Terry Boers
It’ll be at least early October before Terry Boers returns to his afternoon show on CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR AM 670, the veteran Chicago radio personality said Wednesday.
Boers, 66, has been off the air since mid-June, when he underwent surgery for an undisclosed condition. At the time he said his recovery would take “around two months.”
In response to a request for an update, Boers shared a note to colleagues at The Score.
“Due to some unforeseen circumstances, my recovery is indeed going much slower than I had hoped or expected," he wrote. "It sounds silly, but the fact that I've been unable to do the show in so long hurts way more than any of the medical stuff that's been happening. . . . I can't explain it either, and the doctors and nurses are at a loss.” Boers did not elaborate on the unforeseen circumstances or his ailment, which he earlier called a “medical thing.”
Saying he was grateful “to all those who have reached out to me in this difficult time,” Boers added: “Looking ahead, my timetable seemingly gets pushed back every other day. Right now, I am looking to return to the airwaves in the early part of October, which will give me plenty of time to soak the Cubs in even greater glory and have some time for Bears, whose coach will likely be crazier than any Fox by that time.”
Mitch Rosen, operations director of The Score, passed along the message from Boers in an email to his staff. “I can’t tell you how much I miss him, and I’m sure all of you the same,” Rosen wrote. “Also the outpouring of support from listeners has been overwhelming to him and so supportive. Please continue to keep Terry in your thoughts.”
During his absence, various substitutes have been filling for Boers alongside Dan Bernstein on the popular show they co-host from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Boers, a former sports columnist for the Sun-Times, joined The Score at its inception in 1992. He has been teamed with Bernstein since 1999. Boers is believed to be in the final months of his contract with The Score, with speculation that he plans to retire in January.
Here is the text of Boers’ message to colleagues:
Due to some unforeseen circumstances, my recovery is indeed going much slower than I had hoped or expected. It sounds silly, but the fact that I've been unable to do the show in so long hurts way more than any of the medical stuff that's been happening. I have an ache in my heart that somehow requires being a goofball on the air for a minimum of five hours per day. End of story.
I can't explain it either, and the doctors and nurses are at a loss. When I mention how important it is for me to get back to work, they seem frustrated by me being such a cement head, but they have come to expect it. At least those who know what I do.
I should note here how eternally grateful I am to all those who have reached out to me in this difficult time. I really didn't think that doing a sports-talk show was all that important in the grander scale of things and I'm happy to have been so wrong.
Looking ahead, my timetable seemingly gets pushed back every other day. Right now, I am looking to return to the airwaves in the early part of October, which will give me plenty of time to soak the Cubs in even greater glory and have some time for Bears, whose coach will likely be crazier than any Fox by that time.
Here's hoping to talk to you soon,
Terry Boers