Best wishes to Tom Borrelli

On Saturday, I got the shocking call that my colleague and friend Tom Borrelli had an accident at All High Stadium.

He spent the first part of his Saturday shift at All High to get some details and grab a few quotes to help our coverage in the paper and on this blog.

Tom is a pro. He was the first member of the media to be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and the league also named its writing award after him, because of his passionate coverage of the sport.

He is passionate about high school sports as well.

So on Saturday afternoon he went to All High -- to make sure a story got told, that competitors were recognized, that statistics were recorded.

As The News has forged ahead in this relatively new Web world, Tom has consistently, as always, been a pro. Given the additional outlet to cover things, he's made the most of it (not only here, but Fantasy Fix and Sports, Ink).

That might have meant saving some notes and quotes from a phone call he had with a coach from our office, or stopping by a high school game to start his work shift. While we might have only been able to fit a few paragraphs in the paper on a particular game, there would be 10, or 15, or 20 paragraphs on the Web. Friday night he posted items about wins by St. Francis and Burgard.

On Saturday he was trying to do right by his job, this paper and the high school sports it covers.

Get well soon, Tom.

Feel free to wish him the same in the comments section below.

---Keith McShea

• • •

Tom Borrelli was injured on the job Saturday when he fell from a stairway leading to the press box at All High Stadium.

Tom is a sports reporter and a copy editor at The Buffalo News. He covers the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team, writes a fantasy sports column for Football Friday and jumps in whenever a good local story needs reporting. He was working on college basketball previews (look for his capsule on UB's team in Tuesday's News) and was at All High to cover the Harvard Cup game Saturday when he was injured.

This is being posted on the Fantasy Fix, Sports, Ink and Prep Talk blogs because Tom loves all sports.

Click on the comments section below to wish him a speedy recovery.

---Steve Jones, Sports Editor

Comments

[Coach K]

I was shocked and saddened when I first heard of Tom's injuries. But his passing today comes as an enormous surprise, and I'm sure I speak for all of us hear in sending our condolences to both the Borelli family as well as Tom's extended family at the Buffalo News.

Tom was extremely dedicated to his profession, but while it was enjoyable for all of us to read his work, I can imagine it was he who thought he had it best. All of us on here love our sports, but Tom was blessed with the great ability to write about it. Furthermore, he was blessed with being able to write about it at its most pure level - high school. He worked hard to reward the efforts of all the kids who put in the time to be the best at their sport.

Tom truly was one of a kind, and it won't be the same without him. And in the words of Tom Brokaw spoken at Tim Russert's funeral: "He will be missed as he was loved - greatly."

Requiem in Pace

[Bobby]

My sincerest and heartfelt sympathies and prayers to the Borelli Family.

[Joey K.]

Condolences to the Borrelli family.

[paulk]

I worked with Tom in Binghamton from 1988 until he left for the News. What a great writer and editor, and an even better guy. I'm thinking and praying for "Ox" and Karen daily. Tom is a strong, strong guy mentally and physically, which hopefully will help him recover. All the beset to you, Ox and Karen. Paul Kelly

[Redskn54]

Best wishes to Tom but i do agree that that they should not have declared a winner at half-time and let the boys finish the game. My reasoning is that when a football player gets hurt on the field ans ambulance will come and the players wait and finish the game. However i do disagree that the principal demand the second half gets played.

[Jerry Cegielski]

Word is getting out around the Harvard Cup League and the City Schools that the infamous principal of McKinley, Crystal Barton is up to her old tricks again. It seems despite the seriousness of what happened with Mr. Borrelli at All High this weekend, she wants/demands that the second half of the game be played out. Is she nuts? A man's life that is WAY more important than a football game is at stake!!! McKinley made the playoffs BEFORE the start of the game. All that was in question was 3rd or 4th place. Somethings in life have more meaning. I hope that this is just a rumor because if it is not, Barton is more chillingly senseless than anyone could imagine. If the game was so important, why wasn't she there in the first place?
Let's just pray for Tom and his family at this time.

[high school football fan]

I was in the press box at this time, it was a horrid scene, I did not know him, but others did and say he was a great man.My wishes go out to him, I wish you well.

[Keith McShea]

Read this right now.

http://buffalonews.typepad.com/sports_ink/2008/11/score-one-for-t.html

[The OBC]

While you're thinking about Tom and his family I would also ask that you keep the family of Bob Boudeman in your thoughts. Bob, the offensive coordinator at Starpoint, passed away at the end of last week after a long illness. Amazingly, despite his failing health, Bob was in it until the end, guiding Starpoint's offense in a near-upset of Iroquois less than two weeks before his death. The guy was in obvious pain but kept going with oxygen on his back, a cane in one hand and his game plan in the other - now that's tough! I guess he had one great game plan left that he wasn't taking with him.

[Carol Schlau]

Tom is one of the kindest and most generous people I know -- and he has a wicked sense of humor.
Every Christmas, Halloween, Easter, even Valentine's Day, he and Karen always remember my 2 boys with chocolates or cookies or gift cards. My family is heartsick for what Tom is going through.
Tom, I know you have more prayers and support for your recovery than you can imagine, if the kindness you've shown others over the years are any indication.
You've shown in the past that once you put your mind to something, there's no stopping you.
Stay strong, stay focused and stay positive.

With love and Best Wishes,

Carol, Tom, Zack and Jake Schlau

[fan]

how is the ref doing that got ran into at the sweethome iroquis game?

[Mike Haim]

I was shocked to hear about Tom's accident. Here's hoping for a full, speedy recovery. There aren't many folks in this town who are as well-versed in all aspects of local sports history - we need "Ox" back in the saddle as quickly as possible.

[HS Fan]

Get well soon Tom. And thank you for all the hard work you do to recognize and publicize local high school sports. Articles like those written by yourself are the first thing I look for when I read The Buffalo News.

[centercourt]

Tom,
As a fan of the Bandits since 1992, I have always appreciated the true passion you display for lacrosse in your work. You have a community of fans thinking of you and wishing you a full recovery.

[Mike Ferrentino]

Tom and family: From one Lacrosse guy to another GET WELL SOON. You are a class guy and we are rooting for you. See you at the Bandits opener.

[Milt Latimer]

Prayers and thoughts for a speedy recovery!!!!

[Sean Bruso]

I have been up to that pressbox at All High Stadium many times, often or not lugging up bags of radio equipment with Rich Kozak or Roger or my dad or Coach Serotte. It is a death trap. The Metal steps are pretty much at like a 70 degree angle with the ground and are very narrow, also when you get up to the roof (where the pressbox is located) around 20 feet up there is an opening and if you dont duck, you will hit your head, i have done that several times. I count myself fortunate that i have never fallen even though i have come close. It is very scary what happened to Mr. Borelli. They are pouring a lot of money into that great venue but they need to seriously address that major concern. The other thing about it is it's next to an open gate (there for design) against the brick wall, should snow or rain fly in on the metal steps, that is rough enough as it is and potentally even more dangerous. I hope they address this and Mr. Borelli is in my prayers.

[hoopster]

Tom thank you so very much for the wonderful coverage you've provided and the fine reporting you've done.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! Indeed we wish you a full and speedy recovery!!

[cuzola]

Tom

All the best and wishes for a speedy and full recovery!

[Coach Earl Schunk]

I was in the pressbox that afternoon, and never saw what happened or knew it was Tom until much later. He is a great sportswriter and all my dealings with him have been positive ones. My prayers go out to him and his family.