Best in the West: Vancouver’s Top Ten Sports Power Brokers 1995-2005

Originally published in Full Tilt in 2006

By Lucas Aykroyd

Vancouver has changed drastically over the last 10 years. Back in 1995, there was only one Skytrain line, no giant Future Shop downtown, and no wireless Internet access at Blenz. Nobody had heard of Nickelback, leading restaurants like West and Feenie’s didn’t exist, about 50,000 fewer people lived in the city of Vancouver, and Mike Harcourt was the NDP premier of British Columbia.

Likewise, the Vancouver sports scene has changed. It’s no easy job to pick this city’s top ten sports power brokers from 1995 to 2005. Some are still at the top of the heap, while others have seen their influence wane or virtually vanish. Looking over this list, you might even say “Who?” to a couple of names. But without the tireless efforts of these individuals, Vancouverites certainly wouldn’t have the feast of sporting entertainment we enjoy today.

1. BRIAN BURKE

How He Made the List: After being hired June 22, 1998 as the president and GM of the Vancouver Canucks, the fiery Irishman turned the team’s fortunes around, on and off the ice. The Canucks are indisputably #1 in this city today, and that wasn’t the case during the dark Mike Keenan years.

Can Be Proud Of: Posting four straight 90-plus point seasons and playoff appearances. Building an exciting team with acquisitions like Ed Jovanovski from Florida, the Sedin twins with the #2 and #3 picks in 1999, and local hero Trevor Linden from the New York Islanders. Making the club profitable despite the weak Canadian dollar. Restoring the Canucks’ community bonds by promoting Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, the Sun’s Raise-a-Reader Campaign, teaching law at UBC, and so on.

Nemesis: Former Orca Bay CEO Stan McCammon (with apologies to Province sportswriter Tony Gallagher)

Famous Quotes: “Kevin Weekes is the goalie of the future” (after picking up the stopper from Florida in 1999); “To move this team takes one phone call. Twenty-five cents and a pay phone to move this team” (in 2000 after Ottawa reneged on a plan to help out Canadian clubs) “I said if [Trent Klatt] could get the right deal, I’d drive him to the airport” (after letting the gritty forward sign with L.A. in 2003)

Verdict: We miss you (and your famous quotes), Brian. Good luck in Anaheim (except against the Canucks!).

2. JACK POOLE AND JOHN FURLONG

How They Made the List: Okay, Poole and Furlong aren’t actually welded at the hip, but they are inseparable in terms of the work they did to land the 2010 Olympics, the biggest sports event this city will ever see.

Go the Extra Furlong: The Irish-born Richmond resident traveled more than 1.2 million miles while promoting Vancouver’s Olympic bid, and was appointed the CEO of the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee (VANOC) in 2004. A member of the BC Sports Hall of Fame, he starred on various national basketball, handball and squash teams.

Deep End of the Poole: As the CEO of Vancouver’s 2010 bid, he won the confidence of governments, sports leaders, and the business community. Now chairing the VANOC board of directors, the Saskatchewan-born businessman and holder of the Order of British Columbia is continuing to build Games partnerships and sponsorship agreements.

Verdict: This dynamic duo would probably be #1 on this list if we’d already finished hosting the “best Games ever,” as Juan Antonio Samaranch used to say.

3. RON TOIGO

How He Made the List: Faster than a hungry ten-year-old devouring a White Spot Pirate Pak, Toigo has escalated the prestige of junior hockey in this city. He didn’t just bring the Vancouver Giants to the Pacific Coliseum starting in 2001-02. He helped build the WHL team from a bottom-feeder into an exciting Memorial Cup contender that averaged 8,400 fans last season, fourth-highest in Canada.

Bringing the Best to Vancouver: The Giants owner-president and director of Shato Holdings Ltd. played a major role in landing the 2005 CHL Top Prospects Game, the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship, and the 2007 Memorial Cup.

The Mouth That Roared: Toigo wasn’t afraid to slam Sidney Crosby when the scoring phenom took a pass on last year’s CHL Top Prospects Game in Vancouver. And when Giants captain Mark Fistric was left off Team Canada’s 2006 roster, Toigo told the media: “If there’s 12 [defencemen] better than Mark Fistric, I don’t see how we wouldn’t win a gold medal for sure.”

