBC NOW!

    THEIR HEYDAY IS OVER!

    WIPE OUT THE CBC, NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  43. Trent Walters from Edmonton, Canada writes: He had a good voice and a great call.

    Moreover, he seemed like a great human being.
  44. paul sheridan from Hawkestone, ON, Canada writes: Well done Mr. Wittman. Say hi from all of us to Foster, his son Bill, Danny Gallivan, Dan Kelly, Ted Darling and Don Chevrier.

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