Mike Farwell

It’s been quite the week here at 570 News as I got asked to pinch hit for a couple of the sluggers here at the station. Jeff Allan was away Wednesday and Thursday and Gary Doyle was away today, meaning I abandoned my everyday partner Kate Stockmann on the afternoon news and waded into the world of talk. It’s an interesting trip to take.

The biggest thing, for me, is dealing with the differing styles of each host. Jeff and Gary are both very good at what they do, and both also do it very differently. It’s a fun challenge for me and a welcome diversion from delivering the news. As much as I enjoy keeping you informed every afternoon with Kate, I really appreciate the opportunity to spread my wings, speak directly with you, and even toss in an opinion or two along the way. More than anything else, I feel as though it helps me connect with the listener in a way I simply can’t while reading the afternoon news. I hope you got as much out of the experience as I did.

It’s been said that variety is the spice of life and I’d definitely call this week cajun. It’s not over yet, either. I’ll be taking the trip to Belleville tomorrow with Gary to cover Game 6 of the OHL Finals between the Bulls and Rangers. And before panic sets in, don’t worry! Don Cameron is just fine. He has a wedding to attend and he’s the emcee so he’ll be keeping the vocal chords primed (and an ear to the radio, no doubt).

I assure you that Don will be in top form (as always) in time to call the Memorial Cup next Friday. Every game, by the way, will be broadcast here on 570 News. And if you take from that remark that Don will not be called upon for a possible Game 7 in the OHL Final on Monday, well, that’s your prerogative.

And hamburgers, too.

Funny business, radio. Those of us who choose to call it our chosen career will often joke about the low pay and how we’ve learned to subsist on a diet of Mac and Cheese while creating a patchwork wardrobe from the dozens of free T-shirts we collect over the years. And then there’s the food.

Every now and again a local restaurant or store will drop off goodies. You name it, we’ve probably sampled it. It doesn’t happen every day but if you stick around this business long enough, you’ll nibble on your fair share of free food. Turns out today was one of those days.

Just after I got here at 8 AM, an enormous cooler full of hamburgers arrived. God bless the local retailer that dropped them off, and the fundraiser they’re doing this weekend in support of Crohns and Colitis. It’s not like I think the burgers are in any way bad. But at 8 in the morning? I was just starting my first cup of coffee. Burgers were the furthest thing from my mind…and my stomach.

Of course, about an hour later, the burgers were almost entirely gone. People lined up and garnished them with relish and mustard as if they were scrambled eggs and bacon at the breakfast buffet. Yup, that’s a radio person for you.

Funny business, this.

And the “she” in question is the Grand Ol’ Dame on East Avenue, also known as the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. I drove through the parking lot on my way to work today and saw city crews busily hanging more Memorial Cup banners. Hard to believe the first championship game is a week today. Seems like only yesterday we were all gathered in the rotunda at City Hall, listening to the announcement that Kitchener would play host to the 2008 Memorial Cup. That was a year ago. But the Grand Ol’ Dame appears more than ready for her close-up next week.

The Rangers are ready, too. Don’t you worry. This Bulls team didn’t win the East by accident. There are quality hockey players throughout that Belleville line-up, beginning in goal. It was a dandy game at The Aud last night, a game very much befitting the OHL Final. A tough loss for Kitchener to be sure, but the team that posted 53 regular season wins still has two more cracks at capturing the J. Ross Robertson trophy.

And they haven’t lost four in a row all season.