James Duthie Duthie is best known for being the host of the NHL on TSN – but has also worked as the host of the Winter Olympics on CTV, as well as hosting on NBA, CFL, NFL and PGA broadcasts. The Ottawa native is also the best-selling author of two books: “The Day I (Almost) Killed Two Gretzky’s…And Other Off-the-Wall Stories About Sports and Life”, as well as the book, “They Call Me Killer: Tales from Junior Hockey’s Legendary Hall-of-Fame Coach”.
James Duthie has become one of the most recognizable and celebrated faces in Canadian media today. His trademark dry wit, self-deprecating humour and pleasant demeanor have made him one of the most popular broadcasters in Canadian television history.
Duthie’s exceptional broadcast work has been recognized across Canada – he won 3 consecutive Gemini Awards as Canada’s Best Sports Broadcaster, as well as the Sports Media Award for Excellence in Broadcasting. We had the pleasure of speaking to James about his life growing up in Ottawa, his career and his family. Tell us about growing up in Ottawa. I was raised by a pack of coyotes on the Greenbelt behind Blackburn Hamlet, in Gloucester. National Research Council scientists found me and slowly re-integrated me back into society. I still occasionally howl in the middle of the night and I eat a lot of squirrels. Okay, parts of that are true. I grew up next to the Greenbelt in Blackburn and went to Emily Carr Middle School and Gloucester High School. I believe both have large statues of me out front. Well, there was talk of that anyway - mostly by me. I actually had a wonderful childhood. I spent my winters playing hockey for the Blackburn Stingers. My friends said when I started that I skated like a penguin (the bird…not Crosby). That still hurts. My summers were spent at Innes Road Mini-Golf in Orleans, paying for one round, and then playing 10 with my best buddy and mini-golfing nemesis, Mark Ward. He was awesome - zero fear of windmills. You attended Carleton University and got a degree in Journalism – do you have any memories of your time there that stand out for you? I got my picture in the Ottawa Citizen when I dove into a giant pool of Jell-O in my sister’s pink onesie during Frosh Week, so there’s that. Wednesday nights at Oliver’s were pretty Utopian and I rapped the weather in my 3rd year TV class; a video, that if ever discovered and YouTubed, would end my career instantly. I loved my time at CU, and J-School saved me, because I have essentially no other talents besides being able to talk on TV half-decently. What advice would you have for young aspiring broadcasters that you wish you’d received when you first started? I’ll answer this one seriously. Do what YOU love to do. I had tons of people telling me that sports was a waste of time—that it was a dead end for a journalist. Today, live sports are a booming industry and the salvation of television, where other areas of journalism are hurting. I’ll add one thing, and this might sound like a contradiction but it’s not: if you want to do sports, do news first. Sports are easy. You go to the rink/field and all your visuals and interviews are handed to you on a silver platter. News is much tougher. It makes you a better writer, a better interviewer and a more rounded person/journalist. My years in news in Ottawa were invaluable. Were you a fan of the Ottawa Rough Riders growing up? Did you attend any of the CFL games and did you have a favourite player or moment that stands out for you as a fan of the franchise? Huge fan!! My love of sports was really born in Section G of Frank Clair Stadium, where I went to every single game with my mom and dad for 20 years, starting when I was 8. There were a lot of long nights. In those two decades the team’s best record was two 9-9 seasons, a period I call “The Dynasty”. My favourite memory is the 1976 Grey Cup win: “Gabriel is open in the end zone…Touchdown!”. I happy-cried like an infant.
9 | December 2013