Thursday, December 27, 2007

Skipper Stu Nahan Signs Off for the Last Time

Yesterday we brought you news of the death of Jeanne Carmen, someone who spanned the globe in her career called life. Today we bring you Stu Nahan, another person who took whatever talents or skills he had and broadcast them to the world.

Longtime Los Angeles sportscaster, and former Toronto Maple Leaf goalie Stu Nahan, died Wednesday. He was 81. He had battled lymphoma since being diagnosed with that form of cancer in January 2006.

A former minor league hockey goalie and also familiar to movie fans for his appearances in the series of "Rocky" films, Nahan had been a sports anchor for three different television stations in Los Angeles. In addition to the Rocky films, Nahan also appeared in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High and the TV movie Brian's Song.

Nahan also hosted a children's TV program there, as "Skipper Stu." He later moved to Philadelphia, where he was "Captain Philadelphia" on another children's show, and did play-by-play for the NHL's Flyers and the Eagles of the NFL.
Those who knew him say that Nahan brought some much-needed levity to the ulra-competitive and pressured world of broadcasting.
"He knew every player and he could joke with them. That's kind of the way he did his interviews - kind of needling the player a little bit and getting the player to loosen up and kind of laugh with him. He was very good at that. He was a sportscaster who was at the events. He didn't just stay in the studio."
If laughter really is the best medicine, Stu Nahan overdosed on it this week.

[Canadian Press]

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