Hockey's Scott Morrison is Loyal to His Acura MDX

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01-13-2011 | 09:01 AM

TSX69

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Hockey's Scott Morrison is Loyal to His Acura MDX

An Acura hat Trick for Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison

Profession: Hockey journalist and author

Age: 52

Hometown: Toronto

Notable achievements: Received the Hockey Hall of Fame’s 2006 Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award; author of several hockey books including the recently released Hockey Night in Canada’s Best of the Best; served 2 terms as president of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association

Currently: Satellite Hotstove feature on Hockey Night in Canada; columnist CBCsports.ca, regular on HNIC Radio on Sirius Satellite Radio

He’s a veteran journalist and a familiar face on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. For more than 3 decades, Scott Morrison has covered hockey.

He’s just as predictable and loyal to his cars as he is to his career. He drives a 2009 Acura MDX – it’s his 3rd one.

Why did you buy another Acura MDX?

I’m not a car guy, but once I fix in on something and I like it, I stick with it.

I’ve had Acuras for a long, long time. I got my first MDX back in 2001 and I love it. It drives well. It’s solid on the highway and it gets you through the snow. My son’s a hockey goalie and I can throw his gear in the back. It doesn’t feel big or boxy, but it has that extra room and comfortable feel to it.

Did you stick to the same colour, too?

I’d had a run of black cars – black sedans and my previous 2 MDXs were both black. This time, I said to my son you can pick the colour.

As an aside, my wife passed away 2 years ago and that impacted some of my decision-making about getting a new car. I just didn’t have the time, the wherewithal and the interest so I said to my son you can pick the colour, so he decided we would have a silver 1 to change things up. My wife liked that colour and he said he wanted to remember mom that way.

Getting to choose the colour and getting to move up to the front seat has a strong link to his memories of his mom.

Anything you’d change on the MDX?

I like the overall look of the previous model better. They changed the lines on this one. It’s still nice, but I liked the previous design just a little bit better. I thought it had a better shape to it.

What does an Acura say about you?

Cares about how I look, but doesn’t take it over the top.

Does the MDX have the speed of a hockey player?

It has the speed and power of a hockey player. It can be a power forward when it needs to be but it’s also got the handling so it can be a finesse player as well.

Do you like to drive fast?

This has got some zip to it so when you get on the highway it’s not hard to get moving.

I don’t like to overdo it, but one of my great frustrations is people who get in the left lane of the highway and don’t realize that’s the lane where you can go faster to get ahead of the pack.

I’m not a speed demon, but I like to get there on time. Touch wood: no speeding tickets.

What was you 1st car?

A 1969 Plymouth Valiant that my father found for me from a local school guard.

I got it when it was a dozen years old. It was green and it wasn’t a stylish car, but it was suited for an aging retired school guard. It was great for me – the roof was white; the rest of the car was a rich dark green.

It was boxy and it didn’t go very fast, but it got the job done and got me from point A to point B. Eventually I turned that into a brand-new Honda Civic, which felt like I was going to a Ferrari at that point.

I had a Honda Civic for a long time and then went up to an Accord. … Then I started with Acuras and have been there ever since.

What do you listen to on the road?

It depends on who gets control of the dials. My son is just at the age now that he’s moved into the front seat; he has the ability to grab the dial and get his stations on the radio.

I usually listen to sports talk or the traffic station, but when he gets a hold of it he has his music – I was getting pretty sick of listening to Katy Perry songs.

He tends to be winning the battles more often than me. Now I know how my parents felt when it comes to music.

What’s your dream car?

My son would take the Ferrari or Lamborghini if he had the choice, but I’m not into those.

I really like the Cadillac Escalade. It’s got the luxury, but the practicality as well.

What’s your worst driving memory?

My worst memory driving was to a playoff game in Buffalo – a 3 p.m. game. Our executive producer called me at 9 a.m. and said you better get on the highway because there’s a traffic snarl so it may take a little time.…

I got on the Gardiner about 9:30 a.m. and there was a tragic accident and they diverted traffic off the highway for several miles. Then at the border – it was a beautiful May day so it took another hour to cross the bridge. We ended up getting to the rink at the end of the first intermission – the 2nd period just started. It was close to 4 in the afternoon! This trip was supposed to take 90 minutes to drive!

Ron and Don were stuck in the traffic, too. They had a driver going down and they were going to be late for the show, but the driver got very creative. When he got to the border and saw the long line, he went down the Nexus line because it was wide open. When he got to the front, he said, we got to try and dodge in the line. People aren’t going to be happy. So he rolled down the windows and had Don waving to the people. Luckily they were hockey fans so they let him sneak in and they got through and made it to the show on time.

Why didn’t you try that?

I’m not as popular as Don. I didn’t like my chances. I would have got arrested at the border.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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