OT: Barry Melrose retires from broadcasting; has Parkinson's disease
Worst part of Barry Melrose being picked to coach Tampa Bay (briefly) years ago, was taking him off ESPN. We soon got him back. No one this side of the border had more fun talking about hockey on TV then Barry.
ESPN has been running content today, on the first day of the NHL season, announcing that Barry has had to retire, and that he is suffering from Parkinson's disease.
There wasn't a late-night SportsCenter segment about the NHL with Melrose, where he wasn't laughing or otherwise trying to entertain the host and listening audience, including all those years when ESPN did not have hockey. A lot of fun during our Red Wings' runs to the Cup's.
Though not always the most informed about college hockey, he had as much fun as you could have calling college games with players you haven't regularly followed. He called our game at the Frozen Four in April.
October 10th, 2023 at 3:15 PM ^
That sucks. He has always been entertaining as hell.
October 10th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
All the best to a very entertaining broadcaster whose appearances will be missed.
It's not often a TV personality shines through so well and seems to elevate the energy of the subject matter simply by bringing themselves to the show.
He was those good vibes for hockey.
October 10th, 2023 at 3:28 PM ^
Very sorry to hear that.
October 10th, 2023 at 3:41 PM ^
I hope he and his family manage as well as possible. There are a few "disease states" that are incredibly debilitating - and, Parkinson's can be one of them.
He always made it fun - and, I hope he's well enough to have a "guest appearance" every now and then.
October 10th, 2023 at 9:59 PM ^
I loved his snark! My favorite is when he gave a stat “…he has 25 goals”, paused, then said: “not in one game, that would be a record.” You could see the joy in his face — the same way a dad joke gets told.
October 10th, 2023 at 3:43 PM ^
Always loved him. I know he and his family have a tough road ahead - God bless them.
October 10th, 2023 at 3:45 PM ^
Like his cousin, Joey Kocur, seems like a good guy and the type of guy you'd want to have a Molson ( or two) with. He will be missed on ESPN.
Best wishes to him and his family.
October 10th, 2023 at 3:53 PM ^
Melrose really got under the skin of Pat Burns in the 1993 playoffs. McSorley ran Gilmore late in Game 1, and Burns charged at Melrose who calmly blew bubbles with his gum. I thought Barry went a bit far later, though, when he made fun of Burns' weight by puffing up his cheeks and holding his hands out in front of his belly. He was certainly entertaining.
October 10th, 2023 at 4:16 PM ^
That Burns team had Wendell Clark, another Melrose cousin and tough guy.
Both LA and Montreal had some serious talent and characters on their 92-93 SC final teams. I remember Jacques Demers having McSorley's stick curvature and changing the whole series. I can remember that but not my neighbors name...sheesh.
Not quite old time hockey as Mickey Redmond would say but still a very entertaining era.
October 10th, 2023 at 3:57 PM ^
When someone made Barry angry he turned into Rowdy Roddy Piper.
October 10th, 2023 at 4:25 PM ^
Barry used to coach Adirondack (former Wings AHL affiliate). Plenty of ties to the organization. I hope he's able to fight this dang disease and stay involved in hockey in some way.
October 10th, 2023 at 5:12 PM ^
I'm glad Barry lacked the patience to wait one more year when he took the LA Kings coaching job. Otherwise, he would have been the Red Wings coach the following season. Instead, we had to settle for Scotty Bowman.
October 10th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
That really sucks. Feels like I grew up with him from watching so much hockey.
October 10th, 2023 at 4:38 PM ^
ESPN just released a tribute. It's embedded in this link.
October 10th, 2023 at 8:39 PM ^
Thank you.
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are two of the diseases I fear most. Grew up with Melrose as a coach and TV guy and entertaining as heck with so much energy. Sigh.
October 10th, 2023 at 4:58 PM ^
The last great mullet.
Wishing you well Barry.
October 10th, 2023 at 5:45 PM ^
In related depressing sports news, apparently Mary Lou Retton is at death's door.
October 10th, 2023 at 8:40 PM ^
Feeling older by the post.
October 11th, 2023 at 8:38 AM ^
Darren Rovell reported this morning that more than 3,000 donors have donated $148,405 to a campaign started by Mary Lou Retton’s daughter McKenna Kelley to pay for bills associated with her care for a rare form of pneumonia. Her daughter says the Olympic great does not have medical insurance.
This is so sad on so many levels for 55 year old MLR and the state of American Health insurance.
October 10th, 2023 at 6:23 PM ^
This is tough to hear. I always liked Melrose and his takes and analysis. And if I had his hair, I would sport a mullet just like him.
Blessings Barry.
October 11th, 2023 at 6:26 AM ^
I wish Barry the best with treating his Parkinson's and will his coverage of NHL and college hockey.
October 12th, 2023 at 7:57 AM ^
This is a damn shame. I watched my grandfather’s decline and death from Parkinson’s 30 years ago, and similarly watched my father’s death from Parkinson’s last weekend. There appears to be no management of the disease when it’s late-onset (as opposed to early e.g. Michael J. Fox). When my dad was diagnosed I thought that surely there’d have been some advances toward management in the 30 years since my grandfather died, similar to the amazing advances against cancer in that time, but no luck. It’s a death sentence within a few short years. The difference nowadays is the prevalence of Hospice care. In the end, patients now can be made much more physically comfortable than they routinely were 30 years ago.