The latest case of the COVID-19 coronavirus striking a sports media figure comes from Louisville, where Jody Demling has been hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms and placed on a ventilator. Demling is currently the publisher of 247 Sports Louisville site Cardinal Authority and is an afternoon sports host for WHAS Radio; he also does horse racing coverage for WAVE TV and CBS Sports and contributes to Louisville football and basketball radio broadcasts, and he spent 22 years at the Louisville Courier-Journal before leaving in 2012. Cardinal Authority senior writer Michael McCammon has more on what’s going on with Demling:
Cardinal Authority publisher Jody Demling was hospitalized on Thursday suffering from coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms. Demling struggled for days with an illness that resulted in a call to EMS for a transport to the hospital where he immediately began treatment.
His wife Angela provided an additional update on his status on Friday:
“I can’t even begin to thank everyone for all outpouring of love, support, and concern for Jody. I apologize if I don’t respond to each one of you but please know I am overwhelmed right now and I can feel the love – as can Jody. I talked to Jody twice this morning as well as pulmonology. They are putting him on a ventilator so he doesn’t have to labor so hard. This is preventative and the doctors are extremely hopeful given his age and health. However, please don’t let up on your prayers. We really need them.”
There have been a lot of expressions of support for Demling online:
@terrymeiners is the heart of Louisville. He just said a Hail Mary on the air for Jody Demling, who was hospitalized for having the coronavirus, & for all suffering from this virus. Thank goodness for @840WHAS and the great people keeping us informed and entertained through this.
— Jason Nemes (@jmnemes) April 3, 2020
Keep Jody Demling and his family in your prayers. We are all pulling for your complete recovery, Jody-O. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ga9FBJB1PP
— Terry Meiners ™️ (@terrymeiners) April 3, 2020
Prayers up for Louisville sports scribe, @jdemling. Let’s pull him through with encouraging words.
Longtime Louisville sports personality Jody Demling hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms https://t.co/IXlDtzgkLf via @courierjournal— Rana Cash (@rana_cash) April 3, 2020
The day I went to work at the Courier-Journal 30-ish years ago, it was Jody Demling who showed me the sports clerk ropes. Glad to hear he appears to be doing better, but he was hospitalized today with COVID-19 symptoms. Wishing him all the best https://t.co/noJmA5ssGa
— Eric Crawford (@ericcrawford) April 3, 2020
WHAS Radio's Jody Demling hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms. Jody is a nice guy. I'm praying for a quick recovery.https://t.co/cyai30321o
— Sterling Riggs (@SRiggsWDRB) April 3, 2020
Glad to hear my good friend & Roosters partner is feeling better. Keep the prayers coming in for @jdemling. As good as they come!
— Chris Mack (@CoachChrisMack) April 3, 2020
Please keep my friend and colleague @jdemling in your thoughts and prayers. https://t.co/Ih8qsoAnZl
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) April 3, 2020
Thinking and praying for @jdemling and his family!
— Josh Rogers (@JoshRogers13) April 3, 2020
Our thoughts go out to Demling and his family and friends.
Update: Demling was released from hospital later in April, and described his experience to Lucas Albach of The Louisville Courier-Journal after that.
[Cardinal Authority; photo from WLKY]
