Remembering John Spragge

Thu, 2008-12-18 15:32.

Dave Trafford

I often catch our staff around here saying, "We lucked out..." because they came up with a great story or an unexpected interview. They actually think they were just in the right place at the right time. To some degree, that's true. But the fact is, they were in the right place because their instincts and experience had drawn them there. They trusted their own gut reaction and found themselves in places that led to award winning news coverage of a breaking news story or the opportunity to make an observation about a story no one else had.

I find myself telling them, "You've got to be good to be lucky". Admittedly, being good at what you do may not bring you the kind of luck you need to win the lottery or a coin toss, but it brings you the kind of luck Gretzky had around the net.

I have been "good enough" to hang around the broadcast industry for more than 25 years and that has brought me a certain amount of luck. Today, I realize how lucky I was to work with John Spragge. John passed away earlier this week after a protracted battle with cancer.

Many of you will remember John as the midday jock on 1050 CHUM back in its hay-day. He was a part of that legendary crew who branded Top 40 Radio in this country. John was also the Program Director here at CFRB for 13 years. You think Steve Kowch has his hands full managing personalities like Bill Carroll, John Moore, Stephen LeDrew and Michael Coren? Spragge had to "manage" Wally Crouter, Gordon Sinclair, Betty Kennedy, Jack Dennett.

I first met John in the mid 90s, long after he had "retired" from broadcasting. On paper he was a consultant, but in the station he was the Program Director at TALK640. I was the News Director and Assistant PD. I knew his track record and I knew that kind of respect he commanded. He sure wasn't what I expected.

Here was a guy with Hall of Fame credentials, essentially being coaxed back to the business in order to help stabilize a struggling station. I was braced for big plans and an ego to go with them. Didn't happen.

John showed up for work on his first day with his briefcase in one hand and an empty box in the other. "The briefcase", he said, "is for carrying work to and from the office. The box is to carry all my stuff home when I get fired." And that's how he conducted business. Straight forward and realistic but not without a sense of humour and a quick smile to put some ballast in the keel.

The remarkable thing about John was that he stood out as an "eye-level" guy in a bigger than life industry. He was a relatively shy, reserved guy. But he was never afraid to tell you what he thought or, more important, he was never afraid to ask you what you thought. He was quick with praise and encouragement, but never held back when he thought I was on the wrong track.

"Trafford....that's just flatter than piss on a plate!"

I never asked him where that phrase came from or whether he'd researched it...but I knew exactly what he meant!

And that was the magic of John Spragge. No matter the format, no matter the audience, no matter the situation, John was the consummate communicator. Sure, he understood how to tell a great story and engage his listener. But, most important, John knew how to make others around him more engaging because he was, first and foremost, an excellent listener.

I have had the great fortune of working with a number of industry giants like Bill Carroll, Dave Agar, Tayler Parnaby and Jane Hawtin. I have learned valuable lessons from each one of them on how to hone my craft as a broadcaster and a manager.

But John Spragge is the guy who taught me that this job, on and off the air, is about "the listening" not just "the talking"; that my stories really have to be about the audience not about "the newsmaker"; and that being a skilled listener only makes is easier to trust your instincts.

Despite the petty, snakepit comments I read posted on an internet site by Larry Leblanc, (the day after John died!), John Spragge is/was precisely the kind of guy this industry needs.

I'm lucky to have had the good fortune to know him.

God bless, John.