WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Don Wittman, whose called some of
Canada's most significant sporting events, died of cancer Saturday.
He was 71.
For more than 40 years, Wittman was a familiar face on CBC
television. He did the play-by-play for Grey Cups and Stanley Cups,
and covered curling, golf, and track and field, as well. He was a
fixture at both summer and winter Olympics.
Wittman called Ben Johnson's steroid-tainted victory in the 100
meters at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and he was there when Donovan
Bailey sprinted to gold in the same event in the 1996 Games at
Atlanta.
He died in a Winnipeg hospital surrounded by his family.
"The family wishes to acknowledge the tremendous outpouring of
support Don received from friends, colleagues and fans. Thanks to
everyone for respecting our privacy at this time,'' Wittman's
family said in a statement on CBC's Web site.
CBC broadcaster Scott Russell, who worked with Wittman at
several Olympic and Canada Games, called him "the most unselfish
broadcaster I've ever worked with.''
"Don always believed that his job was to be the guide of a
sporting event,'' Russell said in Vancouver, where he is covering
the Canadian figure skating championships. "He took us through, he
introduced us to the characters, then he let the athletes shine.
Don was the guide, he was the storyteller. That's what made him
great.''
Wittman saw Wayne Gretzky win Stanley Cups and was in
Czechoslovakia in 1987 for the Canada-USSR brawl at the world
junior hockey championships.
During the 1972 Olympics in Munich he stood on a balcony and
looked into the masked face of one of the terrorists who kidnapped
nine Israeli athletes.
Wittman, chosen as the 2002 broadcaster of the year by Sports
Media Canada, was a member of the Canadian Football League Hall of
Fame, the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame and Manitoba's provincial
sports hall of fame.
"He is the voice of football in Canada in my mind,'' said CBC
Sports executive director Scott Moore, who grew up in Montreal
watching Wittman call Alouettes games.
Wittman is survived by his wife Judy, two daughters and a son.