Tcali Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Folks, Buffalo News sports writer Tom Borrelli could use any thoughts, prayers, and/or good karma you want to send his way. Saturday afternoon, while covering a Harvard Cup game at All High Stadium, the Tonawanda native and Buffalo State grad fell down the stairs connecting the press box with the top of the stands. At last report, he's in critical condition with head and neck injuries. From the BN's Prep Talk blog: Best wishes to Tom Borrelli wow....Prayers to Tom and his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 Update from this morning: Hope held out for News reporter still in critical condition after fall Not good: "Borrelli, 51, is breathing with a respirator and is unable to move his arms and legs, said family members who are holding out hope his condition will improve once his extensive swelling goes down." The cause? Borrelli fell down a steep set of iron stairs leading to the press box at All High Stadium. Located behind Bennett High School, the field underwent a $9 million renovation in 2007. Plans for a new press box and an elevator to get to it were in the initial plans but got cut because of project overruns, said a spokesman for LP Ciminelli. Stefan Mychajliw, spokesman for the Buffalo Public Schools, was asked about how the renovations got cut. He responded with a message from Superintendent James A. Williams that he hoped for the best for Borrelli’s recovery. Borrelli was covering a game between McKinley and Riverside high schools, which was called off at halftime because he was injured so badly. Others who have covered sports events at All High called the press box stairs dangerous. Some reporters refused to use the press box because of them. ... Kozak said he frequently hits his head on a girder at the top of the stairs, either going up or coming down. “At least once a week, someone would say, it’s a wonder that somebody doesn’t get killed,” he said. To get to the press box, reporters climb what a project architect said is essentially a ship’s ladder, with two handrails. They then climb through a trap door and walk along a catwalk on the stadium roof to the press box. “The stadium was dedicated on May 29, 1929,” Kozak said. “I bet you those stairs are the same ones.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmwolf21 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Update from this morning: Hope held out for News reporter still in critical condition after fall Not good: "Borrelli, 51, is breathing with a respirator and is unable to move his arms and legs, said family members who are holding out hope his condition will improve once his extensive swelling goes down." The cause? Wow. Where's the shaking-head smiley? Nice "PR" job by Stefan Mychliweurwieoulksjdklw, BTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted November 14, 2008 Author Share Posted November 14, 2008 Wow. Where's the shaking-head smiley? Nice "PR" job by Stefan Mychliweurwieoulksjdklw, BTW. Programming note: Stefan M. previously worked for two of the three TV stations in the Buffalo market. Neither job ended well. From Keith, a nice tribute planned for Saturday's radio broadcast: Harvard Cup radio wishing Borrelli well Saturday Saturday's broadcast of the Intense Milk Harvard Cup Game of the Week broadcast on WJJL-AM (1440) will include well wishes for News sports reporter Tom Borrelli from anyone who wants to offer them. On Thursday and Friday morning, those wishing to leave an audio get well message for Tom may do so by calling WJJL at 674-9555 between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. WJJL's Steve Mitchell will be recording messages on both days. The messages will be played during Saturday's 2 p.m. broadcast of the semifinal between Riverside and McKinley. The game is actually being played at 10 a.m. at All High Stadium but is being broadcast via tape delay at 2. The second semifinal, between Grover Cleveland and Hutch-Tech, will be played at 2 p.m. at All High. The McKinley-Riverside semifinal will be broadcast online at 2 p.m. via the National High School Broadcast Network -- here's a direct link to use Saturday afternoon. "Let's keep Tom in our prayers," said Harvard Cup play-by-play man and unofficial league historian Rich Kozak. "I know if circumstances were different, we'd be shoulder-to-shoulder in the press box this weekend." ---Keith McShea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmwolf21 Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 Programming note: Stefan M. previously worked for two of the three TV stations in the Buffalo market. Neither job ended well. I remember Stefan (not personally, mind you) from his time at WGRZ, but never heard anything about his departure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted November 14, 2008 Author Share Posted November 14, 2008 One more bump. Tom's colleague at The News, Michael Beebe, posted this on the Sports, Ink blog for anyone who may be so inclined: For those wanting to send a card to Tom, the address is Tom Borrelli Trauma ICU Erie County Medical Center 462 Grider St. Buffalo, N.Y. 14215 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philly McButterpants Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Sadly, WBEN just announced that Borelli has passed away due to his injuries. I was unaware of the extent of his injuries, but the report stated that he had been paralyzed as a result of the fall. Sad news as he was only 51. Prayers out to his family and loved ones. . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lv-Bills Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Sadly, WBEN just announced that Borelli has passed away due to his injuries. I was unaware of the extent of his injuries, but the report stated that he had been paralyzed as a result of the fall. Sad news as he was only 51. Prayers out to his family and loved ones. . . . Wow, I have no idea who this guy is, but under the circumstances (of all I've read about this guy and the condition of that facility where he fell) of this terrible accident I wish his family the best. RIP Tom, and I'm saying a prayer for you and your family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmwolf21 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Damn, that's sad news. I was really hoping he'd pull through. RIP, Tom. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 WOW! you never know. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayFinkle Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 Good God, no. http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/499559.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills44 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Terrible news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 damn RIP Mr. Borelli...thoughts and prayers for his wife and family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SageAgainstTheMachine Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 RIP Tom Borrelli Such a freak accident. Could have happened to anybody. Best wishes to the Borrelli family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Wow. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 The National Lacrosse League site has a video tribute to Borrelli,compiled when he was inducted into their Hall of Fame last year, on the front page of their site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Flanders Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 News like this kind of puts Monday night's debacle in perspective... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarkLessWagMore Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Very sad. RIP Tom. Condolences to his friends and family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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