I’ve penned numerous columns and tributes to sports figures who have died in recent years. Here’s a compilation of many of those published pieces. (Updated on Feb, 2, 2021.)
MAX SPILSBURY (college football coach): Legendary NAU coach dies of heart attack – https://azdailysun.com/legendary-nau-coach-dies-of-heart-attack/article_f21d6c5b-6462-55ae-b56c-74265e967187.html
PATRICK BAUMANN (longtime FIBA secretary general): Patrick Baumann’s profound impact on basketball will live on – https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/10/27/basketball/b-league/patrick-baumanns-profound-impact-basketball-will-live/#.XjP5NGgzaUk
KOBE BRYANT (NBA legend): In remembrance of basketball legend Kobe Bryant – https://www.talkbasket.net/66237-in-remembrance-of-basketball-legend-kobe-bryant
Related story: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/01/27/basketball/nba/kobe-bryant-legacy-japan/#.XjP9W2gzaUk
DAVID STERN (longtime NBA commissioner): In remembrance of visionary NBA commissioner David Stern –
https://www.talkbasket.net/63131-in-remembrance-of-visionary-nba-commissioner-david-stern
DR. JACK RAMSAY (legendary NBA coach, longtime NBA commentator) : Remembering Dr. Jack Ramsay, Hall of Fame basketball coach – https://edodevenreporting.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/remembering-dr-jack-ramsay-hall-of-fame-basketball-coach/
JOHN HAVLICEK (Boston Celtics legend): In remembrance of John Havlicek –
https://www.talkbasket.net/43919-in-remembrance-of-john-havlicek
HOWARD GARFINKEL (hoop talent evaluator and co-founder of the Five-Star Basketball Camps): Remembering Howard Garfinkel) – https://edodevenreporting.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/remembering-howard-garfinkel/
LEWIS LLOYD (NBA player): Lewis Lloyd, former Drake University star and NBA guard, dies at 60 – https://www.talkbasket.net/46903-lewis-lloyd-former-drake-university-star-and-nba-guard-dies-at-60
MOTOTAKA KOHAMA (the Godfather of Japanese basketball) – Japan hoop legend Kohama dead at 84 – Obituary – https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/01/13/basketball/japan-hoop-legend-kohama-dead-84/#.XjP9wWgzaUk
Related coverage:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/02/11/basketball/kohamas-legacy-certain-live/#.XjP9_WgzaUk
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/27/basketball/kohama-casey-friendship-endures/#.XjP-D2gzaUk
JOHNNY NEUMANN (college hoop star, ABA, NBA and Euro basketball player, globetrotting coach): Nomadic Neumann lived an incredible basketball life – https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/05/04/basketball/b-league/nomadic-neumann-lived-incredible-basketball-life/#.XjP6KWgzaUk
WAT MISAKA (officially recognized as the NBA’s first non-Caucasian player): Wat Misaka leaves an admirable legacy – https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/05/basketball/wat-misaka-leaves-admirable-legacy/#.XjP6dGgzaUk
Related article:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/12/28/basketball/nba/hoop-pioneer-wat-misaka-reflects-breaking-barriers-incredible-life/#.XjQBpmgzaUk
MORGAN WOOTTEN (all-time great among basketball coaches, DeMatha Catholic High School): Reflections on life, legacy of coaching great Morgan Wootten – https://www.talkbasket.net/65797-reflections-on-life-legacy-of-coaching-great-morgan-wootten
CHRIS UHLE (he signed a contract to begin his pro career with the Saitama Broncos in 2015, but died of a heart attack at age 22 in the United States in the weeks before training camp): Broncos, family pay tribute to Uhle –
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/09/12/bj-league/broncos-family-pay-tribute-uhle/#.XjP_b2gzaUk
HENRY CARR (sprinter, 1964 Tokyo Olympic track double gold medalist, 200 meters and 4×400 relay anchor): Carr starred at Tokyo Games – https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/06/13/olympics/carr-starred-tokyo-games/#.XjP61WgzaUk
RON CLARKE (legendary runner and 1964 Tokyo Olympic 10,000 meter bronze medalist): Clarke’s legendary records still resonate 50 years later – https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/06/20/olympics/clarkes-legendary-records-still-resonate-50-years-later/#.XjP7KGgzaUk
IOLANDA BALAS (Romanian high jumper, gold medalist at 1960 and 1964 Olympics)
Balas raised bar with win streak, records – https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/03/19/olympics/balas-raised-bar-with-win-streak-records/#.XjP8ZWgzaUk
GAYLE HOPKINS (long jumper, 1964): Former Olympian Hopkins, long jumper at 1964 Tokyo Games, dies at 74 – https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/03/22/olympics/former-olympian-hopkins-long-jumper-at-1964-tokyo-games-dies-at-74/#.XjP8umgzaUk
HIRONOSHIN “THE FLYING FISH OF FUJIYAMA” FURUHASHI (swimming hero during Japan’s difficult years after World War II): Swim legend Furuhashi inspired Japan at tough time – https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2009/08/09/general/swim-legend-furuhashi-inspired-japan-at-tough-time/#.XjP-I2gzaUk
DON SHULA (all-time leader in NFL coaching victories): OBITUARY | Don Shula: Coaching Legend Behind NFL’s Perfect Team | JAPAN Forward) – https://japan-forward.com/obituary-don-shula-coaching-legend-behind-nfls-perfect-team/
TOM SEAVER (legendary MLB pitcher, ace of the 1969 World Series champion New York Mets): BASEBALL | Legend Tom Seaver Shared Timeless Pitching Advice During Mets’ Japan Tour in 1974 | JAPAN Forward – https://japan-forward.com/baseball-legend-tom-seaver-shared-timeless-pitching-advice-during-mets-japan-tour-in-1974/
HANA KIMURA (professional wrestler and reality TV show actress): Hana Kimura, Professional Wrestler, 1997-2020 | JAPAN Forward – https://japan-forward.com/hana-kimura-professional-wrestler-1997-2020/
TOM HEINSOHN (Boston Celtics Hall of Fame forward and coach, longtime analyst on team’s telecasts): Celtics legend Tom Heinsohn dies at 86 | LATEST BASKETBALL NEWS – Celtics legend Tom Heinsohn dies at 86 – Latest Basketball News
JOHN THOMPSON (longtime Georgetown University basketball coach): In remembrance of John Thompson – In remembrance of John Thompson | TalkBasket.net
BRUCE O’NEIL: (former University of Hawaii basketball coach, longtime United States Basketball Academy president) – Remembering Bruce O’Neil, a basketball visionary | TalkBasket.net
DIEGO MARADONA: (Argentine soccer legend) – [ODDS and EVENS] Diego Maradona Displayed Otherworldly Skills at 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship | JAPAN Forward (japan-forward.com)
JERRY SLOAN: (longtime Utah Jazz head coach, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee) – Legendary Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan dies at 78 – Latest Basketball News
WES UNSELD: (Washington Bullets legend, NBA great, Hall of Famer) – Wes Unseld, Hall of Fame center, dies at 74 – Latest Basketball News
JAMES HARDY: (Former University of San Francisco hoop standout and NBA player) – Remembering James Hardy | TalkBasket.net
Ed Odeven Reporting 