In 1957, John Diefenbaker became prime minister of Canada, Elvis Presley was at the top of the Billboard charts and Gordie Howe was the NHL’s MVP.
A lot has changed over the past 60 years, but one thing that hasn’t changed is Edmonton sports broadcasting legend Bryan Hall covering the CFL’s Grey Cup.
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee is covering the CFL championship game for the 60th time. He was there to cover the “Fog Bowl,” the “Ice Bowl,” and 11 of 14 Grey Cups won by the Edmonton Eskimos.
“Does it feel like 60? No, it’s just like my first,” Hall told Global News on Wednesday. “I love it, I love it, I love it.
“It’s all about bringing Canada together. It’s a great game… the Canadian game is truly unique, it’s not like the game in the NFL.”
Hall’s peers have been recognizing his amazing career since he arrived in Ottawa for this year’s Grey Cup. When asked if one Grey Cup stands out more than the others, he cited the championship game in 1956.
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“Because that was the third of three in a row for the Eskimos – their first three Grey Cups,” he said, adding a Grey Cup game 15 years ago also stands out.
“When we had our first Grey Cup in Edmonton, when we had the Eskimos in it in 2002 – next year we’re hosting it and hopefully it’s going to be the Eskimos in it again.”
Hall said the Grey Cup and the Canadian Football League connects Canadians in a unique way and he hopes that Halifax will eventually have a team.
“You’ve got hockey, you’ve got maple syrup and you’ve got the CFL – things that are truly Canadian,” he said before talking about the friendliness he encounters at every Grey Cup.
“I never see any fights or anything like that because the atmosphere is so good.”
After serving as the Eskimos play-by-play man for 40 years, Hall retired from the position in 2009. He’s continued with his broadcasting career at 630 CHED as a sports host and reporter.
-With files from Phil Heidenreich
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