SPOTLIGHT
STEVE BELL IS ONLY JUST GETTING STARTED Forced to hit reset on his career, the local sportscaster is busier than ever. By Devan Mighton Photography by Trevor Booth
When you sit down with Steve Bell, the first thing you notice is his energy. He is enthusiastic and exuberant. He has a gift for gab and a bluesy newsman's voice – it is no wonder he has been on the radio for 41 years, not to mention the Windsor Spitfires' play-byplay guy since 1987. The youngest of four children, as a kid, Bell lived in a perpetual war over the radio. Growing up in rural Kincardine, his parents had a taste for country music, namely that played on the local station – CKNX Wingham. The kids wanted more of that modern flavour and constantly fought to turn the dial to Windsor's Big 8 CKLW.
Bell was offered a job at AM580 CKWW in Windsor when a college friend, Murray Brookshaw, handed a recording of Bell to the station's program director, Kevin McGowan. Bell moved to Windsor on Labour Day weekend 1980 and never looked back. Bell has become a pillar in local sports media. His natural radio voice, expertise, and knack for storytelling has captivated audiences for over four decades. However, in early February, at 63 years old, Bell was unceremoniously terminated as sports director at AM800 CKLW – a BellMedia company. "I had a lump in my throat. I could hardly catch my breath," admits Bell. "People say, 'Hey, you're 63 years old. You must be ready to pack.' Forty-one years, man? I was just getting started! I was just getting my feet wet!"
"Growing up, I just always wanted to be on the radio, and I wanted to be a DJ," confesses Bell. "I liked it all, whether it was news guys back in the day – Grant Hudson, Byron MacGregor, all of the great news guys Bell says he feels no animosity towards his on the 20/20 News. I was mezmorized by it former employer. all, the magic of it – how did this radio work? "That's their prerogative," he says. "That's There was nothing else that I ever really fine. I'm not knocking anybody. They're a wanted to do." very successful company, and I wish them After graduating college, he picked up his all the best. I have nothing bad or negative first radio gig in March 1980 as a disc jockey to say about anybody. I'm still close with all at CKSO 790 in Sudbury. A few months later, the people that I've worked with. I consider 14
myself extremely fortunate to have been there that long, and I enjoyed it." As one of the great local sportscasters of our time, Bell has seen many of the highs and lows of local athletics and has learned to process the gravity of such moments. After learning under Dave Quinn, Bell took over the Spitfires' play-by-play in the fall of 1987. He had the privilege of calling games of one of the greatest Memorial Cup contenders in modern history. The Spits, owned by Peter Karmanos and Compuware, were loaded for the 1987-88 season. Coached by Tom Webster and injured player Paul Maurice, on the ice, the team was led by a talent pool featuring Adam Graves, Darryl and Darrin Shannon, Kelly Cain, Mike Wolak, and star goalie Pat Jablonski. "The Spits were the best team in the country the entire year," recalls Bell. "The team was loaded with talent. It was a complete team." After leading the Ontario Hockey League with a 50-win season and sweeping the playoffs with a 12-0 record, the Spits were off to Chicoutimi for the Memorial
