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

[ScriptOhio]

Dent, pioneering Black golfer, dies at age 85

Jim Dent, one of the top Black golfers on PGA Tour Champions and known for his long hitting off the tee, died at the age of 85.

www.espn.com

Jim Dent, pioneering Black golfer, dies at age 85​

Jim Dent grew up in the caddie yards of Augusta, Georgia, eventually working at the Masters and honing his game at the municipal course known as "The Patch." He went on to become one of the PGA Tour's longest hitters and one of the top Black golfers of his generation.

Dent died on Friday at age 85, a week before his birthday, his grandson posted on Facebook. The PGA Tour said on its website that Dent suffered a stroke the day after Augusta National announced plans for Tiger Woods to design a par-3 course at The Patch.

"What I learned about playing golf has probably kept me all through life," Dent told the USGA for a story in 2012. "You had to be honest. You had to work at it. You just couldn't pick up today and not come back 'til next week. And if you broke a rule, you had to turn yourself in."
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R.I.P.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Lemon, WS champ and 3-time All-Star, dies at 70

Chet Lemon, a three-time All Star and World Series champion with the 1984 Detroit Tigers, has died at the age of 70.

www.espn.com

Chet Lemon, World Series champion, 3-time All-Star, dies at 70​

Three-time All-Star center fielder Chet Lemon, who won a World Series with the 1984 Detroit Tigers, died Thursday at his home in Florida. He was 70.

"He was sleeping on his reclining sofa," his wife, Gigi Lemon, told the Detroit Free Press. "He just wasn't responsive."

Lemon had battled a rare blood disease for the past three decades and had suffered a series of strokes, leaving him unable to walk or talk.

Lemon played seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox from 1975 to '81 and nine with the Tigers from 1982 to '90. He batted .273 with 215 homers, 884 RBIs, 973 runs and 1,875 hits in 1,988 games.

Lemon set a still-standing American League record for outfielders with 512 putouts during the 1977 season.

R.I.P.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Baseball Mourns Loss of Scott Klingenbeck​

The Ohio State baseball program mourns the loss of former Buckeye Scott Klingenbeck, who unexpectedly passed away last week.

Klingenbeck, a right-handed pitcher, was a member of the Ohio State squad from 1990-92 and was on the 1991 Big Ten title team. In 1991, he earned Second Team All-American honors.

Klingenbeck posted a career ERA of 3.99 in 277.2 innings pitched. He tossed 25 complete games and had an impressive 11 wins during the 1991 season. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1990 and was a First Team All-Big Ten selection in 1991. Klingenbeck ranks in the top five in program history in career wins (28) and wins in a season (11, 1991).

Klingenbeck was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1992 and went on to play seven seasons of professional baseball. He made his MLB debut for the Orioles in 1994, and he also made MLB appearances for the Minnesota Twins and the Cincinnati Reds.

Following his professional career, Klingenbeck continued to be a fixture in the Ohio baseball community, coaching youth baseball and sharing his love of the game.

R.I.P.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Nicknamed "the Cobra," the 6-foot-5 Parker made his major league debut in 1973 and played 19 seasons, 11 for the Pirates. He was the NL MVP in 1978, won a World Series with Pittsburgh a year later and then won another championship in 1989 with the Oakland Athletics.

Parker won NL batting titles in 1977 and 1978. He finished his career as a .290 hitter with 339 homers and 1,493 RBIs. He also played for Cincinnati, Milwaukee, the California Angels and Toronto.

Parker was elected to the Hall of Fame by a special committee in December. The induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, is set for July 27.

R.I.P.

 

[ScriptOhio]

D. Wayne Lukas, Hall of Fame horse trainer, dies

D. Wayne Lukas, a Hall of Fame horse trainer who was second all time with 15 Triple Crown race wins, has died at the age of 89.

www.espn.com

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, winner of 15 Triple Crown races, dies at 89​

D. Wayne Lukas, a Hall of Fame horse trainer who won 15 Triple Crown races, has died. He was 89.

Lukas' family said he died at his home Saturday night.

