Here's the full text of my syndicated feature story on the return of one of my favorite shows ...
If you're an
ardent fan of Discovery Channel's crab-fishing reality series "Deadliest
Catch," then you know the fleet has lost a captain, not to the merciless waters
of the
On Jan. 29,
53-year-old Capt. Phil Harris (center, above) of the F/V Cornelia Marie suffered a stroke while
offloading crab and had to be helicoptered to a hospital in
His
twentysomething sons, Josh (right) and Jake (left), were at his side, and while he appeared to
rally briefly, he died on Feb. 9. Fans had been worried about Harris' health
for a while, after a blood clot sent him to the hospital during the fishing
season in 2008.
In the
world of Alaskan crab fishing, king crab are harvested in the late fall, and
opilio crab, right after the beginning of the year. So Harris had already
participated in the bulk of the 2009-2010 season.
Therefore,
when the sixth season of "Deadliest Catch" launches on Tuesday, April 13,
Harris will be there, and he will continue to be there until sometime around or
after episode 13, when the show deals with his health crisis and death (exact
details of that are pending).
According
to a March 12 post at the Cornelia Marie website, the boat - co-owned by Harris
and its namesake, Cornelia Marie Devlin - has been undergoing repairs, and the
entire crew has been out of work since Harris' memorial on Feb. 21.
But the
crew is heading back to
On hand to
help them is Capt. Sig Hansen (below) of the F/V Northwestern (bottom photo). Harris' longtime friend
and fellow crab fisherman.
Over
breakfast in
"I was
amazed that he made it back, number one," he says. "I was relieved. It was a
roller-coaster ride for everybody that knew him, so the fact that he made it
back was impressive. But he's a tough old bird.
"He's one
of those old codgers that you'd figure would never die. Then, all of a sudden,
you hear that he had this stroke, and you figured, well, here we go again."
Hansen says
he heard the news over the radio, the chief way that fishing captains keep each
other updated.
"The next
thing you hear," he says, "is that he's doing better. So you feel relieved
about that, and the roller-coaster ride goes up and down, and the next thing
you know, he's gone."
Harris was
known as a man who liked cigarettes, alcohol and a nice piece of beef. While
the blood clot slowed him down, he didn't exactly become a health nut.
"When Phil
started as a kid in the '70s," Hansen says, "that was the environment. You
smoked; you drank; you worked hard; you played hard.
"His
ex-wife said the most touching thing at the ceremony. She said he swept her off
her feet. She's talking about how this guy comes in, he's gone for a long time,
made some money then the sky's the limit. 'Where do you want to go?'
"I thought that was nice and neat the way she did it, because it's true for all the guys. You go to work, do your thing, come home, and you go nuts. They're not a bunch of angels up there."
But Harris
was also known for his generous spirit and big heart, and Hansen has taken an
interest in the future of his sons, especially the youngest, Jake.
"Now that
Phil's gone," he says, "it's not my responsibility, but I certainly would like
to help him in whatever direction he chooses.
"That's how
close this thing has become. So it's far beyond this whole TV land. It's the
real deal."
Hansen
doesn't know if either son wants to go back to sea, but he thinks Jake has the
makings of a fisherman.
"Oh, yeah,"
he says. "You don't have to be a big guy; you've just got to have a drive. Now
that their dad is gone, they certainly have something to prove. They have a
father to live up to. Forget the public and what they think of Phil, in our
And if the
producers and the Harris boys choose to show footage of Harris' last days,
Hansen says, "Number one, it's a tribute to Phil. It shows how he lived and how
he ended, and that's what people want to know.
"It's a
good thing. It's his legacy, and it will live on through that. It's fine."
To all of you up north as well as Jake, Josh and the crew of the Cornelia Marie;
I would like to say that in a world of white collar want to be's you show the public that it is not about the next guy's *** you kiss. At the end of the day I would rather work with a group of guys who put the kind of effort into their work that you all do than the guy who is working to screw the next one for a buck. Phil showed that he cared for his crew and fellow fishing vessels. He was a great mentor in that he had been there and wanted to make sure that if you wanted to make it to his position you had to earn it. That is a message that should come out more often. If you want a seat at the top you have to earn it. I will miss his ethics, wise cracks and comedic touch.
My thoughts are with all of you,
Mike Rice
I have enjoyed watching Deadliest Catch for several seasons now. As a viewer, I find myself being so concerned about the well being of all of the fishermen up there. When I saw the episodes with Phil and the blood clot, my heart just sunk for him and his sons. I was so worried and then to hear about his death, I am just heart broken. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and fellow fisherman. He will definitely be missed. Rest in Peace Phil, you touched our lives forever.