Bet You Didn’t Know: When Toigo owned the WHL’s Tri-City Americans in the 1990’s, discussions were held about the possibility of Wayne Gretzky buying the Tri-City Coliseum, but nothing came of it.

Verdict: Toigo’s star will continue to rise if the Giants win the Memorial Cup next year.

4. JOHN MCCAW

How He Made the List: This reclusive billionaire is sometimes dubbed Vancouver’s answer to Howard Hughes. One of the 400 richest people in the United States with an estimated worth of $1.2 billion, McCaw bought the Canucks, Grizzlies, and GM Place from Arthur Griffiths in 1995 for a reported $200 million US. He wasn’t prepared to continue losing money with his troubled NBA expansion franchise, selling off the Bumbling Bears, who ultimately relocated to Memphis. But today, the 55-year-old telecom tycoon retains half-ownership of the Canucks.

The Mouth That Didn’t Roar: “Tonight, I’m here as a fan” (McCaw’s sole comment during his first meeting with Vancouver reporters at a March 1995 Canucks-Leafs game)

Bet You Didn’t Know: McCaw owns a luxury home on Isleboro off the coast of Maine, where his neighbours include John Travolta and Kirstie Alley.

Verdict: McCaw lost millions on the Canucks early on, but refrained from moving the team. So be grateful.

5. DAVID BRALEY

How He Made the List: As the owner of the BC Lions for the past nine years, Braley’s pumped about $15 million into Vancouver’s CFL franchise. Whether or not the Hamilton-based industrialist retains his stake in the team in the future, you can’t overlook the Lions’ success on Braley’s watch. That includes two Grey Cup appearances, including a championship in 2000, plus hosting the big game in 1999 and 2005 (the latter a sold-out event). Hiring quality people like GM Bob Ackles and coach Wally Buono ranks as another feather in Braley’s cap. Now if only he could sort out that pesky quarterback controversy…

Remember When: As recently as 2002, BC’s average attendance sank to 18,507. But Braley stuck it out, revitalized the team’s marketing campaigns, and enjoyed three sellouts at the Dome this year, with crowds often running between 30,000 and 35,000.

Verdict: Hey, what’s come out of Hamilton that’s better than David Braley? (OK, maybe the 1987 Canada Cup final between Canada and the Soviets.)

6. DAVID STADNYK

How He Made the List: Circa 2000-01, David Stadnyk was the Vancouver sports scene’s answer to the Backstreet Boys in pop music: young, hot, successful, and high-profile, but sometimes accused of questionable talent.

The Good: The Howe Street investor bought the Vancouver 86ers from David Braley, who’d owned the team from 1997 to 2000, and rechristened them the Whitecaps. Stadnyk picked up the Vancouver Angels women’s soccer team and was one of three original investors in the Vancouver Ravens pro lacrosse club, in addition to making AM 1040 an all-sports radio format.

The Bad and the Ugly: Stadnyk pulled out of the Ravens before the team even got going, and he relinquished ownership of the Whitecaps in 2002, citing losses of $800,000. His investment background recently came under fire in the Vancouver Sun’s business pages.

Bet You Didn’t Know: As a young teen, Stadnyk reportedly once played tennis against Pete Sampras.

Verdict: The Backstreet Boys are back again, so anything’s possible.

7. TREVOR LINDEN

How He Made the List: The 35-year-old Medicine Hat-born forward is arguably the most beloved figure in Canucks history. Even though his scoring ability waned after he famously led the ‘Nucks to the 1994 Stanley Cup finals, he remained the heart and soul of the franchise. After being traded to the New York Islanders in 1998, he languished for more than three seasons in the Eastern Conference, but he helped revitalize the Canucks after returning to his adopted city in November 2001. Today, the Kitsilano resident is renowned not only for his work with children’s charities, but also his role in ending the NHL lockout as president of the NHL Players Association.

Can Be Proud Of: Won the 1996-97 King Clancy Trophy for leadership on and off the ice and humanitarian community contributions. Played his 1,000th NHL game on March 26, 2002 in Los Angeles. Received the Order of British Columbia in 2003. Met independently with NHL Board of Governors chairman Harley Hotchkiss on January 19, 2005 to kickstart stalled negotiations during the lockout.

