Marty York returns to print.
One just knew that Marty York would not be absent for any great period of time, from the Toronto’s sports media scene. He returned to his original media roots in mid-August with a thrice weekly ‘York Report’ sports column in the Metro commuter tabloid newspaper. It’s a return to print that has garnered him acclaim, and occasional criticism, over the past three decades. The journey to this point in his journalistic career has been fascinating to observe.
The 48-year-old Torontonian’s interest in sports came naturally, with his father and brother constantly talking sports in the York household. He was a three-sport athlete in high school.
“Football was always my number one sport,” he said. “Baseball was second, although I probably was better in baseball than football and played some basketball as well. I couldn’t skate so never got into hockey, although as a kid, we played ball hockey on the streets.”
York started writing sports stories in high school, which attracted the attention of a teacher, who suggested he was qualified for a summer job at the Globe and Mail. Sports participation gave way to the start of an impressive journalistic career.
Clark Davey, Globe and Mail managing editor at the time, felt York had the potential to be a fine sports reporter. Davey sent him to cover the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Being a teenager at the time, the experience was exciting and surreal, given that York was competing for stories against seasoned reporters.
He graduated with a combined Political Science and History degree from York University, and was hired full time at the Globe.
York wanted to inject a news aspect into sports coverage, as a different perspective from the ‘rah rah’ slant that was predominant in different forms of media during the era. He recalled his controversial writing style being unpopular from the beginning, which led to veiled threats from athletes and fans.
He credited Globe sports columnist Dick Beddoes and Sports editor Jim Vipond for their mentoring, and helping his immersion into sports journalism go smoothly. Beddoes especially encouraged York to stick to his credo and not quit.
“Dick told me to march to my own drummer in terms of writing, and to develop a thick skin to ride out the rough times,” York said. “He said that breaking news about athletes and sporting events, would keep me in the limelight for years to come.”
York remembered Beddoes telling him from his hospital bed shortly before his death to keep on going no matter the obstacles, and to remember to turn on the ‘shtick’ when the red television camera light started flashing.
York quickly established a strong reputation for breaking sports stories before other print, radio and television media, and was recognized for his acumen by the newspaper, which made him associate sports editor. He said one of his most memorable stories occurred in the early 1990s when he revealed Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kelly Gruber was water-skiing in Muskoka, while supposedly injured on the disabled list.
“I remember Gruber going on television emphatically denying the story, and stated not knowing me because I never came to the Jays dressing room. The facts eventually proved me right.”
York broke into television in the 1990s with TSN as an insider for the network, while continuing to cover sports for the Globe.
“The biggest adjustment was trying to condense my information for time,” he said. “You have to be more concise in TV because your time is restricted. As a result, you have to be less thorough.” He also was proud of breaking the news of Michael (Pinball) Clemons becoming the Toronto Argonauts head coach, when nobody else thought it would happen. He remembered a FAN 590 announcer speaking about York’s story about Clemons becoming Argonauts coach, and paused slightly and stated “not” at the end of the report. “Clemons is a great coach and motivator, and J.I. Albrecht should have been given more credit for the hiring at the time. ‘Pinball’ is an outstanding human being, and was proud to have him attend my son’s bar mitzvah.”
The story broke while York was at Rogers Sportsnet, having been lured away from TSN, where he was a network insider and covering his passion – CFL Football – while still writing at the Globe. York wrote on Sportsnet’s web site, as well as breaking prominent stories on air.
After five year, the network did not renew his contract this past February, which came as a great shock to York. He felt the NHL lockout caused the termination of a dozen Sportsnet employees, including himself.
While receiving offers from other media outlets, his agent and sports lawyer Gord Kirke (York became Kirke’s first media client) helped him obtain a regular column at Metro. It was the most interesting offer in terms of potential for growth of sports coverage in the publication. He’s already trumped other local sports media by breaking a story on Hank Ilesic, who’s about to make a comeback – at age 45 – as a punter for the CFL Ottawa Renegades.
York did not pull any punches, when asked about Toronto’s sports teams. Before the team’s recent mini-winning streak, he felt the Argonauts were not quite as good as last year’s Grey Cup squad and not a sure thing to repeat as champs.
“The Raptors may be the worst team in the NBA, especially if you take away Chris Bosh and Jalen Rose. Coach Sam Mitchell is a borderline lunatic, and he did have an altercation with Vince Carter.” He personally likes MLSE President and CEO Richard Peddie but questioned his hiring of GM Rob Babcock, who York felt badly botched the Carter trade to New Jersey.
He’s not impressed with the Toronto Maple Leafs signings of Mike Allison and Eric Lindros, and believes it was a waste of money to resign Tie Domi.
“With an aging roster, they will be touch and go to make the playoffs.”
The Toronto Blue Jays have exceeded York’s expectations with their inspired play this season, especially without injured pitchers Roy Halliday and Ted Lilly.
York is active in various sports. He plays shortstop for Teal in the B’nai Brith Executive Fast Pitch League, and was named league Rookie of the Year in 2004. He hit a 270-foot, two-run homer in the last inning a couple weeks back, for a dramatic Teal win. He also plays second base on a competitive slow pitch team in another league. He plays Ultimate Indoor Touch Football at Downsview Park. His team won the 2003 and 2004 league championship.
He also is in his third year as an umpire for Ontario Umpires Association, which he enjoys immensely. “I love umpiring and the softball action on the field. Players are respectful and courteous, for the most part.”
A return to television in 2006 is very possible according to York, with networks having talked to him about an on-air position. He’s been teaching journalism at Sheridan College in Oakville the past couple of years, “where students seem to have the same passion for sports journalism that originally enticed me to pursue it as a career.”
Jack Borenstein can be emailed at j_borenstein@hotmail.com
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