Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers radio analyst Tunch Ilkin is retiring to focus on dealing with his ALS.
Ilkin, who played 14 years on the offensive line for the Steelers from 1980-1993 and spent the last 23 as a broadcaster for the team, announced his decision Thursday.
The 63-year-old Ilkin, a two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman during his playing career, revealed his ALS diagnosis last fall but continued to work through the remainder of the 2020 season. ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
"I want to spend this time focusing on my treatment and fighting this disease," Ilkin said in a statement. "I would like to thank Steelers President Art Rooney II, the Steelers organization, and the fans for their continued support and prayers at this time."
Tunch retiring from broadcast booth
Tunch retiring from broadcast booth
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/315 ... -fight-als
“If you see the handwriting on the wall, you’re in the toilet.”
- Fred Sanford
- Fred Sanford
I always liked Tunch as a player and a broadcaster.
ALS is a vicious disease that I would not wish on anyone.
ALS is a vicious disease that I would not wish on anyone.
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jewelsongs
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God bless Tunch. I hope he beats this.
I loved Tunch when he played. He seems like a good guy...a pretty cool guy. Him and Wolf worked so well together, you could tell they absolutely enjoyed each other’s company. Their camp reports, etc. we’re fun TV. It was like a couple of your old buddies was talking to you.
I wish Tunch all the best in his battle.
That said, Tunch as a play by play guy was pretty awful. Less is best Tunch...less is best.
I wish Tunch all the best in his battle.
That said, Tunch as a play by play guy was pretty awful. Less is best Tunch...less is best.
“Ah, who cares about Seattle’s Space Needle? Dumb looking building, you can see the whole stupid town, built by some jagoff! Pittsburgh got Mt. Warshington, gorgeous hillside, beautiful views of the whole city, built by God…we win!” - Pittsburgh Dad
Not disparaging your post, but we need to live life like there are no winning battles. You can't win the battle of life.
Life is not sports. You don't win with effort. You are bound to lose no matter what you do. Accept that.
Arguing with idiots is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter how good you are, the pigeon is going to shit on the board and strut around like it won anyway.
Nothing wrong with hoping the guy plays into double OT, though.
Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile...
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steelmann58
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I hope Tunch enjoys life loved him as a player and Broadcaster and the Tunch and Wolf show is the best.
True. Take it to the limit, and I won't post a link. . .Ice wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 6:19 pmNothing wrong with hoping the guy plays into double OT, though.
Arguing with idiots is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter how good you are, the pigeon is going to shit on the board and strut around like it won anyway.
Sorry to hear this. He's a good guy, and I've always enjoyed watching him play and hearing him on the radio.
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
--Voltaire
--Voltaire
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bradshaw2ben
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I’m both sorry he has to retire but also, after hearing him struggle on the air last fall, glad that he is stepping away. Wolf was trying so hard to have his friend’s back and it’s impossible to not root for Tunch but... it was time.
1 20 Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
2 51 TRADE: Brandon Aiyuk, WR
3 84 Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn State
3× 98 Jarvis Brownlee, Jr., CB, Florida State
4 128 Qwan'tez Stiggers, DB, Toronto Argonauts
2 51 TRADE: Brandon Aiyuk, WR
3 84 Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn State
3× 98 Jarvis Brownlee, Jr., CB, Florida State
4 128 Qwan'tez Stiggers, DB, Toronto Argonauts
Agreed - it was evident this past year Tunch was struggling at points, with Wolf stepping in pretty openly at times to complete thoughts, etc.bradshaw2ben wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 4:47 amI’m both sorry he has to retire but also, after hearing him struggle on the air last fall, glad that he is stepping away. Wolf was trying so hard to have his friend’s back and it’s impossible to not root for Tunch but... it was time.
As much as I despised this crew over the years (Tunch always being the overly-eager bearer of bad news, Hillgrove always seems to be watching and commenting on another game and sport in a different time zone, probably on LSD) I wish the absolute best for Tunch, this is an exceptionally cruel disease with not a lot of hope for positive outcomes.
Fitting this announcement came so close to Lou Gehrig day. Sad that nearly 90 years after his death modern medicine has made very little progress on treating or preventing this disease.
FYI. Did you know Gehrig played the entire 1938 season while showing symptoms of ALS. He still batted .295 27 HR 114 RBI. It's said he dealt with blisters in his hands because of squeezing the bat so hard. (Muscles of the hands and feet are the first to show weakness)
FYI. Did you know Gehrig played the entire 1938 season while showing symptoms of ALS. He still batted .295 27 HR 114 RBI. It's said he dealt with blisters in his hands because of squeezing the bat so hard. (Muscles of the hands and feet are the first to show weakness)
