Rod Black’s knowledge, versatility and enthusiasm have earned him a reputation as one of Canada’s most recognized and distinguished sportscasters.
In his 35 years as a sports journalist, Black has been involved with a variety of different events and competitions, fitting into each role with ease. Black’s extensive sports resume includes play-by-play announcing on TSN for CFL football, Blue Jays Baseball, NHL hockey, PGA Tour golf, World Championship boxing, ATP and WTA tennis, International figure skating as well as hosting duties on TSN for the Toronto Raptors, the NBA Finals, the CFL Draft, the Masters, the World Hockey Championship, the Canadian Open, the Queen’s Plate, and of course the Summer and Winter Olympics.
Black called Canada’s lone gold medal at the London 2012 Summer Olympics and pulled double duty at the Vancouver Games in 2010 by calling both figure skating and short track speed skating where Canada won a number of medals. He’s also covered the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta and was CTV’s prime time host for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway.
A consummate professional who displays passion and excitement in all that he does, Black received the 2005 Sports Media Canada award for Most Outstanding Broadcaster.
Rod has also hosted a weekly radio show “Live from Gretzky’s” – syndicated on a number of sports radio stations around North America including XM Satellite Radio.
Inducted into the media wing of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, Black’s broadcasting abilities aren’t limited to the sports world. The adaptable broadcaster is the former co-host of Canada AM – Canada’s most-watched national morning show. The six-time Gemini Award nominee for Canada’s Best Sportscaster is also the host/narrator of a variety of prime time specials and the honorary spokesperson for Plan Canada for which he received the Queen’s medallion and the Diamond Jubilee medal for volunteerism.
Rod has also hosted an annual celebrity slo-pitch game and golf tournament in his native Winnipeg, which through the years has raised thousands of dollars in bursaries for high school students pursuing post secondary education. He also donates his time to help a number of other Canadian charities – the Special Olympics, Kids Help Phone, Sick Kids Hospital, Children’s Aid Society, the Cancer Society, United Way, Ronald McDonald House, Right to Play and the Heart and Stroke Association.
A highly acclaimed guest speaker, Rod has a unique ability to connect with any audience through experience, inspiration and humor. He has been an emcee at charity functions in every part of Canada including the Bell Celebrity Gala in Toronto – the biggest event of it’s kind in the country.
Still an avid golfer, baseball and hockey player, Black tours annually with the NHL legends raising money for a variety of local charities across Canada.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world”, says Rod. “I live, work and play in the toy department of life. Best of all, I understand that even though sport is only about games – sport is also about life lessons. Learning to win, learning to fail but mostly learning about yourself and realizing that anything is truly possible.”
