Sports Legends Passing Away

[strummer]

Russ Francis. 70.

A plane he was piloting crashed.

He wrestled in the off season while playing for the Pats and Niners.

He's in the WM 2 battle royal of course.

 

[King Kamala]

Russ Francis’ dad was the promoter for the Hawaii territory in the ‘60s. It’s good football worked out for him so he wouldn’t have to fight the “promoter’s kid” stigma!

 

[alkeiper]

How many wrestling offspring made it as high as Russ Francis in the non-wrestling sporting world?

 

[Mental Lee ILL]

Russ Francis also competed at AWA SuperClash 2, as well.

 

[MFer]

How many wrestling offspring made it as high as Russ Francis in the non-wrestling sporting world?

Road Warrior Animal's son James Laurinaitis didn't make any Pro Bowls, but he was the Rams starting middle linebacker for 7 years and racked up over 100 tackles each of those seasons. Otherwise, it seems like most of them top out at Division 1 college sports or lower-tier professional leagues.

 

[Hawk 34]

Dick Butkus has died at 80.

 

[King Kamala]

With him and Iron Sheik gone, there is really no reason to still be on Twitter!

 

[Epic Springs]

He'll always be the Coach on Hang Time to me!

RIP.

 

[strummer]

Former MLB slugger and manager Frank Howard. 87.

 

[alkeiper]

In a year when MLB hitters collectively slugged .340, Howard hit 44 home runs. For three years he was the best home run hitter in baseball. Similar to Aaron Judge in build, less athletic but probably had a better arm.

 

[Zetterberg is God]

Longtime college basketball coach Bob Knight dead at age 83 – Sportsnet.ca

 

[Gert]

Too bad he wasn’t born 25 years later. Then we wouldn’t have glorified his shitty behavior for so long.

 

[Youth N Asia]

Willie Hernandez, 69

3x all-star, and 1984 cy young, and MVP winner.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Frank Wycheck, 52

Best known for his role in the Music City Miracle.

 

[alfdogg]

George McGinnis passed away today at 73. Won 2 ABA titles and an ABA MVP with the Pacers, and was also an All-NBA player and went to a Finals with the 1977 Sixers. Reggie Miller is now the only living player to have his number retired by the Pacers.

 

[alkeiper]

Ryan Minor passed away. Most known for replacing Cal Ripken in the Orioles lineup.

 

[MFer]

Three-time NASCAR cup champion Cale Yarborough died at 84.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Super Bowl 1 and 2 era Lombardi center Ken Bowman died. He started into the mid 70s under Larry "The Rock" McCarren took his gig. Larry still calls Packer games for the team and was a local sports anchor in Green Bay for decades.

Anyway... Bowman replaced Jim Ringo in one of the more famous Lombardi stories. Ringo had been to 6 or 7 straight pro bowls. He came into Lombardi's office with a lawyer/agent to talk about a new deal. Lombardi stood up and said "Hold on a second" and left the room. He came back a few mins later and said "You are talking to the wrong guy, I just traded you to the Eagles."

Ringo made 10 pro bowls in all.

Has Ken Bowman been denied proper credit for the greatest block in Green Bay Packers history?

Ken Bowman, who recently died at age 81, doesn't get the same volume of credit as Jerry Kramer for the most famous block in Green Bay Packers history.

www.jsonline.com

Ex-Packers C Bowman, 3-time champ, dies at 81

Ken Bowman, who played center for the Green Bay Packers from 1964 to 1973 and was part of three consecutive championship teams, has died. He was 81.

www.espn.com

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Longtime HC Don Read passed away at 90. Probably best known for coaching Montana from 1986-1995, winning 155 games including the I-AA Title in 1995 beating Marshall 22-20.

 

[strummer]

Bud Harrelson. 79.

Damn this one hurts.

 

[alkeiper]

Any of the Miracle Mets is a sad loss. OPS+ probably underrates Harrelson because even though he had no power and low averages he had good plate discipline. His career .327 OBP was a hair above league average over his career. Besides being a Mets' HOFer he also won a division title with the '78 Phillies.

 

[King Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1752016856464998554

First Red Sox manager I remember. He led a very colorful and entertaining era for the team

 

[alkeiper]

Bench coach for the ‘08 Phillies

 

[Smues]

3rd base coach that sent Sid home. BRAVES WIN! Jimy, BRAVES WIN!

 

[alkeiper]

3rd base coach that sent Sid home. BRAVES WIN! Jimy, BRAVES WIN!

Let’s not let that distract us from all the good things he’s done.

 

[Smues]

You're right. He was on the 95 world series champion Braves too.

 

[Epic Springs]

Damn, former NY Jets player Rich Caster passed away today at 75 due to Parkinson's. He's the father of AEW's Max Caster.

 

[strummer]

Don Gullett. Member of the Big Red Machine in the seventies. 73.

 

[alkeiper]

Gullet played nine MLB seasons, pitched in five World Series and was injured on a team in a sixth. Four rings total.

 

[strummer]

Jerry Grote. Catcher for the world champion 1969 Mets. 81.