"Time is something that cannot be bought; it can not be wagered with God, and it is not in endless supply. Time is simply how you live your life"- Craig Sager
In sports, superstars are found on the field, the court, the diamond, the ring, the pitch, and these people are idolized, cheered and looked at as some of the greatest individuals in their respective sports. However, sometimes a person is so genuine, so full of life, full of a special personality that he can become a superstar, even if they are just a sideline reporter. That was Craig Sager. He never dunked a basketball, or threw a game winning touchdown, or a no-hitter, he made his impact on the sidelines, in the dugout, interviewing the people the fans idolize, and throughout the years, Craig became a superstar too.
He began as a reporter in Sarasota, Florida making $95 a week for his work. He worked hard and on April 8th, 1974 he was on a baseball diamond for a historic event. It was the night Hank Aaron broke the all-time Home Run record set by Babe Ruth, by hitting his 715th career homer. Sager got by security to be on the field that night, and footage of that can still be seen today. It showed you his savy, his work ethic, and Sager was just getting started. He went on to work for CNN and Turner Sports where he would spend nearly his entire career in those networks. He would cover Baseball playoff games, NFL games, the World Cup, the Olympics, even curling in the Winter Olympics, Craig Sager was there to cover it. Whatever you assigned him, he would do, no complaining, no issues, because he loved what he was able to do for a living.
Later on in his career, Sager was a sideline reporter for NBA games on TNT, and he would interview players and coaches in the middle of games or following them, and that was just a man doing his job. However, Craig was famous for wearing a ridiculous variety of flamboyant, colorful, and wacky suits. There was nothing seemingly off limits in his suit choice. That was Craig showing off his personality simply through his wardrobe, and was a staple of who he was. He had famous interactions with legends of the sport like Spurs coach Greg Popovich, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Phil Jackson, , Kevin Garnett, the list is endless. Always entertaining in one way or another, they became something you looked forward to, and if you get the chance, go YouTube those interactions when you get a chance, because you will be entertained, something Craig always seemed to do.
Sager was know as a joyful soul, and he was always smiling and enjoying life, he was an incredible person, with the cameras on, and off, and was someone who I always wanted to grow up to be like when I was a kid. So when the news came in 2014 that he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, myself, and everyone who had grown to admire and enjoy Craig were crushed. Craig Sager, however, was not. He tackled it like an assignment from TNT, and his courage was a testament to his work ethic, and the way he lived his life, with a smile, and he fought. He fought it into remission, and never stopped fighting, we were all with him in his fight, we were Sager Strong. In March of this year, he announced it had resurfaced and that his fight would continue. He worked his first NBA Finals game in June of this year, and LeBron James famously said in the postgame interview after Game 6 "That don't make no sense" referring to how Sager never got to work a game in the NBA Finals. He received support from players, coaches, fans, and everyone alike and the #SagerStrong became a rallying cry around a man who never gave up, and still had the strength to work hard even with his illness. It never deterred him, he was always strong, and our admiration stayed the same.
Craig Sager died on December 15th, after his long battle, and the sports world mourned the loss of a legend of the business. They remembered the great times, the countless moments he left us with, and the way he approached life. Mt friend Kyle Jones and I talked about our admiration for him just a few weeks ago, and how we wanted to live life like he did, even with an illness that took his life. He fought until the end, and he fought it always with a smile, the way he lived his entire life, and that is something that sets him apart and makes him a legend both in his profession and as a human being. He is survived by his 5 children, and the millions of people who loved him, and will always remember the moments he left us with.
Thank you, Craig Sager, for inspiring myself and millions through words, strength, and courage, and the way you lived your life. We will always remember you, and always be #SagerStrong.
