Bruce McAvaney opens up in telling interview with Mark Howard

LEGENDARY sports commentator Bruce McAvaney has lifted the lid on an undeniably awkward time in his career.

THERE’S not much legendary TV caller Bruce McAvaney hasn’t done.

The 64-year-old has been the voice of sport for Australians for as long as many can remember, broadcasting 10 Summer Olympic Games, 10 AFL grand finals, the Rugby World Cup and a number of Australian Opens.

McAvaney was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to sports broadcasting and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. To say the television veteran is an Aussie icon be an understatement — which is probably why he felt a wave of mixed emotions during this year’s Australian Open.

McAvaney, who revealed in March 2017 he was fighting leukaemia, was absent from this year’s panel at Melbourne Park.

“I didn’t miss me not saying something,” he said on Mark Howard’s Howie Games podcast. “But I missed that camaraderie and the feeling of being part of a team. I kept thinking ‘gee won’t the boys and girls be excited now that Federer got through to the semi-finals’. It was the perfect storm, it was incredible.

“I’ve got to be honest, I went outside and cooked a BBQ for about 10 minutes because I couldn’t bear it — it was tricky. (I couldn’t bear) that I wasn’t there.”

Mark Howard, who is a commentator for Channel 10’s Big Bash League, said he felt similar while at home watching games he wasn’t commentating on.

“I hate to say it,” he said. “But I’m almost hoping it’s not a great game, because you want to be at the great game.”

McAvaney admitted he felt the same.

Bruce McAvaney has opened up on a harsh side of a legendendary sports broadcaster.

“There is a selfishness to it, you can’t help it,” he said. “I mean, I’ve gotta say I was thrilled and delighted at the (Federer vs. Nadal) final, but there was a little part of me that wouldn’t have minded Gilles Muller playing David Goffin.

“You do have to get used to the fact you’re not going to be front and centre — and it’s not easy. But I think the first one’s always the hardest, so next summer I’ll probably be a bit more relaxed. It was tricky and not as easy as I made it out to be.

“I’ve always had a bit of a philosophy that no-one can really impact on me, (either a) boss or a young one coming up. When I say they can’t impact on me, I respect them — all the people I’ve worked for underneath (Channel) 10 or Seven. I acquiesce to the philosophies of the network but there’s nothing they can do to me that will take any enjoyment away from me because there’s always going to be a Melbourne Cup.

“That enjoyment is very personal. It’s mine, it’s for me. It’s a strange thing and it sounds very selfish, but it’s the way I’ve worked — it’s just the way I am.”