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8 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, December 14, 1999 'SportsZone celebrates 200th show COGECO's community sports program has evolved into a popidar, live cali-in show By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Who knew being pulled out of a high school geography class could be so educational? Certainly flot SportsZone Live's Mike Hancock - whose real schooling began when he tiraI stepped in front of a camera about eighl years ago. At the lime he was interested in a co-op placement, and was close 10 slarting one wiîh Metroland's Georgetown Independent. But fate - and the executive producer of the local community programminig scienie - had different ideas for the man who today is better known as 'The Hammer'. "Dan Wagslaffe walked mbt my clans and blid me about bis plan 10 do a sports show," recalled the now-widely recognizable hoat, who'll celebrate the program's 200th episode Monday, December 20. 'Il was 16 years old and basîcally given a show. Il was pretty overwhelming." Although be didn't come up with the initial concept for SportsZone, Mr. Hancock bas been without question the driving force behind the program's evolulion. He leamned the ropes and took il from a crude haîf-hour taped show 10, its 1993 debut as an hour-long, live call-in program and finally 10 its cun-ent status as the popular fiagship of COGECO 14's community prograanming line-up. ,The 24-year-old said SportsZone Live -- which is now watched by a few Usousand cable subscribers in Milton and Halton Hilîs every Monday aI 8 p.m. -- bas survivcd and flourished for a cou- ple of reuons. One, because.hg's chosen 10 focus on the local scene rather Usan professional sports. And two, because he was able 10 find an equally entertaining and insighlful co-bost. Freestone cornes on board That piece of the puzzle came in the form of fellow sports enthusiast Pat Freestone, 31 - who was already doing movie reviews for the communily station and was invited to 1111 in on Use show one Monday in February, 1995. '1I had flipped by the show a few limes but honestly didn't have much interest in il," admitted the colour man. "Il felt like an in- crowd show, where the same people phoned in every week." But il wasn't that long before the show's appeal expanded, thanks 10, the new partnership - which afforded for more conti- nuity and better bantering on camera. Said Mr. Hancock, "There were a couple of other co-hosîn but there were always problems wiîh commilment and such. Whaî Pal did was give the show another slrong presence, in tenus of commitment and personality. It's been pure magic ever since." Since their on-air union, the two have added a number of ele- mente 10 the show including highlights from junior hockey and lacrosse games plus other bels and whistles like standings and schedules. Photo by STEVE LeBLANO Hosts Mike Hancock (left) and Pat Freestone talk shop on SportsZone Liv., which wiII celebrate lIts 200th episode Monday. And prizes for tbe weekly tnivia conteat get better eacb year. But botb agree tbat wbat keeps viewers tuned in is Useir com- mitment 10 local sports coverage - sometbing tbat many similar shows at tbe community level tend to ignore. "Who really cares wbat we bave 10 say about Use Blues Jays or Leafs?" remarked Mr. Freestone, wbo describes bimself as a know-it-all Don Cherry-type to Mr. Hancock's straigbt man Ron MacLean. "We're autborities on tbe local sports issues, flot national. If you want that, you sbould be tuning in 10 The Fan or sometbing." Work behind thse scenes SportsZone Live's bosts stress Usat a lot more work goes mbt the show than just the one bour fans see eacb week. A big, cbunk of their respective weekends is devoted 10 watcbing junior hockey or lacrosse games as well as interviewing coaches and players - while Mr. Hancock, now a fulI-time paid employee of COGECO 14, doca an additional four boums of prep work each Monday. Not that cither are complaining. Both bave a huge appreciation for local sports, tbat came even before the show began, and are proud of the ongoing validation they've received from fans across north Halton. 'Il think that's a testament to, the show's evolution," said Mr. Freestone. 'We still gel a lot of great feedback from people we've neyer met before. But I'm still surprised more people don't take advantage of the show. Where else can you jual caîl eap and have your say in a local forum?" Mr. Hancock - who's undertaken a vaniety of sports broad- casting assignments over tbe years and stili has aspirations of tak- ing bis talents to the national front - said SportsZone Live bas been particularly poignant for fans in recent years, with major events like the Milton Merchants winning the provincial champi- onship and last week's termination of Georgetown Raider coach Jay Anaderson. 'Tbe firing stirred a lot of people up. Lt just goes to sbow bow passionate people are about Useir local sports," be said. Feet soaked Mr. Hancock said be bas tborougbly enjoyed tbe experiences be's bad - anad subsequent relationsbips be's forged - tbrougb SportsZone Live. "It's a great leamning ground for anyone boping to gel into broadcasting," be said. "It's a great place 10 gel your feet wet, and rigbt now my feet are completely soaked." Added Mr. Freestone, "We've really gotten to do a lot of cool stuff. How many people can say tbey get 10 bost tbeir own televi- sion show? It's fun." But wbile SportsZone Live's hosts are always taîkative on and off air, botb are staying ratber tigbt-lipped about tbe festivities in store for next week's milestone episode. "Ail I can say is tbat we'll have some good prizes and it'll be fun," said Mr. Hancock. "You'Iljust have to tune in." Acton 21 Main Street North, Acton, ON LUJ lV9 519-85341270, or 853-4700 W rrr &7ricr ir tz.:W F à-.1 àà à'à -àà 4 lIe, à t *eet, ]V IL , a à àà à à &.L a à f ba COGECO 14 Programming Schedule - December 14th- December 2Oth, 1999 fiaiî, îam2pan Ptsged In! CaIlam12Vpm Mged In! C lani 12m pk~e hI 4pm 5 6 30pa Pluhi - ee i n 10m liam V12np Med Il tncne Ece Encore eflEncore 5:30,6:30, 7 3pn Muged In! u30,630.130per PluggedIn! 5:0p 6:0 7:30pm Pluged In! 4: L Sor e M 53,0 730 gn PlueI 600Pr aSearse 6:00pn Ca* in h Claco 6:00pm LO Scon 5:30pn SeflnW.& 6:00pn Me Sl enefe :0Opm ao il m k 80p lnC d :0mHmpgm a e 80p psOE0p Mq Nhek 7:00pen Swap Talk -ùLe 7: lisnue is.. 63p Actn SanaClas ooo0pn M On thetodge Feature this weekz "The Rockwood Christmas Parade of Ughts - Sunday, 6:30 pm"