Mom instilled in me my passion for sports

Mario Langlois was born at Magog Hospital, but lived in Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley before the family moved to Magog when he was six years old. He and his brothers, Robert and Vincent, lacked nothing despite the fact that their father, Denis, was often away from home because he worked in Baie-James. His father taught him that you are never better served than by yourself. If it weren’t for his mother, Pauline’s passion for sport, he wouldn’t be practicing the job of radio presenter today that he adores.

In a rowboat fishing with your father.

The most beautiful moments I spent with my family were fishing in a rowboat with my father on Lake Massawippi or Lake Memphremagog, not to mention ice fishing in winter.

You were throwing ball with your mother.

I have always favored baseball. My mother joined us to throw the ball. When I talk about it today, I get goosebumps.

You dreamed of being a sports descriptor just like René Lecavalier.

Come to think of it, I set the bar so high that I was never able to reach his skill level. I was describing street hockey games or baseball games with my player cards.

Your favorite players were Guy Lafleur, Bobby Orr and Vladislav Tretiak.

When I made a save, I shouted very loudly: “What a save by Tretiak! My friends were whining at my mom for me to shut up after a stoppage, she was just smiling at them.

Gaétan Boucher was also a star for you.

I took part in the provincial speed skating championships in Sherbrooke. Unfortunately, with my hockey skates on my feet, I crashed in the semi-finals.

You were describing imaginary baseball games.

My uncle André had invented a baseball board game using a deck of cards. I filled my score card with fictitious names according to the player cards I had collected.

You collected baseball player cards.

I tossed the player card I had in my hands at the wall and Mom heard me shout, “Pete Rose just hit a double against the right field fence!” »

You also liked to follow politics.

Radio-Canada at the time presented all the political conventions. Here I am in front of our television for a whole weekend watching the appointment of Joe Clark as leader of the Conservative Party.

Saturday night hockey at your grandparents…

We were young and, with my uncle André, we watched the Canadiens game. My uncle provided us with a jersey from the Canadiens and the other team for my brother and me.

The old “Théroux stadium” in Magog marked your life.

I spent my summers there, which seemed like an eternity of pleasure, because going back to school seemed so far away in my mind! I played baseball, umpired games, scored games, and at age 12 was the manager of the championship-winning Atom team.

Cycling through the streets of Magog…

Thanks to my first job as a street vendor in the Tribune and marker, I was able to buy two 10-speed bikes.

Why two?

Because my two bikes were stolen. So people would see me just 11 years old with mom’s bike and my younger brother’s baby seat attached to the bike.

Mario Gosselin made you live your 15-second moment of glory.

The day before, journalist Jean-Guy Rancourt, from the Tribune, had described me as a proud baseball competitor. Mario Gosselin, the star of the Cantonniers and future player of the Nordiques, who I thought did not know me, greeted me on the school bus, emphasizing that I was a proud competitor. A few weeks later, I was playing ball hockey with him on the street…because I had a goal net.

You participated in a cultural exchange.

As part of a school program, I spent two weeks with a family in Newmarket, Ontario, to learn English.

You were involved in minor hockey.

I was the house scorer and announcer at the Magog arena for minor hockey and the Cantonniers Midget AAA de Magog. During the Atome/Pee-Wee tournament in Magog, I was barely 16 years old, and I had to introduce Guy Lafleur to the crowd…

Your first meeting with Guy Lafleur was memorable.

I had prepared myself well for my long speech and each time he came to put his foot on the ice, I had not yet finished my remarks. Guy told me I had a good pair of hands. I was so nervous that I told him I didn’t have the skill or flexibility of his to score goals. He had started laughing.

“Hello Mario, are you dead? »

The first words my mother wrote to me in her letter when I was studying communications at Cégep de Jonquière. I then quickly understood her message, because I hitchhiked back and forth from Jonquière to Magog to see her.

You would have liked to meet President Barack Obama.

Yes, not to discuss politics, but rather what he said in his legendary “A New Beginning” speech.

You have three children.

I have spent most of my life at the Magog arena with my children, Karel, 33, Raphael, 18, and Maëva, 16. These are precious moments that I will always appreciate. Besides, the reality is that my children are the cornerstone of my life.

Tomorrow is a special day for you.

Indeed, I would like to wish my mom and all the other mothers a “Happy Mother’s Day”. Besides, we only have one mother, and I love mine very much.