As a sports broadcaster covering college football for ESPN, Kirk Herbstreit has to travel for work more often than most people. But for the past several years, life on the road for him wasn’t a lonely one.
By his side through it all was Herbstreit’s best friend, Ben.
Ben, a friendly golden retriever, went everywhere Herbstreit went: on the field, in the broadcast booth and everywhere in between.
In fact, Ben was such an ever-present part of his dad’s career that he became a celebrity in his own right — a fan favorite capable of uniting a crowd amidst even the most contentious of sports rivalries.
He was just that charming.
For as much as Ben delighted all who met him, his companionship was cherished most by Herbstreit.
And the feeling was clearly mutual.
Like all dogs reaching their later years, Ben began to slow with age, but he never once lost his zest for life. Though, like all good things, it couldn’t go on forever.
Last week, a heartbroken Herbstreit announced that his beloved Ben had passed away at the age of 10 — and during a sportscast, unveiled a touching tribute about just how much he meant to him:
Just as dogs have the remarkable ability to unite with their joyful presence, the grief of their passing can be felt far and wide as well — but so too can the gratitude for all those happy memories they’ve left behind.
“Dogs’ only flaw as a species is that they don’t live long enough. But the warmth they give us — that never goes away,” Herbstreit said. “So neither will Ben.”
