PARIS: Shane Warne, Bill Russell, Lester Piggott have been some of the high-profile sports activities stars to have died over the past yr.
BILL RUSSELL
Date of Death: July 31, 2022
Age: 88
Bill Russell gained a checklist 11 NBA crowns as a cornerstone of a Boston Celtics dynasty, overcame racism to transform the league’s first Black celebrity and used to be a outstanding civil rights activist.
He used to be the primary Black trainer to win the NBA Finals. That triumph got here in 1968, particularly poignant because it used to be simply weeks after civil rights chief Martin Luther King’s assassination.
“A good man and great American who did everything he could to deliver the promise of America for all Americans,” mentioned US President Joe Biden.
EARNIER SHAVERS
date of demise: September 1, 2022
Age: 78
“Earnie (Shavers) hit me so hard it shook my kinfolk in Africa,” remarked Muhammad Ali after their 1977 heavyweight international name bout which Ali gained after 15 pulsating rounds.
One of 10 kids, Shavers’ circle of relatives fled Alabama underneath threats from the Ku Klux Klan. He handiest took up boxing in his early 20s however his worried punch left no longer simply Ali in awe.
“I was in the land of make-believe. I heard saxophones and trombones sounding in my ear… I saw little blue rats scamper out to smoke cigars, drink whiskey, man,” mentioned every other opponent, James ‘Quick’ Tillis.
SHANE WARNE
Date of Death: Mar 4, 2022
Age: 52
Regarded via many in sports-mad Australia as 2nd handiest to Don Bradman, Shane Warne combined mythical cricket deeds with colourful headlines clear of the pitch incomes him the nickname ‘Hollywood’ in a profession as bewitching as his famed mistaken ‘un.
Warne took 708 wickets in a 145-Test profession. “I should think there have been a lot of great cricketers, great spinners and great leg-spinners but Warnie will always be, certainly from my point of view, the No. 1,” mentioned Mike Gatting, who used to be on the mistaken finish of Warne’s ‘ball of the century’ in 1993.
RODNEY MARSH
Date of Death: Mar 4, 2022
Age: 74
A flamboyant Australian wicketkeeper — nicknamed ‘Iron Gloves’ — he made his world debut in 1970 in opposition to England prior to retiring in 1984 with what used to be then a world-record 355 Test dismissals, 95 off the bowling of Dennis Lillee.
He used to be no imply batsman both changing into the primary Aussie wicketkeeper to attain a Test century, in opposition to Pakistan in 1982.
UWE SEELER
Date of Death: July 21, 2022
Age: 85
Played in all 4 World Cups wherein Pele gave the impression (1958–70) however in contrast to the Brazilian legend, Seeler by no means lifted the trophy. The closest he got here used to be captaining the facet that misplaced to England within the 1966 ultimate.
Like his father, Seeler performed for Hamburg from 1953 to 1972 the place he’s fondly known as ‘Uns Uwe’ (Our Uwe) making 476 appearances.
“Uwe Seeler stands for everything that characterizes a good person: down-to-earthness, loyalty, joie de vivre, plus he was always approachable,” mentioned Hamburg board member Jonas Boldt.
DAN REEVES
Date of Death: January 1, 2022
Age: 77
The bespectacled trainer stocks with Buffalo Bills mythical trainer Marv Levy and Minnesota Vikings’ Bud Grant, essentially the most visits to a Super Bowl with out ever successful (4).
Ironically his closing commute to the Super Bowl in 1999 resulted within the Broncos (who he had taken 3 times to the Super Bowl) beating his Atlanta Falcons. He did win one Super Bowl ring – as a operating again for the Dallas Cowboys.
LESTER PIGGOTT
Date of Death: May 29, 2022
Age: 86
For many the best jockeys of all time. Known because the ‘Long Fellow’, Lester Piggott rode a checklist 9 Epsom Derby winners.
Piggott, who rode his first winner elderly simply 12, served a yr in jail for tax fraud in 1987 after which made a surprise go back to driving.
He memorably reunited with Irish instructor Vincent O’Brien to win the celebrated Breeders’ Cup Mile at Royal Academy on the age of 54 in 1990.
“Lester walked about with an aura about him,” mentioned his nice rival Willie Carson.
PHIL BENNETT
date of demise, June 12, 2022
Age: 73
Considered to be the best fly-half to play for Wales, pivotal to the rustic’s glory years all over the Seventies, who become a cult determine because of a grievance-laced pre-match speech prior to dealing with England, the previous enemy, in Cardiff in 1977 .
“Look what these bastards have done to Wales. They’ve taken our coal, our water, our steel. They buy our homes and live in them for a fortnight every year. What have they given us?” Bennett mentioned.
“Absolutely nothing. We’ve been exploited, raped, controlled and punished by the English – and that’s who you’re playing this afternoon,” mentioned Bennett. Wales gained 14–9.
VA’AIGA TUIGAMALA
Date of Death: February 24, 2022
Age: 52
Affectionately referred to as ‘Inga the winger’ to lovers of each rugby union and rugby league, he performed for the All Blacks in union and Samoa in each codes. He used to be additionally a member of the Wigan facet that ruled rugby league within the Nineties.
Nick Bollettieri
Date of Death: December 4, 2022
Age: 91
Legendary trainer who helped broaden superstars equivalent to Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova.
The tough regimen for youngsters and youth dwelling and coaching on the Korean War veteran’s academy produced effects but in addition drew grievance.
“I hated it at Bollettieri’s academy,” mentioned Agassi. “The only way I could get out was to succeed.”
