How Kypreos grabbed the Danton interview
November 10, 2009 · 12 Comments
Mike Danton ranked as a major “get” for the media when he was paroled in September after serving 63 months for conspiring to have his hockey agent murdered.
The story was bizarre enough to attract the interest of Dateline NBC. In Canada, the CBC’s Fifth Estate, which had aired previous reports, wanted the interview, as did TSN.
At the heart of the story, of course, was Danton, the St. Louis Blues forward who was estranged from his family and had been perceived to be under the spell of his manipulative agent David Frost. The presiding judge in St. Louis, where the planned hit was to take place, said he’d never seen anything quite like it during his 18 years on the bench.
That Nick Kypreos, a Rogers Sportsnet commentator and former NHL player, got the first interview with Danton is a significant achievement.
“This was unlike anything I’ve done before,” Kypreos said. “I went through the judicial system. I talked to parole officers. To find him, I talked to anybody I could.”
For Danton to restart his NHL career, which is his goal, he needed to make a public statement. And there were some obvious reasons for selecting Kypreos to do the interview.
For starters, they crossed paths previously.
“He was a southern Ontario boy, like hundreds of kids who play hockey,” Kypreos said. “In passing, we may have had a cordial conversation. But, I did not know him.”
Danton may have viewed Kypreos as less threatening than the alternatives. He could have sensed that Kypreos would be more empathetic and friendly than, say, the Fifth Estate’s Bob McKeown. He’s certainly less experienced. We’ll find out about the quality of his work tomorrow night when the 60-minute show airs on Sportsnet.
Although Kypreos does not have a background in journalism, he says he enjoys the pursuit of information.
“It’s challenging,” he said. “It’s like a jigsaw puzzle. It’s putting pieces together. It’s taking a little piece of information and gluing it together with another bit of information. It’s detective work and I really enjoy it.”
He says he arrived for the interview expecting to get four minutes for Sportsnet Connected.
“We ended up getting 80 minutes,” he said. “There’s some good stuff that will, unfortunately, hit the cutting room floor.”
He refuses to judge Danton’s believability, but says he was open and appeared to be sincere.
“We all know where he was. He was screwed up. But now you get to see him five and half years later (after his arrest in 2004) and you make the call. What do you think? Is he conning us? Is he still as troubled or is he ready to grow up?”
Danton dropped a bombshell in September when, during his parole hearing, he stated that his father had been the target in the murder conspiracy, and not Frost. But that didn’t make sense because Danton’s father had never been to St. Louis. Frost was there regularly.
Kypreos says that subject is addressed in detail during the interview.
Media people deserving of Hall
Leading up to last night’s Hockey Hall of Fame inductions in Toronto, commentators were making the case for players, such as Eric Lindros, qualifying for the Hall.
Let’s look at people who deserve to be in the media section of the Hall.
Broadcasters:
TSN’s Dave Hodge. He was hired to host of Hockey Night In Canada at age 26, and anchored the show from 1971 to 1987. His work was excellent and he was very popular. He also worked in radio, he did regional work for Minnesota North Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs, and launched That’s Hockey for TSN.
Hockey Night’s Don Cherry. Cherry’s critics would argue that his remarks about Europeans disqualify him. Still, he’s been the lead commentator on the most-watched hockey show in Canada for almost 30 years and has the highest profile of any media figure in the country.
Writers:
Tony Gallagher of The Province in Vancouver. Are the people on the selection committee slow? Gallagher, a columnist, has been covering the NHL since 1972, yet the committee consistently votes in people with fewer credentials or years on the beat. He’s controversial, and Brian Burke, when he ran the Canucks, disliked him. But so what?
Jay Greenberg. Had his ups and downs after Sports Illustrated laid him off in the 1980s. The Toronto Sun hired him to write a column, but then he wanted to return the United States. He joined the New York Post and is still there. Jay’s work as a Flyers beat writer with the Philadelphia Daily News in the 1970s and 1980s was first rate.
