Longtime Turner broadcaster Craig Sager dead at age 65
Longtime Turner Sports broadcaster Craig Sager has died at the age of 65, the network confirmed in a statement.
"Craig
Sager was a beloved member of the Turner family for more than three
decades and he has been a true inspiration to all of us," Turner
president David Levy said in a statement. "There will never be another
Craig Sager. His incredible talent, tireless work ethic and commitment
to his craft took him all over the world covering sports.
"While he
will be remembered fondly for his colorful attire and the TNT sideline
interviews he conducted with NBA coaches and players, it's the
determination, grace and will to live he displayed during his battle
with cancer that will be his lasting impact. Our thoughts and prayers
are with Craig's wife, Stacy, and the entire Sager family during this
difficult time. We will forever be Sager Strong."
Known for his
colorful and distinctive suits during his more than 40-year career, the
legendary sideline reporter battled acute myeloid leukemia since he was
first diagnosed in 2014.
Sager was admitted back into the hospital in late November 2016.
In a statement, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said teams will observe a moment of silence in Sager's memory.
"I
-- along with the entire NBA family -- am deeply saddened by the
passing of Craig Sager," Silver said. "Craig was as vital to the NBA as
the players and coaches. A true original and an essential voice on
Turner Sports' NBA coverage for 26 seasons, Craig chronicled some of the
most memorable moments in league history and was a ubiquitous presence
with his splashy suits and equally colorful personality.
"Craig
earned widespread respect for his insightful reporting and inspired so
many, most recently with his courage. Our hearts go out to his wife,
Stacy; his children, Kacy, Craig Jr., Krista, Riley and Ryan; and his
friends and colleagues."
After his initial diagnosis, Sager, who
worked for Turner for more than 30 years, missed the 2014 and 2015 NBA
playoffs and part of the 2014-15 regular season, as well as the 2015
NCAA men's basketball tournament. During the 2014 NBA playoffs, his son
Craig Sager Jr. did a sideline interview with Spurs coach Gregg
Popovich, whose interviews with Sager had become must-watch television.
"You
did a great job," Popovich said to the younger Sager, "but I'd rather
have your dad standing here. Craig, we miss you, you've been an
important part of all of this for a long time doing a great job. We want
your fanny back on the court, and I promise I'll be nice."
Popovich
didn't take questions from reporters prior to Thursday night's game in
Phoenix. Instead, he walked out of the visiting locker room and, with a
somber tone, spoke only of Sager for close to two minutes.
"A day
like this, basketball has to take a back seat, as we all think about
somebody who was very unique, very special,'' Popovich said. "Whether
you really knew Craig or not, you got the feeling that he was a very
special person in a lot of different ways, and right now I just feel for
his family.''
Sager's passing brought out condolences from every
corner of the NBA, and Hall of Famer Larry Bird expressed what many were
feeling.
"He was as identifiable with the NBA as any player or coach,'' Bird said. "The league will not be the same without him.''
Magic Johnson echoed those sentiments on Twitter.
Through a partnership between Turner Sports and ESPN, Sager worked
his very first NBA Finals game in June, sideline reporting with ESPN's
Doris Burke for Game 6 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden
State Warriors, which the Cavaliers won.
"First of all, let me ask
you a question," LeBron James said after the game. "How in the hell do
you go 30-plus years without getting a Finals game? That don't make no
sense.
"But I'm happy to see you, man. Much love and respect. I'm
happy I was able to witness it in front of these fans. We really
appreciate you."
Shortly after that, ESPN presented Sager with the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the 2016 ESPYS.
"Whatever
I might've imagined a terminal diagnosis would do to my spirit," Sager
said when receiving the award, "it's summoned quite the opposite -- the
greatest appreciation for life itself.
"So I will never give up.
And I will never give in. I will continue to keep fighting, sucking the
marrow out of life, as life sucks the marrow out of me. I will live my
life full of love and full of fun. It's the only way I know how."
Said
ESPN president John Skipper: "Our thoughts are with the Sager family
and our friends at Turner Sports. Craig was a universally respected and
beloved reporter and a one-of-a-kind personality. His memorable ESPYS
speech demonstrated his exceptional strength and a relentlessly positive
energy that inspired millions of us."
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