Tributes pour in for sports writing legend Jim Taylor
Arguably one of Canada's funniest sports columnists, Taylor died at his Shawnigan Lake home Monday
Jim Taylor brought vertical integration to the sports writing world long before anyone knew what vertical integration was.
As the story goes, sounconvinced was teenage Jim of his talents thatwhen he landed his first reporter gig at Victoria's Daily Colonist, he kept his paper route.
That meant Taylor, who was still in high school,would attend games and file stories at night, thendeliver themto the doorsteps of his neighbourhood the next morning.
Taylor passed away Monday at his home in Shawnigan Lake, B.C. He was81.
Tributes are pouring in for the man who will be remembered as one of sharpest and funniest in Canadian sports.
Jim Taylor could have made a grocery list an entertaining read. One of the greatest sportswriters this country produced. Gone at 82. pic.twitter.com/rt49lfB1jm
—@sbarnesglobal
'Skull' was a legend. Jim Taylor had the best wit in Canadian sportswriting and loved to tell the story of how he started in the biz reviewing records for the Victoria Times and once wrote a column explaining why one guy would never make it. Elvis Pressley. https://t.co/OVfXvltKLG
—@byterryjones
Jim Taylor explains curling in 1975: "Each rink is made up of a 'lead,' who is first to the bar; a 'second,' who is a step slower; a 'third,' who arrives in time to buy the round; and a 'skip,' so called because he's always in the washroom when the tab arrives."
—@tomhawthorn
In 1965 he left Victoria to move to the Vancouver Sun, where he stayed for13 years. He thenmoved over to The Province for another 17 years before becoming a nationally syndicated columnist with the Calgary Sun.
Taylor leaves behind a body of work that includes 7,500 newspaper columnsand countless radio and television appearances. He also wrote 16 books, chroniclingthe stories of Wayne Gretzky, Rick Hansen, Greg Moore, Bob Lenarduzzi, to name a few.
Heres a Jim Taylor beauty from our archives - BMac story with Jim talking about how he first met Gretzky right here @CBCVancouver. Plus bonus footage of 99s mercifully short lived singing career pic.twitter.com/UIqe7YIGyh
—@CBCLarsen
Taylor's ability to make his audience laugh out loud was unparalleled.
His mind worked in mysterious and hilarious wayshe once wrote acolumn praising the San Diego Chickenand skeweringB.C.Lions mascot Krazy George entirely in biblical prosebut hecould just as effortlessly capture the poignancy of amoment.
Taylor's work has been recognized with many awards, includinginduction to the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame andCFL Hall of Fame, and the lifetime achievement award from Sports Media Canada.
Just heard sad news of Jim Taylors passing. One of Canadas sharpest, funniest, all-around greatest sports columnists and a good man. RIP.
—@rcamcole
Not only the best Canadian sportswriter I ever read, one of the best anywhere. RIP Jim Taylor. Not many writers of any ilk can make you laugh out loud. Skull could. Legend is an overused word but not in connection with this man.
—@GJohnsonFlames
Jim Taylor, one of Vancouvers greatest sports writers...check that... one of Canadas greatest sports writers has passed away. He wrote with an edge, and always with humour. He was the standard that others were measured against. His words will live on.
—@JSportsnet