ESPN soccer analyst Shaka Hislop is ‘doing fine’ after collapsing on air at Rose Bowl
ESPN soccer analyst Shaka Hislop is “doing fine” a day after collapsing while on air Sunday night at the Rose Bowl, a network spokesperson told The Times in an email.
Reporting from the Rose Bowl field before a friendly between AC Milan and Real Madrid, Hislop teetered backward a couple of steps while broadcast partner Dan Thomas was speaking, then fell forward into Thomas and onto the ground.
The cameras kept running for several seconds as Thomas called out Hislop’s name and yelled for help before cutting to commercial. Hislop, 54, is said to have been helped off the field and received medical attention. Shortly after the game began, Thomas tweeted an encouraging message following the scary scene on national TV.
“Shaka is conscious,” Thomas wrote. “The medics are looking after him.”
Thomas provided an on-air update on Hislop at halftime.
“As it stands, it’s good news. He’s conscious, he’s talking,” Thomas said. “I think he’s a little embarrassed about it all — he’s apologized profusely. Not a man who likes people to make a fuss of him.”
“Obviously far too early to make any sort of diagnosis, but the important thing is that Shaka’s conscious and we spoke to his family as well, because you imagine seeing that happen live. ... But fortunately, we spoke to his wife and things are looking OK.”
After a sigh of relief, Thomas added, “Silly Shaka.”
Real Madrid and AC Milan are among the big international soccer clubs looking to grow and strengthen their fan bases and bottom lines with U.S. friendlies.
Hislop recorded a video message that was tweeted by ESPN FC on Monday afternoon, in which he thanked Thomas and everyone who helped him during the incident, as well as his wife and family and everyone who has reached out.
“Well, that was awkward,” Hislop said at the start of the recording. “What a 24 hours this has been. Listen, every so often life gives you a moment to pause and this was mine. ... My response now has to be to seek out the best medical opinion I can get and listen to what my doctors have to say.”
Hislop was examined at the Rose Bowl health center and held for about 50 minutes for observation before being released, according to ESPN. The network has no information as to what might have caused him to collapse. The temperature in Pasadena was 86 degrees around 15 minutes before the 7:10 p.m. match, according to timeanddate.com.
Hislop has worked for ESPN since 2008. Before that he played goalkeeper during a 15-year career for such teams as Reading, Newcastle, West Ham, Portsmouth and FC Dallas, as well as the Trinidad and Tobago national team.
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