CIS, AUS lose broadcaster too soon (VIDEO)

Bill McLean was not just a pioneer, but also a passionate broadcaster whose impact was far reaching.

Yesterday, news came that he had passed away. He was only 43 years old.

Bill was instrumental in putting Maritime sports on the broadcast map. Extremely passionate about the local sports scene, his most recent positions as Sports Director of BellAliant TV 1 and host of Inside the AUS were dreams realized for him.

Throughout his career, Bill built a reputation for being one of the best interviewers. Having talked to many coaches, players and other key sports figures in Atlantic Canada, his wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm was unmatched and it was evident in the final product.

He was the lead football broadcaster for AUS football, something that he championed and was extremely proud of covering.

I first had the honour of meeting Bill within my first couple of months of working with CanadaFootballChat.com. At the time, he was with Sportstream, a part of Haligonia.ca.

Bill forged a special relationship with the site as CFC and Sportstream collaborated to do a live stream of the Maritime Women’s Football League (MWFL) Championship back in 2012. I recall back to the weeks leading up to it and how Bill was so excited about “cultivating a relationship” with the site and myself.

Any opportunity he had on either his radio, online or television broadcast, he would always champion the work that CanadaFootballChat.com did and was so gracious in giving us many shameless plugs during his shows or on social media outlets.

It was during that time that Bill saw something special in me and was thrilled of the prospect of both of us “working on kicking ass with local football coverage.”

The impact that Bill had was not just on the local sports scene. With an extremely limited local sports and media market, Bill was instrumental in paving the way for several aspiring journalists at the time, including myself to grow, thrive and excel in this profession by providing many opportunities to gain valuable experience in the field.

One of those opportunities I recall was being a guest on the Bill McLean Sports Show on Dalhousie University’s campus radio station CKDU 88.1. One of my special moments with Bill was my first show.

Sitting alongside Henry Whitfield, Bill was so ecstatic to introduce me for the first time and he made a comment that resonated with me to this day. As he was telling the listening audience who I was, he remarked that I was going places, I possessed the perfect journalistic name and that I had a great future in this profession.

For the next minute and a half of the show, he kept on imitating a CBC broadcast host doing a throwback and reciting “Ameeta Vohra, CBC News”. At the end, he remarked that it there was such a nice ring to that.

At times during this tenure with CFC, I needed a reality check and a boost of confidence, especially in the face of criticism. Always a friend and mentor, Bill gave me that boost I needed. He would always say to me – “Not only do you work your tail off, but your interviewees really enjoy talking to you.”

@Bettszee1on1 @AUS_SUA @vohra_ameeta It’s Steve…right?

— Bill McLean (@BMcLeanSports) November 11, 2012

Moreover, there were several times during our radio, online or television spots that my nerves would start to kick in. One of those cases was the 2013 Loney Bowl at Saint Mary’s Huskies Stadium. Just before we were supposed to do the pregame show, Bill could sense that my nerves were starting to get the best to me and gave me a quick pep talk. He said “you’ve got this, you are talented”. That vote of confidence eased me.

It’s his faith in aspiring journalists that gave us the confidence to make our dreams became a reality. I know that several others in the profession locally felt the same way about Bill as I did.

Bill social posted me a message back in October 2012

“I love helplng you talented young sports journalists and give lots of opportunities,” expressed Bill. “All I ever ask in return is your soul.”

Bill was always ready to help, reach out if there was an opportunity he felt an aspiring journalist was a fit for. I would not be in the position now that I am if it weren’t for Bill paving the way as well as providing that guidance and mentoring.

Many of us will miss his enthusiasm, warmth, passion, sense of humour and kindness. I hope that despite his passing, his legacy of promoting and putting the AUS on the broadcast and national map will live on.

Words cannot express how inexplicable of a loss this is personally but also professionally.

CanadaFootballChat.com extends their sincerest condolences to the McLean family and especially his three year old daughter Sadie at this difficult time.