You hear the following phrases uttered so many times when a person dies as a result of illness: “It’s for the best” or “At least he/she is not suffering any longer.”
Mentally and emotionally, no one was surprised to hear about the news of sports broadcaster Craig Sager dying on Thursday, December 15, 2016. Most people were bracing for the outcome, plus or minus a few days, weeks, months, etc. However, knowing the outcome was inevitable does not make the news any more digestible.
With the passing of the 65-year old Sager, I feel like another part of my childhood is gone. I identify Sager with the NBA as much as I do any player or coach.
Sager was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and missed the entire 2014 NBA Playoffs. His son, Craig Jr., was deemed a match for bone marrow transplant, and the elder Sager underwent the treatment, pushing his cancer into remission.
On April 20, 2014, Sager's son Craig Jr. did the sideline interview with San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich between the 3rd and 4th quarters of the 2014 NBA playoffs 1st round against the Dallas Mavericks to air a special get well message to Sager. The NBA on TNT crew did a special tribute to Sager as well, wearing suits similar to Sager from the past.
On the same day during the between quarters interview segments all coaches gave get well messages to Sager.
In late March 2016 Sager announced his leukemia had returned. It was also announced that doctors had told him that he had 3–6 months to live without treatment. Sager ultimately endured the process for a third time through the gift of marrow from an anonymous donor.
Sager is best known for his work as a sideline reporter for Turner Sports, specifically covering the NBA. He was also widely known for his psychedelic wardrobe of suits. The colors ranged from lilac, orange, yellow, black and lime green. The patterns would include an array of stripes, plaid or swirls.
Through Sager was sartorially unique, he was an accomplished broadcaster. Most will remember his work doing NBA games but he also broadcast football (college and NFL), baseball, golf and the Belmont Stakes.
In an era where the media often has a contentious relationship with athletes, coaches and fans to a lesser extent, Sager was a favorite to all of them because he nurtured his relationships. Having been a sports reporter for 18 years before changing careers two years ago, I can tell you that ability is vital. The mantra is simple, take care of them and they will return the favor. Though Sager had a great relationship with players and coaches, he was not a shill. Sager was not afraid to ask difficult questions. When he was put in a such a position though, he exercised class, dignity and empathy.
Sager’s courage and class were not unnoticed. Those qualities won him the Jimmy V Perseverance Award — named for Jim Valvano, the former North Carolina State coach and ESPN commentator who died of bone cancer in 1993 — at the ESPY Awards show in July.
Sager said in his acceptance speech: “Whatever I might have imagined a terminal diagnosis would do to my spirit, it summoned quite the opposite — the greatest appreciation for life itself. So I will never give up, and I will never give in.”
Sager’s courage and positivity are qualities we can all learn to apply in our lives. For openers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (www.cdc.gov), 19.3 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed each year by 2025. Most every American, I have had multiple family members (immediate and extended) become afflicted with this dastardly disease. The courage one must show to combat the disease is real. Their courage was similar to the one Sager showed. The only difference is, they were not public figures.
As for Sager’s general positivity, in a society that has become increasingly anger and negative, Sager was refreshing. He even brought out the soft side of the aforementioned Popovich, who is known for his gruff answers during interviews. Before the Spurs game at Phoenix, Popovich did not take any basketball related questions. Instead, he spoke only on Sager for two minutes.
With the NBA season in full-tilt mode, a sideline in the sky awaits Sager, eccentric wardrobe and all.
No comments:
Post a Comment