Jim Donovan, the Cleveland Browns’ longtime radio play-by-play man, died Saturday after a chronic battle with most cancers. He was 68.
Donovan turned the full-time voice of the Browns upon the workforce’s return to the NFL in 1999 and held the job till the beginning of this season when he retired to give attention to his well being.
He was nonetheless attending coaching camp practices and referred to as the workforce’s preseason video games the week earlier than his retirement. Donovan was a relentless employee whose energetic calls have been acknowledged and treasured by Browns followers all through the nation. His signature name was “Run, William, Run” as William Inexperienced helped the Browns push towards the group’s first new-era playoff berth in 2002, and thru a interval of extended dropping that adopted, Donovan maintained his ardour, a humorousness and a reference to the fanbase.
“The one factor lacking is you,” Donovan informed Browns followers because the Browns clinched a playoff berth within the COVID-19 restricted attendance 2020 season finale.
Donovan grew up in Boston an avid fan of the Bruins, Celtics, Purple Sox and Patriots. His household loved season tickets to Bruins video games for over a decade on the outdated Boston Backyard and he at all times sat in the identical seat — Part 77, Row F, Seat 13. As a boy, he sat subsequent to his father and referred to as video games right into a tape recorder as apply for what ultimately turned a legendary profession as a play-by-play voice.
“Folks would go searching and assume it’s both form of bizarre or form of cool,” Donovan as soon as informed The Athletic. “I beloved Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito and Gerry Cheevers, however my actual heroes have been the blokes calling the video games from the gondola above the ice.”
Donovan attended one in all Orr’s hockey camps as a 12-year-old. Together with all of his hockey gear, he introduced alongside a couple of of his recordings for the Corridor of Famer to listen to.
“He listened to the video games with me,” Donovan as soon as informed The Athletic. “At one level he was like, ‘Boy, it is best to actually think about doing this.’”
GO DEEPER
The voices of Jim Donovan’s youth led him to a lifetime of reminiscences in Cleveland
Donovan spent practically 40 years as a broadcaster in Cleveland. He joined WKYC in 1985 after an agent noticed him on one other aspiring tv anchor’s resume tape. Donovan was working in Burlington, Vt., with the dream of returning to Boston, the place he was as soon as faculty acquaintances with Howard Stern after the 2 hung out working collectively at Boston College’s campus radio station. Nevertheless it wasn’t lengthy earlier than he fell in love with Cleveland and his future spouse, Cheryl. They celebrated their thirty fifth wedding ceremony anniversary in June and share a daughter, Meghan.
Donovan referred to as NFL video games for NBC from 1987-1997. He additionally referred to as two Summer time Olympics, a World Cup and spent three years calling Cleveland Indians baseball on WKYC when the station had the workforce’s native broadcast rights. He was the longtime sports activities director at WKYC and a staple on Browns preseason tv broadcasts and native pregame and evaluation exhibits for all three of Cleveland’s main skilled groups.
Donovan was recognized with continual lymphocytic leukemia in 2000 however saved it quiet for greater than a decade. He snuck into physician’s appointments by storage doorways and exited by aspect doorways to keep away from being acknowledged. It wasn’t till his situation worsened and he wanted a bone marrow transplant that he went public along with his most cancers combat.
“Generally I really feel unhealthy that I didn’t inform the story earlier,” Donovan informed The Athletic in 2018. “I used to be so scared. I did every little thing flawed. I didn’t ask loads of questions as a result of I used to be afraid of the solutions. After which lastly you simply get to the purpose the place you simply say, ‘Hey, folks need to enable you to.’”
A Browns fan exhibits help for Jim Donovan throughout his battle with most cancers in 2023. (Nick Cammett / Getty Photographs)
Donovan acquired a bone marrow transplant in the summertime of 2011 and fought by 105-degree fevers within the days after surgical procedure but was adamant he would return for the beginning of Browns season. Simply 4 days earlier than the season kickoff, Donovan wanted one other surgical procedure to take away one-third of his proper earlobe due to melanoma. He couldn’t put on a headset, however Donovan stubbornly reached his objective: He was within the sales space for the season opener and Pat Shurmur’s debut as Browns head coach.
“As gallant because it was,” Donovan informed The Athletic, “it was much more silly.”
The bone marrow transplant was a hit. When Donovan cleared seven years cancer-free, docs informed him he was successfully cured.
Till he wasn’t.
Donovan introduced after the Browns’ 2023 season opener he wanted to take a medical depart of absence to once more battle leukemia. He returned to the sales space two months later. He surprised all of Cleveland when he introduced his retirement in August. The most cancers had returned.
“My most cancers is a defiant opponent and has returned and really aggressively,” Donovan wrote to Browns followers in August saying his retirement. “This may require me to commit every little thing I’ve in me to proceed the combat and my household and I are dedicated to doing that.”
GO DEEPER
Voice of the Browns Jim Donovan discusses his dream job, getting suggestions from Bobby Orr and doing bits with Howard Stern
Final month, the Browns inducted Donovan into their 2024 Browns Legends class. Although Donovan couldn’t attend the ceremony, longtime kicker Phil Dawson, this yr’s different Legends honoree, referred to as Donovan in late September to tell Donovan he’d be inducted.
Hear in as Phil Dawson surprises Jim Donovan with a name to inform him he’ll be becoming a member of him on this yr’s class of Browns Legends inductees! 🥹🧡 pic.twitter.com/2MoWI5ovZV
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 20, 2024
“I’ve referred to as Browns video games for 25 years,” Donovan wrote to followers in his August retirement announcement. “Not a day has passed by once I haven’t paused and been so proud to be the voice of the Browns.”
No service preparations have been instantly introduced. The Browns will honor Donovan forward of their house sport Sunday versus the Baltimore Ravens, although precise plans have been nonetheless undetermined as of Saturday afternoon.
“We’ve got been so honored to have Jim Donovan because the Voice of the Browns since we turned part of the group in 2012 and shortly understood why our followers have completely beloved him for the final 25 years,” Browns homeowners Jimmy and Dee Haslam stated in Donovan’s retirement announcement. “He’s Cleveland and represents all that’s good about Cleveland.
“Jim poured every little thing into his craft. Whether or not you’ve heard him on TV, radio or have been fortunate sufficient to have interaction him in particular person, he lights up each room and each dialog along with his infectious vitality. His class, professionalism and limitless take care of these round him make all of us higher. Phrases might by no means totally specific our gratitude and admiration for Jim, how he has navigated his combat with most cancers, his love for this metropolis and most significantly, his love and dedication to his household. I do know we communicate for all Browns followers in saying that he’s in our prayers, we’re right here to help him in each means doable and Jim Donovan will perpetually be a Cleveland Brown.”
(Prime photograph: David Richard / Related Press)
