Mike Krukow spent Monday morning talking about a career celebration that, even now, keeps circling back to the same place: Duane Kuiper.
The longtime Giants broadcaster joined KNBR’s “Murph & Markus” and made clear that, for him, the heart of this weekend isn’t just his own farewell. It’s also about the partner who has stood beside him for decades.
“I had two pillars of life, really, I mean, with [Krukow’s wife] Jennifer and Duane,” he said on his radio appearance. “And it’s something I really - it’s hard to describe. It’s hard for me to put into words.”
That bond carried extra weight after Kuiper announced Sunday that he has cancer. Kuiper had been set to travel to Los Angeles for the Giants’ series against the Dodgers, but he was unable to call the game because of the medical issue. He is still scheduled to return to the booth Sunday for Krukow’s farewell.
Krukow said he learned of the diagnosis about six or seven weeks ago, and he described the news as ultimately “good news.” Kuiper had cancer in 2021 as well, and chemotherapy kept him out of the booth for most of that season.
At first, there was concern this might be the same cancer returning. Krukow said it is actually a different, “more manageable” kind “that has a high percent of success in treating it.”
That’s why Krukow is staying upbeat about what comes next.
“If he says he’s going to beat this, I believe him,” Krukow said. “And that’s the comfort that we take in that he wants to beat this.
So he’s been diagnosed, he’s in treatment now, and then the next step is going to be recovery. And that’s just where we are on this.
But I love him. And he’s been so many things to me over the years, and now, I mean, just like he was five years ago, the way he’s taking on this horrible disease, he’s an inspiration.
And we’re going to get him through it.”
Krukow even floated the idea of coming back next year so the two of them could share a proper farewell game after Kuiper has had more time to recover. For now, though, the plan remains in place, even if the emotion around it has shifted.
“The priority right now is him, period,” Krukow said.
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