Bill Watters
Encyclopedia
Wilbur Wayne "Bill" Watters (born June 29, 1943 in Orillia
, Ontario
) is a Canadian sports media
personality and former Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs
.
and linebacker
with the Toronto Varsity Blues football
team from 1961 through 1964. He was a team co-captain and league All-Star at linebacker in both 1963 and 1964. In his final season (1964), he received the Johnny Copp Trophy as the team's Most Valuable Player. Watters also was a member of the Wrestling Blues
for three seasons (1961–62, 62–63, 63–64) and practiced regularly with the Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team
, although he saw limited action in league play. He earned a total of three First Colours and five Second Colours, and served on the UTAA Men's Athletic Directorate in 1963–64.
in the 1964 CFL draft draft but chose not to play professional football. Following graduation, he embarked on a career as a teacher
then turned to professional sports as a broadcaster
, player agent
(first as an employee of Alan Eagleson
and later on his own), and Assistant General Manager of Toronto Maple Leafs.
on Rogers Sportsnet
, The Bill Watters Show
on AM 640 Toronto Radio and has been a regular contributor on Q107
's John Derringer morning show. Watters was also a former co-host of Prime Time Sports
back when it first debuted in 1989. On January 14, 2011 he was let go by Rogers Sportsnet. The Bill Watters show on AM 640 Toronto Radio has been replaced by the drive-time show by Arlene Bynon
as of July 18, 2011.
Orillia, Ontario
Orillia, pronounced ōrĭl'ēə, is a city located in Simcoe County in Southern Ontario, Canada, between Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe, 135 kilometres north of Toronto.Originally incorporated as a village in 1867, the history of...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) is a Canadian sports media
Sports media
Sports Media, Inc. is a Sports Media and Marketing company that produces radio and television programming as well as representing professional athletes.-2002 Cowboys Live - Hosted by Dallas Cowboys Joey Galloway:...
personality and former Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
College career
Watters was a fullbackFullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
with the Toronto Varsity Blues football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
team from 1961 through 1964. He was a team co-captain and league All-Star at linebacker in both 1963 and 1964. In his final season (1964), he received the Johnny Copp Trophy as the team's Most Valuable Player. Watters also was a member of the Wrestling Blues
Varsity Blues
The Varsity Blues is the name for the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 26 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The Varsity Blues traces its founding to 1877, with the formation...
for three seasons (1961–62, 62–63, 63–64) and practiced regularly with the Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team
Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team
The Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team is an ice hockey team operated by the Varsity Blues athletics program of the University of Toronto. The Varsity Blues senior team won the Allan Cup in 1921 and 1927, and won the gold medal for Canada at the 1928 Winter Olympics.The Blues play in the Ontario...
, although he saw limited action in league play. He earned a total of three First Colours and five Second Colours, and served on the UTAA Men's Athletic Directorate in 1963–64.
Professional sports career
Watters was selected 2nd overall by the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
in the 1964 CFL draft draft but chose not to play professional football. Following graduation, he embarked on a career as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
then turned to professional sports as a broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, player agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
(first as an employee of Alan Eagleson
Alan Eagleson
Robert Alan Eagleson is a disbarred Canadian lawyer, convicted felon in two countries, former politician, hockey agent and promoter...
and later on his own), and Assistant General Manager of Toronto Maple Leafs.
Sportscasting career
Watters formerly co-hosted Hockey CentralHockey Central
Hockey Central is a brand of National Hockey League hockey-related programming on Sportsnet and Sportsnet 590 The Fan. The current Hockey Central products are Hockey Central, a recurring segment during broadcasts of Sportsnet Connected, Hockey Central Saturday, an hour long program appearing on...
on Rogers Sportsnet
Rogers Sportsnet
Sportsnet was launched on October 9, 1998 as CTV Sportsnet. The name was chosen to match the regional "Fox Sports Net" operations across the United States...
, The Bill Watters Show
The Bill Watters Show
The Bill Watters Show is a former sports talk radio program on CFMJ AM640 in Toronto, Ontario. Hosted by Bill Watters and Jim Ralph, it airs weekdays from 4:00pm to 7:00pm....
on AM 640 Toronto Radio and has been a regular contributor on Q107
CILQ-FM
CILQ-FM is a radio station, broadcasting at 107.1 FM in Toronto, Ontario. The station broadcasts a classic rock format branded as Q107 and is also available through streaming audio....
's John Derringer morning show. Watters was also a former co-host of Prime Time Sports
Prime Time Sports
Prime Time Sports is a sports radio talk show produced from the studios of The FAN 590 in Toronto, Canada. The show is hosted by Bob McCown.The program is broadcast weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET on The FAN 590...
back when it first debuted in 1989. On January 14, 2011 he was let go by Rogers Sportsnet. The Bill Watters show on AM 640 Toronto Radio has been replaced by the drive-time show by Arlene Bynon
Arlene Bynon
Arlene Bynon is a Canadian television and radio broadcaster, currently an afternoon talk radio host on AM 640 in Toronto, Ontario. She has also cohosted an international talk radio show with American broadcaster John LeBoutillier....
as of July 18, 2011.