RIP (Dead basketball players thread)

[worldbasketball]

From time to time, some basketball players dies (some of age, and some very young) and perhaps to keep his or her memory, a thread is established in his name. Then there are a couple of comments and then the thread dies and all forgotten.

So it kept me thinking that we should have a permenant place, where we could mourn the passing of basketball players, young and old, put their biographies and pictures there, jot down a kind remark or two about their passing and never be judgmental towards or the circumstances they died from, just out of respect for their memories.

Since deaths occur quite often, I think this thread could be kept on going as a permenant shrine for the passing of all basketball players.

I will try to update it with instances that I know of, usually recent deaths...

I will also put some music videos and lyrics to lament losses of lives and remind us how fragile life is but how beautiful it can become if we care enough for each other

[worldbasketball]

A message in a music video

From time to time, I will add music videos that truly touch our hearts. Even if you don't have a news item, you can contribute a video and lyrics instead...

FOREVER YOUNG

By Bob Dylan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sldgunY3Fw

May god bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you

May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every run
May you stay, forever young
May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you

May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift

May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

====

FOREVER YOUNG

By Rod Stewart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGEe_zpddNI

May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
surround you when you're far from home
And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you'd have done to you
Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart you'll always stay
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young

May good fortune be with you
May your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to heaven
with a prince or a vagabond

And may you never love in vain
and in my heart you will remain
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young
Forever Young

And when you finally fly away
I'll be hoping that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime
No one can ever tell

But whatever road you choose
I'm right behind you, win or lose
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young ,Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
For, Forever Young, Forever Young

[worldbasketball]

Robert Traylor, the former NBA and University of Michigan big man nicknamed "Tractor" has died of suspected heart attack in Puerto Rico on May 12, 2011. He was 34. The American player was playing for the Vaqueros de Bayamón (Bayamon Cowboys) of Puerto Rico’s BSN League

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6527372

http://www.thenews-messenger.com/article/C4/20110519/SPORTS06/110519049/Robert-Traylor-remembered-emotional-funeral?odyssey=nav|head

Picture:

[worldbasketball]

Thomas Compaoré, the 23 years old Burkinabé basketball player, born in Ouagadoudou died on May 9, 2011 of a heart attack. He played in Beauvais Basket Club (BBCO) and trained also the youth program for basketball.

http://www.sudouest.fr/2011/05/06/bo...90943-4632.php (in French)

http://www.alm-evreux-basket.com/_sa...hp?article=669 (in French)

Picture:

[worldbasketball]

Kameron Steinhoff, a Hawaii Pacific University basketball player died after a skateboarding accident in Honolulu. He was just 21

http://www.kitv.com/sports/27939757/detail.html

Pictures:

[worldbasketball]

Kaustubh Shete, 22, an Indian national level basketball player and four others of his family met with an unfortunate accident on Tuesday. Shete along with his parents, brother and a cousin brother died on the spot.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_sportsman-4-of-family-die-in-road-accident-on-mumbai-goa-highway_1547141

[worldbasketball]

ESPN news magazine, "Outside the Lines," showed a 16-minute feature story on Wes Leonard, the Fennville basketball star who died after scoring the winning basket to clinch an undefeated season on March 23, 2011

The video includes interviews from Leonard's family, coach, teammates and classmates. The tragic story quickly became national news. The team, with the blessing of the family, decided to play in the state tournament in honor of Leonard.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110515/HSS/110515008/Watch-ESPN-s-piece-death-Fennville-s-Wes-Leonard?odyssey=mod|newswell|img|Opinion|p

The video of the 16 minute report in the link above

Picture




Also check this for the incident and important medical facts about enlarged hearts..

Plus the importance of regular checkups for sportsmen.

[worldbasketball]

A music video message

J Rice in Michael Jackson's and Akon's "Hold My Hand"

The main message in the song

"We miss you"



This life don't last forever (Hold my hand)
So tell me what we're waiting for (Hold my hand)
We're better off being together (Hold my hand)
Being miserable alone (Hold my hand)

'Cause I've been there before
And you've been there before
But together we can be all right
'Cause when it gets dark and when it gets cold
We hold each other 'til we see the sun light

So we can just, hold my hand
Baby, I promise that I do all I can
Things will get better if you just hold my hand
Nothing will come between us if you just
Hold, hold my, hold my, hold my hand (Hold my hand)

The nights are getting dark (Hold my hand)
And there's no peace inside (Hold my hand)
So why make our lives harder (Hold my hand)
By fighting love (Tonight baby)

'Cause I've been there before
And you've been there before
But together we can be all right
'Cause when it gets dark and when it gets cold
We hold each other 'til we see the sun light

So we can just, hold my hand
Baby, I promise that I do all I can
Things will get better if you just hold my hand
Nothing will come between us if you just
Hold, hold my, hold my, hold my hand (Hold my hand)

I can tell that you're tired of being lonely
Take my hand, don't let go, baby hold me
Come to me and let me be your one and only
'Cause I can make it all right 'til the morning

I can tell that you're tired of being lonely
Take my hand, don't let go, baby hold me
Come to me and let me be your one and only
'Cause I can make it all right 'til the morning

Hold my hand
Baby, I promise that I do all I can
Things will get better if you just hold my hand
Nothing will come between us if you just
Hold, hold my, hold my, hold my hand (Hold my hand)

[CKR13]

Northwest Flordia State is mourning the passing of its head coach Bruce Stewart after his long battle with Brain Tumor.

http://www.wjhg.com/sports/headlines/Northwest_Florida_State_mourns_the_passing_of_its_basketball_coach_as_funeral_arrangements_for_Bruce_Stewart_are_set_for_later_in_the_week_122535414.html?ref=414

Rest in Peace Bruce.

[sinobball]

Twp players in the picture are gone. RIP

[J-Mart]

this thread should be stickied and updated until the end of times

[EverGreen]

Off the top of my head....

Drazen Petrovic...everyone knows how and when.

Mark Petway killed whilst being car-jacked. Played for PAOK in the 1987-88 season.

Reggie Lewis -Boston Celtics.

Alphonso Ford- Peristeri, Olympiakos etc

Conrad Mc Ray (PAOK, Fenerbahce)

Kenyon Jones (Marousi, Panathinaikos)

Viktor Pankrashkin (USSR) -Turberculosis

Valeri Goborov -(USSR) Car Accident

RIP

[worldbasketball]

Drazen Petrovic



---

Mark Petway



---

Reggie Lewis



---

Conrad Mc Ray



---

[worldbasketball]

Former WNBA Polish player Margo Dydek has died after suffering a heart attack a week ago. She was 37. She died on May 27, 2011

She had played for the Utah Starzz, San Antonio Silver Stars, Connecticut Sun and Los Angeles Sparks

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1NWxFVEqL

[Mindozas]

What I remember:

Radivoj Korac (Yugoslavia) - car accident

Fernando Martin (Spain) - car accident

Alexandr Belov (USSR) - illness

Bobby Phills (USA) - car accident

Malik Sealy (USA) - car accident

Eddie Griffin (USA) - car accident

Aidin Nikkhah Bahrami (Iran) - car accident

Zoltan Horvat (Hungary) - car accident

Paolo Pinto (Portugal) - heart attcak

Len Bias (USA) - cocaine overdose

Tauras Stumbrys (Lithuania) - heart attack

Lorenzen Wright (USA) - homicide

So long list already and I'm sure it's not all, just don't remember the right names or just forgot about some currently... RIP