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Craig Sager Passes Away at 65

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Galant, Dec 15, 2016.

  1. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Longtime Turner Sports broadcaster Craig Sager died Thursday from acute myeloid leukemia. He was 65.

    Turner Sports announced the news with the following statement from Turner President David Levy:



    Silver released a statement too:


    Incredible up and down roller-coaster with Leukemia. Never gave up.

    "Sager was originally diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a form of cancer that interferes with the development of blood cells, in April 2014. The illness forced him to miss the entire 2014 NBA playoffs and part of the 2014-15 season.

    The veteran sideline reporter returned to his usual role the following March after his cancer went into remission. A short time later, his son, Craig Sager II, announced the leukemia had returned.

    Once again, Sager was forced to miss an entire playoff journey, a time he once described as his "favorite time of year—city to city, round by round, 40 games in 40 nights."

    The beloved Illinois native and Northwestern graduate was released from the hospital in early October 2015 after being cleared. He returned to the sideline once again as part of the NBA on TNT crew for the 2015-16 campaign.

    As the regular season neared its conclusion, Sager stated in an interview with HBO's Real Sports that doctors informed him in February his cancer was no longer in remission

    While noting doctors gave him clearance to keep working, he added: "Still kicking, still fighting. I haven't won the battle. It's not over yet. But I haven't lost it, either. There have been some victories and some setbacks, but I still have to fight it. A lot of work to do."

    Though Sager is known mostly for his time with the NBA on TNT, he also covered sports for CNN as well as numerous major events, including the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, the World Series and March Madness, for various outlets during a media career than spanned more than four decades.

    He often attracted attention due to his eccentric, colorful suits, but his unique clothing style didn't take away from the fact he was one of the best at his job.

    That's why he was one of the few reporters to get genuine emotion out of San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, who is notoriously off-putting during mid-game interviews. Popovich explained his respect for Sager during a conversation with HBO:





    Ultimately, while his work attire made him an easy target for good-natured ribbing, it became clear how much his colleagues and people around the NBA cared about him.

    His passion for basketball always shined though, even during those awkward interviews with Popovich that often featured one-word answers from the Spurs coach. He was always at the top of his game, regardless of the challenges he faced away from the court.

    There are a lot of sideline reporters, and most of them do a solid job. But finding another one with more personality, flair and love for the game than Sager is an impossible task."


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  2. SICK

    SICK Lounge Moderator

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    Charlotte NC
    RIP one of the best to ever do it.
     
  3. Silverphin

    Silverphin Well-Known Member

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    Screw 2016.
     
  4. jdallen1222

    jdallen1222 Well-Known Member

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    I come home from work to hear this? ****. RIP Craig Sager.
     
  5. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    2016 just won't quit. **** off, seriously.

    RIP Mr. Sager.
     

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