craig sager
GeneralBy Alex Putterman on

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”

Kobe LeBron Sager

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:

NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued a truly heartfelt statement:

A number of athletes and other celebrities weighed in, from Kobe Bryant to Hank Aaron to Vice President Joe Biden.

And NBA players honored Sager with t-shirt designed in honor of his colorful wardrobe.

Finally, here’s a truly incredible tribute package put together by Sager’s colleague at TNT, Ernie Johnson.

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

COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 15: The Minnesota Golden Gophers offense huddles against the Maryland Terrapins in the second half at Capital One Field on October 15, 2016 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 15: The Minnesota Golden Gophers offense huddles against the Maryland Terrapins in the second half at Capital One Field on October 15, 2016 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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.

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

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 15: Running back Thomas Rawls #34 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes against the Los Angeles Rams at CenturyLink Field on December 15, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 15: Running back Thomas Rawls #34 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes against the Los Angeles Rams at CenturyLink Field on December 15, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

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

  • 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.

– 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:

– 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.

One last moment of procrastination

Make time for this in your day.

 

About Alex Putterman

Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.

View all posts by Alex Putterman