Lots happened in the sports world Thursday, but one story mattered above all, the death of Turner Sports sideline reporter and NBA icon Craig Sager.
Welcome to a sad day at The Cheat Sheet.
The sports world mourns “a true and original voice”
As soon as Turner announced Sager had died of leukemia at age 65, tributes poured in from people who worked alongside him and from those who otherwise came to know him throughout his legendary career.
Here’s how Rachel Nichols reported the news on ESPN:
Michelle Beadle got emotional in talking about Sager’s death:
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Sager’s nemesis and friend, gave one of the most touching remembrances:
https://twitter.com/GeraldBourguet/status/809557950641471488
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr also gave a brilliant speech:
Yup. Perfect. #SagerStrong (via @NBAonTNT): https://t.co/VdSr0PBk9x
— SB Nation (@SBNation) December 16, 2016
NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued a truly heartfelt statement:
NBA commissioner Adam Silver's statement on Craig Sager plus info that teams will honor Craig with a moment of silence: pic.twitter.com/S3n1avPowZ
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) December 15, 2016
A number of athletes and other celebrities weighed in, from Kobe Bryant to Hank Aaron to Vice President Joe Biden.
Craig Sagar was there when I crossed the plate for #715 & has been a friend ever since.I thought the world of him & he will be sorely missed
— Hank Aaron (@HenryLouisAaron) December 15, 2016
The sports community lost a good man and talent today. RIP Craig Sager. Thank you for your inspiration and spirit. #legend pic.twitter.com/Mec0nk84F2
— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) December 15, 2016
“Time is simply how you live your life.” – Craig Sager. So grateful for the time you shared with all of us. RIP my friend #sagerstrong
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) December 15, 2016
Craig Sager brought so much enthusiasm to the NBA game. But his fight to the end is what really impressed me. RIP to an inspiring man.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) December 15, 2016
RIP Craig Sager. You always brought joy, on the sideline & in life!!
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) December 15, 2016
Craig Sager died as he lived—with courage, passion, perseverance. Fearless and hopeful, a real hero. pic.twitter.com/lPzJUPevTE
— VP Biden (Archived) (@VP44) December 15, 2016
And NBA players honored Sager with t-shirt designed in honor of his colorful wardrobe.
.@DevinBook paying tribute to Craig Sager before tonight's game. #SagerStrong pic.twitter.com/j6iMe5NcEm
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 16, 2016
Damian Lillard rocking a Craig Sager shirt
pic.twitter.com/l2skZZBIzW — Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) December 16, 2016
Rest In Peace Craig Sager pic.twitter.com/jgl9IhKozO
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) December 16, 2016
Finally, here’s a truly incredible tribute package put together by Sager’s colleague at TNT, Ernie Johnson.
We are forever #SagerStrong pic.twitter.com/t9C3x6znkb
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 15, 2016
It’s amazing how many people Sager deeply touched. The outpouring Thursday went well beyond the perfunctory comments that accompany any celebrity death. It’s clear that the NBA community cared extremely deeply about its most colorful member.
We’ve compiled even more tributes here and here.
Minnesota football players threaten boycott over suspensions
We move from a tragic story to a somewhat frustrating one.
Minnesota Golden Gophers football players have announced they plan to boycott the Holiday Bowl and all preceding football activities in protest of the school’s decision to suspend 10 players in connection with an alleged sexual assault.
Via ESPN:
In a statement read by senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky, the players said: “The boycott will remain effective until due process is followed and suspensions for all 10 players involved are lifted.”
The statement said the players were forced to take action after an unsatisfactory meeting with athletic director Mark Coyle in which they “wanted answers but received misleading statements.”
The players are upset because the school issued these suspensions even after prosecutors opted not to press charges in the alleged assault. These guys appear un-worried that boycotting a bowl game because the school cares too much about sexual assault is not a great look.
It’s tough for any of us who lack full knowledge of the case to speculate on whether the suspended players deserve their punishments… which is exactly why maybe their teammates should simmer down a little.
Former NFL defensive back Antoine Winfield, the father of one of the suspended players, reacted particularly strongly.
Antoine Winfield Sr. said his son Antoine Jr. will not stay at University of MN if President Kaler and AD Mark Coyle remain in their jobs.
— JoeChristensen (@JoeCStrib) December 16, 2016
This will certainly be a situation to watch. The Holiday Bowl, where Minnesota will face Washington State, is slated for Dec. 27.
The Seahawks crush the Rams
In yet another dull Thursday night game, Seattle beat Los Angeles 24-3. Here are all the things you need to know about this game:
- For the Rams, this was the first game of the post-Jeff Fisher era, and it didn’t go much better than the previous 13 had. If only Fisher had lasted one more week, he would have surely broken Dan Reeves’ record for most career coaching losses.
- The Rams scored fewer points Friday than did the local hockey team, as the L.A. Kings beat the Red Wings 4-1.
- Pete Carroll used three challenge flags within the game’s first 18 minutes, winning the first two reviews before losing the third. Maybe he knew this one would be over by halftime.
- An absolutely vicious hit from Richard Sherman knocked Rams quarterback Jared Goff out of the game
Richard Sherman just welcome'd Jared Goff to the NFL. https://t.co/7aWTxGYmMc
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) December 16, 2016
- The Seahawks officially clinched the NFC West title and were quite excited about it.
https://twitter.com/Seahawks/status/809637365421469696
Quick hits
– A new report says that at least 368 gymnasts around the country have alleged sexual exploitation by their coaches, gym owners or other authority figures. That’s truly terrifying.
– The Warriors somehow assisted on all 26 of their baskets in the first half and their first 35 of the game Thursday against the Knicks. They finished the contest with 41 assists on 45 baskets in a 103-90 victory.
– Steph Curry is raising money for victims of a massive warehouse fire in Oakland.
Steph Curry is wearing two pairs of shoes tonight that will be auctioned off to raise money for the victims of the Oakland warehouse fire. pic.twitter.com/HNRp6NlGX2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 16, 2016
– Is Russell Westbrook pleased by his crazy total of triple-doubles? No.
– Luke Walton says the Lakers are “mentally weak.” That, or just not very good at basketball.
– Here’s a mighty impressive dunk from Jabari Parker:
Jabari Parker THROWS IT DOWN!
https://t.co/JVEtR3fPaj — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 16, 2016
– Jeffrey Loria hopes to sell the Miami Marlins for $1.7 billion. Good luck with that, man.
– Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn has some provocative thoughts on the NFL’s Rooney Rule.
– The New England Patriots scooped up Michael Floyd on Friday. Floyd’s DUI arrest was serious enough for the Arizona Cardinals to cut him but not serious enough to keep away Bill Belichick.
– In women’s basketball news, No. 3 Baylor beat Winthrop 140-32. Yes, that’s a 108-point margin of victory, a new Division I women’s record. The score was 29-0 in the fourth quarter, despite Baylor emptying its bench.
– RZA, Common and Snoop Dogg are set to star in an episode of The Simpsons, which sounds amazing.
– The wife of Oakland Athletics pitcher Sean Doolittle had some fun with the guy who came to drug test her husband.
MLB random drug test guy is at our house to collect Sean's pee and Sean expects me not to laugh when he offers the man something to drink
— Eireann Dolan (@EireannDolan) December 15, 2016
The man is very serious and will not answer my question when I asked him who is the most famous person he's ever had to watch pee
— Eireann Dolan (@EireannDolan) December 15, 2016
One last moment of procrastination
Make time for this in your day.