It's only fitting TSN helps mark a couple of firsts for Chris Cuthbert's on-air debut with the network.
Never before has the station broadcast a pre-season CFL game, which makes Touchdown Atlantic unique in itself.
But this will be the first pro contest played in the Maritimes as the CFL tries to showcase its product to Halifax.
The defending Grey Cup champ Toronto Argonauts take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats tomorrow (5 p.m.) and Cuthbert will be joined in the booth by long-time colourman Glen Suitor for the first of his 35 games this season.
Since getting the axe from CBC in February, the veteran voice of Hockey Night in Canada and the CFL has been anxious to put the headset back on.
"I might mention the wrong call letters once," Cuthbert said. "But if it does happen, it will be the first and last time.
"All the guys would all put signs in front of them the first year we did Renegades instead of Rough Riders. I didn't make that mistake, so knock on wood I won't make this one."
With Cuthbert joining the football crew and Matt Dunigan returning to his chair as a studio analyst, TSN is fully stocked on talent this season.
John Wells and Rod Black will split the remaining 19 games, giving each play-by-play man ample time for game-day preparation.The network will also broadcast 21 games in high definition, including one Friday Night Football contest each week.
There will be upgrades in other areas as well. The virtual first-down marker and possession arrow will be used in all 53 regular-season games and an endzone camera is in use for all broadcasts, giving a field-level view for instant replays.
TSN took Cuthbert across the country to CFL training camps before he landed in Halifax for the game. When he previously did CFL games, he wouldn't get to see training camp because of the lengthy NHL playoff run.
So the response he's seen from players, coaches and media has overwhelmed the Brampton, Ont., native.
"In the last week or so, I'm more surprised TSN is considered the network of record in the CFL," Cuthbert said.
"I understand it more because they have 56 games. I'll do triple the number of games that I did in the past."
After being fired by the CBC, Cuthbert has felt an outpouring of love from fans across the country. He never realized he was so popular.
But even as a free agent, so to speak, he never tried to gain employment in the U.S., where the money would be better.
"I would have thought about being the voice of an NHL team," he said. "But that would have meant not doing the CFL, which I didn't want to consider."
HIGH SCORE NUMBERS: The Score cashed in on the NBA playoffs this week, recording its highest ratings ever for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final. The game drew 182,000 adult viewers Monday. In the first three rounds of NBA playoffs, the viewership increased by about 57% over last year.
WEEKEND HIGHLIGHT
After a year's absence, Jacques Villeneuve makes a return to the track named after his father in Montreal. TSN is ramping up its coverage with live qualifying and racing. Vic Rauter calls the action alongside analysts John Watson and Gerald Donaldson. Todd Lewis hosts the program from the studio and TSN will also have a one-hour pre-race show:
* Qualifying, tomorrow, 11 a.m.; race, Sunday, 11 a.m., Ch. 21, TSN
CLASSIC REPLAYS
With Iron Mike making another attempt to salvage his career at age 38, TSN is going back to look at what made Mike Tyson great. In This Corner's Russ Anber host a one-hour program highlighting Tyson's rise to stardom and his fall from grace. Tyson will fight journeyman fighter Kevin McBride tomorrow. Anber has an interview with Tyson on his show this week but the heavyweight saved his best stuff for the press conference. "I'm going to gut you like a fish," Tyson told McBride:
* Tonight at 5 p.m., TSN
YOU JUST HAD TO SEE IT
Evander Holyfield has danced around some of the best heavyweights of all time but now he's taking on another challenge. The former heavyweight champion is taking his shot at a different title in Dancing with the Stars. Battling against illuminaries such as Trista from the Bachelorette, supermodel Rachel Hunter and Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block, Holyfield is stuffing himself into a tuxedo for a ballroom dancing competition on ABC. The champ and his partner Edyta performed a difficult quick-step on this week's episode.
