What are the tragedies in sports that most affected you?? A couple come to mind for me. The first one is former Boston Celtics basketball star Reggie Lewis. He was in the middle of a game in the early 90's, and dropped to the floor, and had a heart attack right there on the court. He survived that, but had another heart attack a few months later, and died. His death really affected me because I was a huge fan of his. He was definitely one of my all time favorites in sports. The sports world lost a great young man in Reggie Lewis that day, and I'll never forget his contributions to the sport he loved!!

The tragedy in sports that affected me more than any other though was the death of pro wrestler Owen Hart. Both me and my brother were HUGE Owen Hart fans, and I was actually watching the live pay per view where he died. The whole thing is still kind of a blur. I kept thinking this must be a joke, this must be a joke, but the looks from the fans that they were showing, verified just how real it was. About an hour later, WWE announcer Jim Ross announced that Owen Hart had died. I remember upon hearing that, my heart was beating a million miles an hour, and I had the strongest urge to throw up. A childhood hero of mine was dead, and it just didn't seem real to me. The wrestling world lost a great person that day, and he will never ever be forgotten!!

What are some of the tragedies in sports that affected you the most?? They don't have to be deaths, but tragedies of any kind. I'm curious to see what most affected everyone here, and why.

Malik Sealy of the Timberwolves. He was a pretty big part of the Wolves' success in 1999-2000. He was killed by an on-coming truck after the season was over. That was really sad.

Then before the 2001 NFL season started, Korey Stringer of the Vikings died of heat stroke in training camp. He was a pro-bowler, and the Vikings' offensive line hasn't been the same since that happened.

I'd say they affected me equally..both so sad and tragic.

-Owen Hart dying
-Malik Sealy being killed in a car crash
-Hank Gathers dropping dead on the court
-Bobby Phills getting killed drag racing
-The 3 Cleveland Indian players who died on the boat in 1993
-Micky Mantle's death

-Owen Hart dying
-Malik Sealy being killed in a car crash
-Hank Gathers dropping dead on the court

Malik Sealy died?? Wow, I had no idea. Did the media ignore his death or something, because I would think I would have heard about that. Wow, that one is very shocking. :(

Hank Gathers was another player who's death really affected me. He was only in his early 20's when his heart gave out on him. I remember watching the Hank Gathers story as a little kid, and crying my eyes out. Especially at the end where Bo Kimble cradled him in his arms, as he lay there on center court dead. His death was definitely one of the biggest tragedies in sports history.

Drazen Petrovic was another one that really got to me. He once played for the Trailblazers, and was an awesome player!!

That umpire in baseball that collasped on the field and died from a heart attack a few years ago. John McSherry.

Being a big Maryland Terrapins fan the biggest tragic for me was the death of Len Bias. :(

-The 3 Cleveland Indian players who died on the boat in 1993


Actually only 2 of them died. Steve Olin and Tim Crews. Bob Ojeda survived.

Sad day for us Indians fans. March 22, 1993.

Yep i remember Malik Sealy i still have the Tribute that the Timberwolves had for them when they opened up the season they retired his jersey. When i was at the target center last year i saw the hung up jersey for the first time. It was my first time i was up there since he died.

Steve Prefontaine, and Brian Piccolo are two more deaths that really impacted the sporting world. I wasn't even alive when they died, but I have learned alot about Steve Prefontaine especially over the years, and can't help but get emotional when thinking about what could have been. He had so much to accomplish in his life, and it shouldn't have ended so soon. If anyone wants to learn about the stories of these two young men, I highly recommend renting "Prefontaine", "Without Limits", and "Brian's Song" (1971, and 2001 version).

Drazen Petrovic was another one that really got to me. He once played for the Trailblazers, and was an awesome player!!


I can't believe I forgot to mention that. But then again, I was only 5 years old when Drazen died. A close friend of our family attend the game where they retired his number and he said there wasn't a dry eye in the house. If he lived, who knows how great he could have been and had he lived, perhaps the Nets could have won a championship by now.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=95503&highlight=tragedies (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=95503&highlight=tragedies)

I copied and pasted my answers from a similiar thread. :)

Knute Rockne -- Coach of the Notre Dame football team, famous for his "Win one for the Gipper" speech, died in a plane crash.

Sonny Liston -- Heavyweight fighter who overdosed in 1970.

Roberto Clemente, of the Pittsburg Pirates, died in a plane crash in 1970 enroute to earthquake stricken Nicaragua to deliver aid and supplies.

The entire West Virginia Marshall University Football team, coaches and some fans were killed in a plane crash in 1970. Only one player wasn't on the plane as he was attending his father's funeral.

