Greg Sharpe, who has been the radio play-by-play voice of Nebraska Cornhuskers football since 2008 and also calls baseball games, announced he has been diagnosed with cancer. Sharpe revealed the news during Sports Nightly, a weeknight show he hosts with Jessica Coody.
“Tonight, my least favorite topic, it’s me and I don’t like to make much about myself,” he said. “…Sometimes when you have news and you don’t confront it, a lot of rumors and innuendos get thrown out there…so bottom line is, I have been diagnosed with cancer. I found out about a week or two ago. And so, we are getting close to the point where treatment will be necessary and so it’s going to disrupt my work here on Sports Nightly and probably some baseball broadcasts…I’ve got a great team of doctors that are putting together the plan…I have kind of had symptoms for a couple of months, it’s in the pancreatic region of the body…I didn’t want, night after night if I miss three, four straight [shows] for Jessica to have to answer questions…I didn’t want to go down that path.”
Sharpe talked about his wife being the leader of his support system and that his bosses have told him to do whatever he needs to do and miss games or shows when he needs to.
“I don’t like not completing my assignments…not doing my part of the job, so when I have to miss a show, miss a game, I feel like I’m not doing my work,” Sharpe said. “But I’ve been properly slapped on the wrist by co-workers…and family members saying, ‘Greg you have got to let us carry this for a while.’ That’s what it is. I’m not ready to walk away yet but I’m certainly going to have some disruption in my life in the coming months and just wanted to share that with all of you.”
Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen sent out a message of support for Sharpe, saying, “We are strong behind Greg Sharpe as he fights the toughest fight. The power of our Husker Nation is here to support him.”
