The Score’s Dan McNeil loses his voice

Dan McNeil

Chicago radio star Dan McNeil has been silenced for health reasons just weeks after signing on as afternoon personality at Entercom sports/talk WSCR AM 670.

“The timing couldn’t be worse,” he wrote in a Facebook post Friday, disclosing that he is recovering from a paralyzed vocal cord. It’s not known how long he will be off the air.

“The larynx was injected with a collagen gel, designed to separate the two cords,” he wrote. “Recovery time varies. I will do all in my power to expedite the process.”

McNeil, 56, who returned to The Score March 14 to co-host afternoons with Danny Parkins, has been off the air with laryngitis since March 28. Mark Grote has been filling in alongside Parkins.

“I can assure you nobody has been more frustrated — but not dispirited — than I by this awkward start to my fourth "new show" in the Score's glorious 26-plus year history,” he wrote in a blog post.

“That feeling of fraternity between hosts, staff and you — our listeners — has been the most critical ingredient in the station's recipe for success. As a guy who was just rehired to be among the straws stirring that drink, I can't wait to get on with our next long romance.”

Here is the text of McNeil’s Facebook post:

After six hours with my new Otolaryngolgy team, here's the news: Gratefully, I'm cancer free, emphysema free. The flip side is I have a paralyzed right vocal cord.

The larynx was injected with a collagen gel, designed to separate the two cords. Recovery time varies. I will do all in my power to expedite the process.

The timing couldn't be worse. And I haven't been this excited to open a mic since the morning after "17 Seconds" in Boston in '13.

We will reboot McNeil & Parkins on 670 The Score as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I will be writing columns for the site and trying to be a good teammate, promoting all of our shows via social media.

So sorry. Thank you Danny Parkins, Nick Shepkowski, Chris Tannehill, Mark Grote, George Ofman and my management team for your humanity.