Roger Lajoie operates Triumph Sports Communications, a leader in providing editorial, broadcast and public relations services.

Roger's weekly sports column "The Rog's Rant" is now available here every Monday.

The Rog's Rant

The Road to Hockeytown was a long and winding one

I have had the opportunity to do a lot of special things in my 28 years in the sports media business, for which I am forever grateful.

Whether it's been working in newspapers, hosting on the radio, appearing on television, doing play-by-play or working in sports marketing or promotion (and now teaching), I have been both lucky and blessed at what I have been able to do for a living.

I only even call it "work" because I get paid for it. My vocation is my vacation, it really is. And I am thrilled to tell you that my first book will be out in September, "The Road to Hockeytown" Jimmy Devellano's 40 years in the National Hockey League.

Jimmy D and I have spent a lot of hours putting this together with the great folks at Wiley Publishing and I certainly hope I have done his great career justice with the end result. I'm sure I have, mostly because of Jimmy allowing me to tell his great story with him.

A self-educated, self-made man Jimmy D is, which is why I admire him so. His road to success was a long and winding one, but aren't all roads to success long and winding? Hey, if it was easy everybody would have successful careers, wouldn't they?

I have invested a lot of time and energy in this project for two reasons - first, it was a story worth telling and I wanted to tell it, and second, at this stage of my career, writing books is something I want to do on a regular basis. I have another one in progress with Eugene Melnyk, owner of the Ottawa Senators, and another two in the planning stages, which is exciting beyond belief for me.

It's a change in focus in a lot of ways for me, but I've never been afraid of change. I welcome change. I love change. Change is a sure sign of growth.

The Road to Hockeytown will be available in September, 2008 and I'll have all the details here when it does become available. I hope you'll buy it, I hope you'll like it and I thank Jimmy D and Wiley for giving me this wonderful, wonderful opportunity.

Thanks to everyone who have made my first 28 years in the business as great as they've been, because their support has led me to this new road. Just like Jimmy D, my road has been a long and winding one too at times, but one I'm delighted to have travelled.

There's my commercial - please wish me luck! Talk to you again soon...and thanks so much everyone for your help on my road so far.

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