TORONTO (Aug. 17) — It was another media catastrophe; this time involving one of the primordial radio outlets in all of Canada. CHML–900, the voice and conscience of Hamilton, Ont. for nearly 100 years, is no more.

Hasn’t been since Wednesday morning of this week, when employees showed up for work; in some cases, executed their roles, but were soon informed they no longer had jobs… and, that the radio station would be mothballed. Indeed, if you tune into the AM–900 signal today in southern Ontario, you will hear nothing but static. This wasn’t another Team–1050 debacle, dating to 2001, when ownership of the former CHUM signal here in Toronto eviscerated its short–lived all–sports format and immediately returned to playing rock music of the day. Many of us grew up with such legendary CHUM disc–jockeys as Roger Ashby, Scott Carpenter, John Rode, Chuck McCoy (for whom I later worked, several years, at Rogers) and Terry Steele. It was a natural regression, if you will, to rock music. No radio format has ever featured static noise for 24 hours a day. Particularly one as entrenched as CHML.

You’d think ownership (CORUS Entertainment) might possess a back–up plan. Instead, just… nothing.

“Many of us knew the company was in trouble, financially, but we never expected the end of CHML,” said Rick Zamperin in a phone chat today. Rick had been a staple at the radio outlet for 24 years; finishing in the key morning slot, but perhaps best–known as host of The 5th Quarter, a highly charged call–in show that followed each game of the Hamilton Tiger–Cats. Unlike here in Toronto, the Canadian Football League is still big–time in neighboring Steeltown. As it should be given the lengthy and colorful history of the Black and Gold. Even if the club possesses the longest current Grey Cup drought: a full quarter–century, dating to a 1999 triumph over the Calgary Stampeders. I couldn’t imagine another club approaching the futility mark of the Toronto Argonauts, which failed to win the CFL championship for 31 years (1952–83). In a nine–team league. But, the Tiger–Cats are getting close.

“I came into work on Wednesday at the usual time, around 4:40 a.m.,” Zamperin, 49, recalled. “I hosted the morning show but I noticed people from management and Human Resources walking about our area. As soon as the show ended, I got a text from my manager saying he wanted to chat. He rehashed where the company was, financially, and that tough decisions had to be made. We all knew that job cuts were on the horizon. But, never did we expect to be told the entire radio operation would be shut down. That came as an incredible shock. It still is.”

Far less shocking was a Canadian media outlet pulling the rug from beneath its employees without warning. Bell Canada and Rogers Communications have routinely enacted such disgraceful conduct; the hatchet–men (and women) lucratively bonused for destroying countless careers. In other industries, there is professional comportment. Employees are provided some form of notice that changes will ensue, allowing for job searches to begin. Just not in the deceptive and deceitful radio biz, where mass–terminations spring forth like a covert military onslaught. Stories abound of employees showing up for work, only to be informed they no–longer have access to their building. Or, as in the CHML case, actual radio programming continues until the ownership stooges arrive.

Then, everybody goes home… thoroughly confused and distraught.

“I kind of knew my time at CHML was up when my manager requested a sit–down,” admitted Zamperin. “But, then came the ‘holy crap!’ moment. One of our country’s most–established radio stations — entrenched in the Hamilton community for 97 years — was simply going away. That, I did not anticipate hearing. Naturally, it was a difficult moment for everyone involved. They didn’t kick us out of the building right away, so we kind of lingered to process the news. There were a lot of hugs and stories going around. I returned on Thursday to clean out my belongings.

“Of course, it could have been more troublesome had the company asked for credit protection,” continued Zamperin. “At least, long–time employees, myself included, received severance packages. But, the community has lost an invaluable voice. No matter where you were around town — driving on Main St. or up and down the Mountain — listeners knew where to obtain the latest news and commentary about Hamilton. In so many ways, it formed the pulse of our city. Now, where do those people turn?”

For decades, beginning in the 1950’s, CHML was principally known as the voice of the Hamilton Tiger–Cats. In my youth, I would turn to the AM–900 signal to hear the dulcet tones of Perc Allen, who called football games from 1967 to 1987 (Allen died in 2007). Accompanied, mostly, by former TiCat lineman Vince Mazza; then, later, John Michaluk. Other names at CHML became legendary: Norm Marshall (who called the first Grey Cup telecast); Bob Bratina, later the city’s mayor; Tom Cherington, Paul Hanover, Bill Kelly, a friend and host of the mid–morning hours; Bob Hooper and another close radio pal, Al Craig, long associated with Tiger–Cat broadcasts. Zamperin, himself, became voice of the CFL club from 2007–14, working with another former coach, John Salavantis.

All of it now confined to the memory bank. What a dreadful shame for the good citizens of Hamilton.

 
PROGRAM FROM TORONTO AT HAMILTON CFL GAME IN OCTOBER 1969 WITH RADIO AD FOR FOOTBALL BROADCASTS.

