Fans who've listened to retiring hockey players being interviewed on sports radio are familiar with the story: every summer a formerly passionate athlete has  surprised the heck out of themselves midway through the summer when they realized that as much as they still loved the game, and wanted to keep chasing the Stanley Cup, the mental and physical cost of even just gearing up for another season of play wasn't something they could face anymore and they decided to hang up their skates and retire from the game.

It'd be nice to think that "the powers that be" are allowing Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph some breathing room to decide if they are up to facing another intense broadcast schedule and what it'll take to get them back in the booth. Hope it works out for both men.