Sincerely,
Marie in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Ive been watching Deadliest Catch for a While now in Australia , Ive watch Captain Phil throughout the seasons and found Him and Captain Sig to be probably the most Respected out of the Opilio/King Crab seasons ,
Its going to be Hard watching Episode 13 , but theres still 12 Episodes of Phil Kicking *** and thats what ill be Remembering him by , His Strength ..
Cheers
Daniel - Melbourne , Australia
RIP, Captain Phil, and thank you to Captain Sig and all the other Captains and Crew.
We were fans from afar, but you were family and friends.
Best wished to you all.
My family and I have been watching Deadliest Catch for quite a while, and I was so sad and concerned for Captain Phil, and his sons, after his emergency leave with the blood clot. Of course, I didn't personally know him, but I liked him very much, and for many reasons. He loved his sons, and crabfishing with his crew, and the friendships with the other Captains. This is a good time for all of his friends to watch over Josh and Jake, and help them with their terrible loss, and their futures, if needed.From what I have observed watching this show, Captain Sig is most likely a good and loyal friend to many, as he was Captain Phil. I will watch the upcoming season because I love to watch all of these guys, and feel relieved when I see that they made it through another trip, and back in one piece. The are all very tough, and have taken on a very dangerous career, that most of us wouldn't even consider.
May God Bless the Captains, the Crews, and Captain Phil.
It is with mixed emotions and a heavy heart that I will be watching tonight's season premiere. I've been watching some of the re-runs of past seasons, and it's hard to see Phil, knowing he's gone. However, life goes on, and there are so many of us who only knew Phil via t.v. who will miss him, and that speaks volumes about the type of person he was. R.I.P. Phil
Deadliest Catch lost a good man when Phil passed. But he died doin what he loved to do. And Sig is one hell of a man to want to help Jake.
I will be on the edge of my seat and watching the beginning of the new season of "Catch" tonight. It will bother me to see Captain Phil, knowing well that he is gone to us. Captain Sig has displayed the heart that all of the guys seem to have about each other. Take Jake under your wing, Sig and finish the job his father started. Deadliest Catch still needs both of it's Jakes. Harris and Anderson. They both display the hearts of Crab Fishermen. RIP Phil and know that your sons are in good and loving hands.
Your photo is captioned incorrectly. Josh is on the right side of the photograph, and Jake is on the left.
I've already spoken about Capt. Phil on the Cornelia Marie web site, but will just add that I'll miss him. He was a great captain, and a loving and caring father.
Even though, you're many loyal fans have not met any of you personally, by inviting us into your life, we feel that many of you are a part of our family. That makes losing one even harder. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Harris family and crew. I pray that the Lord will keep you all safe in the upcoming seasons.
I've watched DC since the beginning. Phil was a man that was the real deal - no pretenses. His loyalty to his family and crew and even the film crews aboard his boat, was amazing.
I agree with Pat about the crews becoming part of our family. Phil's passing was a double-whammy as I had lost my Dad on Christmas Day.
And Sig, your are a friend indeed! I hope both of the boys take you up on your offer.
To Ms. Devlin - you are an incredible woman and you are so blessed to have been able to say you were friends with Phil.
Josh and Jake if you read this my family would like to express our deepest condolences to you and your family for the loose of your dad. My family has been watching the show since season 1 and we have always respected your dad for his ethics as a captain. I've heard your dad many times express his love for the both of you, not always directly but it was always expressed in his actions for sure. We would like to see you boys back on board the Cornelia Marie some day. I think that’s exactly what your dad would want from both of you. RIP Capt Phil Harris
I have to say I was more upset and heartbroken over the loss of Captain Phil than I ever was, am, or will be about celebrities like Michael Jackson. Captain Phil seemed like a tough guy, but a nice guy. Everyday working class men like the fishermen portrayed on Deadliest Catch are the real heroes in my book.
DC has found a place in so many hearts. We feel like we know all of you guys as old friends. We share your joy at coming home safely and the sorrow of your losses. To Captain Phil's family we send our love and prayers. He will not be forgotten. To Captain Sig, stay safe and know none of you are ever alone out there.
