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
The 37-year-old Tanner, who held the UFC middleweight title in 2005, last fought in June at the Ultimate Fighter finale.
Tanner wrote on his blog last month, "I'm hoping that very soon I'll be sitting out in the quiet of the desert beneath a deep blue midnight sky, listening to the calm desert breeze. ... I want to go to these places, the quiet, timeless, ageless places, and sit, letting silence and solitude be my teachers."
UPDATE: UFC Mourns Former Champ Evan Tanner, Dead at 37, Cause of Death Unknown.
Comments (Page 1 of 11)
Evan,
I always respected you as a fighter and thought you were awesome. The fact that I won't be able to meet you, shake your hand, or even take a picture with you really upsets me. I'm rarely shocked when I hear about deaths but hearing about your passing shocked me and I'm having a hard time dealing with it. I always thought you were a good guy, which is tough to find in the world. I really hoped you see you win again soon, but now I know that won't happen. I'll say a prayer for you. RIP.
evan tanner we love you and although you are gone you will be remembered. a great fighter like you is one thing thats nearly impossible to forget we wish your family and friends the best and may all your fans persevere.
Lela, you WILL eventually meet this fighter--at the resurrection, so just be patient. You'll meet ALL your long lost relatives and family members who preceded you, as well. Please, let this comfort you.
Your dream could still become a reality if you went to his funeral you could have your picture taken with him still shake his hand and still gaze upon him.
Invoking you a peaceful transitional journey with many friendly guides, angels and entities to comfort you on the journey to your next world. You are loved and will be missed.
Your letter to Evan brought tears to my eyes. I want you to know that I'm sorry for your loss. Not too often does someone come along who is great and deserving of so much more and evidently you found this in this great man. Honor him by doing well in all you do with his memory in your heart.
Evan,
When many people think of ufc they think of these high-testosterone brutes with ginormous muscles beating up other men of the same character. Although that is sometimes true, there are those fighters that are surprisingly intellectual and cultural. I respected you as a person for many reasons but mostly because of your nature to stay humble and down-to-earth even after attaining success. As part of me wishes you did not take that trip out to the desert that dreadful day, the other part of me knows if you didn't you wouldn't be the Evan Tanner we loved so much. We will miss you very much! Your Fan, Judah
Somehow I don't think he's reading your comments.
Hey Ron,
He may not be reading these comments but i know he is hearing them in my prayers. It is also one way for many fans to express their feelings to Evan's family, so that they may take a little joy out of this horrific and overwhelming time in their life. So i ask you nicely to stop being a jack%$@ and if you have nothing positive to post, do not post anything. Have some respect.
My condolences to his family, friends and fans. May his soul be in a happier place than Earth had ever been. "Rest in peace!"
I just can not believe it~! He was just one of the best. Taught himself with training manuals. Of all the rotten people in this world for this to happen to Evan Tanner. Just makes one wonder!
i agree. this world is filled with people you want to just smash and they seem to live to be 90 years old. then good people like tanner end up passing away at an age where you think there is another 30 or 40 years to go. this is really terrible news and doesnt sit well. it does make you wonder. my dad died early and then there are people who beat their women and kill each other but they live long healthy lives. at least it seems that way. he was a good guy and deserved the best. may he rest in peace and i hope his family has good support and are able to heal.
What are you wondering about? Wondering about why someone would go to the dessert without enough water? Wondering why someone would do this to his family and friends? What exactly are you wondering about? He did this to himself...
They were just showin him the other night on spike & i was thinkin when will he fight again bless your soul & may ur family remain strong & get through this
My condolences to his family, friends, students, (those who were learning from him by watching him and what he does), and fans.
ill bet he die from snake bit ... ill bet on it.... out in desert at night or dusk is bad big time bad.....
I am wondering if he committed suicide, and his comments about wanting to go into the desert alone and be one with nature wasn't a cry for help of some sort......it's a shame either way.....these dudes are great competitors, and in their quest to be the best, they change their endrocine system by using steroids and other muscle enhancers, and for some it can cause a complete change in their emotional state.....I am an advocate of using steroids for certain things, but I think they should at least get checked out by a doctor before using them to see if it will change their emotional state....most people on performance enhancing drugs get to a better frame of mind....they always made me very happy and in a great mood when I used to use them............best to his family..........
Kluji, the good peaple to leave this earth because there job is done. The rest of us are left here to "get it right"
This is so true. not many people here get that yet. :)
gigi, that is so true. Not many people I know get that yet. Ah, a kindred soul :)