Gorman explains eye patch
Veteran commentator has detached retina
Longtime Celtics playby-play man Mike Gorman caught viewers by surprise when he opened Monday night’s broadcast wearing a patch over his left eye, but thankfully he’s continuing to call games after a brief health scare.
Gorman didn’t shed details on why he was wearing an eye patch during Monday’s Knicks game but explained what happened during an appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher & Rich” show on Wednesday morning. The 77-yearold Gorman was having lunch with his brother and sister on Saturday when he suddenly lost eyesight.
“I go down to get something to eat, I put the fork in my mouth, I look up, my sister’s gone,” said Gorman, who’s been calling Celtics games since 1981. “Like completely gone. Like somebody dropped a black curtain over everything in front of me. I put my food down on the plate, I blink my eyes, shook my head a little bit and sure enough, zero visibility. I think, I’m having a stroke.”
Gorman left lunch to walk to Mass. General Hospital, where he was tested for 2-3 hours before learning he did not have a stroke. But he had a detached retina. “I had to be operated on within 48 hours, or I could’ve lost my eyesight forever,” Gorman said. “I was in the emergency room Saturday night and was being operated on Monday morning. …
“Both of my eyes have been dilated for about a week now. The (eye patch) is to help with light sensitivity. With all the Internet speculation, people said I was trying to look like Johnny Depp (in Pirates of the Caribbean). You know, just crazy stuff. So that’s what’s going on there, folks. If anybody cares. Everything is going to work out, though. …
“It was quite an experience.”
Gorman said doctors told him it takes about two or three months before his vision is back.
“Each morning I wake up, it’s a little better,” Gorman said. “I wouldn’t be able to pick you guys out of a crowd because everything is all colors. But there weren’t colors before. It was just a black curtain.”
Gorman was back on the TD Garden sidelines covering Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers alongside color analyst Brian Scalabrine. He admitted he had some trouble getting through Monday’s broadcast at Madison Square Garden, but he seemed to do well given the circumstances.
“People might say, ‘Jeez. Gorman is losing it. He missed that call out of bounds,’ ” Gorman said. “Well, I didn’t even know the ball was in play. But it was an interesting intellectual exercise. I shouldn’t have that experience at the expense of people trying to watch the game.”
White’s streak continues
Derrick White made his 93rd consecutive appearance in the regular season in Wednesday’s game against the Cavs, a streak he said he hasn’t thought about.
“This is what I love to do, and if I’m healthy and able, I’m gonna go out there and compete,” White said.
White is fortunate he didn’t miss time after a freak injury he suffered in the Feb. 14 loss in Milwaukee, where he suffered a ruptured eardrum in his left ear after colliding with Bucks guard Grayson Allen that left a hole in his ear — which was actually a better outcome than he initially thought.
“I feel like it’s been getting better,” White said. “Hearing a little better, I think — when I want to. Just try to not get it wet, honestly. It’s pretty simple.” How does he manage it? “It’s just really in the shower, I have to fold my ear down when I get my hair wet,” White said. “It was just a weird, freak play. I’m just thankful I didn’t go deaf like I thought I did at the split second it happened.”
Here and there
Jaylen Brown, who missed Monday’s loss to the Knicks due to personal reasons, was back Wednesday as he played in his face mask at TD Garden for the first time. … Mike Muscala, who was questionable with right knee tendinopathy, was ruled available.