Barry Melrose stepping away from ESPN

mauidano

mauidano

Mai Tais for everyone!
SoSH Member
Aug 21, 2006
36,065
Maui
Barry is synonymous with the NHL. Really sad to hear that. He is always prepared and has fun with his reporting. Gretzky and the LA Kings were his ticket and he has made the most of it.
 
LogansDad

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,898
Alamogordo
Man, this is awful, sad news. One of my favorite things about him was that it was so clear that he just loved doing what he did for ESPN. He was always fun and joyful. Such a stark contrast to some of the other guys who do it (the aforementioned Gretzky, for instance, who always looks and acts like he would rather be getting his toenails ripped out).

He will be missed on the broadcasts, I hope his family life can be good for as long as possible.
 
T

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,391
Parkinson’s fucking sucks and I wish him all the best. Bummer it’s happened but I hope he gets to enjoy life to its fullest.
 
bsj

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,801
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
TFP said:
Parkinson’s fucking sucks and I wish him all the best. Bummer it’s happened but I hope he gets to enjoy life to its fullest.
Click to expand...
I have heard there are much better treatments to try to enhance quality of life than, say, when MJF was diagnosed. Not that there's anything close to a cure of course.
 
amfox1

amfox1

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2003
6,836
The back of your computer
https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/every-day-is-a-fight-for-melrose

About three years ago, Melrose knew something wasn’t right with him. The simple pleasures in life — lighting a cigar, opening a can of beer, pouring a drink for friends, reading a book — were suddenly challenging and difficult. His hands started to shake. Some days were better than others.

Sometimes the words he wanted to say — as someone who had become the voice of hockey in America on ESPN for almost 30 years, the Don Cherry without the crazy clothing — weren’t coming out as intended.

As Melrose has managed his entire life, he pushed on — because that’s what he always has done. He kept working, kept trying, he wasn’t going to let anything defeat him.

But Parkinson’s Disease has a mind of its own. Parkinson’s had taken over too many of his days. And when this hockey season began, one of Melrose’s closest friends at ESPN, John Buccigross, announced that Melrose would not be on television because he was suffering from Parkinson’s.
Click to expand...
Michael J. Fox, the Canadian star who Melrose met when he was coaching the L.A. Kings, reached out to him. Fox has been living with Parkinson’s for more than 30 years.

There’s no magic here, there’s no trick plays, every day is a fight and you have to keep on fighting.”

Fox told him “you’re in the second inning of a 10-inning game … there’s no magic here, there’s no trick plays, every day is a fight and you have to keep on fighting.”
Click to expand...
Gretzky hasn’t just called. He has rolled up his sleeves for his old coach. He’s involved, like Fox, like former NHLer Steve Ludzik, in fundraising for Parkinson’s. The more money raised, the more research done, the more possibilities for the future.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom