We got some scary news regarding Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper last week, who has stepped away from the broadcasting booth for an undisclosed period of time as he undergoes chemotherapy treatment. Kuip hasn’t been in the booth since that announcement, but his partner Mike Krukow gave an encouraging update on Thursday morning, indicating we may hear from our beloved Kuip very soon.
“Just an update on Duane Kuiper: I spoke to him yesterday,” Krukow said on KNBR. “He was doing fantastic. His voice sounded strong, he was very optimistic. He has another chemotherapy tomorrow and then he gets two weeks off. He’s pretty excited about that. I think next week at some point we will see Duane.”
Kuiper, 71, is in his 31st season in the booth with Kruk. Here’s the statement he gave last week:
“I wanted to let you know that I may be missing a few more Giants broadcasts than usual and I wanted to share what’s going on with me. After some tests and visits with doctors, I was diagnosed with a medical condition that requires me to immediately begin chemotherapy treatment. I feel very fortunate that I have an incredibly talented team of doctors and healthcare specialists who will be assisting me throughout my treatment plan. And, of course, the support and love of my entire family, along with our incredible fans, everyone at the Giants, NBC Sports Bay Area and KNBR is overwhelming and deeply appreciated. I still plan on broadcasting this season, though I may take a few more games off if I’m not feeling well and I want to thank my broadcast partners for their unconditional support and willingness to step in and cover for me. Thank you for your prayers and for giving me the space and privacy to focus on my health at this time. While this was not the adventure I anticipated, I’m staying positive for a quick and full recovery.”
If Kuip is indeed going to be back in the booth next week, it can’t come soon enough.