Dead Celebrities That Don't Warrant Their Own Thread

[Redondo]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40183412/hall-fame-center-jim-otto-mr-raider-dies-86

Otto was the dominant center of his era -- many would argue of any era -- as he had a singular goal: "Never will they kick my butt."

Indeed, Otto did most of the kicking in a 15-year career that never saw him miss a game. From the AFL's initial season of 1960 through the 1970 AFL-NFL merger and his retirement following the 1974 season, Otto started 210 straight regular-season games, 223 including the playoffs, and was a Pro Bowler 12 times, a first-team All-Pro selection 10 times.

He was known later in life as "Pops" in the Raiders organization.

"I accept that," he said in 2014, "and cherish that."

Many have long suggested Otto's face should be the eye-patch-wearing logo on the side of the team's helmet, and Otto did not disagree.

"But with a broken nose," he joked at the time.

He was the only All-AFL center in the league's entire existence from 1960 to 1969, and he was one of only three players who played in all 140 AFL regular-season games (George Blanda and Gino Cappelletti were the others).

"Playing football was always a serious proposition for me," Otto said in 2021. "I wanted to put everyone on their backside and go home smiling, with my wife. So, it was a tough game for me. I had guys like Ray Nitschke. I wanted to get him and put him on his backside. He wanted to do the same to me. We had great times."

Otto said the hardest hit he ever received in a game came from Nitschke, in 1972.

"He broke my facemask in here, which broke my nose and set it over here," Otto said in 2014. "Broke my cheekbone, and my zygomatic arch bone here, and detached my retina in my left eye. ... I was blind for six months in my left eye. It was really bad. It all swelled up, and I couldn't see, but I kept playing. I never went out of the game."

Despite a long list of injuries, Otto said he had no regrets. But those injuries did eventually come at a cost, as he endured 74 surgeries by his count, plus more than 20 concussions, and in 2007 he had to have his right leg amputated above the knee following two life-threatening infections. He also had prostate cancer.

His autobiography was titled "The Pain of Glory."

[CaliAngel]

On 5/10/2024 at 3:07 PM, fan_since79 said:

Sam Rubin...sad. Rest in Peace.

I wake up to the morning news at 7 am on Channel 5. 

Every day is a gift and tomorrow is not guaranteed.

I don't watch the news anymore, but back in my elementary/high school years when we'd sit at the counter eating Cap'n Crunchberries before school, we'd turn on KTLA to watch the morning show, and it was pretty entertaining. It wasn't just like tragic news, the panel was pretty good. And Sam Rubin was a big part of the hilarity.

OMG I just looked it up and it brought back the memories, the show was also with Carlos Amezcua and Mark Kriski. Those guys were pretty funny as well.

[JAHV76]

Train former bassist dies in tragic accident RIP. https://amp.tmz.com/2024/05/22/charlie-colin-dead-dies-train-founding-member-fall-shower/

[St1ck]

Morgan Spurlock, filmmaker behind 'Super Size Me' documentary, dies from cancer - ABC News

https://abcnews.go.com/US/morgan-spurlock-filmmaker-super-size-documentary-dies-cancer/story?id=110534964

[Taylor]

53 minutes ago, St1ck said:

Morgan Spurlock, filmmaker behind 'Super Size Me' documentary, dies from cancer - ABC News

https://abcnews.go.com/US/morgan-spurlock-filmmaker-super-size-documentary-dies-cancer/story?id=110534964

McDonald's did a Boeing.

[cals]

1 hour ago, St1ck said:

Morgan Spurlock, filmmaker behind 'Super Size Me' documentary, dies from cancer - ABC News

https://abcnews.go.com/US/morgan-spurlock-filmmaker-super-size-documentary-dies-cancer/story?id=110534964

He should put this in his next documentary.  Dude is dedicated to his art!

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Bill Walton.  Probably deserves his own thread.  Legend. 

[JAHV76]

RIP Walton a legend on and off the course. Also a Bruin

[PattyD22]

7 minutes ago, The Ghost of Bob Starr said:

Bill Walton.  Probably deserves his own thread.  Legend. 

I agree— @Lou

[Blarg]

52 minutes ago, PattyD22 said:

I agree— @Lou

After Lou passed away, Walton had little to live for.

[T.G.]

I have great memories of the Walton led UCLA basketball teams. He was a hell of a college basketball player.

[katie]

I’ve seen him around and he would bring his own custom chair to restaurants because he was so tall. 

[Tank]

saw him at a card/memorabilia show in anaheim several years ago as we were leaving. he was leaving too. we waved at each other.

never forget the championship game where he shot 21/22 from the floor.

[fan_since79]

Nice tribute by Jim Hill on Channel 2. He told the story where Bill showed up to the first practice of the year with long hair, a violation of John Wooden's dress code. He refused to cut it and Wooden dismissed him saying "We're going to miss you, Bill". Walton went right out and got a haircut!

[Redondo]

Nice write up

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40229031/nba-champion-hall-famer-bill-walton-dies-71

[St1ck]

Two days after the last official PAC tournament. RIP Bill. Respected his love for basketball and the PAC. 

[fan_since79]

Iron Butterfly singer and songwriter has died.

I can't tell you how many times I listened to "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" back in the day.

https://www.al.com/life/2024/05/the-singer-and-songwriter-of-an-iconic-classic-rock-hit-has-died.html

[arch stanton]

1 hour ago, fan_since79 said:

Iron Butterfly singer and songwriter has died.

I can't tell you how many times I listened to "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" back in the day.

https://www.al.com/life/2024/05/the-singer-and-songwriter-of-an-iconic-classic-rock-hit-has-died.html

You only actually listened to it once. It just hasn't ended yet

RIP

Edited May 29 by arch stanton

[Redondo]

[CaliAngel]

11 hours ago, fan_since79 said:

Iron Butterfly singer and songwriter has died.

I can't tell you how many times I listened to "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" back in the day.

https://www.al.com/life/2024/05/the-singer-and-songwriter-of-an-iconic-classic-rock-hit-has-died.html

This is the only version I know...

 

[T.G.]

 

[Tank]

On 5/10/2024 at 12:26 PM, Spirit said:

he's not dead, but longtime channel 5 weather man mark kriski had a "mild" stroke earlier this week. he's home and recovering from it.

tough month to work at channel 5...

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

TJ Simers.  
LA Times Sports columnist.  
 

rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Asked tough questions. Wrote well.  I always appreciated his work. 

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

On 5/30/2024 at 7:40 PM, Tank said:

he's not dead, but longtime channel 5 weather man mark kriski had a "mild" stroke earlier this week. he's home and recovering from it.

tough month to work at channel 5...

I had a mild stroke, a series of them the same day. Thankful for hospital staff at Hoag Irvine. 

[Blarg]

https://awfulannouncing.com/newspapers/tj-simers-la-times-sports-columnist-dies.html

T.J. Simers, the former Los Angeles Times sports columnist who later won a massive and highly publicized age discrimination suit against the paper, has died at age 73.

Boxing Scene reporter Lance Pugmire reported the news. Simers had been dealing with a brain tumor.