Category — Obits

The former NFL running back, who played for the Saints and Chargers, passed today of a heart attack. He was only 60.
USA Today

Being a big fan of the Joe Namath Jets, wide receiver George Sauer was 1 of my favorites. He wasn’t as popular as Namath, Emerson Boozer, Matt Snell, Johnny Sample, Don Maynard and some of the others, but he played a huge role in the team’s success.
Sauer became better known to many football fans during Super Bowl III in 1969, when he helped the Jets shock the world and the Baltimore Colts in what is still considered 1 of the biggest upsets in sports.
Unfortunately, Sauer passed Tuesday from heart failure after suffering from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 69.
N.Y. Times

The former broadcaster, best known for his work on NFL telecasts, particularly with John Madden, passed today in Dallas. He was 82.
AP

The former OU coach passed Tuesday from brain cancer in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 79. Fairbanks led the Sooners to 3 Big Eight Championships before bolting Norman for the New England Patriots in 1973.
NewsOK.com

The former OU quarterback, who led the Sooners to 2 national championships during the ’70s, was killed along with a friend Sunday in a plane crash in South Bend, Ind. He was 60. Davis had also worked as a broadcaster.
Reuters

Of all the statements Magic Johnson made today regarding the death of Dr. Jerry Buss, none struck a cord (because he’s so accurate, but Dr. Buss’ son Jim is too full shit to realize it) with me more than this one: “I hope Jeanie Buss takes over the team.”
Though Magic and Dr. Buss operated on a much larger platform, I couldn’t help thinking about Barry Switzer and Billy Sims. Back in my days in Norman in the late 70s, there were always stories about the off-the-field exploits of Barry and Billy.
But this was a much larger party. And a lot more of them. Magic and Dr. Buss, regardless of your opinions of either, were the origins of “Showtime” and the legends of it crossing a ton of barriers, the Hollywood element, the Laker girls (Paula Abdul among the most famous), the parties (did we mention the parties?) and Johnson stunning the world years after the high times when he announced he was HIV positive.
And those are just starter pistols.
Having moved to L.A. in 1986, during the height of Showtime, I was as consumed with it as any basketball fan. And this was as a time when the Herald-Examiner, particularly the sports section, was the best read in town.
Before Buss purchased the team in 1979 from Jack Kent Cooke, the Lakers were practically 2nd city to the Dodgers, Rams, USC football and UCLA basketball. Imagine that now.
Columnist Bill Plaschke scratches the surface with some quick-hitting recollections from Magic.
L.A. Times

The greatest owner in sports, who turned the Lakers into 1 of the NBA’s hottest franchises, passed this morning in L.A. after complications of cancer. He was 80.
L.A. Times

The jazz trumpeter passed earlier this week from unknown causes. He was 80. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform in the 80s in OKC. Despite having a few cocktails, he gave a good show. Also had the immense pleasure of shaking his hand and exchanging some Kappa notes. RIP brotha. You were 1 of the best.
Amoeba.com

The Man upstairs picked 2 great ones today.
The greatest Cardinal of the all, the legendary Stan “The Man” Musial passed. He was 92.
Musial played in a record-tying 24 All-Star Games and won 7 batting titles during his Hall of Fame career.
Post-Dispatch

Mark Whicker pens a good piece on the long-time college basketball coach, who passed Saturday.
O.C. Register