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Jim Mandich former tight end for the Miami Dolphins, one of South Florida's most popular sportscasters,
said Tuesday he is battling cancer and will not return to his afternoon talk show on WQAM, AM 560. Jim
Mandich, 61, is receiving chemotherapy for a tumor in his bile duct, a tube that reaches from the liver
to the small intestine. He hopes to know in a couple weeks how effectively the chemotherapy is working.
Jim Mandich said, "I was led to believe there are a lot of positive outcomes with this condition," he said.
"My mind frame is strong. I feel very good. I'm surrounded by the best professionals at the Sylvester Center.
I have a lot of love from family and friends." Health permitting, Mandich "would love'' to continue
announcing Dolphins games which are moving to WINZ, AM 940, and WBGG, FM 105.9 and might do occasional
work on WQAM. But "my talk-show days are done. It was a lot of fun." Mandich felt a "stabbing sensation"
during football season but thought it might be stress.
He was diagnosed last month and has been in and out
of the hospital since taking a leave of absence from WQAM in late January. Jim Mandich was an All-American
at Michigan, played eight years for the Dolphins (who drafted him 29th overall in 1970) and finished his NFL
career with Pittsburgh in 1978. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004, Mandich has been a
Dolphins announcer from 1992 to 2004, 2008 and 2009. Mandich is president of Lotspeich, a Hialeah-based
construction company, and has been spending some time there. His creative phrases such as "Riding around
with my windows down" and "All right, Miami!" have become part of the local sports tradition. "He's the
toughest and most determined guy I've ever met," said WQAM's Joe Zagacki, a close friend. "I sat with him the
other day and he made me feel good, and he's the one who's sick." WQAM said it will begin considering how to
fill the 4 to 7 p.m. slot. Mandich plans to go on Joe Rose's morning show sometime soon to update listeners.
I really hope everything works out well for the Mad Dog, I sure do miss listening to his radio show every
afternoon on my way home from work. Clear Channel needs to acquire the services of the Mad Dog to compliment
Jimmy Cefalo during Miami Dolphins broadcasts. Go Dolphins...
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