Craig Sager RIP

[stormspencer]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18286723/long-turner-sports-broadcaster-craig-sager-dies-age-65

Cancer sucks.

 

[skyvue]

I didn't know Mr. Sager well -- I can't really claim to have known him at all -- but I met him a few times back in my server days, when I was working at Mickey Mantle's on Central Park South. He came in a few times in the years I worked there, and I generally was the one to serve him, mostly from behind the bar but once or twice as a waiter at a table.

He was exactly as he appeared on TV: down to earth, kind, generous, friendly. There was no attitude, no wall erected to keep people away. He was warm and welcoming to fans who approached him and to me. He even pretended to remember me whenever we met (perhaps he really did, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was just being kind).

A nice guy, taken too soon, but a life well-lived.

 

[MNsooner]

I always found Craig Sager to be charming. I'm glad he was as nice in person as he was on TV.

Cancer is hard disease. I've lost family to it and had family beat it (at least for a time) in the last few years. But I've seen first hand what kind of spirit it takes to persevere through cancer. I am happy that he fought for a few more good years despite the disease. He's definitely an inspiration to other folk going through the same fight.

I pray that one day we find a way to cure cancer.

 

[chuckb]

I always found Craig Sager to be charming. I'm glad he was as nice in person as he was on TV.

Cancer is hard disease. I've lost family to it and had family beat it (at least for a time) in the last few years. But I've seen first hand what kind of spirit it takes to persevere through cancer. I am happy that he fought for a few more good years despite the disease. He's definitely an inspiration to other folk going through the same fight.

I pray that one day we find a way to cure cancer.

I would agree that seeing people you know and love stricken with cancer affects how you view those people. Like you, I've seen people beat and be beaten by cancer and, as I grow older and the more I see it, the easier it is to see how strong people are who are battling cancer. I lost my father to cancer about 6 weeks ago. He battled it off and on for about 2 years. He thought he'd gotten past it and then it returned with reinforcements. There's no doubt in my mind that his strength and stubbornness gave him at least an extra year, and a pretty good year at that.

Cancer sucks and, while there's little that any single one of us can do to "end cancer," there are measures that each of us can take to help protect us from it. We can quit smoking, wear sunscreen, get mammograms and colonoscopies, regular checkups from our physicians, and do our own little self-checks for things that are a little unusual. And then, when something is a little off, go get checked out.

My father was 73 when diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He had never had a colonoscopy and, essentially, when he was diagnosed, it was all over. A colonoscopy at 50 (when we're supposed to get one) and regular checkups thereafter might have helped. His diagnosis prompted his brother, my uncle, to get himself checked out and, guess what...they found a tumor. It was much smaller than my father's and they were able to go in and get it, but that's because he went and did the colonoscopy.

No one wants to get mammograms or colonoscopies but I can tell you, cancer is a whole (expletive deleted) lot worse. Screenings and early detection can't save everybody and won't end cancer but, in many cases, they can give us years to spend with loved ones -- family and friends -- to travel, to see the world, to do all the things we want to do with this time we have on this planet.

I didn't mean to get on this roll but, since I'm here, that's my wish for everyone this holiday season, whether you're a regular or just drop by on occasion; whether you post all the time or just read and gather information. My wish for everyone this holiday season is to make a commitment to do something for yourself that helps to protect you from this abominable disease. Pledge to wear sunscreen, quit smoking, look for lumps where they shouldn't be, or get your colonoscopy so that you can enjoy many more holidays with those you love.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I would agree that seeing people you know and love stricken with cancer affects how you view those people. Like you, I've seen people beat and be beaten by cancer and, as I grow older and the more I see it, the easier it is to see how strong people are who are battling cancer. I lost my father to cancer about 6 weeks ago. He battled it off and on for about 2 years. He thought he'd gotten past it and then it returned with reinforcements. There's no doubt in my mind that his strength and stubbornness gave him at least an extra year, and a pretty good year at that.

Cancer sucks and, while there's little that any single one of us can do to "end cancer," there are measures that each of us can take to help protect us from it. We can quit smoking, wear sunscreen, get mammograms and colonoscopies, regular checkups from our physicians, and do our own little self-checks for things that are a little unusual. And then, when something is a little off, go get checked out.

My father was 73 when diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He had never had a colonoscopy and, essentially, when he was diagnosed, it was all over. A colonoscopy at 50 (when we're supposed to get one) and regular checkups thereafter might have helped. His diagnosis prompted his brother, my uncle, to get himself checked out and, guess what...they found a tumor. It was much smaller than my father's and they were able to go in and get it, but that's because he went and did the colonoscopy.

No one wants to get mammograms or colonoscopies but I can tell you, cancer is a whole (expletive deleted) lot worse. Screenings and early detection can't save everybody and won't end cancer but, in many cases, they can give us years to spend with loved ones -- family and friends -- to travel, to see the world, to do all the things we want to do with this time we have on this planet.

I didn't mean to get on this roll but, since I'm here, that's my wish for everyone this holiday season, whether you're a regular or just drop by on occasion; whether you post all the time or just read and gather information. My wish for everyone this holiday season is to make a commitment to do something for yourself that helps to protect you from this abominable disease. Pledge to wear sunscreen, quit smoking, look for lumps where they shouldn't be, or get your colonoscopy so that you can enjoy many more holidays with those you love.

Good post. :clap

I lost a good friend from HS to cancer 4 years ago. He was a great athlete in HS and even made the USMC track team which only about 10 people are able to do that. He even did P90X after being diagnosed. From the day he was diagnosed he lived about 2.5 years. They told him 3-4 tops. He had appendix cancer. A few years before diagnosis he was having pain in his appendix area but at the last minute the Dr. decided to take the spleen instead of the appendix. Had the Dr. taken the appendix he would probably be here today. His loss hit me real hard because to me he was invincible. He was built like a greek god at 40 years old, and still had that 6 pack abs.

Anyway, like you said, get those checkups done so you know with as much certainty as possible that all is well.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I remember the first time I ever saw Craig Sager on TV was during the 91 Gator Bowl when OU played Virginia. He did the sideline reporting that night. I remember thinking "who is this clown?" with his funky sportscoat and tie. LOL

Then when TBS started broadcasting football games, he used to ask questions of Stoops at halftime that would make us all cringe. I knew Stoops was going to give one of his one-liners to belittle the reporter asking the tough question. Sager took it like he was supposed to and kept asking the questions. Some of the sideline reporters tried instead to coddle Stoops and ask softballs, but not Sager. He always asked the tough questions.