ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and his canine Ben watch gamers heat up earlier than the beginning of an NCAA faculty soccer sport between Tennessee and Arkansas on Oct. 5 in Fayetteville, Ark.
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Michael Woods/AP
ESPN host Kirk Herbstreit introduced the loss of life of his canine, Ben — a golden retriever who captured the hearts of soccer followers in appearances alongside ESPN announcers.
“That is actually exhausting to jot down however so a lot of you have got cherished and cared about Ben that I needed to let you already know,” Herbstreit wrote Thursday on X. “We came upon as we speak the most cancers had unfold all through Ben’s organs and there was nothing left we might do-we needed to let him go.”
That is actually exhausting to jot down however so a lot of you have got cherished and cared about Ben that I needed to let you already know. We came upon as we speak the most cancers had unfold all through Bens organs and there was nothing left we might do-we needed to let him go. I’ve had canines my complete life however Ben was 1 on… pic.twitter.com/jDvPTbNv2M
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 7, 2024
Herbstreit had instructed followers earlier this yr that 10-year-old Ben had been recognized with leukemia, requiring chemotherapy therapy and main surgical procedure. In September, Herbstreit mentioned that Ben had had an “incredible recovery” and had been in a position to resume journey with the School GameDay chief analyst.
However on Monday, Herbstreit instructed his supporters that Ben, who was an authorized emotional assist animal, had once more fallen in poor health.
“Ben had a 2nd chemo injection on October twenty third and from that day has been getting worse and worse,” he wrote on X. “He has misplaced use of his again legs-almost like they’re paralyzed. He can barely stroll. He hasn’t eaten in 3 days.”
Herbstreit mentioned on the time that he and Ben have been in Pennsylvania searching for therapy from a holistic physician who was utilizing vitamin C to attempt to deal with the pup.
“I’ve had canines my complete life however Ben was 1 on 1,” Herbstreit wrote in tribute to Ben. “At all times an enormous smile and a comfortable tail wag. He and I might talk…he and I understood one another and had one another’s backs. He was with me greater than anybody at house and touring with me for work. Such a straightforward going companion. Arduous day–however he’ll reside inside all of us ceaselessly.”
Throughout his time as an honorary sports activities analyst, Ben picked up becoming titles starting from “chief happiness officer of soccer” to “deal with analyst.”
Simply wish to thank the @NFL groups PR depts and faculty soccer SID’s that we’ve been with this yr for making credentials for Ben each week. It’s been a lot enjoyable to see him embraced by so many.
Really respect it!
These 2 have been from earlier weeks that I simply acquired! pic.twitter.com/22mUrZzgbG— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) October 17, 2024
On Herbstreit’s social media pages, Ben’s followers paid tribute to the canine and praised Herbstreit for returning to work even via his grief.
“We love you, Kirk,” one particular person wrote on an Instagram post exhibiting a tail-wagging Ben excitedly strolling via a lodge. “This man calls a sport the day his canine passes. He loves soccer, however extra importantly, he cherished Ben. That canine was actually considered one of a form.”
