Thanks to the heads up from Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette, we have Doc Emrick’s farewell to Devils fans that has been posted on the team’s website. In the statement, Mike expresses gratitude for the 21 years and three Stanley Cup Championship teams he had the opportunity to call for SportsChannel/Fox Sports New York/MSG Network over that period. He also said that with his three contracts with NBC/Versus/MSG, he wished to cut down on his travel and he had to decide to leave one network and that choice was MSG.
Always classy, Doc wrote this very kind note to the fans.
To the marvelous fans of the New Jersey Devils:
A good friend advised me several years ago that before any major decision, you should look in the mirror and look at your birth certificate.
Since my contracts with MSG, VERSUS, and NBC all expired late this spring, this was another of those times. I discovered that the birth certificate couldn’t be changed and it showed me to be 65 in a few days.
I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been able to spend 23 incredible years with the MSG Network channels and 21 equally enjoyable years–including 3 Stanley Cup championships–with the New Jersey Devils. However, considering the long-term significance of this decision, I was able to construct a lighter regular season-schedule and the usual complement of Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Final games for NBC and VERSUS.
But that assurance of less travel and fewer games has regrettably led me to end my association with the MSG Network channels and the Devils.
The people at both of these organizations have been incredibly loyal to me and have been very patient waiting until mid-summer for me to reach this decision. Both have also provided me only positive memories, support, and encouragement over these many seasons.
I wanted Devils fans to know of this news quickly after I reached the decision since their kindness to my wife Joyce and me on countless occasions brought us so much joy. Candidly, it has also left me with a sense of regret that I will not be continuing to call the team’s games.
Words in prepared statements like these usually read very cold. Despite that, I hope you will sense how much I have enjoyed being around you and the team. This seemed the best way to get this news to you in the middle of the off-season.
I wish MSG Network and the Devils and Devils fans nothing but the greatest success in the years to come.
With Great Appreciation,
Doc
Leave it to Doc to write a heartfelt letter to the fans. One of the reasons why he’s so beloved by Devils fans.
