Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620

UPDATED 7:40 a.m., Feb. 13 — The dean of local sports radio, Steve Duemig, Joe’s good friend “Big Dog,” made it public Saturday that he has brain cancer. However, Duemig has asked Joe to deliver an update/clarification:

While Duemig’s tumors are inoperable, as he advised Saturday on his Facebook page, there are treatment options to kill the tumors and nobody should think he was given a death sentence. Duemig is committed to battling and returning to the WDAE-AM 620 airwaves.

Following a busy and fun week of broadcasts from Super Bowl’s radio row in Houston, Duemig was off the air last week and announced his health situation Saturday.

Former Bucs media relations chief Jonathan Grella sent Duemig a supportive Tweet that closed with the hashtag #dogstrong. It’s become a popular rallying cry in support of Duemig on social media. And it fits.

Big Dog is strong, and he has a fighting spirit.