Jack Edwards to retire

[jacklamabe65]

A Johnny Most Wannabe With Dick Stockman Pipes. It was fascinating for two decades but got old eventually. Still, I was usually entertained.

 

[Ed Hillel]

He has admitted that he knew something was wrong. Described the medical tests for trying (unsuccessfully) to figure out what it was as well as the speech therapy trying (unsuccessfully) to address it.

Yeah, but it’s so strange to have come up with nothing. I do wonder if maybe they have found something since? Or ownership pulled him aside and said it was time. In the article a few months ago, he sounded nowhere near ready to stop.

 

[LogansDad]

Yeah, but it’s so strange to have come up with nothing. I do wonder if maybe they have found something since? Or ownership pulled him aside and said it was time. In the article a few months ago, he sounded nowhere near ready to stop.

Honestly, I don't get the feeling he is "ready to stop" now. But the things he has tried over the last few months haven't, for whatever reason, worked, and so while he isn't ready, he recognizes that it isn't sustainable. I think that makes me even sadder.

 

[Van Everyman]

Jack was the inspiration for why I got my job in the NHL. I didn't grow up in a hockey family at all, but his absolute energy, for however you see that, was infectious. It made every moment feel like it meant more, that each step was another way to climb the mountain. Passion for what he did is what made Jack great but also difficult to see the last few seasons.

But life eventually circles: We interviewed Jack from time to time at NHL Network, and I think it was one of my first days that I worked there that we first we had him on as a guest interview in early 2022 (so 21-22 season). Before the interview, Jack stretched out a roll of duct tape like he was an explorer pulling out his map to the promised land for his country. None of us in the control room/booth have a damned clue what he's doing, but stretching back and forth he goes, without stop. Eventually, we realize once someone points out an iPad, he's going to tape his iPad by affixing the tape to his part of the Garden booth desk, so it stays in place. At this point, everything is further confused when Brick walks into the proceedings by accident. Andy proceeds to do the full grandpa Simpson with his hat meme, entering and leaving just as fast as he came.

Jack returned to his task after with a joyous grin. But the fun didn't stop there: At one point, the camera goes absolutely dark, as if we were buried alive: Jack had taped over the camera of his iPad, So we have to take a minute or two to further pre-set-up to let him know he did this. He had no idea but joins the rest of us in laughter. The interview goes on, unremarkable except for the fact he thought Tanner Jeannot was his legit pick to win the Calder. But that will always stick with me. How often do you get to correspond with the media folks that brought you into the world of this sport in a professional way?

I've got another story about him, regarding his truly bizarre eating habits in booth, but this is the one that I think better represents his childlike character best of all. May retirement treat him well.

Love this story. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[Senator Donut]

I don't have much to add other than restating the obvious. Edwards was tremendous as the voice of the Bruins and it's absolutely horrible that he's quitting not because it's his ideal time to retire, but because he can't do it as good as he once did. He was obviously a Bruins homer, but he always gave the opposing team respect. When Boston was scored on, he didn't mutter off or sound like he was upset, but raised his voice to match the importance of the moment.

One of my favorite Jack Edwards moments was the 2002 World Cup. ESPN didn't have much interest in soccer at the time; they actually sublicensed the games from MLS who had bought the rights as a league. Somehow Edwards got the lead assignment. As you can probably guess from the Patriots Day soliloquies, Edwards really draped himself in the flag when calling Team USA. He was far from technically perfect as a soccer announcer, but he met the moment well.

 

[joe dokes]

Yeah, but it’s so strange to have come up with nothing. I do wonder if maybe they have found something since? Or ownership pulled him aside and said it was time. In the article a few months ago, he sounded nowhere near ready to stop.

I agree he was not ready to stop. But the implication of the story to me was that if they couldn't fix it, he knew he was done.

 

[ifmanis5]

Jack repeatedly spoke up against management while at ESPN on a range of issues when no one else would and he was very appreciated for his courage by the rest of us rank and file. A real mensch- have a great retirement, much deserved.

 

[jcaz]

I "met" Jack and Brick at Mullet a year and a half ago. I was walking by the broadcast location with my nephew who is in his 20s and is a huge Bs fan. Brick and Jack both gave us a wave; Brick came down for a photo and said Jack was prepping. It was a cool moment.

I agree with others. Jack loved the Bs and he's clearly not well. Those two things together led to where we are now - a guy I think who was hopeful (desperate?) to find out what was wrong so he could stay in his job, but ultimately had to say good bye to something he loved. Tough for him. But the time is right.

 

[Red Right Ankle]

I don't have much to add other than restating the obvious. Edwards was tremendous as the voice of the Bruins and it's absolutely horrible that he's quitting not because it's his ideal time to retire, but because he can't do it as good as he once did. He was obviously a Bruins homer, but he always gave the opposing team respect. When Boston was scored on, he didn't mutter off or sound like he was upset, but raised his voice to match the importance of the moment.