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Cherry’s critics would argue that his remarks about Europeans disqualify him. Still, he’s been the lead commentator on the most-watched hockey show in Canada for almost 30 years and has the highest profile of any media figure in the country.
the Cal Ripken standard of greatness. i suspect if we examined Cherry’s body of work on its own merits we would reach a different conclusion. how does he compare to his peers? is he bringing insight which others don’t?
Mr. Houston — are there statistics on how many people watch CC vs. the other intermission program, and also how CC’s numbers have performed say over the last 10 years? i suspect that his longevity is due to his popularity and i also suspect that the latter is waning as his inner Neanderthal becomes more and more visible.
Maybe it is just me, but should the HHOF or any other sports Hall of Fame for that matter even induct members of the media?
I think it is the right thing to do to honor and celebrate a fraternity of people who have actually impacted or dramatically changed the dynamic of the sport they participate in. Players, coaches, exectutives, officials would certainly qualify but I have trouble seeing where media members fit in.
Not sure a long media career in covering sport qualifies, nor does a player who has an average but long playing career.
Just curious, is there such a thing as any media type Hall of Fames?
To 4×4Time, CBC Sports has a Hall of Fame for its broadcasters and people behind the camera. Many of media selections to the Hockey Hall of Fame are questionable. It’s basically a popularity contest.
Hi Bill (if it’s okay for the great-unwashed to call you Bill, or if you prefer, I’ll go with Mr. Houston)
I’ve got a question about retired athletes moving into the media, like Kypreos. Do any of them actually take a year and go through Journalism school? I know undergads aren’t the norm in the NHL, but most in the NBA and NFL have at least “attended” college (I’m aware of what it means when professional athletes have degrees in “Communications” or “Leisure Studies”). If one has an undergrad, you can do a post-grad B.J. in less than a year and those with just high school can do a college program in about the same.
So why throw Cassie Campbell or Tie Domi right on TV and have both them and us suffer through On the job training when they could spend some time at school and learn what they are doing. Sure they get some training, but obviously not enough.
I’ll also argue against myself and say that many bloggers have shown (ie. Tao of Steib) that “amateurs” can really put professional journalists to shame.
Your thoughts?
Will: Would it ruin your theory if I said that I had a journalism degree?
Its hard to argue against some media people being in the HOF. I have a hard time believing Foster Hewitt, Danny Gallivan, Jim Robson and Rene Lecavalier did not contribute as much to the game as Clark Gillies, Bernie Federko, etc. My biggest beef is they are not in the Hall at the same level as players. They are recipients of the “such and such award” and are honourees. Come on – either in or not in. I say in.
I’m stunned that Dave Hodge isn’t in the Hall already. Fallout from his ignominious departure from CBC, maybe? I’m kind of surprised Tony Gallagher isn’t in either, but on the other hand, they do only induct one a year, and it is, as you say, William, pretty much a popularity contest from one year to the next. Cherry would have to have a pretty strong advocate on the panel to get in. On the other hand, he’ll be in eventually, his body of work is just too great to ignore; it would be kind of nice if the Hall would induct him while he’s still on TV and can crow about it.
I was just happy to see my all-time favourite broadcaster, Rod Phillips, get the award a few years back. Just knowing how humble he is and how much he loves the game and has devoted his life to covering the Oilers on radio…well, it still brings a tear to my eye thinking about it. A very deserving recipient.
Anyone remember the story of Pete Peeters violently assaulting Jay Greenberg in the 80s? Imagine if that happened today – lawsuit, charges, suspension, etc.
It was fully premeditated – the lightbulb had been prepped with vaseline.
I can’t wait to read Bill Houston’s comments about the softball interview that Kypreos did with Danton. It was very disappointing although totally expected.
Hodge should be in the Hall. I will flip the pencil in my hand if he does not get in.