Bob ‘Knuckles’ Irving ‘hanging em up

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This article was published 08/11/2021 (1100 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have a new voice in 2022.

After 47 years of calling the action for CJOB, legendary broadcaster Bob Irving confirmed on Tuesday this season will be his last.

The 71-year-old will call his final game on Dec. 5 when the Bombers host the West Division final at IG Field. Prior to kickoff, the Bombers will host a pre-game tribute for the man nicknamed “Knuckles.”

Irving got his start with CJOB in 1973 and became the play-by-play announcer for the team the following year. He’s gone on to call over 800 games and is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Blue Bombers Hall of Fame. The team’s media centre at IG Field is also named after Irving.

“I’ve been thinking about this since the start of the season. I basically had decided at that point that this would be my final year,” said Irving in a video interview with Bluebombers.com.

“I kind of waffled as the year went on but it was always gonna be this way. I’ve done this for so long and I’ve been so blessed to do it. I’m 71 years old and I’ve got some health challenges. I feel good and all the rest of it but it’s just time to kinda move on. It’s hard work now and I don’t have the energy that I used to have. It’s just time. They always say you’ll know when it’s time to retire and there’s truth in that cause I know it’s time.”