Daryl Stingley of the New England Patriots was paralyzed for life during a game in 1978.

Len Bias -- First Draft Pick for the Boston Celtics overdosed in 1986.

Reggie Lewis -- Captain of the Boston Celtics, collapsed and died of a heart ailment in 1993.

Ray Chapman is the only player to die due to injuries suffered in a Major League game. In 1920, he was struck in the head by a Carl Mays' pitch and died the next day. Chapman was a very good shortstop, leading the AL in putouts three times and assists once. He hit .300 three times and led the AL in runs scored and walks in 1917. His death was one of the reasons the spitball was outlawed.

Brian Piccoli of the Chicago Bears died of cancer at age 26. His death inspired the movie, Brian's Song.

Lyle Alzado, although out of sports at the time of his death, showed the world the danger of abusing steroids. He died of brain cancer in 1992 at the age of 42.

Florence Griffith-Joyner -- Three-time Olympic gold medalist died at the age of 38 in 1998 of a heart problem. Mystery and speculation surround the actual cause of her death.

Duk Koo Kim sustained brain injuries and died in a fight with Boom Boom Mancini in 1982.

Duk Koo Kim sustained brain injuries and died in a fight with Boom Boom Mancini in 1982.

I remember that, Boom Boom Mancini was from my area.

1939-Lou Gehrig was the greatest one two punch along with Babe Ruth played 2130 Striaght games ALS ended is wonderful career had a special day on July 4 ,1939 made the most famous speech in Baseball saying "he the luckest on the face of the earth and two years later he died

1979-Thurman Munson the Captian of the World Champion New York Yankees in the late 1970s and All-Star Catcher Died in a Plane clash near his home in Canton Oh

1989-Billy Martin great Manager of the Yankees lead them to a 1977 World Champion & was fire by the Yankees five time in 10 Years Died in a Car Cash on Christmas Day

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=95503&highlight=tragedies (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=95503&highlight=tragedies)

I copied and pasted my answers from a similiar thread. :)

Knute Rockne -- Coach of the Notre Dame football team, famous for his "Win one for the Gipper" speech, died in a plane crash.

Sonny Liston -- Heavyweight fighter who overdosed in 1970.

Roberto Clemente, of the Pittsburg Pirates, died in a plane crash in 1970 enroute to earthquake stricken Nicaragua to deliver aid and supplies.

The entire West Virginia Marshall University Football team, coaches and some fans were killed in a plane crash in 1970. Only one player wasn't on the plane as he was attending his father's funeral.

Daryl Stingley of the New England Patriots was paralyzed for life during a game in 1978.

Len Bias -- First Draft Pick for the Boston Celtics overdosed in 1986.

Reggie Lewis -- Captain of the Boston Celtics, collapsed and died of a heart ailment in 1993.

Ray Chapman is the only player to die due to injuries suffered in a Major League game. In 1920, he was struck in the head by a Carl Mays' pitch and died the next day. Chapman was a very good shortstop, leading the AL in putouts three times and assists once. He hit .300 three times and led the AL in runs scored and walks in 1917. His death was one of the reasons the spitball was outlawed.

Brian Piccoli of the Chicago Bears died of cancer at age 26. His death inspired the movie, Brian's Song.

Lyle Alzado, although out of sports at the time of his death, showed the world the danger of abusing steroids. He died of brain cancer in 1992 at the age of 42.

Florence Griffith-Joyner -- Three-time Olympic gold medalist died at the age of 38 in 1998 of a heart problem. Mystery and speculation surround the actual cause of her death.

Duk Koo Kim sustained brain injuries and died in a fight with Boom Boom Mancini in 1982.

Thanx for putting in the last one, that's what I was going to post, but I couldn't remember the fighter's name. (Duk Koo Kim). What made this more tragic was his mother committed suicide after his death. Horrible.

There was a New York Yankee catcher who was killed in a plane crash, he was flying his own cessna I believe. but I can't recall his name right now, I remember watching the news on that.

Magic Johnson announcing that he had Aids, and Walter Payton's emotional press conference announcing his cancer, are two more that really stand out to me. I'll never forget the sight of Walter Payton sobbing in the arms of the guy next to him. :(

Also, Reggie White, dying in his sleep to what many believed was sleep apnia, in 2003 I believe it was. Reggie was a truly good man, and we definitely lost him way to soon.

There was a New York Yankee catcher who was killed in a plane crash, he was flying his own cessna I believe. but I can't recall his name right now, I remember watching the news on that.

That would have been Thurman Munson, who died August 2, 1979. :(