Calling the plays at live sports events
Name: Reed Duthie Age: 28 Position: Play-by-play announcer and on-air personality
Job description: During a sports broadcast, my voice is the narration for the action, describing what the viewers are seeing and why the action is happening the way it is. I have had the honour of being the voice for the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL and AHL), Yates Cup, Allan Cup, ESSO Cup, Canadian Bowl, Mixed Martial Arts events in Hamilton, London and Belleville.
Is this the job you thought you’d be doing? It’s the job I had always hoped to be doing. Sports broadcasting has been a dream of mine from a very young age. The voices of some of the iconic announcers in big games always captivated me and I wanted to be able to make people feel the same way I did, listening.
Advice to others on launching a career: Follow your heart; if you believe you can do it and you have a passion for it, give it your best shot. Don’t listen to naysayers but constantly reach out for constructive criticism and advice.
Roots: Born and raised in Hamilton. Grew up in the east end, attended A.M. Cunningham, Memorial and Delta schools. Spent my childhood bouncing around Rosedale and Parkdale arenas as well as Copps Coliseum (now FirstOntario Centre), where I saw my first live hockey game in 1992: Hamilton Canucks versus Providence Bruins. Twitter handle: @rcduthie iPhone, Android or BB? iPhone
Recent Tweet or FB update: My picture, with Hamilton Bulldogs leading goal scorer Matthew Strome.
Networks: Been with Cable 14 Hamilton since 2009, and always trying to get more involved in the community, especially on the sports side.
Favourite restaurant in the downtown: Ye Olde Squire (especially after a broadcast).
Best feature of life in Hamilton: The diverse community; no matter what you enjoy we have it in Hamilton, be it food, art, sports, music. This wonderful city blends it all together in a way that’s impossible not to fall in love with.
What would make Hamilton a better city: Investment downtown and continued development from the east end to downtown. Over the past decade we’ve seen a real rebirth in this city. But to continue that and improve on it, Hamilton must keep growing from the east end through the downtown, adding business and jobs.
Contacts: Twitter: @rcduthie; email: reed.duthie@live.ca
Quote: No one can take your dream away if your faith in yourself is as strong as the steel that built this city.
If you know a Young Professional who would make a good candidate for this Hamilton profile series, send an email to shenderson@thespec.com