I just saw it on Twitter myself. Awful news for Detroit sports, for Jamie was pretty good on the air as well as in print, but far more importantly, condolences to his wife (former WXYZ and current Detroit Public TV personality Christie MacDonald) and their children. Also, fuck cancer.
RIP. Glad his family was able to be with him when he passed
August 1st, 2020 at 10:03 PM ^
Too soon. Much too soon.
What a tough year this has been and we still have five months of ass kickings left.
Peace and comfort to his wife, children, family, coworkers and friends.
August 1st, 2020 at 10:00 PM ^
Wow. Life is too short. That is heart breaking.
August 1st, 2020 at 10:03 PM ^
Terrible news! Awful young, RIP Jamie
August 1st, 2020 at 10:11 PM ^
It’s a sobering reminder for all of us to pay attention to what’s important in life. Don’t get hung up on the superficial, see what’s important, and remember who you love. Condolences to the family, RIP Jamie.
August 1st, 2020 at 10:23 PM ^
Poor guy.
Often when I see colon cancer as part of an obituary I think "Possibly a preventable death." A couple of people in my extended social circle didn't get colonoscopies around fifty and wound up getting CC a few years later. Of course there's no guarantee that the procedure would have helped them, but I think it's still considered a net positive as far as preventive care is considered.
Jamie's case is something else. He was a young person (south of fifty). CC is on the rise with younger people for some reason.
I'm south of 45 and am currently sitting in a hospital after having about a foot of my colon taken out a few days ago. The Docs are optimistic but we're waiting for the biopsies before we exhale.
Early detection can increase the chances of survival from about 15% (stage IV) to over 90% (stage I). Colonoscopies are absolutely necessary and they are also the primary means of early detection. Unfortunately, most insurance companies don't cover screenings until the age of 45 (some even 50) and will only cover a diagnostic colonoscopy at a younger age if showing symptoms. Unfortunately, when symptoms arise from colon cancer, there's a chance it's already too late.
Pay attention to your body people and get a colonoscopy if you already haven't. The procedure is painless and it really could save your life.
August 1st, 2020 at 10:25 PM ^
Damn, I just read like last week about a statement he made on air when he explained why he’s been missing so much time. The cancer was a secret, and he said it was in no way a death sentence. He was emphasizing how important a colonoscopy is. Man, too young to go. RIP Big Headed Kid, as Wojo called him.
August 1st, 2020 at 10:33 PM ^
This really sucks. Although he had been battling the cancer since early 2019, Jamie just made public his condition last week. He will be missed.
August 1st, 2020 at 10:44 PM ^
This was devastating news to read tonight. I didn't realize until a couple years ago that Jamie lived in my parents' neighborhood (my youngest brother discovered this when Jamie and Wojo answered the door while he was out trick or treating in the neighborhood). I actually saw him going for a walk in our neighborhood a couple months ago while I was finishing up a late-morning run and gave a hat tip and a wave as a neighborly gesture. I always valued his sports opinions and he seemed like a good guy in general. May he rest in peace.
I've lost a grad school classmate who to colon cancer 3 years ago and she was only 38 and left behind a daughter and I have another 40-something ex-coworker who has been battling colon cancer the last few years and has been able to keep it at bay so far. I hope the cancer biologists figure out what's going on with this trend because something's just not right, especially when it's affecting people who are otherwise genuinely fit and in good to excellent health.
August 1st, 2020 at 11:28 PM ^
Colorectal cancer rates have been dropping for people 65 and over (-3.0%) but increasing slightly in people aged 50-64 (+1.0%) and in those under age 50 (+1.3%). That’s not much of an increase and I’m too lazy to read to see if those are statistically significant (link). I think it’s because colonoscopies aren’t not as common for those under 50 so it often goes untreated until it’s later stage and harder to treat. That being said, if it runs in your family it’s smart to start getting tested at 40-45. People have a much higher chance of getting if it is in the family. Similar to breast cancer.
Lost a friend just after Christmas 2.5 years ago to colorectal cancer. Left a wife and 2 kids. He was 46 and otherwise fit.
August 1st, 2020 at 10:45 PM ^
I've listened to the morning show for a LONG time now, and Jamie became part of my morning commute. I remember every time they came back from a break at a certain time, he would be clearly eating food or something because he kept chewing during a read, and I remember writing in saying "damnit dude stop eating while you are on the air!" I always laughed the same time every morning waiting for him to talk with his mouth full.
Rest in peace dude. Great personality, great sports guy. Gonna miss him.
August 1st, 2020 at 10:54 PM ^
Wtf...that's unreal. I didn't know he even had cancer.
RIP Jamie
August 1st, 2020 at 10:58 PM ^
When he made his announcement on Monday, he must have known the end was near. I don't know if I would have the emotional strength to tell people something like that and not completely break down,
God be with you, Jamie. I will be praying for you and your family. Rest In Peace.
August 1st, 2020 at 11:00 PM ^
Yeah, when I heard his clip, I was absolutely gobsmacked. He sounded so different; I had no clue what had been going on with him. He did a great job of coming to work daily and basically not letting anyone know or letting it get him down.