THE CHAD KELLY CONUNDRUM

UPDATE: Chad Kelly and his representatives accepted the “last chance” clause from the Toronto Argonauts they felt contravened the league’s CBA with respect to behavioral issues. Thus, the CFL reinstated him. But… no more mulligans.

When the reigning Most Outstanding Player in the CFL was suspended on May 7, I wrote that Chad Kelly had likely squandered his privilege as marquee performer with the Toronto Argonauts. I felt that Kelly would never again suit up for the Double Blue; that a grown man predisposed to harassing a female colleague should not be idolized by fans and media. Chad received a minimum, nine–game sentence along with conditions that dealt with a history of behavioral issues, dating to his two seasons (2012, 2013) as quarterback at Clemson University. Later, in December 2014, Kelly was arrested following an altercation outside a Buffalo nightclub in which he fought with bouncers and resisted arrest. Criminal charges were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea of disorderly conduct. He completed 50 hours of community service. This past spring, a female strength and conditioning coach terminated by the Argonauts filed a complaint alleging that Kelly had repeatedly badgered her over rebuffing romantic overtures. Enough evidence existed for the CFL to suspend Chad for at least half the current season.

More than three months later, in a crisis shrouded by secrecy and silence, my opinion toward Kelly’s future in Toronto has only strengthened. This, after word leaked (via David Naylor of TSN) on Friday night that Kelly’s reinstatement meeting with CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie resulted in a standoff. There was no resolution, reportedly because the player and his lawyers rejected the league’s demand of a so–called “last chance” clause. In other words, a future incident would result in the quarterback annulling his playing privileges north of the border.

As summarized, Friday eve, by the Canadian Press: Last weekend, the league announced it had received Kelly’s confidential psychological assessment and would complete an examination of the results with the help of experts before rendering a decision on Kelly’s status. Under terms of the CFL’s suspension, Kelly had to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend mandatory counselling sessions conducted by a gender–based violence expert. Both the counselling sessions and assessments had to be satisfactorily completed before the CFL would consider Kelly’s reinstatement and the league did reserve the right to modify his discipline.

Evidently, the CFL has exercised that privilege and Kelly will not, as widely anticipated, return for Toronto’s home encounter, this Thursday, against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Perhaps, not at all. Which begets something of a conundrum for those that follow the Argos and attend their games. Myself and my son, Shane, included as season–ticket subscribers. On one hand, if Kelly has not successfully completed his rehabilitation program, he shouldn’t be allowed back on the field. The suspension was richly earned and who among us would argue that a man harassing a woman is acceptable behavior? Conversely, subscribers like myself coughed up nearly $400 last November (yes, that’s when the Argos debited my bank account for games beginning this June), fully anticipating the 2023 league MOP would again lead the Boatmen — as he did through most of the remarkable and record–tying 16–2 season a year ago. Instead, Argonaut patrons have been stuck watching the inexperienced Cam Dukes and CFL retread Nick Arbuckle. Not what we bargained for when the team claimed our season–ticket proceeds.

If Kelly had sustained a career–threatening injury, we would have accepted his absence as unavoidable. Instead, Argo ticket–holders are at the mercy of the league’s commissioner — an otherwise–credible man that has thoroughly botched this process. At no point were Argo followers updated on the progress of the star quarterback. Even as Toronto played its eighth game of the season (a 39–25 victory at BMO Field over the Calgary Stampeders), silence prevailed from the CFL. It required the insurgence of a veteran, front–line reporter (Naylor) to begin publicizing the process. And, still, Argonaut fans are in the dark… beyond the upcoming match against Saskatchewan. It is another terrible look for the CFL, on the heel’s of last week’s embarrassment involving the Command Centre, which arbitrarily (and astonishingly) re–started a game the referee had officially ended.

Players and coaches were leaving the field when the video–review process bore its ugly soul; the inane Command Centre somehow determining the match must re–commence on the basis of a subjective roughing–the–passer call that eluded even the closest on–field official. Ottawa escaped with a gift, 22–22 tie against Saskatchewan on a walk–off field goal generated by the bizarre decision. Resulting in a covert, yet vehement censure of the Command Centre employees. Now, we have Argonaut fans still wondering — after the mandatory, nine–game suspension — whether their star quarterback will reappear at any point in the 2024 schedule.

Another question surrounds the player, himself. If he does return, which Chad Kelly will we see? The dynamic passer that led the Argonauts to 16 wins in the regular season a year ago? Or, the bumbling, stumbling performer who appeared to suffer a nervous breakdown after yielding an early interception return for a touchdown in the Eastern final at BMO Field: a 37–18 decimation by the Montreal Alouettes (Toronto’s lone home loss of the season)? None of this will, of course, matter until the CFL gets off its high horse and makes an official announcement.

If you wonder why Canada’s largest city has turned its back on the oldest professional franchise in the city, here’s another example. The CFL needs to be much–more transparent in situations that impact season–ticket holders.

Otherwise, there will be nothing left of the Double Blue.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM