Eddie Olczyk by Eddie Olczyk

Author:Eddie Olczyk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Triumph Books
Published: 2019-08-20T22:55:25+00:00

13. A New Perspective

For years, I had thought about what I would do when my career ended. I had no idea when it would happen, but I was already thinking about a second career. Would I be a coach? A broadcaster? An agent? Or just chase my kids around the country as their lives played out? It was all on the table.

For many athletes, regardless of the sport, it is not an easy transition. You become accustomed to a set routine as a player, in which you are given a schedule to follow, and all of the sudden that is taken away. Now you have to think about what you will do with your life. How will you make a living? How will it impact your family?

I needed some advice, so I called John McDonough, who was the senior vice president of marketing and broadcasting for the Chicago Cubs. Our paths crossed over the years; he grew up in the same area of Chicago as I did. I wanted to get his take on the options I had pursuing a TV broadcasting career. I had been doing some radio and TV broadcast work during the last few years of my playing career.

John proved to be an incredible resource and took the time to give me some advice on what I should do. I explained to him that the Hawks’ TV analyst spot was open, but I did not get the gig. I told John about the opportunity I had to go to Pittsburgh and become the TV analyst of the Penguins with Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Lange. I will be forever grateful to John for taking my call. I did not know it at the time, but our paths would cross again seven years later when John would become my boss as president of the Blackhawks. It is truly a small world.

JOHN McDONOUGH

Blackhawks president and CEO

Being a Chicagoan, he called and asked me for some advice. I remember walking around Wrigley Field with him. Nobody was there. I told him if this opportunity presents itself with the Blackhawks, pursue it. He had every characteristic to succeed, all the intangibles. I didn’t know then that he and Doc Emrick would basically be the face of hockey in the NHL. But I’m not at all surprised with his success. He’s just got this unique personality that people gravitate toward.

DIANA OLCZYK

Eddie’s mother

I prayed to God, believe me when I tell you this and God gets the glory and the praise, and said, “Please, get Eddie a job in broadcasting.” I kid you not. I just thought he’d be perfect for it because he sounded good on the radio and he knew what he was talking about.

I decided to take the gig and commuted between Pittsburgh and Chicago for the next three years. There’s no doubt working as a hockey broadcaster helped ease the transition away from playing the game. I was still traveling with a team but with a lot less pressure.

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