Harvard moves ‘Ballsy’ from broadcast booth, but keeps him on Sportscage
Long-time Regina radio personality Michael Ball, who spent the past two seasons handling Saskatchewan Roughriders play-by-play duties on CKRM, is being replaced on the CFL team’s broadcasts.
Harvard Media, owner of the radio station, distributed an inter-office memo Tuesday announcing an “evolution” in its ongoing partnership and would be “beginning a search for a new voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.”
Harvard thanked Ball for 25 years of service and said he would resume hosting CKRM’s re-launched Sportscage daily call-in show after a short holiday. The announcement came after the company earlier in January revamped its management team.
Known as “Ballsy” for his caustic, opinionated and argumentative personality on social media and as a morning-show host on CKRM’s sister station, The Wolf, Ball had been a sideline reporter during Roughriders broadcasts and handled play-by-play for 16 seasons with the University of Regina Rams.
Messages were sent to Harvard and Ball requesting interviews. Harvard declined to comment. Ball replied, saying he might make a statement in the future.
The company did not reveal plans for colour analyst Luc Mullinder or its pre- and postgame shows, which were hosted by Daniella Ponticelli before she moved to Toronto as a freelance contractor handling play-by-play for Professional Women’s Hockey League games. One source said Saskatoon-based sportscaster Wray Morrison was being considered as the new host.
Ponticelli had also been a sideline reporter with CKRM and the play-by-play voice for Rams games; she was a finalist two years ago for the Riders gig. Sean Kleisinger, a producer and on-air personality at Harvard who did Rams play-by-play last season, would be a candidate, especially if the Roughriders followed the lead of numerous professional sports franchises and set up their own in-house production.
Ball replaced Derek Taylor, who spent three seasons calling Riders games before moving to Winnipeg to assume that role with the Blue Bombers.
As the rights-holder, Harvard has final say regarding the broadcasts and their personnel, usually making those decisions in consultation with the football team. Previous Roughriders administrations frequently got upset with the station’s broadcasters and tried to change personnel or reduce on-air criticism from their radio partner. Although he was the voice of the Riders, Ball wasn’t used by the team to host or promote its events.