In memoriam: Athletes and sports figures who died in 2021 It's this ineffable way Stuart had of welcoming you to the party, bringing you into his confidence, making sure you were having a good time. The 6-foot-8 Richard was a dominating force on the mound for the Houston Astros, an opposing figure who racked up nearly 1500 strikeouts with a top-tier breaking ball and a fastball that touched triple digits. Before the millennium arrived, he was covering the MLB playoffs, the Final Four and the NBA Finals. BBC Breakfast presenter John Watson hospitalised with painful - Metro (The team won three ABA championships under his watch.) He passed away on February 20, 2023, at the age of 20 from an unknown cause. Miguel Mena was one of the winningest jockeys in the history of thoroughbred racing. Gary Gaines was a popular football coach for Permian High School, which was made famous in the book and movie Friday Night Lights. Gino Odjick was a professional ice hockey left winger who played in the NHL from 1990 to 2002 on various teams, including the Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers. Westphal died of brain cancer on January 2. ", He first met ESPN anchor Chris Berman in Tampa, Florida. At WESH, the NBC affiliate in Orlando, he first met ESPN producer Gus Ramsey, who was beginning his own career. Sky Sports presenter Bob Hall has died, with his death being announced on Friday. Arrington played quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles at the beginning of the 1970s, and spent the entirety of his career (1970-73) in the City of Brotherly Love. He had been fighting cancer. Other incredible athletes who died in 2022 include Soccer legend Pel, NFL QB Dwayne Haskins, MLB slugger Jeremy Giambi, and women's basketball pioneer Lusia Harris, who was the subject of an Oscar-winning 2022 documentary film. He had a famous rivalry with Forrest Griffin and fought against the likes of Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, and Tito Ortiz. He passed away on April 26 from liver disease at the age of 33. Christian Atsu was a Ghanaian soccer player who played for several English clubs. He brought in the barber shop, the church, R&B, soul music. ", There were times in the last few years when his friends worried that he was working too hard. At this time, his exact cause of death is unclear. 1, Panthers' Bryce Young is all 'business now'. The Hall of Famer passed away on January 1, 2022, at the age of 77, after suffering complications from dementia. Wim Jansen was a Dutch professional football player and manager known for his career at Feyenoord. The Joy of Six: greatly missed TV sports presenters I'm trying to fight it the best I can. Welcome to your new secret weapons: lists of fascinating facts and obscure info you need to know yesterday. His family confirmed his death on Monday, saying "our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son and. Robbie Knievel was an iconic stunt performer who followed in the footsteps of his father, Evel Knievel. In the 1972 playoff game, the Oakland Raiders were leading the Steelers 76 with 22 seconds to play when a Terry Bradshaw pass was deflected away from intended receiver John "Frenchy" Fuqua right as defender Jack Tatum arrived to tackle Fuqua. He passed away on April 19, 2023, at the age of 52 from an unknown cause. Armstrong passed away on September 13, at the age of of 70. Rishma Dosani Thursday 27 Apr 2023 7:50 pm. "That's what I love about him," says Kolber. "His girls mean everything to him," says Harris. Brazilian soccer legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known mononymously as Pel, passed away on December 29, 2022, after a battle with colon cancer. Lanny Poffo was a wrestler, motivational speaker, poet, and actor, who often went by the ring names "Leaping Lanny" and "The Genius.". Tom Browning was a left-handed pitcher who played in the MLB from 1984 to 1995. He passed away on September 19, 2022, at the age of 89. "I have friends who have no idea what that movie is about," Stuart told him. Dickie Davies, World of Sport presenter, dies at 94 "There were successful African-American sportscasters at the time," says ESPN director of news Vince Doria, who oversaw the studio programming for ESPN2 back then. Nick Bollettieri was a famous tennis coach who worked with the likes of Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles, and Mary Pierce. "He was so tired. Francisco "Paco" Gento was a Spanish footballer known for his career with Real Madrid. He sent me a tape, and even then, he had an amazing presence -- I felt the viewer would sit up and take notice when he was on the air. "NBA Countdown" anchor Sage Steele remembers the day last year when her family moved from Connecticut to Arizona to be closer to her show in Los Angeles: "The moving trucks were at my house, and Stuart was there with his girlfriend Kristin to say goodbye to us, and my 10-year-old son Nicholas had to say goodbye to his best friend across the street, and he came back sobbing, sobbing, leaving his best friend in the world. As the year goes on,recent athlete deathswill beadded to this list, ranging from legends of their sports who lived long, eventful lives to youthful, up-and-comers who were taken far too soon. ", Occasionally, Stuart would give a shout-out to Sydni's soccer team, but that was easy compared to another commitment he made to his daughters. Clark, a Stanford product, played four seasons with the 49ers before retiring due to injury issues. On June 15, 2014, Stuart flawlessly handled the trophy presentation to the Spurs -- after doing 300 push-ups that day. When he passed away, he left behind so much more. He passed away on March 15, 2022, at the age of 72. There were a few downs mixed in with the ups, though. But they are only one aspect of his legacy. Dick Groat, eight-time MLB All-Star and two-sport hall of famer in He passed away on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88 from natural causes. Upon retirement Harris opened a bakery and became a serial entrepreneur. He passed away on February 8, 2022, at the age of 55 following a battle with cancer. 