Well-known sports commentator Denis Casavant was born in Hull, but his mother divorced shortly after his birth. He, his mother and brother Michel lived with his grandparents in Pointe-aux-Trembles while his sister Sylvie moved to live with her father in Hull.
Baseball on the radio has always fascinated him as he could hear West Coast baseball games starting at 10pm.
Her life in Pointe-aux-Trembles.
My grandfather Donat was director of the CIP at Pointe-aux-Trembles and my grandmother Jeanne d’Arc looked after my brother and I at home.
Sitting on the balcony with your grandfather.
The happiest moments of my teenage years were undoubtedly sitting on the balcony with my grandfather and listening to baseball on the radio.
You consider your grandfather your father.
I will always be grateful to my grandfather because I always considered him my father.
How did you travel to the Forum, Jarry Park and the Olympic Stadium?
My grandfather didn’t have a car. So we took a bus from Pointe-aux-Trembles to Georges V, then another bus to the Honoré-Beaugrand metro station to finally continue our journey to our destination.
Sometimes it was inconvenient to ride the bus?
We often got off the bus because Grandma wanted Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner. With the KFC bag in hand, we took the next bus. The smell of chicken pervaded the interior of the bus. Believe me, it was very uncomfortable.
Who were your favorite athletes?
Aside from Ellis Valentine and Ken Dryden, my favorite football player and team was Earl Campbell of the Houston Oilers because he was spectacular and the team played in the Astrodome.
You collected baseball and hockey cards.
Since we didn’t have a car, my grandmother called the grocery store to have her order delivered. I gently asked her if she could add a deck of bubble gum cards.
Simulated hockey and baseball games.
With my friends we played hockey games with our player cards and with the Peanuts cartoon characters on cards we played a baseball game.
what was your first job
I was a street vendor and had added Sunday morning paper delivery to my route because it could give me a giant calculator if I found 15 new subscribers. I also delivered groceries by bike.
Did you have extracurricular activities such as theater or choir?
After a big laugh. “Roddy, I used to play basketball, but also theatre, let alone choir. At school I was a shy guy. I began dreaming of describing baseball at age 16 because my uncle hired me to be the house announcer for the Hull Volants fastball games.”
Where did you study communication?
I applied to Algonquin College but was turned down because the college prefers Ontarioans. That’s why I created my own CEGEP and university program in communication.
your own program?
Before that, when I was 14, I recorded the news program Bonsoir les sportif. After transcribing it, I read my own newsletter at home. On a Friday night, my friend asked me to cover for him as an operator at CKCH for an evening. During the broadcast, the program director André Chevalier called me on the private line and asked me to contact him as he wanted to know if I wanted to pursue a career in radio.
Your studies begin at CKCH.
As presenter and presenter of the musical evening show on Friday and Saturday, I took the opportunity to make recordings on giant reels before sending them to André Chevalier’s door. A year later, I dabbled in sports on the morning show and late afternoon return. This allowed me to meet Pat Burns, the Hull Olympiques coach.
Expos Baseball.
In 1986 I joined the broadcast of Expos games. Jacques Doucet, my mentor and teacher, taught me all the basics about the world of baseball. He taught me the art of working well with an analyst and most importantly how to prepare for a game.
What is your theory on CEGEP and the university?
There hasn’t been a program as effective as my work at CKCH that I consider my studies at CEGEP. During my college days I did it as part of my job as broadcasting Expos games.
October 4, 1980, a sad day for you.
I asked my future wife Lynne on a date for the first time. She declined. That night, Expos pitcher Stan Bahnsen allowed a home run on the Phillies’ Mike Schmidt, officially eliminating the Expos from the playoffs. A painful day!
you have two sons
I’m very proud of her. Mathieu is a TV boxing analyst working for Rival Boxing Gear, owned by boxing trainer Russ Anber. My son Daniel is the manager of the football program at the Chêne Bleu high school in Pincourt. I’m also a grandfather to a beautiful granddaughter, Cassie.
Your wife Lynne has played an important role in your life.
We started dating on November 5, 1982, later we married and had two sons. Lynne has played such an important role with our children, both in their learning and in their personal values.
Your wife has made many sacrifices.
His sacrifices and support allowed me to do the work I love in conditions that were not always conducive to family life. She is a wonderful woman, wife and mother of two sons!