Nemesis: Verbally abusive former Canucks coach Mike Keenan

Bet You Didn’t Know: As an 18-year-old rookie, Linden roomed with 34-year-old Harold Snepsts on the road.

Verdict: No matter where Trevor goes or what he does, Vancouver will always be his home.

8. CHARMAINE CROOKS

How She Made the List: Vancouver’s landed one Olympics, but this former track star qualified for five Summer Olympics, earning a silver medal in the 1984 4 x 400 relay. In her 18-year career, Crooks also won numerous medals at the Commonwealth and Pan-American Games. But in many respects, the Jamaica-born athlete has been even more influential since retiring in 1998. She took a seat on the International Olympic Committee in 1999 and serves as a VANOC board member for 2010. A public speaker, TV commentator, and charitable worker, Crooks is a powerful role model for young women and people of colour–and Canadians at large.

Serving Justice: In June 2004, it was Crooks who presented Canadian cross-country skier Beckie Scott with the 2002 Olympic gold medal for the 5K pursuit race, after two Russian skiers were finally disqualified for doping at those Games.

Did You Know?: Crooks was just 17 when she first made the Olympic team in 1980, but Canada boycotted the Games in Moscow that year due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Verdict: More success is in the books for Charmaine Crooks.

9. JOHN SCHAPPERT

How He Made the List: The 35-year-old senior vice-president and general manager of Electronic Arts Canada doesn’t exactly dominate local gossip columns. But Schappert takes responsibility for the popular EA Sports series, which is produced at the world’s largest video game studio in Burnaby with close to 1,500 employees. Since joining EA’s Canadian operations in 2002, the Miami-raised and educated guru has helped the company earn an extra $1 billion US-plus. That’s a pretty nice boost for the Vancouver economy, and it also brings stars like Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat into town to participate in creating these games.

He Got Game: Titles Schappert has overseen include NHL Hockey, NBA Live Basketball, Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer, and Triple Play Baseball. His job touches on everything from programming, audio and artwork to research and development and quality assurance.

Verdict: Annual video games sales now exceed the movie industry’s total box office revenue, so watch for Schappert to sport an even higher profile in the future.

10. DAN RUSSELL

How He Made the List: Talk shows come and go in this city, but Dan Russell is one of the true survivors. As the host of Canada’s longest running sports talk show, the 44-year-old Richmond native may not be quite as influential as he was back in the 1980’s on CJOR and CKWX, when opportunities for fans to spout their opinions to the public were far more limited. But after being relegated to the Internet-only MyCityRadio.com earlier this decade, he’s rebounded nicely with CKNW and continues to attract a loyal audience with a strong roster of Sportstalk guests. So does the 21-year veteran of the airwaves hate the Canucks or blindly worship them? You be the judge.

Finding His Voice: Russell long aspired to become the radio play-by-play announcer for the Canucks. But after getting to fill in for John Shorthouse on a few occasions, he told the Vancouver Sun: “I love doing play-by-play, but what I learned was that I love doing Sportstalk more.”

Do You Remember?: Guesting on Sportstalk, Brian Burke once claimed he’d be willing to fight Canuck defenceman Doug Lidster over a contract dispute.

Verdict: No single media member in this city has the power to hire and fire coaches and general managers, so to speak. But Russell sure knows how to rile ’em up.

Some Future Top Ten Candidates

Francesco Aquilini: When the local real estate developer bought 50 percent of the Vancouver Canucks on November 17, 2004, he told reporters: “We’re committed to being investors and not managers. It’s our intention to leave the day-to-day running of the team and Orca Bay to the people who do it best.” So how much impact will Aquilini’s purchase ultimately have?

Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi: Despite not topping the NHL scoring derby in the early part of 2005-06, these dynamic forwards will forever hold a place in local hockey fans’ hearts if they can lead the Canucks to the Stanley Cup. It would be a good start if one of them brought home a gold medal from the Turin Olympics.

Greg Kerfoot: After acquiring the Vancouver Whitecaps late in 2002, the former Crystal Decisions software executive made it a priority to relocate the soccer team out of Swangard Stadium. If Kerfoot’s plans to build a swanky new stadium on the Gastown waterfront succeed, he’ll definitely merit mover-and-shaker status.