Longtime LA Times Columnist Bill Plaschke Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis

Bill Plaschke, the longtime sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times and former ESPN 'Around the Horn' panelist, revealed he has been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2021. He was diagnosed four years ago after experiencing weakness in his right arm and has since managed the disease with significant medication and regular exercise, particularly boxing at Kaizen Kinetics in Los Angeles. Despite the physical challenges affecting his speech, mobility, and facial expressions, Plaschke remains active professionally and personally, emphasizing that while he has Parkinson’s, it does not define him. He disclosed that he had kept the diagnosis private due to feelings of embarrassment and the desire to maintain his usual public persona. Plaschke expressed the irony of having spent his career writing about athletes overcoming adversity, now facing his own health battle, and hopes his openness may inspire others with Parkinson’s to persevere. His experience highlights both the physical toll of the disease and the resilience required to continue living an engaged life.