Melrose steps away from ESPN after Parkinson’s diagnosis

N.Y. Republicans - except Stefanik - make noise about expelling George Santos

By Ken Tingley

Barry Melrose, who brought a Calder Cup championship to Glens Falls as coach of the Adirondack Red Wings in 1992, announced this week he was suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and stepping away from ESPN where he had built a national reputation as the best in the business in hockey.

But here in Glens Falls, the news was a little more personal.

It was with Adirondack that Melrose finished his playing career in 1987 after 300 games in the NHL.

It was Melrose who took over for the legendary Bill Dineen in 1989 and brought home a championship in 1992.

And he never really left, raising his family here while crafting a remarkable broadcasting career at ESPN.

It was clear that Melrose was of a different breed when it took over as Adirondack coach. He was 33, wore a slicked back mullet and dedicated disciple of the self-help author Tony Robbins.

He was a straight shooter who could talk politics with as much gusto as hockey.

While Dineen was folksy and old school, Melrose was cutting edge, new wave.

Melrose took the 1991-92 team to the Calder Cup championship by winning four road games in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

I was there for Game 7 in Newfoundland that night.

After the game we flew back to Albany on the Detroit Red Wings’ private jet. Because of the time difference, we were back home a little after midnight and Dango’s, that little joint over on Maple Street that was a Red Wing hangout for years, became championship central.

With the sun coming up - nobody was going to shut this party down - I remember Melrose holding court with several of his players and telling them they were better than the Detroit Red Wings.

I think they believed it, too.

We all believed it.

Melrose parlayed the championship and his new-wave coaching style into a gig with the Los Angeles Kings and took them to the Stanley Cup finals in his first year. He was perfect for Hollywood and eventually did some with Robbins.

But the Kings never got any better and by 1996, Melrose was out and took a job with ESPN. For the third time in his life, he reached the top echelons of his profession.

Like so many hockey players over the years, Melrose settled in Glens Falls. He raised his family here.

When hockey was in trouble in Glens Falls after the Adirondack Red Wings left, Melrose and ESPN colleague Steve Levy bought the franchise and tried to keep it going. When its coach Mark Potvin committed suicide, Melrose stepped behind the bench for a time as well.

The 67-year-old Melrose announced this week he had Parkinson’s Disease.

"I've had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world's greatest game, hockey,” Melrose said in a statement through ESPN. “It's now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next."

In recent years, Parkinson’s has been linked to professional football players and boxers such as Muhammad Ali because of repeated blows to the head.

Melrose was known as a tough, physical defenseman as a player and had over 700 penalty minutes while playing in the NHL. Translation: He wasn’t afraid to get in a fight.

One of my best friends was diagnosed with Parkinson’s year’s ago and continues to live  a good life while battling the disease. I’m hoping the same for Barry Melrose. But he will face challenges.

There is this one quote from Robbins that seemed appropriate today: “Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process."

That sounds like the way Barry Melrose has already lived his life.

Stefanik and Santos

You may remember that Rep. Elise Stefanik endorsed George Santos for Congress last fall. When news of his wide-spread lying was revealed after the election, Stefanik failed to condemn the lies.

This week, Santos’ campaign manager, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to defraud the United States while also admitting to falsifying and inflating financial numbers and making numerous false statements in conjunction with Santos. She is facing a sentence between three and four years in prison.

Nancy Marks admitted in court she conspired with Santos to report false donations and a fictional $500,000 personal loan to the campaign. After her testimony, Santos was charged with 10 new felony counts.

This latest news put several of New York’s freshman Republicans in a bad position to be re-elected next year.

Six of them announced plans to back a resolution to expel Santos from Congress.

“We feel that enough’s enough,” Rep. Anthony D’Esposito told the New York Times. “He’s a stain on the institution.”

D’Esposito was joined in the resolution by fellow Republicans Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, Brandon Williams and Nick Langworthy.

So far, Rep. Elise Stefanik has not indicated where she stands on the expulsion resolution. Since she is in a safe Republican district, she does not have to worry about being re-elected. Apparently, the accusations against Santos don’t bother her at all.

Post layoffs

It was learned this week that the Washington Post was looking to reduce its staff by 240 positions. About half of those cuts would be in the newsroom.

No matter how you feel about the liberal stands on its editorial page, the Washington Post has been a leader in holding those in the federal government accountable to the people.

That’s important.

The Post is offering buyouts so it does not have to resort to layoffs. The Post CEO reported that digital subscriptions had dropped by more than 15 percent since 2021 and that the digital audience had declined 28 percent.

Even if you don’t read the Washington Post regularly, it is another blow to great journalism.

The New York Times reported earlier this year it was on a pace to lose $100 million this year.