MSG play-by-play man Sam Rosen is calling it quits after 40 years, and the longtime voice of the New York Rangers had quite a bit to say to Rangers beat writer Mollie Walker in an extensive interview on the New York Post Sports YouTube channel. Throughout the 40-minute talk, Rosen discusses the Garden, the magical Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup run, and being beloved by Rangers fans.
Rosen admits that, for now, the finality of his career hasn’t hit him yet, but as the season approaches its end, it will. “I know it’s there,” Rosen said, “but I’ve kind of pushed it down the road,…I think it’ll probably hit me somewhere in the March or April days when the games start to dwindle down to single digits and I realize that there aren’t going to be many more games left, so I think that’s the mixed emotion because I love the game so much.” While Rosen is hoping for an extended playoff run, the Rangers currently (as of 12/16) find themselves outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture amidst a disappointing season.
That being said, Rosen still enjoys every game, wins or losses. “The games, every game is great, to me, and it can be 6-1 or 2-1 or 1-0 or 5-4 in overtime,” Rosen said. “The games are great and the players are great, and I look forward to every one.”
Of course, no conversation with Rosen would be complete without talking about 1994, the Rangers’ lone modern Stanley Cup victory. Rosen recalls his historic call, saying it was “his greatest moment as a broadcaster and a fan” of the New York Rangers. “That was just a glorious moment, and when I said, ‘And this one will last a lifetime!,’ I meant it. I meant it for me. They can win some more — I’ll be happy to watch that — but that was the ultimate.”
When speaking about Madison Square Garden, Rosen calls it “another home” where it’s “like being around your extended family” but acknowledges its status as a hallowed sports arena. ”The phrase, ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena,’ really fits because anywhere you go and any sport, anyone who’s involved in sports, knows Madison Square Garden, and to have that as your place where people can relate right away,” Rosen said.
Most beloved to Rosen out of all are Rangers fans, whom Rosen attributes to some of his best memories. “It’s the greatest thing to have fans come up to you and say that you really had an impact, whether it’s fans saying, ‘Oh, you and JD and you and Joe taught us the game of hockey,’ or to have a family where mom and dad have 8 or 10-year-old kids and they’re all dressed in Rangers outfits, and, ‘Sam, we love what you do,’ and you realize that you’ve impacted their lives; that it’s gone from one generation to the next, and father who had season tickets, passing it on to his son, whatever it is, you realize that people are passionate about sports.”
Rosen credits hockey as a sport that, “brings out the passion” in its fans, and Rosen does not take that lightly. “You understand that it’s very expensive to come to games and people are dependent on you, on me as a broadcaster, to bring them closer to the team that they love, and that’s what I try to do,” Rosen said. “I’ve always felt that if I could transmit the love that I have for the game and for the team and for the players to the fans, then I would have accomplished what I set out to do. And I realize now when people unsolicited walk up and say the things they do, that I’ve been successful in that regard.”
As Rosen approaches his curtain call, he tells fans to savor every minute of it, as he will. “Enjoy this. Enjoy the moment. I’m trying to enjoy every minute of it, and understand that nothing has changed for this season. I’m giving everything that I have,” Rosen urges.”I want people to remember me in that last season that I was at the top of my game, and fortunately, we have a terrific team that’s entertaining every single night; great personalities that are involved, and just keep enjoying the moment. The hockey has never been better. As I said to you before, the games are just great, and I look forward to the next one, and I want the fans to know this is a great time for me, and I want to transmit that to them.”
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