Bollettieri, alternatively, remained unrepentant. “I did what had to be done. Tennis is not a sport for choirboys.”
BILL RUSSELL
Date of Death: July 31, 2022
Age: 88
Bill Russell gained a checklist 11 NBA crowns as a cornerstone of a Boston Celtics dynasty, overcame racism to transform the league’s first Black celebrity and used to be a outstanding civil rights activist.
He used to be the primary Black trainer to win the NBA Finals. That triumph got here in 1968, particularly poignant because it used to be simply weeks after civil rights chief Martin Luther King’s assassination.
“A good man and great American who did everything he could to deliver the promise of America for all Americans,” mentioned US President Joe Biden.
EARNIER SHAVERS
date of demise: September 1, 2022
Age: 78
“Earnie (Shavers) hit me so hard it shook my kinfolk in Africa,” remarked Muhammad Ali after their 1977 heavyweight international name bout which Ali gained after 15 pulsating rounds.
One of 10 kids, Shavers’ circle of relatives fled Alabama underneath threats from the Ku Klux Klan. He handiest took up boxing in his early 20s however his worried punch left no longer simply Ali in awe.
“I was in the land of make-believe. I heard saxophones and trombones sounding in my ear… I saw little blue rats scamper out to smoke cigars, drink whiskey, man,” mentioned every other opponent, James ‘Quick’ Tillis.
SHANE WARNE
Date of Death: Mar 4, 2022
Age: 52
Regarded via many in sports-mad Australia as 2nd handiest to Don Bradman, Shane Warne combined mythical cricket deeds with colourful headlines clear of the pitch incomes him the nickname ‘Hollywood’ in a profession as bewitching as his famed mistaken ‘un.
Warne took 708 wickets in a 145-Test profession. “I should think there have been a lot of great cricketers, great spinners and great leg-spinners but Warnie will always be, certainly from my point of view, the No. 1,” mentioned Mike Gatting, who used to be on the mistaken finish of Warne’s ‘ball of the century’ in 1993.
RODNEY MARSH
Date of Death: Mar 4, 2022
Age: 74
A flamboyant Australian wicketkeeper — nicknamed ‘Iron Gloves’ — he made his world debut in 1970 in opposition to England prior to retiring in 1984 with what used to be then a world-record 355 Test dismissals, 95 off the bowling of Dennis Lillee.
He used to be no imply batsman both changing into the primary Aussie wicketkeeper to attain a Test century, in opposition to Pakistan in 1982.
UWE SEELER
Date of Death: July 21, 2022
Age: 85
Played in all 4 World Cups wherein Pele gave the impression (1958–70) however in contrast to the Brazilian legend, Seeler by no means lifted the trophy. The closest he got here used to be captaining the facet that misplaced to England within the 1966 ultimate.
Like his father, Seeler performed for Hamburg from 1953 to 1972 the place he’s fondly known as ‘Uns Uwe’ (Our Uwe) making 476 appearances.
“Uwe Seeler stands for everything that characterizes a good person: down-to-earthness, loyalty, joie de vivre, plus he was always approachable,” mentioned Hamburg board member Jonas Boldt.
DAN REEVES
Date of Death: January 1, 2022
Age: 77
The bespectacled trainer stocks with Buffalo Bills mythical trainer Marv Levy and Minnesota Vikings’ Bud Grant, essentially the most visits to a Super Bowl with out ever successful (4).
Ironically his closing commute to the Super Bowl in 1999 resulted within the Broncos (who he had taken 3 times to the Super Bowl) beating his Atlanta Falcons. He did win one Super Bowl ring – as a operating again for the Dallas Cowboys.
LESTER PIGGOTT
Date of Death: May 29, 2022
Age: 86
For many the best jockeys of all time. Known because the ‘Long Fellow’, Lester Piggott rode a checklist 9 Epsom Derby winners.
Piggott, who rode his first winner elderly simply 12, served a yr in jail for tax fraud in 1987 after which made a surprise go back to driving.
He memorably reunited with Irish instructor Vincent O’Brien to win the celebrated Breeders’ Cup Mile at Royal Academy on the age of 54 in 1990.
“Lester walked about with an aura about him,” mentioned his nice rival Willie Carson.
PHIL BENNETT
date of demise, June 12, 2022
Age: 73
Considered to be the best fly-half to play for Wales, pivotal to the rustic’s glory years all over the Seventies, who become a cult determine because of a grievance-laced pre-match speech prior to dealing with England, the previous enemy, in Cardiff in 1977 .
“Look what these bastards have done to Wales. They’ve taken our coal, our water, our steel. They buy our homes and live in them for a fortnight every year. What have they given us?” Bennett mentioned.
“Absolutely nothing. We’ve been exploited, raped, controlled and punished by the English – and that’s who you’re playing this afternoon,” mentioned Bennett. Wales gained 14–9.
VA’AIGA TUIGAMALA
Date of Death: February 24, 2022
Age: 52
Affectionately referred to as ‘Inga the winger’ to lovers of each rugby union and rugby league, he performed for the All Blacks in union and Samoa in each codes. He used to be additionally a member of the Wigan facet that ruled rugby league within the Nineties.
Nick Bollettieri
Date of Death: December 4, 2022
Age: 91
Legendary trainer who helped broaden superstars equivalent to Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova.
The tough regimen for youngsters and youth dwelling and coaching on the Korean War veteran’s academy produced effects but in addition drew grievance.
“I hated it at Bollettieri’s academy,” mentioned Agassi. “The only way I could get out was to succeed.”
Bollettieri, alternatively, remained unrepentant. “I did what had to be done. Tennis is not a sport for choirboys.”