Broadcaster reflects on career prior to hall of fame induction

YORKTON – The Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame and Museum will induct several individuals and two teams on the 24th of September during their induction dinner.

Among the five individuals being inducted is Randy Atkinson, whose name is synonymous with play-by-play commentary for multiple sports in the area and will see his induction fall under the media category.

Yorkton This Week spoke with Atkinson ahead of the induction about his 36 year career in sports broadcasting.

Atkinson said he got his start in the business with GX94 Radio in late 1985.

“I'd had a knee surgery – I was in university, but I elected to take the winter semester off – Dave Harrison was the morning guy program director back then and he knew my brother,” said Atkinson, adding, “initially he asked if I'd be interested in doing colour [commentary] for Terrier games in 1985 that fall – while I was on crutches – and I said 'sure'.”

“I think they knew the guy who'd been doing play-by-play – Wally Cameron – was going to be leaving, and so I think they kind of tested me in December that year,” said Atkinson.

Atkinson said he was still on crutches when he drove to Lloydminister to do the play-by-play commentary for a Melville Millionaires game.

“I basically did the game by myself – I don't remember being nervous – I remember being really excited because in the '60s – when I was growing up – I heard Danny Gallivan doing play-by-play of the Montreal Canadiens games and I was just transfixed by him,” said Atkinson, noting it was Gallivan's commentary that sparked his interest for play-by-play commentary at an early age.

“His ability to use language and flow and technique and everything he brought to the element of broadcasting and I thought 'man, how do you ever get to a job like that?'," said Atkinson.

Atkinson said that in mid-January of 1986, the brass at GX94 offered him the job of Sports Director.

“On Saturday nights when I was like 10, 11 or 12 [Gallivan would] be calling the game and I'd be trying to call it with him – so in my mind, when I got hired by GX, I already was a sports announcer – I'd been doing it for years except now I had the dream job and they were paying me money," said Atkinson.

Atkinson said he gave special attention to other sportscasters who did play-by-play when it came to honing his own craft.

“How did they call a game, when did they get excited, what did they use, what was their catchphrase – all these things I tried to absorb," said Atkinson.  

Atkinson said that he enjoys the pressures that come with delivering a live broadcast.

“I loved unscripted stuff,” said Atkinson, adding, “where you know a team is supposed to win, but they might not, and you're there to call that game on radio to get people excited by listening to your broadcast of a hockey game or a football game or a baseball game and how you want to present that and how you need to make that exciting.”

Atkinson reflected on some of the more memorable sports moments of his career.

“Probably within two months of being hired in 1986 I did the Yellowhead Hockey League final between Canora and Langenburg and there were a ton of pros and juniors – it was a six game series packed every game – we broadcast them all...just the energy and excitement...this is senior hockey in 1986 – it was great,” said Atkinson.

“I remember the '91 series – the Yorkton Terriers were at the Centennial Cup in Sudbury and they played Vernon in the semi-final...there was a goal taken away from the Terriers at the end of the second period – late in the second – that would have got them to within a goal,” said Atkinson, adding, “a lot of momentum going into the third and they didn't count [the goal] and they ended up losing.”

“That Terrier team was as good as any in the country in 1991,” said Atkinson.

“Not that long ago – 2019 – the provincial football final between Yorkton and Saskatoon...[Yorkton was] down two touchdowns with half the fourth quarter left – scored two touchdowns with a two-point conversion on the second one – sent it to over time and won the provincial championship in overtime,” said Atkinson of the Raider Gridder provincial win that he did play-by-play commentary for.

Atkinson said that he had a lot of positive influence in is life.  When asked who he would thank for his success he listed several people.  

“My dad, Howard...for introducing me to sports and everything that it would become in my life," said Atkinson, adding, "my mom taught me how to score baseball – her baseball scorecard was a work of art with her penmanship, so they had an influence in getting me involved.”

“I think Dave Harrison certainly at GX radio, was a mentor – he guided me to...just go out there, broadcast, have fun – we're doing radio here, we're not doing heart surgery – this is entertainment – have fun, be yourself,” said Atkinson, “he was a real guiding force.”

“After that, I think probably George Gallagher – George owned GX94 and he gave me the chance – him and Dave Harrison took a chance for a kid off the street – they gave me an opportunity to do what I always wanted to do.”

“They were rolling the dice – I mean – I didn't get into broadcasting until later in my life – I was 31 when I got the job as sports director...this opportunity came because they gave me a chance.”

Atkinson credited the general public's feedback as a motivation to continue to do better and better at his job.

“Just the feedback you get from the public as you go through decades of broadcasting – when you get that kind of feedback – positivity – it makes you continue to try and be really good at what you do and then try to be even better than you were last time.” said Atkinson.

“When you're doing radio – and there's no visual – that's my job as a play-by-play broadcaster is to bring that game to life,” said Atkinson, noting, “it's just a dream job for me.”

Atkinson said his father, older brother, and niece have been inducted into the hall of fame for their respective sports.

“I am the fourth of the family to be inducted – as I look back on it – I feel proud and I feel honoured and I feel humbled that they thought me worthy enough to be in the Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame.”