August 1st, 2020 at 11:01 PM ^
This is sad as I have spent many, many hours being entertained and informed by Jamie - thank you so very much and may you RIP. Love and prayers to his family as I am sure you can never forget him and hopefully your pain and loss will subside into just loving memories.
FUCK CANCER!
August 1st, 2020 at 11:01 PM ^
Get those colonoscopies, boys.
August 1st, 2020 at 11:11 PM ^
Makes you wonder if the recommended age for most people to get their first scope will be lowered to 40-ish.
August 1st, 2020 at 11:31 PM ^
Yes. My grandmother passed away from it so it’s in my family. I am going to start at 42-43 years old. Never a bad idea
Current guidelines were change a couple of years ago and now call for starting at age 45.
It is now for African Americans, well 45
If you have a family history, get one when you are 40 or even younger. Most insurance will pay for it if your doctor orders one early based on family history. No excuse when you turn 50 not to have one. Then if you are clear, it is 5 to 10 years before the next one.
My mother had CC, so I've been getting colonoscopies on the regular since age 48. Over that time, they found a few polyps. Each time, I think "better out than in" and am glad I had the procedure done. It's not a big deal, my last one took less than 1.5 hours from arriving to leaving, and you get to produce epic farts for the next 12 hours or so. Some tips:
Follow the prep instructions, you don't want to get the procedure bounced because it's 'still too murky down there'
Lube up your butthole during the prep, you can get plenty irritated down there
Schedule the procedure as early in the morning as you can stand (you probably won't be sleeping all that well the night before, anyway). The prep instructions are the day before, regardless of when the procedure is scheduled, and you will want to get it over with when you get up, as opposed to waiting around until the afternoon.
The point is,Get It Done. You don't want CC if you can help it.
August 1st, 2020 at 11:04 PM ^
He was my favorite sport radio personality. R.I.P. Big Head.
August 1st, 2020 at 11:04 PM ^
Very sad and it hits close to home for us sports fans—he’s been around here for a generation. He knew his stuff and regularly mixed in some family anecdotes. Seemed like everyone’s neighbor...a good guy.
August 1st, 2020 at 11:19 PM ^
Well, this sucks. I really enjoyed his writing back when I was reading the Detroit papers. So sad to hear of his passing at way too young an age...
This is shocking. Pre-shutdown I would see him and his wife working out at the gym all the time. Had no idea he was sick. RIP.
Our paths crossed several times, as my wife was friends with his wife. Hadn’t seen him since we moved to Portland 20 years ago, but I bumped into him in Vegas for a Wings game during the Knights first season and we hung out catching up for probably an hour. He was always a really good dude. Fuck cancer, and get your colonoscopy if you’re e 45 or older.
I'm so sorry to hear this. My brother-in-law lost his battle with colon cancer a couple months ago. He was only 50. It grew into his system and he never felt any different than normal. Once he found out he had it, he was already in stage four. He lasted just 16 more months.
RIP Jamie and fuck cancer.
Oh man - really sad. He was around my age and I remember listening to him back in the 90's on the Fan. I always liked him - came across on the radio as a really solid dude.
This one really hurts. I came to Detroit two years after him and I’m two years younger. I spent so much time listening to him over the years. He was one of the very few people in sports radio that could host a show without resorting to trolling. Our home lives were on parallel paths From marriage to having 3 kids. Time for me to figure out how to get a colonoscopy. I’ve been to a doctor once in the last decade.
Jamie always seemed like the mature adult in a room full of frat boys. He spoke on occasion about his kids, wife, family, church. He seemed like the guy you would want for a neighbor. I will miss him. Peace to his family.
RIP Jamie and condolences to your family. You will be missed ??
August 2nd, 2020 at 12:15 PM ^
Very sad! Can't imagine what his family going through right now. Those poor kids.
Hadn't listened to him much since he and Wojo were split up. Never understood that bone-headed move. They were pure gold together.
Back in '96 WDFN had a bus trip to watch Michigan play Purdue in West Lafayette (feel free and Google that game, I don't care to relieve the actual event). Jamie, Gregg Henson, and Jamie Morris were on the bus ride. The night before we stopped at some random small bar and played darts and pounded shots (Jamie Morris had bowed out by this time. He was sick). At one point we all jammed onto the tiny stage and sang Hail to the Victors. Jamie, despite being a NW grad, sang along with us and jokingly made me promise to never tell.
After the trip we became a bit of friends and would meet up and play darts and such. We lost touch over the years and just chatted on Twitter on occasion. He was such an honestly good person. This is very hard to believe and so incredibly sad. RIP.
August 2nd, 2020 at 10:25 PM ^
I sat a row in front of him during the infamous 2000 Michigan-Northwestern game (54-52). He was friendly and chatted with my buddies and I throughout the game. I'm so sorry to hear this news. RIP.
Jamie was an anachronism in contemporary sports broadcasting. His measured, cerebral commentary stood in stark contrast to the bombastic style that seems to dominate the medium these days. He was content to be the wise straight-man to whatever goofball, be it Stoney, Wojo, or Henson, he was partnered with and I, for one, found him the only guy on The Ticket that made listening to sports talk bearable.
Gone too soon and we'll miss him on the Detroit sports scene.
May he rest in peace and condolences to his family.