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{{Short description|Canadian sports announcer (1935–1996)}}
'''Edgar Lee "Ted" Darling''' (born [[Kingston, Ontario]], died 1996), was the original "Voice of the [[Buffalo Sabres]]" [[ice hockey]] team for twenty-two seasons, calling the team's games from the team's inaugural season in 1970 to 1991. Prior to his work with the Sabres, he was the host of [[Hockey Night in Canada]].
{{More citations needed|date=September 2012}}
{{ infobox person
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Edgar Lee Darling
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|6|9}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genealogybank.com/doc/ssdi/news/112F8765A99D7DE8?search_terms=darling%7Cedgar|title=Edgar L. Darling: Social Security Death Index (SSDI) Death Record - GenealogyBank|work=genealogybank.com}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Kingston, Ontario]], Canada
| death_date = {{death date and age|1996|12|19|1935|6|9}}
| death_place = [[Lockport, New York]], U.S.
| other_names =
| module = {{infobox sports announcer details
| team = [[Buffalo Sabres]]
| genre = play-by-play
| sport = [[Ice hockey]]
}}
}}
'''Edgar Lee "Ted" Darling''' (June 9, 1935 – December 19, 1996) was a Canadian-American sports announcer. He is best known as the original "Voice of the [[Buffalo Sabres]]" [[ice hockey]] team for twenty-two seasons, calling the team's games on television from the team's inaugural season in 1970 to 1991. The title was originally bestowed by Sabres defenceman [[Jim Schoenfeld]].<ref name=lenzi>{{Cite web |last=Lenzi |first=Rachel |date=2023-08-19 |title=How Rick Jeanneret paid homage to Ted Darling, the original voice of the Sabres |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/how-rick-jeanneret-paid-homage-to-ted-darling-the-original-voice-of-the-sabres/article_58bf216a-3e15-11ee-b307-8b4f70e854e6.html |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Buffalo News |language=en}}</ref>


==Career==
Darling was relieved of his duties by the [[executive producer]] of Sabres broadcasts, Jeff Sanchez, on December 12, 1991 due to worsening [[Pick's disease]], which killed him in 1996. The press box at the team's new [[HSBC Arena]] was named the "Ted Darling Memorial Press Box" in his honour. Darling was also inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 1994.


Prior to his work with the Sabres, he hosted ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' telecasts from [[Montreal]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.staffannouncer.com/teddarling.htm | title=Ted Darling: The Voice of the Sabres At His Finest | publisher=Staffannouncer.com | access-date=September 22, 2012 | author=Cichon, Steve}}</ref> Darling won the Sabres play-by-play job after submitting an audition tape of him calling a fictitious Sabres broadcast.<ref name=lenzi/>
After a brief stint with [[John Gurtler]] as the TV play-by-play voice, Darling was ultimately succeeded by [[Rick Jeanneret]], who at the time was the morning [[disc jockey]] at [[CJRN (AM)|CJRN]] and had been calling Sabres games since 1971 as the club's radio voice with [[Jim Lorentz]]. The Sabres organization ultimately decided to go with a television-radio simulcast with Jeanneret and Lorentz, until Lorentz's retirement in 2007. It is still unclear who will replace Lorentz.


Darling was close friends with [[Rick Jeanneret]], with whom he rotated television and radio play-by-play duties from 1971 onward. For games that were not televised, Darling and Jeanneret would often work as a tandem, though neither had playing experience typical of most [[color commentator]]s.<ref name=lenzi/><ref name=tbnobit/>
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==Memorable Calls==