I am 48 years old, soon to be 49. I saw "The Bucket List" and immediately started to create a list of my own. At the top of my list, was participating in a season 'crabbing' on the Bering Sea, courtesy of what I'd experienced because of "Deadliest Catch." The only problem was, I couldn't decide which F/V I would choose. The Cornelia Marie was definitely a favorite, as was the Wizard, Time Bandit, and Northwestern. Because of my commitment to the show, it was a very difficult choice. Between the 4 ships, I felt as if I was a kindred spirit to each and every one. The loss of Captain Phil hit me square in my gut. And to this day, although I never had the priviledge of meeting him in person, I feel as if I really do share something very deep and personal with him. May God truly bless Captain Phil's soul, and watch over his boys, both biological and figuratively speaking, as well as the F/V Cornelia Marie!
Thank you Sig for watching out for Capt. Phil's boys. Out of this terrible tragedy and loss you are bringing good. Thank you.
It takes a lot of balls to do what Phil and the rest of the captains and crew do in the deadliest waters on the planet. We sure will miss Phil and his crew,even my wife got in to watching Phil ,he was her favorite captain,she said he didn't take any crap from his sons,like I do. The Lord has thrown his net and taken Phil to the sweetest fishing grounds there is, where the pots are full the boat is dry and the seas are calm. Our prayers are with you Phil and your family.
God Bless
PS Sig you are a blessing to Phil's family "thank you" from all your fans in ND
It was difficult to watch the fist episode of Deadliest Catch last night knowing the Capt. Phil is going to die. Now I wonder if Jake was with his dad on his last crabbing trip...
I quit smoking (after 36 years) just before Thanksgiving and I wanted many cigarettes since then. But I remember Capt. Phil and I do not light one. His death was much too soon, but has kept me from smoking. Maybe his death will save my life.
I have been a viewer of Deadliest Catch for quite some time now, and as others have said, I always prayed for the fisherman's safety and well being. When I first heard about Phil's blood clot, I had a bad feeling. My father died from a heart attack resulting from blood clots. Hearing of Captain Harris' death was a dark day. I offer Jake and Josh my deepest condolences. Their father was a noble man, worthy as any to brave the Bering Sea. May the wind be forever at his back.
Left this on the Catch website and will leave it here: Capt Phil is arguing with St. Peter, a fisherman, about the right kind of bait.
I too have been watching the show since it started, and have been utterly enthralled. I have always liked Capt Phil, as well as Capt Sig. However, I was once in a small bar in a town north of Seattle. A scruffy fella came in and immediately my boss went to him and began calling him Capt Phil. The individual denied the accusation said hes just an electrician and hes got the wrong guy. Seeing this individual was humbling and was obviously not seeking attention my boss relented. I knew in my heart who I had just met, and he every bit of the man who we all assumed he was. I gained such great respect that day, I hope his boys know how truly blessed they are for such a great man as a father. RIP Phil. Fair wind and a following seas.
Me and are family have watched you guys fish for crab since your first episode. I have our DVR set to record each weeks episode just in case we are out. You guys have become like family. My wife and I feel the lost of Phil very deeply. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his boys, and also the whole fleet from Dutch Harbor. May all you who fish The Bering Sea have full nets and safe passage. To Phil Harris Thank you for sooooo many years of watching you... Rest in Peace Captain... Safe Passage... and Full Speed Ahead...Ahoy Skipper...
Capt. Sig isn't the only one who will take the Harris boys under his wing--we all know Capt Johnathan will be right there!!! Him and Phil were super close!! I saw Johnathan cry when he heard a band play the song that was on Phil's cell when he called him. Johnathan apologized for seeing him cry but I told him he had nothing to be ashamed of!!! These are all very caring and loving men who try to show they are so tough!!! Yes they are tough but they have some of the biggest hearts going and they show it to each other! GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU! Be safe.
DC is the only reality show I bother to watch, have for years-started when I was home recovering from back surgery. What a mans world-you just dont see that anymore. No pc crap. Phil was my age. I guess I felt kind of an affinity. I feel like I lost a brother-know that sounds weird. I certainly will miss his presence on the show. I can only imagine the loss for his sons, and all of those who really knew and loved him. Thank you all for allowing folks like me to share and appreciate your world. Godspeed.
You said it Dan, I could give a rats behind about all those high paid muckity mucks that have past. But Capt. Phil was a real man with a heart and soul he wore on his sleeve, We felt like we lost a friend of the family when he past. God Bless Capt. Phil, his boys, and everybody in the crabbing family.
word is bond
Ole Phil was a salty Captain, and should have gotten the message with the blood clot. His DR told him that he may not make it.
Although he did and it was wonderful, He loved his boys, and loved fishing. And Drinking and smoking, is bad for anyone health.
And well phil would not give it up. And now he is gone, and its so sad, And it will take a lot of time for the boys to get over it.
I just hope they do go back fishing, and remember there father will always be with them in there hearts. Phil is dearly missed