Hi this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “, brought to you by Auto Logic…..the Logical Choice !
Perspective is everything.
As the Attack bus rolled out of the parking lot at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth for the final time, the discussion quickly turned to what we would, and wouldn’t, miss about Plymouth, the Whalers & the CSA.
Among the items I tossed out for the discussion was the lingering image of James Ramsay from January 22nd, 2000.
On that night, a very good Whalers team was in the process of dismantling the Platers 7-0, when the Plymouth coaches elected to give James Ramsay a shift.
Ramsay, a hulking, physical specimen, lined up against Jason Kowalski of the Platers.
With a last name like ” Kowalski “, understandably Jason’s nickname was ” Killer “, but that’s where the similarities between Jason and the vaunted wrestling villain ended.
Regardless, Ramsay tore into Kowalski and battered him viciously, even propping him for additional licks.
When the mismatch ended, James Ramsay celebrated as if he’d dethroned Mike Tyson, the crowd roared their adoration and the Plymouth bench, including the coaching staff, were equally jubilant with high fives & fist pumps.
The entire scene bothered me like no other, still does, and in all honesty, as a professional, I totally violated every code of conduct for a broadcaster as I maliciously vilified Ramsay and the Whalers for the act.
Keep in mind, this was also the days of Internet infancy, and in Ottawa, James Ramsay’s mother was shocked at what she was hearing from the Owen Sound radio announcer, and quickly informed Bayshore Broadcasting that she would be lodging a complaint with the CRTC.
A decade and a half later, as I recounted this tale, Attack rookie Keenan Reynolds, sitting in the seat across from me, related James Ramsay was on the coaching staff of his Minor Midget team in 2014 and is a great guy.
Perspective is everything.
I’m Fred Wallace