Lukas had been hospitalized with a severe MRSA blood infection that caused significant damage to his heart and digestive system and worsened preexisting chronic conditions.

"Wayne devoted his life not only to horses but to the industry -- developing generations of horsemen and horsewomen and growing the game by inviting unsuspecting fans into the winner's circle," his family said in a statement. "Whether he was boasting about a maiden 2-year-old as the next Kentucky Derby winner or offering quiet words of advice before a big race, Wayne brought heart, grace, and grit to every corner of the sport. His final days were spent at home in Kentucky, where he chose peace, family, and faith."

Lukas won 15 Triple Crown races, including the Kentucky Derby four times. Only good friend Bob Baffert has more Triple Crown victories, and Lukas owns a record-tying 20 in the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
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R.I.P.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Diogo Jota dies in car crash

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash

Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, police said Thursday.

www.espn.com

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, brother die in car crash​

play
Laurens and Palmer pay tribute to Diogo Jota (1:52)

• ESPN

Jul 3, 2025, 04:56 AM ET

Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, police said Thursday.
Liverpool FC, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) also confirmed the incident.
The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that Jota and his brother were found dead after their car went off a road on an isolated stretch of highway about an hour west of Zamora. Authorities said the car -- a Lamborghini, according to police -- was in flames.
Firefighters were called in as the fire spread to nearby vegetation, authorities said.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

A little late to the party, but ive never forgotten Parker throwing dudes out from right field in the all star game. Tip one back for Jake

 

[Bestbuck36]

Diogo Jota dies in car crash

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash

Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, police said Thursday.

www.espn.com

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, brother die in car crash​

play
Laurens and Palmer pay tribute to Diogo Jota (1:52)

• ESPN

Jul 3, 2025, 04:56 AM ET

Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, police said Thursday.
Liverpool FC, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) also confirmed the incident.
The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that Jota and his brother were found dead after their car went off a road on an isolated stretch of highway about an hour west of Zamora. Authorities said the car -- a Lamborghini, according to police -- was in flames.
Firefighters were called in as the fire spread to nearby vegetation, authorities said.

Don't know why it has hit he so hard, I didn't know the guy personally, but every moment of silence I've watched has choked me up more than I expected. Guess I'm starting to look at my own mortality these days.

 

[Oh8ch]

Diogo Jota dies in car crash

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash

Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, police said Thursday.

www.espn.com

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, brother die in car crash​

play
Laurens and Palmer pay tribute to Diogo Jota (1:52)

• ESPN

Jul 3, 2025, 04:56 AM ET

Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, police said Thursday.
Liverpool FC, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) also confirmed the incident.
The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that Jota and his brother were found dead after their car went off a road on an isolated stretch of highway about an hour west of Zamora. Authorities said the car -- a Lamborghini, according to police -- was in flames.
Firefighters were called in as the fire spread to nearby vegetation, authorities said.

I'm struggling a bit with this narrative, which reads as those firefighters were going to let it burn itself out. But then it spread to the vegetation.

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

Don't know why it has hit he so hard, I didn't know the guy personally, but every moment of silence I've watched has choked me up more than I expected. Guess I'm starting to look at my own mortality these days.

All the players and coaches who have come out and spoke, posted… he was genuinely a beloved person by them. Even Mourinho was speaking reverently about him.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Bobby Jenks, White Sox World Series champion, dies at 44 after battle with cancer

Jenks recorded the final out of the 2005 World Series

www.cbssports.com

Bobby Jenks, White Sox World Series champion, dies at 44 after battle with cancer​

Jenks recorded the final out of the 2005 World Series​

Former Major League Baseball closer Bobby Jenks has died at the age of 44 after a battle with a terminal form of stomach cancer, the Chicago White Sox announced on Saturday. Jenks died on July 4 in Sintra, Portugal.

