Shaka Hislop, an ESPN broadcaster who collapsed during the pre-match telecast of Real Madrid and AC Milan at the Rose Bowl on Sunday, is now speaking out this week.
He provided an update on his health. Hislop thanked his family and loved ones in a video on Monday. He said his next steps were to listen to what his doctors will have to say about what happened to him.
“Well, that was awkward,” Hislop said. “What are 24 hours this has been. Listen, every so often, life gives you a moment to pause. And this was mine. There’s so much I have to be thankful for. My wife, kids, family, friends, people I’ve shared a space with over the years and lost touch with for whatever reason. And have reached out director or indirectly, thank you.
“My response now is seek out the best medical attention I can get and listen to what my doctors have to say. In closing, I want to say thank to Dan and my ESPN family for responding in the way that they did and afforded me the guy that I got. Thank you.”
Hislop was speaking with ESPN’s Dan Thomas on the sidelines before the match when he started to stumble backward and then forward before he fell face-first onto the ground.
The live broadcast cut to a commercial as Thomas called for help.
Temperatures in Pasadena, California, reached 91 degrees on Sunday.
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Hislop played professional soccer for 15 years on the field in the Premier League for Reading, Newcastle United, West Ham, and Portsmouth, and in the MLS with FC Dallas. He also competed at the international level for Trinidad and Tobago during the 2006 World Cup.
The former goalie has been with ESPN since 2008.
As for the match, Real Madrid went on to win the friendly against AC Milan, 3-2. Federico Valverde scored twice and Vinicius Junior scored the go-ahead in the 84th minute.
