This is about retired Rangers MSG Networks analyst Joe Micheletti but it's also about energetic reporter Matthew Blittner.
First let me say that Blittner is one of more accomplished newsmen on the hockey beat, which of course includes the Rangers. Matt is all over the place, regularly coming up with interviews others have missed.
During the recent New York State Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, Blittner caught up with Micheletti and some of Joe's revelations are arresting to say the least.
One of the issues that have remained a mystery – until the Blittner interview – was why Micheletti was so silent about his plans for retirement while, on the other hand, a big fuss was made about Sam Rosen's impending exit from MSG Networks.
"I really decided to retire last summer," Micheletti admitted. "In fact there was a chance that I was not going to come back for this (2024-25) season. My wife and I started talking about it three or four years ago. We have two kids and six grandkids growing up in a hurry and we don't see them a lot."
What few – if any of us – knew about were the tragedies that afflicted close relatives around Joe. He told Matthew what he described as "difficult family situations" as one of nine kids.
"I lost a sister to cancer ten years ago," Micheletti explained. "I had three brothers all get diagnosed with terminal cancer within a year-and-a-half of each other; and lost two of
them. The other one is barely hanging on.
"All those things make you think about what's important. Not that I hadn't before, but it
made me speed up the process about retiring. I wanted to spend more time not only with my family but with my wife who has watched me travel for almost 44 years of marriage."
Joe almost packed it in before last season and changed his mind when he learned something he did not know before; that Rosen also planned retirement. Sam's decision changed Joe's mind.
"I told my wife that I was 99.9 percent sure I was finished with broadcasting, but when I heard about Sam, I told my wife I'd do one more season with Sam, but we'd keep it to
ourselves."
Unselfish to a fault, Micheletti wanted Rosen to get ALL of the attention and, as a result, none of us knew of Joe's plans.
Joe: "Sam deserved to be in the spotlight not only because of what he's done but also because of who he is, the person he is; and I didn't want to get involved. I wanted him to have that kind of year; and it was. I had a fabulous year watching it and being part of it
– from all the free wines. I kept telling Sam, 'You got to give me some of that wine.'"
Because he kept his secret right to the very end, Micheletti had no real opportunity – as Sam did – to personally thank Rangers fans for their support over the years. Blittner gave him the chance and this is how Joe said it -- right from the heart:
"Thank you for the way that everyone treated me and my family. I got to meet so many of you on game day because I'd take the (LIRR) train in and then the subwayu for all those years I met so many of you; and you always were so kind and so passionate about your team -- and I loved it.
"Thank you for the way you have treated me for those nineteen years. Know that you're all in my heart!"
(EDITOR'S NOTE: TOMORROW JOE EXPLAINS THE BIZARRE MANNER IN WHICH HE BECAME A TELEVISION ANALYST.)