Tim Murray Struggling (sabres)

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Tim Murray Struggling

By GARTH'S CORNER

Nov 14, 2014 • 7:27 pm

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Tim and Bryan Murray are as close as a nephew and uncle can be. Uncle Bryan used to drive the apple of his eye to his Pee Wee hockey practices and games.

Bryan was the master, Tim the servant for years. Tim has always been Bryan's shadow. Figuratively and literally. There are some that say that Tim can complete Bryan's sentences, and vice versa.

That's love and respect.

They speak often. Tim avoids speaking about hockey. He's more concerned with his uncle's battle with cancer. Bryan inevitably takes charge and changes the subject to hockey. Despite his deteriorating health, Uncle Bryan is coaching his nephew through the ugliness and negativity of this challenging season for the Buffalo Sabres. Tim Murray thought in the offseason that the free agents that he acquired and the players that he had traded for would hlp lead his youngsters. Obviously, it hasn't happened yet. Tim admits that he is not the most positive guy in the world. Uncle Bryan has been there, done that and he continues to mentor his nephew through this difficult time.

Losing hockey games and being ranked 30th out of 30 teams pales in comparison to losing one's life.

On Thursday night, Michael Farber informed the hockey community that Bryan Murray is suffering from an aggressive form of Stage 4 cancer. Bryan has been living symptom free for the past 7-10 years. His cancer could have been detected with a routine colonoscopy. Bryan was healthy, had no history of cancer in his family and never had a routine colonoscopy.

Now he wishes that he had. For his sake. For Tim's sake.

TSN 100 Ottawa caught up with Tim Murray on Thursday. Understandably, Tim is shaken, upset, confused and rocked by the deteriorating health of his beloved uncle.

Their relationship is unique. Its a love and respect for hoickey and one another as close Shawville Murrays.

Tim served as AGM to Bryan for seven years in Ottawa. Tim was the heir apparent to take over the GM role of the Senators when uncle Bryan retired. Before he could get the opportunity to succeed his beloved uncle and boss, Tim accepted the GM job in Buffalo in January 2014.

Tim confessed on Friday that has second-guessed his decision to leave Ottawa to accept the GM gig in Buffalo. It sounds like if Tim had it to do all over again that he would have remained at his uncle's right hand in Ottawa rather than depart for Buffalo.

“I’ve quite frankly have second guessed everything that has gone on since..and [Bryan] knows that too,… Tim Murray told TSN. “What’s happened has happened and I’m here, but under different circumstances – certainly if I knew that earlier, I wouldn’t have been very anxious to be out the door. I would have been quite content to know that I would have been his assistant for as long as he wanted.…

Bryan Murray's cancer is aggressive and it has spread throughout his body. There is no cure.

Tim Murray is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his teacher is sick and there is not a lot of hope for a cure.

“The last 5 minutes always comes back to hockey and a couple of tips for me with the situation that I’m in,… Tim said. “I can get emotional or frustrated and he can always help bring me back.…

November is Hockey Fights Cancer month. The NHL community is raising awareness and continuing the dialogue regarding the insidious disease and how best to be proactive about treating the symptoms early before they exacerbate and get worse.

Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced in July that he was fighting cancer. Murray has been undergoing treatment.

On Thursday night, we found out just how dire and desperate that his personal cancer fight really is.

Murray told TSN's Michael Farber the he has an aggressive form of Stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to his liver and lungs.

"There is no cure at this point for me," Murray said. "The word is that we'll keep doing chemo and hopefully reduce the tumors and the effect and I'll get some time out of that."

The cancer of the Ottawa Senators GM, who is also the uncle and mentor to Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray, has progress into Stage 4. The cancer has spread into other parts of his body.

The cautionary tale is that Murray's form of cancer is very treatable with early detection.

Murray says he made the mistake of not having a routine colonoscopy exam.

"I didn't have a colonoscopy which I should've had," Murray admitted. "I don't know why I didn't. One of the comments that came back to me on a regular basis, 'You're healthy, you're from a family that hasn't had any disease whatsoever. We can maybe wait.' But that's also my fault in that I should've demanded or at least asked for. But like a lot of men do, we put it off."