"We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today," White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago. He and his family knew cancer would be his toughest battle, and he will be missed as a husband, father, friend and teammate. He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts."

Jenks last pitched in the majors for the Boston Red Sox in 2011. Across his seven seasons at the highest level, he pitched to a 3.53 ERA with 173 saves and 351 strikeouts in 357 ⅓ innings. He picked up an additional five saves in nine postseason appearances, across which he posted an ERA of 2.00. Armed with one of the biggest fastballs of his era, Jenks also earned a pair of All-Star selections as a member of the White Sox. As a rookie in 2005, Jenks emerged as closer for the White Sox team that went on to win the World Series. He picked up two saves in the White Sox's sweep of the Houston Astros, then members of the National League, in that World Series. He also recorded the last out in the clinching Game 4.

R.I.P.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ex-Cowboys TE, civil rights advocate Norman dies

Pettis Norman, a tight end on the football field and a civil rights advocate off of it, has died. He was 86.

www.espn.com

Ex-Cowboys TE, civil rights advocate Pettis Norman dies at 86​

Pettis Norman, a tight end on the football field and a civil rights advocate off of it, has died. He was 86.

The Dallas Cowboys said on the team's website Monday night that Norman died this week, calling him one of the most influential players in the club's history. His family said in a Facebook post that Norman died in his sleep "peacefully, surrounded by family."

Norman played for the Cowboys (1962-70) and San Diego Chargers (1971-73). He was a member of the first Cowboys team to play in the Super Bowl -- Super Bowl V in 1971, a 16-13 loss to the Baltimore Colts.

Norman was traded to the Chargers for Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Lance Alworth. The Cowboys won their first Super Bowl title the next season.

Hall of Fame running back Calvin Hill said Black players on the team were angry because they thought Norman was traded because of his political activism. He had participated in a protest in Dallas before the trade.

Norman caught 124 passes with the Cowboys, including 14 touchdowns, and averaged 13.5 yards per reception. Only three tight ends in team history have averaged more than 13.0 yards per catch with at least 100 career receptions.



During his first seven seasons in the NFL, he served in the Texas Army National Guard. And he was at the forefront of civil rights issues in the 1960s, both in the locker room and in the greater Dallas area.

"We mourn the passing of former tight end and civil rights advocate Pettis Norman," the Cowboys said Monday. "Known for his selfless leadership, commitment to community, and dedication to creating equal opportunity, we were incredibly proud and grateful to share his remarkable story recently."

Part of the story the Cowboys shared was Norman's effort in helping to break down racial barriers on the team. He was one of the players who went to head coach Tom Landry to convince him to stop assigning hotel rooms for road games by race, the team said.

"I tried to do whatever I could do [to] help change the kinds of things that society had operated under for such a long time," Norman said, per the team website.
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R.I.P.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Frank Layden dies at 93: Ex-Jazz coach, GM brought Karl Malone, John Stockton to Utah

Layden was instrumental in laying the foundation for the Jazz to become perennial NBA contenders

www.cbssports.com

Frank Layden dies at 93: Ex-Jazz coach, GM brought Karl Malone, John Stockton to Utah​

Layden was instrumental in laying the foundation for the Jazz to become perennial NBA contenders​

Frank Layden, the first coach to take the Utah Jazz to the playoffs and the winner of both the 1984 NBA Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year awards, died Wednesday at 93, the team announced.

Layden coached six full seasons and parts of two others early in the franchise's Utah history. He took the helm two years after the team moved from New Orleans, succeeding Tom Nissalke during the 1981-82 campaign. Over nearly the next decade, he won 277 games and guided the Jazz to five consecutive postseason appearances, advancing as deep as the Western Conference semifinals three times.

"It's hard to imagine the story of the Utah Jazz without the presence of Frank Layden," Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith said. "He was an amazing person who meant so much to this organization and to our fans. His love of the sport was felt around the NBA, and he set the franchise on a course for success, helping to build an enduring legacy for the state of Utah."
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R.I.P.