whos has been your biggest lost in the sports world(death)

[dylanbw]

HEY BIG TONY

While that may not be the most grammatically correct post, I can honestly state it was the most moving and passionate post I have ever read in the history of our beloved internet.

Deaths like Joe Delaney, Darryl Kile, Doo Ku Kim (sp?; vs. Boom Boom Mancini/Boxing Match), Hank Gathers, and (perhaps lesser known) Conrad McRae (former Syracuse/NBA Hoops Player; mysterious congenital heart disease, I believe) were all very disturbing. All of them cut down as they entered the prime years of their lives.

Although it is very difficult to not take the business world so very seriously, these (and many other) early deaths teach us all to try to take extra moments to enjoy our family, friends, (and the Cardinals, of course) - and to stop stressing out so much about areas that are perhaps not as important as we sometimes are led to believe.

Great post BIG TONY, all the best to you, your family, and the rest of our Cardinals family.

 

[Lars the Red]

1. Brook Berringer

2.Sweetness

3. Wilt

4. Gathers

Wilt and Sweetness were not young men, but could hardly be considered old. Both incredible athletes that dominated so many others. It seemed unimaginable that they could slip away so easily. Sweetness was such a football player. His work ethic and heart never seemed to waiver, even when he seemed to be the only player on the Bears that cared. His slow death seemed so undeserved. Wilt was simply the greatest basketball talent of all time. MJ and Shaq pale by comparison. Neither could have done all the things that Wilt did. His abilities are without peers.

Gathers and Berringer were young men with so much ahead of them. Gathers, a warrior with strength and heart second to no one, was taken in a most public and emotional way. A bright future and the love of many friends made his passing so painful. Berringer was the essential team mate. He fought hard for the starting job, but lost. He stayed ready and seized the moment when the opportunity arose. He looked as though the time might be right for him to achieve greatness in the National Championship game, but was replaced by Tommie Fraizer, who lead Nebraska to the victory over Miami. Berringer was fast climbing in the draft with impressive workouts, and just when it looked like the patient team mate was finally going to get his day in the sun, a horrible plane crash took him before his dreams could be attained. I am not a meek, or mild sort, but the day they broke in on the radio and said a small plane had crashed in Lincoln and unconfirmed reports had Berringer piloting it, I cried like a child. It was odd to feel that kind of pain for a person I had never met. I don't ever remember feeling like that about a stranger, before that or since.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Nice comments, Tony.

Here are my top three:

Jerome Brown, Philadelphia Eagles. He died the same year as two of my friend's mothers. All three were very young and taken too soon.

Adam Petty. I, too, am a race fan. I'm in a pool where we all have $100 racers and if your $100 racer wins a race, then all others in the pool ante up and pay you $100. Adam was my $100 guy and I was a big fan. That was a really bad year for race fans.

Pelle Lindberg, Phialdelphia Flyers.

 

[TMcgoni]

Roberto Clemente, one of the greatest baseball players in history. He died while on a mission to help kids in his native country. Also, Dave Debusschere, one of the 50 greatest basketball playesr in history died today. Kile's death was tough because I'm a huge StL fan. And even though he wasn't a sports star, Jack Buck's death was tough. You knew he was going to die, but when guys like him die, it's like losing a piece of baseball history. There will never be another like him.

 

[sly fly]

Duk Koo Kim (against Boom Boom) was the first time I've seen someone die before me. I was very young, but still remember watching the fight on network TV during the weekend with my father. This guy just kept coming after Boom Boom even though he was taken a severe beating. This guy had the heart of a lion. I believe his death was the reason you're not seeing 15 rounders anymore.

Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis deaths were also very disturbing. The video of them crumbling to the floor still haunts me today. Such prime conditioned athletes succumbing while playing the sports they love.

The death of Curtis Williams, University of Washington footballer who was paralyzed, was a tragic loss. This guy fought tooth and nail all the way to the end. His big brother caring for him was really an inspiration.