In October 1991, Darling was diagnosed with [[Pick's disease]], an Alzheimer's-like degenerative illness, and thus, was on medical leave from October 16 to November 20.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=Gene |title=DISEASE TAKES CRUEL TOLL ON DARLING, FAMILY EX-VOICE OF SABRES STRUGGLES WITH ALZHEIMER'S-LIKE ILLNESS |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/disease-takes-cruel-toll-on-darling-family-ex-voice-of-sabres-struggles-with-alzheimers-like/article_d9ae1f6c-dbbd-5bb2-be4d-3746953b7bfc.html |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=Buffalo News |language=en}}</ref> He returned to call 6 more games before being relieved of his duties by the [[executive producer]] of Sabres broadcasts, Paul Wieland, on December 12, 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pergament |first=Alan |date=1991-12-13 |title=TV VOICE DARLING IS REMOVED FROM SABRES' BROADCAST TEAM |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/tv-voice-darling-is-removed-from-sabres-broadcast-team/article_601903dc-a6b8-5109-902b-4f9db2450be6.html |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Buffalo News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=1992-01-01 |title=SABRES TAP GURTLER TO DO PLAY BY PLAY |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/sabres-tap-gurtler-to-do-play-by-play/article_6ecf6987-3860-5686-b99e-8d860f01daa5.html |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Buffalo News |language=en}}</ref> Darling called a total of 11 games during the 1991–92 season. He was brought back, however, as a studio analyst for games on [[WUTV]] in the 1992–93 season before announcing his retirement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pergament |first=Alan |date=1992-06-12 |title=GURTLER TO COME BACK WITH LORENTZ, SABRES PARE ROBITAILLE FROM TV BOOTH |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/gurtler-to-come-back-with-lorentz-sabres-pare-robitaille-from-tv-booth/article_a00d3dde-7b20-55fb-ae4f-7064e3a63a27.html |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Buffalo News |language=en}}</ref> The illness took a significant toll on his health and after a five-year battle with the illness, he died on December 19, 1996, at the age of 61.<ref name=tbnobit>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Dale |title=TED DARLING, VOICE OF THE BUFFALO SABRES FOR 22 YEARS, DIES AT 61 |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/ted-darling-voice-of-the-buffalo-sabres-for-22-years-dies-at-61/article_86f1a7cf-e121-576d-af77-e431fd57bdc9.html |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=Buffalo News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ANNOUNCER DIES |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/12/22/announcer-dies/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 20, 1996 |title=Hall of Fame broadcaster Darling dies - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/12/20/Hall-of-Fame-broadcaster-Darling-dies/9938851058000/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref>
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When the blizzard of 1977 hit the city of [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], Darling called a game between the [[Buffalo Sabres|Sabres]] and [[Montreal Canadiens]] at the [[Montreal Forum]] from his apartment -- phoning in his commentary while watching the action on his television.


Darling's son, Joel Darling, is an executive producer with ''Hockey Night in Canada'', having begun his broadcast career as a gofer under his father and Jeanneret.<ref name=lenzi/>
[http://www.sabresalumni.com/2001/darling.php3 Ted Darling Information at SabresAlumni.com]


==Awards and accolades==
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{{Canada-icehockey-bio-stub}}
*Inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 1994.
*Inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.
*Inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2002.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.buffalobroadcasters.com/hof_2002.asp | title=Hall of Fame - 2002 Inductees | publisher=Buffalo Broadcasters Association | access-date=September 22, 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327211831/http://www.buffalobroadcasters.com/hof_2002.asp | archive-date=March 27, 2013 }}</ref>
*The press box at [[KeyBank Center]] is named the "Ted Darling Memorial Press Box" in his honor.


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==Memorable calls==
[[Category:Year of birth missing|Darling, Ted]]
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When the [[Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977]] hit the city of [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], Darling called a game between the [[Buffalo Sabres|Sabres]] and [[Montreal Canadiens]] at the [[Montreal Forum]] from his apartment—phoning in his commentary while watching the action on his television.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://buffalosportshallfame.com/member/ted-darling/ | title=Ted Darling: Buffalo Sabres Broadcaster | publisher=Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame | access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref>
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[[Category:1996 deaths|Darling, Ted]]

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[[Category:Buffalo Sabres|Darling, Ted]]
==References==
[[Category:Hockey Hall of Fame|Darling, Ted]]
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:National Hockey League broadcasters|Darling, Ted]]

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[[Category:Canadian sports announcers|Darling, Ted]]
{{The NHL Network (1975–79)}}
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[[Category:People from Kingston, Ontario|Darling, Ted]]

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[[Category:Ice hockey personnel from Ontario|Darling, Ted]]
{{s-start}}
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[[Category:Canadians of British descent|Darling, Ted]]
{{succession box|before=[[Tim Ryan (sportscaster)|Tim Ryan]]| title=[[Stanley Cup Finals]] [[NHL Network (1975–79)|American]] network television play-by-play announcer | years=[[1976 Stanley Cup Finals|1976]] (with [[Marv Albert]]; Darling called Game 2) | after=[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darling, Ted}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
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[[Category:1996 deaths]]
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[[Category:Buffalo Sabres announcers]]
[[Category:New York Giants announcers]]
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[[Category:Canadian people of British descent]]
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[[Category:Canadian sports announcers]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Deaths from Pick's disease]]
[[Category:Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winners]]
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[[Category:Ice hockey people from Ontario]]
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[[Category:National Hockey League broadcasters]]
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[[Category:People from Kingston, Ontario]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]


