The Chicago Blackhawks have bad news about their new broadcaster, Rick Ball
Photo credit: The Hockey News
The Remarkable Journey of Rick Ball: From Golf Course Mishap to Broadcast Booth Triumph
Rick Ball's broadcasting career has taken him from the Calgary Flames to the Chicago Blackhawks, but it's his off-camera escapade involving a bird and a sandwich that truly captivates the imagination.
On a seemingly ordinary day at a golf tournament in Kelowna, the voice of the Blackhawks found himself in a peculiar chase. Rick Ball recounts the incident with a mix of humor and disbelief:
« «That damn magpie,» chuckled the 56-year-old Sportsnet play caller on the Eric Francis Show. «I was playing in a golf tournament in Kelowna in late July and I was chasing a bird away that was stealing a sandwich from my cart.
I'm running across the fairway, not paying attention to anything except this damn bird, and I stepped in a sprinkler hole and broke my fibula.
Being the idiot that I am, I didn't go to a doctor right away. I played three more rounds of golf and my leg is killing me. I come back to Calgary and I finally see the doctor, and he says, �you broke your leg you moron. Put this air cast on and come back in six weeks. »
I'm running across the fairway, not paying attention to anything except this damn bird, and I stepped in a sprinkler hole and broke my fibula.
Being the idiot that I am, I didn't go to a doctor right away. I played three more rounds of golf and my leg is killing me. I come back to Calgary and I finally see the doctor, and he says, �you broke your leg you moron. Put this air cast on and come back in six weeks. »
The repercussions of this misadventure were severe. After enduring the pain and continuing his activities, Ball faced a life-threatening situation:
Ball spent a week in the hospital in October 2022 due to a blood clot that had traveled to his heart and lungs�a complication from his untreated injury. He recalls the harrowing moment his condition escalated:
« Next thing I remember was my wife (Carole) screaming, and that kind of woke me up,» said Ball. «Thank god she was home to call 911, or who knows? Pretty scary.
They raced me to the hospital and pumped me full of blood thinners, and put me on strict bed rest for a few days, and they found a blood clot in my leg on the same side I broke my leg.
They asked about injuries and travelling and I said, �I broke my leg and then I travelled,' and they said, �well, there you go � two things that can lead to a blood clot are broken bones and travelling. »
They raced me to the hospital and pumped me full of blood thinners, and put me on strict bed rest for a few days, and they found a blood clot in my leg on the same side I broke my leg.
They asked about injuries and travelling and I said, �I broke my leg and then I travelled,' and they said, �well, there you go � two things that can lead to a blood clot are broken bones and travelling. »
Following a nerve-racking recovery, Ball returned to his broadcasting duties in November 2022 with renewed vigor and enthusiasm. His passion for calling Flames games had not waned, proving his resilience and dedication to the sport.
As Ball prepares to join Pang in the play-by-play booth for the 2024-2025 season, his story stands as a testament to the unexpected twists life can offer. Healthy and eager to continue his career, Ball's journey from the golf course mishap to the broadcast booth is not just about overcoming adversity but about embracing each moment with humor and grace.
| POLL | ||
6 JUIN | 63 ANSWERS The Chicago Blackhawks have bad news about their new broadcaster, Rick Ball Are you thankful for Rick Ball's hire? | ||
| Yes | 44 | 69.8 % |
| No | 19 | 30.2 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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