Host, reporter, and sportscaster at Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Rob Wong, shares his experiences as a Humber student and working professional, along with his view of the sports world in the face of COVID-19.

Rob Wong is an alumnus of Humber’s Radio Broadcasting program and considered a Jack of All Trades – a trait he’s held since the start of his career in 2007. A few times per week, Rob hosts a sports talk show, Sportsnet Today/Tonight, where he discusses significant sports stories with a variety of guests along with a co-host. He provides sports updates on Sportsnet 590 The FAN and 680 News to keep listeners up to date on the most current events, and occasionally, Rob works as a reporter covering local sports teams like the Maple Leafs, Raptors, and Blue Jays.

What sparked your interest in Radio Broadcasting and sports specifically?

I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. I never really considered broadcasting until I got to high school, though, and started volunteering at local Rogers TV stations in Newmarket and Richmond Hill for my Co-Op program. Following high school, I remember looking through a college coursebook and saw ‘Radio Broadcasting’ and thought that would be something I could do since I listened a lot to what was The FAN 590 back in those days and as they say, “the rest is history.”

Talk about some of the key takeaways from your Humber program that have helped you get to where you are today.

Paul Cross (celebrated radio personality from 1050 CHUM and 104.5 CHUMFM Toronto) was my favourite teacher at Humber because he demanded a certain work ethic and passion from his students. He wanted everyone in the program to give it their all and live up to their potential. Having someone push me to get better helped accelerate my progress as a broadcaster. It was also great to have teachers that were still working in the radio business because you felt like these people knew what it took to succeed in the industry. Having access to the college’s new radio studios at the time was also a great benefit because I became familiar with state-of-the-art equipment and computer software that was completely relevant once I left Humber and started interning, then working, at Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

What are your most memorable interviews and the most memorable topics you’ve reported on in your career?

I’ve truly been blessed in my career to interview some of the biggest names in sports over the years. I’ve spoken with Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr (he gave me a bag of all sorts of licorice at the end of the interview), wrestling superstars, poker legends, and have been in plenty of reporter scrums involving sports stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Sidney Crosby, Jose Bautista and more.

I was lucky enough to be a reporter at the Jose Bautista “Bat Flip Game” in 2015. I’ll never forget being in the Blue Jays clubhouse, watching the players celebrate after they won and then watching them go back out on the field to celebrate with the fans that stuck around after the game.

Last year, I witnessed many of the Raptors playoff games first-hand, including Games 1, 2, and 5 of the NBA Finals against Golden State. That’s a career highlight as well.

How has COVID-19 impacted your work as a reporter/sportscaster, and that of the radio/media industry? What have been some of the most significant changes you’ve experienced? 

Well, it’s the first time I’ve ever done a radio show from my apartment kitchen. That took some getting used to as did the whole “no live sports” thing, but luckily, there still have been plenty of sports topics to touch on. The NFL has been busy with their offseason, and we’ve talked a lot about when pro sports might return. With media having been designated an essential service in Canada, we’ve been given an opportunity to entertain those that require an escape, even if it’s just a few hours during the day. I’ve made it a point on my recent sports talk shows to have a lot of fun. Talk about things that will make people smile or just allow them to take their minds off of everything going on right now.

Talk about the impact of COVID-19 on the sports world/community, and the void left without sport through these challenging times.

I remember when all the sports leagues shut down, a colleague brought up to me that sports are where a lot of us go to when we’re having a tough time in our lives and to not have it right now is making things a lot more difficult for some people. Sports shutting down to this level shows the severity of the situation we’re all dealing with. I am excited for when sports return because I think it will galvanize people and it will have meant that things are starting to improve in the world around us.

What role can athletes and media members have in supporting the general public as we face COVID-19 together?

I think we’ve seen the impact that athletes can have. Many have made donations to numerous charities and funds to help those affected by COVID-19, whether it’s frontline workers or families in need. As for sports media like myself, I think it’s essential for us to keep the listeners informed with factual information that matters to them, but also to entertain. Sports are supposed to be fun, after all. I know for myself, it can be challenging to watch the news right now or be on social media, and it’s nice to know that I still have sports radio and TV stations to help distract me from what’s going on.

What message would you like to share with the Humber community and the community at large?

Please continue to stay at home and practice your physical distancing. The outcome of this pandemic is partially up to us and the choices that we make, so focus on the things that you can control. And to the frontline workers: Thank you so much for the countless hours and efforts you are putting in to ensure that we are safe and get what we need. We’re all thinking of you!