Longtime Denver sportscaster Mark McIntosh joins Tom Green to reflect on covering the rise of Bill McCartney’s Colorado Buffaloes, competing in Denver’s golden era of local TV sports, and how a life-altering kidney diagnosis reshaped his purpose. McIntosh shares the story of being diagnosed with a rare blood cancer that led to kidney failure, the road through dialysis and chemotherapy at UC Anschutz, and the life-saving transplant that changed everything. Now an advocate for organ donation and wellness, he discusses the growing kidney crisis in America, the role of the National Kidney Registry, and what it means for Denver to host the Transplant Games of America for the first time this June.
In this episode of The Other Tom Green Show, Tom is joined by former Channel 4 and 9 sportscaster Mark McIntosh for a wide-ranging conversation that blends Denver sports history with a deeply personal journey through adversity and recovery. McIntosh recalls his time covering CU football during Bill McCartney’s rise, the impact of legendary Denver broadcasters like Ron Zappolo and Irv Brown, and what it was like competing in the local television sports landscape during its most competitive era. He then opens up about being diagnosed with amyloidosis — a rare and incurable blood cancer that led to kidney failure — and how an unexpected comment from a gas station clerk prompted him to seek medical help that ultimately saved his life. After months of dialysis and chemotherapy at UC Anschutz, McIntosh received a life-saving kidney transplant from a living donor through the National Kidney Registry. Now serving as Chair of the Host Committee for the Transplant Games of America coming to Denver this June, he’s on a mission to educate the public about organ donation and the growing kidney crisis affecting communities across the country.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Tom’s Colorado Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame induction
00:02:15 Mark McIntosh joins the show
00:03:19 Inspired by Ron Zappolo during John Elway’s rookie year
00:05:33 Covering CU football during Bill McCartney’s rise
00:07:21 Sideline interviews with McCartney
00:09:04 McCartney’s early recruiting impact in Colorado
00:12:18 Building relationships with recruits and families
00:14:28 McCartney’s faith and decision to resign in 1994
00:16:15 Changes in the local TV sports industry
00:19:02 Transition to Colorado & Company
00:21:41 Writing and life coaching after divorce
00:22:54 Career-ending injury in high school
00:26:08 Work with the Denver Rescue Mission
00:28:55 Early warning signs of kidney failure
00:31:20 Diagnosis of amyloidosis
00:33:03 Beginning dialysis and chemotherapy at UC Anschutz
00:37:38 Being told he needs a kidney transplant
00:40:15 Meeting his donor through the National Kidney Registry
00:44:35 Recovery after transplant surgery
00:47:27 Advocating for organ donation
00:50:31 Donor Awareness Month
00:53:30 Transplant Games of America coming to Denver
00:56:07 The Irv Brown Endowment Fund at MSU Denver
00:59:23 Final thoughts on organ donation and wellness