One of my favorite Jack Edwards moments was the 2002 World Cup. ESPN didn't have much interest in soccer at the time; they actually sublicensed the games from MLS who had bought the rights as a league. Somehow Edwards got the lead assignment. As you can probably guess from the Patriots Day soliloquies, Edwards really draped himself in the flag when calling Team USA. He was far from technically perfect as a soccer announcer, but he met the moment well.

This is really what separated Jack from the garden variety homer announcer. He loves hockey and that always shined through in his announcing and in his discussions with Brick about the Bs and their opponents through the years.

 

[joe dokes]

One of my favorite Jack Edwards moments was the 2002 World Cup. ESPN didn't have much interest in soccer at the time; they actually sublicensed the games from MLS who had bought the rights as a league. Somehow Edwards got the lead assignment. As you can probably guess from the Patriots Day soliloquies, Edwards really draped himself in the flag when calling Team USA. He was far from technically perfect as a soccer announcer, but he met the moment well.

I remember that! There was one game where the US got a huge tie(?) in a grinder of a game in very tough conditions (Heat? Rain? Pelted with rocks and garbage? Can't remember). IIIRC, when the final whistle blew he said something that started with "Mine eyes have seen the glory . . . "

 

[jbupstate]

I had the good fortune to bump in to Jack at the hotel bar after a Bruins road game against the Islanders. It was a good Bruins win and Jack was enjoying himself. For about an hour he was absolutely one of us - a fan of the Bruins. He was destroying Zach Senyshyn game, soft and stupid. I mentioned that my freshman son broke his arm in last hockey game of travel season and would not be able to fully participate in varsity baseball tryouts. Before Jack left he said he wanted to give my son some advice. He did a 20 second video and discussed his double leg fracture in college, doing your best every day, learning about yourself and how great things can come out of misfortune.

All the best to Jack Edwards. A good guy, friend of the family.

 

[Myt1]

Jack repeatedly spoke up against management while at ESPN on a range of issues when no one else would and he was very appreciated for his courage by the rest of us rank and file. A real mensch- have a great retirement, much deserved.

I don’t know if I’m reading into anything, but it really seemed like everyone who was on the ice with him for the 7th Player award—with the exception of Frederic himself—had a ton a genuine affection for the guy. So your story doesn’t surprise me. Seems to have a good sense of right and wrong and doing things the right way, too.

 

[joe dokes]

Finn with a nice story. Pulls this from an interview when he started with the bruins in 2005

[This is] my dream job,” said Edwards. “Any time something opened at NESN in the past, I’d be in the middle of an ESPN contract, and you just don’t get out of those. Now I just don’t want to mess up this opportunity. My hope is to still be doing this in 2025.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/04/20/sports/jack-edwards-bruins-broadcast-nesn/

 

[debster812]

He really will be missed, and by all accounts and my personal interaction, he is a really decent guy. Another Jimmy Fund volunteering interaction. Jack was on the broadcast, interviewing a young Jimmy Fund Clinic patient (young lady, about 12-14 years old with a VERY grim prognosis, which she knew about, and was living her best life while she could). After their segment, the patient, and her family were milling about our ready area. When Jack was off camera, he beelined over to the family, and basically told them, 'Whatever you want to do from a Boston Sports standpoint, I want you to call me, and we'll make it happen'. He gave them his work cell #, his PERSONAL cell #, and he walked them around that day introducing them to every celebrity he could find. He was so touched and moved by this patient, he went so above and beyond, and as an outsider looking in, he was sincere, and devastated by her prognosis, and just wanted to do SOMETHING. I also got the sense this was not the first time he had done something like this.

 

[Gammon_Clark]

He really will be missed, and by all accounts and my personal interaction, he is a really decent guy. Another Jimmy Fund volunteering interaction. Jack was on the broadcast, interviewing a young Jimmy Fund Clinic patient (young lady, about 12-14 years old with a VERY grim prognosis, which she knew about, and was living her best life while she could). After their segment, the patient, and her family were milling about our ready area. When Jack was off camera, he beelined over to the family, and basically told them, 'Whatever you want to do from a Boston Sports standpoint, I want you to call me, and we'll make it happen'. He gave them his work cell #, his PERSONAL cell #, and he walked them around that day introducing them to every celebrity he could find. He was so touched and moved by this patient, he went so above and beyond, and as an outsider looking in, he was sincere, and devastated by her prognosis, and just wanted to do SOMETHING. I also got the sense this was not the first time he had done something like this.

That’s incredible, I love stories like this. Thank you for sharing.