A recent Free Press article by Gordon Sinclair:

Someone once asked me if I have ever regretted something I've written.

Yeah, it happens.

Sometimes I've regretted something I've written even if I have no reason to, other than the person in my sights isn't a bad guy. And later, when one considers the impact of the written word on the man and those who love him, there's a sense of sadness. Especially when it didn't end well for him.

So it was with Garth Buchko.

Of course, back then it wasn't just me who was pounding the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' rookie CEO over the protracted construction of Investors Group Field and the game-day frisking fiasco. The frustrated fan base was enraged, too. The slick-looking Buchko was everyone's favourite punching bag when the Winnipeg Football Club was fumbling everything on and off the field.

And after completing just 18 months of a four-year contract that was reported to be worth about $400,000 annually, Buchko was sacked.

Actually, his departure last August was officially described as a resignation, but the timing and who went with him -- the Bombers' woeful general manager, Joe Mack -- left no doubt about how it went down. Why am I revisiting this personal and professional calamity now, just a month after Buchko's 81-year-old father, Ed, died?

In hope of better days ahead for Garth Buchko and his family.

I heard a rumour on the weekend that finally, a full two years after Buchko left his general manager's position at Corus Entertainment's cluster of Winnipeg radio stations to join the circus that was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Corus is looking to finally put someone in the chair Buchko vacated and was never filled locally.

So does that mean Buchko could be returning to his old familiar role at CJOB, Power 97 and Fresh FM? That's what I was wondering Sunday afternoon when I emailed Calgary-based Corus executive Garry McKenzie in hopes of verifying the rumour and another one that went with it -- that Buchko had applied to get his old job back.

Back in March 2012, right after Buchko left the stations he'd led for 16 years, McKenzie was appointed regional general manager for Corus Radio in Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton, effectively replacing Buchko without replacing his position. That's why I emailed him with my questions.

McKenzie confirmed they were looking to put a full-time GM back in Winnipeg. He went on to say Corus is in the process of interviewing candidates, internally and externally, and they hope to make an announcement in the next month to month-and-a-half.

"There is a lot of interest in the position and we are taking our time before making a decision," McKenzie added. So was Buchko one of the candidates?

"Yes," McKenzie responded, "Garth is a potential candidate."

When I reached Buchko by text, he declined to comment on that.

But when I left a voice-mail message asking how he had been doing, he did have something more to say. His goal since leaving the Bombers had been to stay away from the media spotlight and the scrutiny that went with it.

No wonder, given the shelling he absorbed and the direct hit that followed.

"I am currently consulting," he added. "I am also working out of Winnipeg Harvest running the charity I started, called Hunger for Hope."

Then he referred with gratitude to those who have stood by him.

"I have seen so much support from many people in the business community over the past six months."

Two of those business people who are friends of Buchko are also friends of mine. One is my wife's cousin, Peter Ginakes, who owns and operates the Pony Corral restaurants that started advertising with CJOB when Buchko was there.

"He's a good guy," Ginakes said. "Like solid. He was a pro at his job, great to work with. If you had a problem, he would deal with it. And he would reach out to his customers."

Similarly, Larry Updike, who worked for Buchko for nearly a decade as the CJOB morning man, has only praise for him as a boss.

"First-rate" said Updike. "He knows his craft very well and he tried to create a really positive working atmosphere in the station."

I got the sense Updike would like to see him back leading Corus Radio in Winnipeg. Ginakes certainly hopes his pal goes back to doing what he does best.

For what it's worth, I'll second that emotion. Garth Buchko was the wrong guy at a very wrong time for the Bombers. But granted the opportunity, he could be the right guy at the right time for Corus Entertainment.

You do realize that the breaks for news, weather, etc are mandated in their license.

Well then they should move the sports to FM then. Its impossible to listen with such a choppy bad format. Also if it's I'm the license then how can they broadcast the games without the breaks?

Its just to bad they can't have a nice format like on espn radio where they can actually sustain a conversation.

It has nothing to do with AM or FM. Stations like TSN Radio have a sports programming license - CJOB's license is for a news format. CJOB is allowed to air football without the news breaks during the game but they do have them at half-time.

It has nothing to do with AM or FM. Stations like TSN Radio have a sports programming license - CJOB's license is for a news format. CJOB is allowed to air football without the news breaks during the game but they do have them at half-time.

 

Crappy,  I'm not familiar with all of this as I'm under 40 and therefore never listen to the radio.         It's unfortunate that the CFL isn't big enough to have anything remotely as good as the NFL where you get news and chatter online , on tv and on satellite radio....

You do realize that the breaks for news, weather, etc are mandated in their license.

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Licenses or not, companies will pay to have advertisements played during certain stations programming.

 

My issue with the call in show, is that it's evident that the call screener as no idea what he or she is doing.

Garth Buchko is moving on.

The former Winnipeg Blue Bomber CEO and local radio station executive is relocating in Kamloops, B.C., where he will assume an ownership stake and become vice-president and general manager of NL Broadcasting.

“I am fulfilling my life-long dream of being a shareholder of a radio group,” Buchko said in a text to the Free Press.

He had been a candidate to assume his former position as general manager of the Corus Radio group of stations in Winnipeg, which includes CJOB, but the company recently announced they are filling that position with Scott Armstrong, a former Crocus executive, and more recently with Rogers Broadcasting in Winnipeg.

“This has been in the works for many months,” Buchko said of the Kamloops move. “It was always the best opportunity for myself and my family. While leaving Winnipeg and so many friends will be tough, the spectacular scenery of Kamloops and the lifestyle opportunities were too great to pass up.”

Kamloops, (population 85,000) is located in south-central British Columbia, 310 km northeast of Vancouver.

Buchko’s move comes as NL Radio’s long-time president and general manager, Robbie Dunn steps down from his operational role. Dunn will continue as president.

NL Broadcasting owns three radio stations, CHNL/The River, CKVR/Country 103 and CJKC Kamloops.

Run the Bombers for a year, make enough money to sink into owning a radio station.  Not a bad gig.

Run the Bombers for a year, make enough money to sink into owning a radio station.  Not a bad gig.

Hopefully he'll be selling radio time only. . . . not negotiating a new roof for the station!

 

Run the Bombers for a year, make enough money to sink into owning a radio station.  Not a bad gig.

Hopefully he'll be selling radio time only. . . . not negotiating a new roof for the station!

 

Yep that's Nasty alright...