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Deaths Of Notable Sports Figures (R.I.P.)

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Ex-MLB pitcher Tommy John, namesake of pioneering surgery, dies​

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At age 31, Dodgers pitcher Tommy John underwent revolutionary elbow ligament reconstruction surgery -- later called Tommy John surgery -- in 1974. He returned and pitched 14 more seasons for the Dodgers, Yankees (twice) and Angels, winning 164 more games.

Former major league pitcher Tommy John, a four-time All-Star who won 288 career games and was the namesake behind the pioneering elbow surgery that prolonged his career for 14 more years, died Saturday at the age of 83.

John died at his home in Bradenton, Florida, the New York Yankees said in a statement Sunday. A cause of death was not given, but he had been in hospice and had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and other ailments in recent years.

"The New York Yankees mourn the passing of Tommy John, who was a bedrock of our rotation during his time in pinstripes and a longtime favorite of Yankees fans," the team said in its statement. "While his incredible longevity and post-surgery achievements changed the fortunes and trajectory of countless athletes around the world, it also overshadowed his excellence as a pitcher, which included consecutive 20 win seasons with the Yankees.

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Bill Rasmussen, sports TV visionary and co-founder of ESPN, dies at 93​

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Bill Rasmussen, whose vision and ambition fueled the 1979 launch of ESPN as the world's first 24-hour television network, died Tuesday. He was 93.

Rasmussen died at his Florida home from the effects of Parkinson's disease.

With son Scott, Rasmussen conceived of the initial idea of ESPN -- first, as solely a Connecticut venture, and then as a 24-hour national sports network.

It was a moment for risk-taking. In the late 1970s, not many people thought an around-the-clock cable sports network had any chance. Bill Rasmussen, who had just been fired as communications director of the New England Whalers, was one of them. He maxed out his credit card, and with his $9,000 advance, acquired valuable space on a communications satellite.

"Bill was a remarkable man -- a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. "Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn't for Bill's passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s -- key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day."

Rasmussen knocked on doors, talking to all the major sports leagues, the top cable operators and an array of investors. He gained backing, and on Sept. 7, 1979, the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network was born. Bill and Scott Rasmussen co-founded ESPN, with Bill serving as ESPN's first president and CEO.

Though Rasmussen left ESPN after a few years, he laid the groundwork for future growth. A meeting with the NFL did not bring immediate results, but a door was opened to what would eventually become "Monday Night Football" on ESPN.

"Bill was our George Washington and a good friend," said veteran anchor Chris Berman, who joined ESPN three weeks after the original network launch in 1979. "He was such a grateful person and every sports fan can be grateful for Bill. He wasn't a glass half-full guy; his glass was always overflowing with optimism. He greeted everyone with a smile and we can all smile knowing Bill's legacy."


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William Jewell College RB dies after medical emergency during game​

William Jewell College junior running back MicahJo Barnett died after experiencing a medical emergency on the sideline -- and shortly after scoring a touchdown -- during the Missouri-based Division II school's season opener against Fort Lewis College on Saturday, police and school officials said.

Without providing many details, police in Liberty, Missouri, issued a statement that said emergency officials at the game attended to a player about 20 minutes after kickoff. The player was transported by ambulance to a hospital, police said.

The player was pronounced dead at the hospital and was identified by the school as Barnett. No other details were released.

This is terrible news. Shortly after scoring this TD, William Jewell RB MicahJo Barnett suffered a medical emergency on the sideline during Saturday's home opener against Fort Lewis in Liberty, Missouri. Barnett


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Former LSU coach Jerry Stovall, 'Mr. Everything,' dies at 85​

Jerry Stovall, a former LSU football coach and an All-America player nicknamed "Mr. Everything," died Monday, the school said. He was 85. LSU announced that Stovall died in Baton Rouge without disclosing a cause.

Stovall went 22-21-2 in four seasons with the Tigers, leading the team to an 8-3-1 record and an Orange Bowl appearance in 1982.

A West Monroe native, Stovall was a two-way standout for LSU from 1960-62. He finished his collegiate career with 1,081 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns along with 452 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. He also recorded nearly 700 return yards on special teams and had seven interceptions.


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Bears' Super Bowl champion fullback Matt Suhey dies at 68​

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Matt Suhey, a fullback who helped Walter Payton and the Chicago Bears win the 1985 NFL championship, has died. He was 68.

The Bears confirmed Suhey died on Sunday morning. No other details were provided.

Suhey played for Chicago for 10 seasons after he was selected by the Bears in the second round of the 1980 draft. He helped clear the way for Payton to become the NFL's career leading rusher, a record Payton held until Emmitt Smith surpassed his total on Oct. 27, 2002.
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Ernie Accorsi, longtime NFL executive and Giants GM, dies at 84​

Giants mourn loss of former GM and Ring of Honor inductee Ernie Accorsi


Longtime NFL executive Ernie Accorsi, the architect of the New York Giants team that pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, has died. He was 84.

The Giants announced Sunday that Accorsi died Saturday, surrounded by his family.

"Ernie helped shape the course of New York Giants history through his vision, leadership and unwavering belief in building a championship organization," Giants owner John Mara said in a statement. "Beyond his accomplishments as a football executive, he was a trusted advisor and dear friend. His legacy will forever be part of the Giants, and he will be greatly missed."

Said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement: "Ernie Accorsi was one of the most respected football minds in NFL history and a dear friend whose wisdom and perspective I valued tremendously. Throughout his remarkable career, he shaped championship-caliber clubs and earned the admiration of everyone who worked with him."

Accorsi spent parts of four decades in top front-office roles around the NFL and served as general manager for three teams, most recently the Giants from 1998 to 2006.

He served as general manager of the Cleveland Browns from 1985 to 1992 before joining the Giants as their assistant GM in 1994, working under Hall of Fame executive George Young. He replaced Young as the general manager four years later and built the core of a team that reached three Super Bowls and won two Lombardi Trophies.

Under Accorsi, the Giants hired two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Tom Coughlin in 2004 and pulled off the draft-day trade for star quarterback Eli Manning later that year.

"Ernie will always be remembered, and I say this out of great respect -- he's the guy that made the trade for Eli Manning," Coughlin said in a statement released by the Giants. "That will go down in Giants history as one of the great moves of all time. Was it risky? Sure it was risky. Ernie did it. Shut the door, went in, he did it on his own. It was his move."
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