"A simple colonoscopy in my case probably would've solved the problem I have."

Tragic.

****

Last Friday night, I came face to face with a man who I have respected and adored for 40 years at First Niagara Center. It was 5:30pm. I had just left the grand opening of "716 Food & Sport". I walked through the security office to the elevator that leads to the Ted Darling Memorial Press Box. When the elevator doors opened, I walked in. I recall scrolling through my text message and Twitter feed while the car loaded. "Hi, Rick", I heard the elevator operated say. Expecting to see Rick Dudley, a familiar face in the Buffalo press box, I was stunned and ecstatic to hear the distinct and familiar voice acknowledge the greeting the elevator operator. I hadn't heard that voice in what seemed like forever. I had to get a look at the mystery man. I did a double take as I tossed my smart phone in my suit jacket pocket. There he was, in all his sartorial splendor. One of my boyhood idols, Rick Jeanneret. I was one of six people to say hello and to welcome Rick back home. Just as we had exchanged pleasantries, the elevator stopped at the 200 level. Odd, I thought. RJ always rides to the press box. "Where is he going", said I to myself. RJ wished all elevator riders a good night and departed into the crowded 200 level. I looked at the man next to me, an NHL scout. We exchanged smiles. There was chatter. Rick Jeanneret's presence had just transformed a mundane elevator ride into a pinch-me moment. I have ridden the elevator with RJ more than 100 times in my lifetime. This time was special. It gave me pause. It was the first time that I had seen RJ since diagnosis. I marvel at the thought of him kicking cancer's ass. Not many people can list "Cancer Survivor" on their resume. RJ can. Friends and family members of mine can. RJ is a blessed man. We too are blessesd to have him back.

Unbeknownst to me, RJ was making his way to the pregame show set on the 200 level where he would triumphantly tell Brian Duff and the world the four words that we so longed to hear:

I. Am. Cancer. Free.

How apropos, that on the night that the Sabres were celebrating "Hockey Fights Cancer Night" that the voice of the franchise would share his journey with millions of fans. To add more brilliance, luster and hope to the night's events, my other hero, Jim Kelly, joined RJ for a pregame ceremony that brought tears to my eyes. RJ and Jim are now cancer free.

Jeanneret told Sabres.com that he wants to resume his passion, which is calling play by play for the Buffalo Sabres.

The team needs him. He needs them.

We all need each other.

“My doctors have told me I’m cancer-free and I’m feeling well enough to get back in the booth, even if it’s only on a limited basis for the time being. The kindness and well-wishes from everyone, especially Sabres fans and the Western New York community, has been overwhelming and I’m truly grateful for the tremendous support during this process.…

RJ was found out the news in July that he was suffering from throat cancer. His care program began shortly thereafter. In his stead, Dan Dunleavy has done a wonderful job handling the play by play duties alongside Roy Ray. Dan has kept RJ's microphone and chair warm while the legend was concentrating all of his efforts on fighting his cancer diagnosis.

Recently, the prayers of millions of Rick Jeanneret fans around the globe were answered when he was given a clean bill of health. He announced on Hockey Fights Cancer Night that he is cancer-free.

“I'm feeling pretty good, although a little weak from weight loss, which is par for the course and the recovery regimen,… Jeanneret explained. “I had planned all along to get back in the booth, but I couldn't set a timetable given that I didn't know how the recovery would go. I had no preset return date, but it was certainly affected by the news that I had been found cancer free.…

RJ has earned the right to approach is come back on his terms. If he wants to play six holes instead of eighteen holes, then so be it. Being a member for the Forster Hewitt Arad club and the Hockey Hall of Fame, RJ can do it his way. “I'm approaching Saturday's game with a great deal of trepidation, and just hope I'll get stronger and better with each ensuing outing. Success would certainly help to wipe out some of the recovery memories, as did the incredible reaction of the fans before the Edmonton game.

“One period seems right to begin with, and I'm hoping the stamina will be there to get me through it. “

You'll do great, RJ. That's the only way you now how to describe a game to us fans.

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