The city of Cleveland and sports community at large was disheartened when Browns radio announcer Jim Donovan revealed his leukemia relapse yesterday, with well wishes pouring in from all corners of the world.
Ken Carman and Anthony Lima reacted to the news Thursday morning on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland, reminiscing on memorable moments they have had with Donovan on the show. They look forward to welcoming him back on the program in the future, and wish him nothing but the absolute best in his battle with leukemia.
“Play-by-play voices become best friends to generations of people,” Carman said. “Jim, and I mean this, has become a best friend to Browns fans since 1999. There’s been a lot of down years for the Browns, and Jim’s honesty and Jim’s sense of humor has made some down seasons since 1999 palatable. He made the 2020 season a lot of fun; he made the 2020 season that much better.”
Carman continued by recognizing how the city of Cleveland has been fortunate to have a variety of talented sports broadcasters since the start of sportscasting on KDKA Pittsburgh in 1921 – and radio as a whole in the late 1890s. He conveyed just how strong Donovan is to endure this impediment, and how the entire locale is pulling for him.
“I don’t want to talk about him as if he’s gone,” added Lima. “The great news is that he’s going to be back, and he’s going to continue to be with us [and] he’s going to continue to do Browns games…This is a guy who had a bone marrow transplant 11 years ago, and he fought back and made it to the point where he was doing every game again.”
Both co-hosts acknowledged that Donovan has always been willing to appear on their program to talk about the team and has been forthright with them when he has been unable to attend because of treatment. His ability to be candid with his audience is something they acknowledged could get broadcasters fired today.
“The fans know if Jim says it – if Jim gets excited about something – it’s real. It’s not because he’s been told to say something,” Lima expressed. “He earns that, and that’s what we will always appreciate about having Jim on.”
“I hate starting shows this way,” Carman stated. “I hate it; it sucks, but Jim is a good, good, good friend; a good man; a good friend of the city. We are certainly wishing him well here at the Fan, wishing him well on this show, and obviously wishing him well as sports fans throughout the city.”
