Every week my friend and colleague Rodger Brulotte meets a personality for his “Online with…” interview. I gave him a little time out to prank him and reverse the roles. So here is my “online” interview with Rodger Brulotte, who will begin his 55th year of his career in the media and with the Expos.
You are 76 years old. Why are you still working? Could you play golf in Florida 6 months of the year?
RB: I go there one month a year. But 6 months, no, I’m not ready for that yet. I feel comfortable here (…) I continue to work because I like it. In life you work as long as you love it or your health allows.
How is your health?
RB: Until two weeks ago everything looked good after my exams. Other than growing up, I never had any health problems!
Is it true that you have never had a single glass of alcohol?
RB: Never. The irony is that I promoted Molson, Labatt and O’Keefe and never drank a glass of beer.
Not even when you were young?
RB: When I was 16 I went to the tavern with my friends and drank my Uptown soft drink or my 7up, they had their beer. It didn’t tempt me, I never had the taste.
Was it because there was alcoholism in your family?
RB: No, but I’ve seen too many of my friends make drinking mistakes. As I get older, it scares me to see this. I think alcohol ruins beautiful moments.
You didn’t smoke either?
RB: Never. My mother told me that if I didn’t smoke, I would grow up. It really didn’t work.
You sleep 4 hours a night, eat poorly, are 76 years old and work non-stop. How do you get out of there?
RB: Yes, it’s true that I eat poorly. I’m a picky foodie! Hot dogs, hamburgers, etc.
Are you eating baseball food in the back?
RB: Uh! Uh! Ah!, that’s pretty much it. But seriously, I think the secret is to love what you do. I have always loved what I did. It relieves stress. That’s what gives me my energy.
Photo Martin Chevalier / JdeM
What memory of Rodger Brulotte would you like to leave behind?
RB: If I were to leave, the greatest sign of respect anyone could show me would be the caption: “Good evening, he’s gone!”
Come on, Rodger, are you serious?
RB: Very seriously. I’m so spoiled, you can’t imagine how many times every day people come up to me and say, “Good evening, she’s gone.” It even happens at the funeral home. I feel uncomfortable because I’m so happy every time.
When and how did this sentence begin?
RB: In 1983 it was an afternoon game. It came out on its own. Jacques (Doucet) told me: You can’t say “good evening”, it’s afternoon. I told him it was somewhere in the evening, ah! Uh! Uh! (…) I was lucky, I worked with a lot of great baseball commentators. One day I was with Harry Caray (one of the greatest voices in baseball history) and a spectator asked me for an autograph. I signed my name and Harry said to me with his big glasses: “What kind of Rodger is that!” What is your sentence when there is a circuit? I said, “Good evening, she’s gone!” He said, “Okay, so that’s what you’re signing.” Since then, every time I sign an autograph, I write, “Good evening, she’s gone,” Rodger Brulotte.
When someone calls you, your voicemail says, “Good evening, she left.”
RB: Well, it’s me. Sometimes people call me to tell me not to answer just to hear it.
You know, sometimes I listen to you analyze baseball and I really disagree with you
RB: This is what I want. I want people to think about it at home. I know I can be a little provocative. And that’s the beauty of a baseball game. Everyone can cope in their own way. This is the only case where a child can contradict his father on a strategy and the father is unable to say anything.
You are comfortable with the world, you know everyone. You would have been a good political organizer who would have taken care of the long-term funding.
RB: Uh! Uh! Uh!. They all approached me about membership, but no one asked me who I was voting for. I collect donations for young people.
Are you taller than Cole Caufield?
RB: Uh! Uh! Uh! When we talk, he and I, we talk into each other’s eyes, I can tell you that! My driver’s license says 1.70 m. But in reality it’s more like 1.70 m. That’s never been my strength.
Who is the love of your life besides your wife?
RB: Without a doubt my parents, who have given me an incredible quality of life. We were in a disadvantaged neighborhood and I didn’t even know it. I didn’t miss anything. My sweater, I have three cousins who wore it before me. I didn’t have any new skates. I still have my first baseball glove. I am proud of my parents for giving it to me and my sister, who died of brain cancer at the age of 39. It was the worst moment of my life
What is the biggest regret of your life?
RB: Because I couldn’t find a way to keep the Montreal Expos going.
Honestly, Rodger, you can’t put that on your shoulders
RB: I know, but I still regret it. I wish I could find a way. I worked a lot, but I couldn’t convince people to keep her. For me it is a failure. I was watching the twins and thought it could be us. The team was in the same situation as in Montreal and it was a former wrestler, yes, yes, a wrestler, Jesse Ventura, who was the governor of Minnesota and saved the team. We lost her.
I am 35 years old. What are the chances out of 100 that I will see the Montreal Expos again?
RB: I give you the hope you are willing to accept. I found that Major League Baseball was dishonest to Mr. Bronfman and his group by suggesting that he could have a franchise.
So 0 out of 100?
RB: You should never say 0. But every year the costs increase.
I’ll ask you the question again. Answer my question. How many out of 100?
RB: I would say an easy 20%
You had a connection to the founding of Youppi! when you worked for the Expos
RB: I was responsible for the file and someone had to approve it. There were two things I wanted. Firstly, that the mascot was visible and secondly, that people, especially children, would like it.
But what is Yippi! Actually?
RB: A teddy bear.
A bear?
RB: NO ! A teddy bear is not the same. A teddy bear is something you hold in your arms. Yay! When you press it, you don’t know what it is. Is it a bear? You do not know. Is that a cat? You do not know. But you hold him because you love him.
Have you done it yet Yippi!?
RB: Uh! Uh! Uh!. No, the suit is too big.