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{{Canada-icehockey-bio-stub}}

Revision as of 18:40, 10 April 2024

Ted Darling
Born
Edgar Lee Darling

(1935-06-09)June 9, 1935[1]
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
DiedDecember 19, 1996(1996-12-19) (aged 61)
Lockport, New York, U.S.
Sports commentary career
TeamBuffalo Sabres
Genreplay-by-play
SportIce hockey

Edgar Lee "Ted" Darling (June 9, 1935 – December 19, 1996) was a Canadian-American sports announcer. He is best known as the original "Voice of the Buffalo Sabres" ice hockey team for twenty-two seasons, calling the team's games on television from the team's inaugural season in 1970 to 1991. The title was originally bestowed by Sabres defenceman Jim Schoenfeld.[2]

Career

Prior to his work with the Sabres, he hosted Hockey Night in Canada telecasts from Montreal.[3] Darling won the Sabres play-by-play job after submitting an audition tape of him calling a fictitious Sabres broadcast.[2]

Darling was close friends with Rick Jeanneret, with whom he rotated television and radio play-by-play duties from 1971 onward. For games that were not televised, Darling and Jeanneret would often work as a tandem, though neither had playing experience typical of most color commentators.[2][4]

In October 1991, Darling was diagnosed with Pick's disease, an Alzheimer's-like degenerative illness, and thus, was on medical leave from October 16 to November 20.[5] He returned to call 6 more games before being relieved of his duties by the executive producer of Sabres broadcasts, Paul Wieland, on December 12, 1991.[6][7] Darling called a total of 11 games during the 1991–92 season. He was brought back, however, as a studio analyst for games on WUTV in the 1992–93 season before announcing his retirement.[8] The illness took a significant toll on his health and after a five-year battle with the illness, he died on December 19, 1996, at the age of 61.[4][9][10]

Darling's son, Joel Darling, is an executive producer with Hockey Night in Canada, having begun his broadcast career as a gofer under his father and Jeanneret.[2]

Awards and accolades

  • Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1994.
  • Inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.
  • Inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2002.[11]
  • The press box at KeyBank Center is named the "Ted Darling Memorial Press Box" in his honor.

Memorable calls

When the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977 hit the city of Buffalo, Darling called a game between the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens at the Montreal Forum from his apartment—phoning in his commentary while watching the action on his television.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Edgar L. Darling: Social Security Death Index (SSDI) Death Record - GenealogyBank". genealogybank.com.
  2. ^ a b c d Lenzi, Rachel (2023-08-19). "How Rick Jeanneret paid homage to Ted Darling, the original voice of the Sabres". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  3. ^ Cichon, Steve. "Ted Darling: The Voice of the Sabres At His Finest". Staffannouncer.com. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Anderson, Dale. "TED DARLING, VOICE OF THE BUFFALO SABRES FOR 22 YEARS, DIES AT 61". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  5. ^ Warner, Gene. "DISEASE TAKES CRUEL TOLL ON DARLING, FAMILY EX-VOICE OF SABRES STRUGGLES WITH ALZHEIMER'S-LIKE ILLNESS". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  6. ^ Pergament, Alan (1991-12-13). "TV VOICE DARLING IS REMOVED FROM SABRES' BROADCAST TEAM". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  7. ^ Staff (1992-01-01). "SABRES TAP GURTLER TO DO PLAY BY PLAY". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  8. ^ Pergament, Alan (1992-06-12). "GURTLER TO COME BACK WITH LORENTZ, SABRES PARE ROBITAILLE FROM TV BOOTH". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  9. ^ "ANNOUNCER DIES". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  10. ^ "Hall of Fame broadcaster Darling dies - UPI Archives". UPI. December 20, 1996. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  11. ^ "Hall of Fame - 2002 Inductees". Buffalo Broadcasters Association. Archived from the original on March 27, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  12. ^ "Ted Darling: Buffalo Sabres Broadcaster". Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
Preceded by Stanley Cup Finals American network television play-by-play announcer
1976 (with Marv Albert; Darling called Game 2) 		Succeeded by


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