Brian Williams (born 1946 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and raised in Hamilton, Ontario^[1]) is a Canadian sportscaster who is best known for his coverage of the Olympic Games.

[edit] Biography

Williams was long associated with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's sports coverage since joining the network in 1974, after radio employment at Toronto's CFRB and CHUM.

[edit] Career at CBC

Williams served as the studio host for the CBC's coverage of the CFL, Formula 1 and horse racing ^[2] and was the play-by-play announcer for the network's coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays. Along with Terry Leibel and Ron MacLean, he was a regular studio anchor for CBC's Olympic Games coverage, and will serve a similar role at CTV in 2010, which will be held within Canadian borders, in Vancouver, and 2012, but will be limited to hosting TSN's cable coverage, at most, in 2008. He also covered the 2002 FIFA World Cup for CBC. Williams has criticized the International Olympic Committee at least once for never properly honoring the Israeli delegates who were slain during the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Williams also worked with Peter Mansbridge during CBC 2000 Today, CBC's coverage of the millennium. He also currently co-hosts Don Cherry's Grapeline, along with Don Cherry.

[edit] Unique quirks

His unique voice and quirks such as frequently announcing the time, sometimes in several different time zones at once, has made him one of Canada's most distinctive broadcasters. He is a frequent subject of parody on Canadian comedy shows such as Royal Canadian Air Farce.

[edit] Departure from CBC

On June 5, 2006, he announced plans to move to rival CTV, and its sports network TSN, in December 2006. However, on June 8, 2006, the CBC fired Williams, thereby causing him to join CTV/TSN effective immediately as on-site host of TSN's Canadian Football League coverage. (This position should not be confused with the "studio host" position that remains held by Dave Randorf.)^[3]Williams was chosen to head the CTV broadcasting team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics^[4].

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Multimedia

• CBC archives - Brian hosting the opening of SkyDome in Toronto.
• Grapeline archives - Brian co-hosts Grapeline with Don Cherry.

[edit] Websites

• TSN profile
• The Brian Williams Satire Page
• Speakers' Spotlight: Brian Williams
• CTV PR: "Going For Gold. Brian Williams To Join CTV, TSN"
• TSN PR (June 9): "Brian Williams Makes CTV/TSN Debut June 16 During CFL Season Opener"