'Who has the most triples of all time?' He may have represented new school, but he was decidedly old school when it came to preparation. It featured a roundtable discussion among four sports media personalities, with one regular host and three rotating guests. A recently signed bill by Kentucky Gov. McCants was a defensive star at the University of Alabama during the late 1980s, manning the field alone his fellow Crimson Tide teammate Derrick Thomas. Whitworth was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1982. Jock Zonfrillo: MasterChef Australia host dies suddenly, aged 46 Anthony "Rumble" Johnson was a mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Billy Packer was a college basketball player, sportscaster, and author. All rights reserved. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.". And here comes Uncle Drosselmeyer, and I thought, 'That man looks a lot like Stuart Scott,' and it was -- he was there for his girls. He passed away on Nov. 6 at the age of 46. Check back throughout the year to help celebrate the lives of those we lost. The confines of a studio could not hold Stuart. Stuart's role in "The Nutcracker" was not unlike one of the roles he played at ESPN. Haralson passed away on Monday, September 20, at the age of 37. Bill Leavy was a legendary NFL official who officiated in the league from 1995 to 2014. He passed away on April 9, 2022, at the age of 24, after being struck by a dump truck. Scott was remembered through an outpouring of tributes by athletes, colleagues and fans on Twitter and statements from his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, which said that "his legacy will live on in many ways -- as a friend, a son, a father, a professional and forever, a Tar Heel," and President Barack Obama. Averaging almost a goal per game throughout his career, Pel was adept at striking the ball with either foot in addition to anticipating his opponents' movements on the field. He passed away on January 6, 2023, at the age of 58 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. The longtime football coach got his start in the professional game as a player, getting drafted by the Bears in 1972. He died March 26 after battling kidney cancer. The one-time Home Run King was a universally-respected figure and his passing brought reactions from every corner of the country. But really, it's his infectious personality, Happy Dances, and Yummy Faces, that have made him the most beloved QVC . Soccer journalist Grant Wahl, who recently made international headlines after he said he was . Anderson calls it "magic." We remember notables who died in 2023, including Jerry Springer, Harry Belafonte, Len Goodman and Mary Quant. Lisa Robertson is an American television personality, fashion designer, and businesswoman. "He bulldozed the envelope.". Len Goodman, an urbane long-serving judge on "Dancing with the Stars" and "Strictly Come Dancing," has died aged 78. Tommy Davis was a baseball player and coach famously known for his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was a two-time National League batting champion. At the time, he was awaiting trial for federal drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession charges, according to New York Daily News. I'm not sure the dance steps were up to Baryshnikov, but certainly the intentions were.". He passed away on January 13, 2023, at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer. He was 70. He died on December 1, 2022, at the age of 84 of natural causes. He passed away on February 1, 2023, at the age of 40 while in police custody on vandalism charges, according to Fox News. Scott saved his best for his last year on the air. 3. At a certain point, Stuart became as famous as the athletes he covered. Jo passed away Monday night, September 20, at the age of 91. But it would be his time at Fenway where he had a significant impact. Hillman later played for the Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers, and Dallas Cowboys, before retiring in 2017. He died February 9 at age 37. or artistic inspiration but the real celebration He passed away on November 13, 2022, at the age of 38 after battling an illness. He passed away on April 11, 2022, at the age of 65, following a battle with kidney disease. David Bond (journalist) John Bond (footballer) Frank Bough. He passed away on February 19, 2023, at the age of 94 from an unknown cause. '", The person most responsible for bringing Stuart to Bristol was Al Jaffe, ESPN's vice president for talent, who was looking for sportscasters who might appeal to a younger audience for ESPN2. He brought so much to the party, and he will continue to do so, through the people he inspired, and the language that he liberated, and the audience that will remember him. Jerry Springer died at the age of 79 (Picture: Getty) Jerry Springer 's cause of death has been revealed as pancreatic cancer. brotha I was sold when he won 6-NBA rings The public broadcaster has described him as a devoted person who served the corporation diligently by always providing a wealth of knowledge and expertise in his field of work. Garrett Burnett was a Canadian ice hockey player who famously played with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. "But once he sat down in the chair he would just start to click in and get that zero focus 'Where's this guy from?' When Keith Olbermann graduated from "SportsNight" to ESPN's "SportsCenter," Stuart took his place in the anchor chair. They took us to the moon and left the rest of us to fly the space shuttle.". Are you the "Sports Guy" on your trivia team? He died at age 90 on February 3. It's never too early for a Super Bowl bet! Canadian Football League player Christian Saulsberry passed away on December 17, 2022 after being shot. Also wrote for Time, Sports Illustrated, the Fort Lauderdale News and The Evening Sun in Norwich, NY. He passed away on December 13, 2022, at the age of 61 after suffering complications from aheart condition. The 5-foot-8 wide receiver who got his start at Itawamba Community College was known for his speed. At the age of 15, his youth coach, Waldemar de Brito, a former member of the Brazilian national soccer team, convinced Pels parents to let the budding phenomenon try out for the Santos professional club. And what a draft choice Thomas turned out to beduring his time in the Mile High City, Thomas amassed a receiving yards total that only trailed Rod Smith for the most all-time in franchise history. ", "I've called him Boo-Yah forever," says Norby Williamson, the ESPN senior vice president who helped guide Stuart during those early years. So, with that in mind, and with the help of his colleagues, here are the Top 10 roles Stuart played for ESPN: Competitor. He says that's where he first came up with the pillow metaphor. Recent Athlete Deaths & Athletes Who Died In 2022