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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 on television from the team's inaugural season in 1970 to 1991. Prior to his work with the Sabres, he hosted ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' telecasts from [[Montreal]].
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{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, Paul Wieland, on December 12, 1991 due to worsening [[Pick's disease]], to which he eventually succumbed in 1996. He was brought back as a studio analyst for games on [[WUTV]] in the 1992-93 season. The press box at the team's new [[HSBC Arena (Buffalo)|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/>
He was succeeded on television by [[John Gurtler]], who was himself succeeded by [[Pete Weber (broadcaster)|Pete Weber]] in 1995, who was in turn replaced by longtime Sabres radio play-by-play man [[Rick Jeanneret]] in 1997.


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/>
⚫
==Memorable calls==
⚫
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.


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>
On occasion, Jeanneret, who had been the team's radio voice since 1971, and Darling would hold TV-radio simulcasts, with Darling calling the first and third periods and Jeanneret covering the second period.


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/>
==External links==

*[http://www.sabresalumni.com/2001/darling.php3 Ted Darling Information at SabresAlumni.com]
==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.<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.

⚫
==Memorable calls==
⚫
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>

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{The NHL Network (1975–79)}}
{{The NHL Network (1975–79)}}


{{s-start}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
{{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]]}}
| NAME = Darling, Ted
{{s-end}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =

| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
{{authority control}}
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| DATE OF BIRTH =

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




Latest revision as of 00:40, 23 December 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

[edit]

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

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]

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

[edit]
  1. ^ "Edgar L. Darling: Social Security Death Index (SSDI) Death Record - GenealogyBank". genealogybank.com.
  2. ^ a b c d Lenzi, Rachel (August 19, 2023). "How Rick Jeanneret paid homage to Ted Darling, the original voice of the Sabres". Buffalo News. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  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 February 19, 2023.
  5. ^ Warner, Gene. "DISEASE TAKES CRUEL TOLL ON DARLING, FAMILY EX-VOICE OF SABRES STRUGGLES WITH ALZHEIMER'S-LIKE ILLNESS". Buffalo News. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  6. ^ Pergament, Alan (December 13, 1991). "TV VOICE DARLING IS REMOVED FROM SABRES' BROADCAST TEAM". Buffalo News. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Staff (January 1, 1992). "SABRES TAP GURTLER TO DO PLAY BY PLAY". Buffalo News. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Pergament, Alan (June 12, 1992). "GURTLER TO COME BACK WITH LORENTZ, SABRES PARE ROBITAILLE FROM TV BOOTH". Buffalo News. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "ANNOUNCER DIES". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  10. ^ "Hall of Fame broadcaster Darling dies - UPI Archives". UPI. December 20, 1996. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  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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