Woody Paige, a 78-year-old sports journalist, is facing a double whammy: a recent cancer surgery and the end of his long-running TV show.  But he's taking it all in stride. Paige underwent facial surgery for melanoma last month, but the good news is, he's cancer-free. He's got a six-inch scar, but he's covering it up with a beard.  The bad news? His show, Around the Horn, is ending.  But Paige isn't letting that get him down.  He's been part of the show since 2002, and he's got some amazing stories to tell.

The show was a daily sports talk show that featured Paige and other sports journalists.  It was a mix of sports talk and comedy, and it was a hit with fans.  Paige was a regular on the show, and he was known for his outspoken opinions and his quick wit.  He was also known for his feuds with other journalists, including Jay Mariotti, whom he used to call "Richard" because it was the closest he could come to calling him "Dick. "

Paige has had some amazing moments on the show.  One of his favorites was when he made it to the finals and had a showdown with Harry Lyles Jr.  Lyles won the face time that day, but he used it to salute Paige.  "As one of the younger panelists on this show, a lot of us grew up coming home from school and watching this particular program, " Lyles said. "One of the people we always saw was Woody Paige. And whether you loved him or hated him, you always tuned into the show to see what that man was going to say. That also goes for those of you watching at home. I have to say, you still see Woody's influence all over sports media today in terms of the shows that you watch, the styles that people have. And it gave me a path to know where I wanted to be in my career. This show is one of those things and, Woody Paige, I would not be here without your influence. "

Paige was touched by Lyles' words, but he would have rather won the face time.  "I would much rather have won than had Harry talk about me, " he says. "But when he did, I started crying. "

Paige has had a long and successful career in sports journalism.  He's worked as a columnist for the Denver Post, and he's been a regular on ESPN's Around the Horn.  He's also been a guest on other ESPN shows, including Pardon the Interruption.  He's had some amazing experiences, including performing at Disney World and working for Disney, the parent company of ESPN.

But Paige isn't sure what the future holds.  His latest contract with ESPN extends beyond the show's end date, but he doesn't know if ESPN has plans for him afterward.  He's at peace with the development, since the rewards he's received from the show have already exceeded any reasonable expectations he might have had.

Paige's cancer diagnosis was a wake-up call.  He feared the worst, but he's cancer-free now.  He's grateful for his family, especially his daughter, who is more important to him than anything else.  He's also grateful for his career and the opportunities it's given him.  He's had some amazing experiences, and he's met some amazing people.  He's had a great run, and he's proud of what he's accomplished.  He's a lucky man, and he knows it.

WOODY PAIGE

Woody Paige: From Cancer to TV Farewell

Continue reading...