NBC horse racing and hockey analyst Eddie Olczyk talks with The Post’s Justin Terranova about his cancer battle, Saturday’s Kentucky Derby and a wild NHL postseason.
Q: Who do you like?
A: I am going to be using a combination of Roadster. (Got Roadster 24-1 in February 16-1 in March). I’ve been a Roadster guy since the end of last year. He’ll be my pick as long as the track is fast. I am looking at Code of Honor, Game Winner and Long Range Toddy. Those four horses are where I am going to lay my money and if I get lucky I am going to need a wheelbarrow to take out my winnings.
Q: How have two Triple Crown winners in four years changed interest in the sport?
A: There is momentum and excitement. Can we see the next Justify or the next American Pharaoh? As I told my boss, Sam Flood, last year after the Triple Crown, ‘I don’t know if you realize this but since you brought me on to the team we’ve had two Triple Crown winners in four years.’ Without any hesitation he said, ‘What happened the other two years?’ So, I put my tail between my legs and skirted off to hockey.
Q: How do you mix horse racing and hockey prep during this time?
A: Horse racing comes first. It’s been pretty busy, but I got an opportunity to travel home Sunday and then I had my one-year scan for Stage 3 colon cancer. That’s been on the horizon for awhile, so we are just waiting to hear what the results are (Olczyk said on Thursday the scan came back clean). So it’s been an emotional time for me and my family. I am off hockey this week, but I am following what’s going on in case I have to jump into a series Sunday or Monday.
Q: How is everything going with your health?
A: All my appointments to this point have been very good. There’s obviously a lot of tension and apprehension. I am still worried, I am going to be worried the rest of my life. When you have your one-year scan you know what those phone calls are like. When my tumor was sent out I knew those calls were going to be bad. Now, I am scared and nervous, but staying as positive as I can
Q: Is this the most unpredictable NHL playoffs you can remember?
A: Obviously, it’s shocking to see the four No. 1 seeds go out even if some of the individual series didn’t stun me. That’s what makes our game so flippin’ awesome. Just get in. But those people bashing the league and are like, ‘Ugh, you could end up with Colorado-Carolina Stanley Cup.’ And, to me, that’d be great. My first year with NBC, the ’06 final, Carolina versus Edmonton, that was a good as final as we’ve had: seven games, drama, arms falling off, guys stepping up. You want to be entertained no matter whose names are on the sweater.
