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| Joe Schlesinger was one of the best international correspondents the CBC had for decades, including the '80s. Source: https://electriccanadian.com/history/Czechs.htm (May be subject to copyright) |
Time Zones
I bought Schlesinger’s autobiography, called “Time Zones”, at a garage sale in Nanaimo when I was visiting my brother. Years later, I read the book immediately after I heard Joe Schlesinger had died.
I bought Schlesinger’s autobiography, called “Time Zones”, at a garage sale in Nanaimo when I was visiting my brother. Years later, I read the book immediately after I heard Joe Schlesinger had died.
Sometimes you find the book and sometimes the book finds you.
What struck me about the book was the way it was organized. Instead of a chronological recounting of his life, although it had elements of that, it was divided into each area of the world he covered through his career. Given his career as a journalist was defined by the various beats he covered, it was the perfect way to tell his story.
He even described himself as that guy on the news who "talked funny".
I never really noticed that, maybe because everyone around me when I was growing up "talked funny".
My strongest memory was always his sign off, “Joe Schlesinger, CBC News” followed by that part of the world he was reporting from.
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| Cory Schlesinger played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers then the Detroit Lions. He could hardly be mistaken for journalist Joe Schlesinger. That's what made the joke so funny. Source: https://nptelegraph.com/sports/ new-role-for-cory-the-fb/ article_413d1af4-5f41-58f4-8255-1ae260412116.html (May be subject to copyright) |
I equated Joe Schlesinger with a lot of things, but college football was not one of them. That’s what made the 1995 Orange Bowl so funny to watch.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers were playing Miami, essentially for the college football national championship. Nebraska was ranked number one in the country but Miami always seemed to find a way to win these big games. Nebraska had been snake bitten by Miami before. Worse, they had a bit of a knock on them that they could not win the big game.
I had not really seen Nebraska play a lot all season so I was just getting to know the players as the game went along.
What made it really fun was watching with my good friend Mike Weisbart, who also was just getting to know the team.
I recall the Cornhuskers were undefeated, but Miami was ranked number three, with just one loss, and were gunning for yet another national championship.
The Hurricanes went up 10-0 after the first quarter and 10-7 at halftime. Miami got another touchdown in the third quarter and Nebraska scored their lone points of the period, on a safety touch, to make the score 17-9 with one quarter to play.
Then a fullback I had never heard of, partly because I hadn’t watched any college football that season, named Cory Schlesinger took over.
He rumbled in from 15 yards out to close the gap to 17-15.
“Joe Schlesinger?” I yelled.
As a faithful viewer of CBC News, Mike laughed.
Nebraska then converted the two-point conversion to tie the game.
The Huskers kept feeding Schlesinger the ball.
Mike went to the bathroom, just when Schlesinger scored from 14 yards out.
“Who was it?” he asked.
“Joe Schlesinger!” I yelled.
Nebraska held on to win the game 24-17 and secure the national championship.
Parting thoughts
It was a weird game of name play, as only college kids can find funny.
It was a weird game of name play, as only college kids can find funny.
But it was such a great night. I spent it with one of my dearest friends, and I remember that more than the game itself. Especially because Mike Weisbart, a connoisseur of CBC News, is one of the only people I know who would find me "mistaking" a burly fullback from Nebraska for a senior news correspondent the least bit funny.
A few months later, it was time for the NFL draft.
When I saw Mike, I asked him who his beloved Detroit Lions took in the draft.
He got this big grin.
“Joe Schlesinger!”
“Joe Schlesinger!”
See what I mean?
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