Sports Deaths in 2008

Evan Tanner, September 8: The Former UFC middleweight champion, seen here in 2006, went missing in a California desert and was found dead by the Imperial County Sheriffs Department. He was only 37.

Zuma Press

Don Haskins, Sept. 7: The legendary coach helped break color barriers in college sports in 1966 when he used five black starters to win a national basketball title for Texas Western.

Earl Richardson, Getty Images

Dick Enderle, Sept. 5: An eight-year NFL vet, Enderle was found unconscious next to an exercise machine in his apartment, and pronounced dead at the scene.

Frank Rippon, NFL/WireImage

Tommy Bolt, Sept. 3: The 1958 U.S. Open champion, Bolt was nicknamed "Terrible Tempered Tommy" for his on-course outbursts, that often included slamming clubs to the ground.

John M. Burgess, Time Life Pictures / Getty Images

Todd Cruz, Sept. 2: The former infielder, who won a World Series with the 1983 Baltimore Orioles, died while swimming at his apartment complex.

Focus on Sport / Getty Images

Walter "Killer" Kowalski, Aug. 30: The pro wrestling legend, seen here in a 1989 photo with his nephew Mitch, died from complications after a massive heart attack.

Jon Chase, AP

Phil Hill, Aug. 28: Hill, who was the only American-born Formula One champion and a three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, died after complications from Parkinson's disease.

AP

Kevin Duckworth, Aug. 25: Former Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth died while on a trip to the Oregon Coast to host a free basketball clinic.

Stephen Dunn, Getty Images

Gene Upshaw, Aug. 21: The Executive Director of the NFL Players Association and Hall of Fame football player passed away at age 63.

Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

Ronney Vargas, Aug. 16: The promising undefeated boxer and three-time Daily News Golden Gloves champion was shot to death after getting into a fight at a Bronx bodega.

New York Daily News