| OBITUARIES (The ONLY serious pages on this website) |
| Elite contributers to sports who have passed away since the inception of the Panel Page 4 |
| Bill Walsh November 30, 1931 - July 30, 2007 Bill Walsh will forever be remembered as one of the most groundbreaking football coaches in NFL history. Walsh perfected the ingenious schemes that became known as the West Coast Offense. During his Hall of Fame career, he won three Superbowls with the San Francisco 49ers. |
| Phil Rizzuto September 25, 1917 - August 14, 2007 Nicknames "Scooter", Phil Rizzuto played shortstop for the New York Yankees for 13 seasons between 1941 and 1956 - he missed 3 seasons during that time while serving in the Navy during WWII. At just 5'6", 150 lbs, Rizzuto was a sparkplug for the Yankees during a stretch that saw 10 American League Penants and 8 World Series titles. He was the type of player who hustled and did the little things right, from turning a double play to laying down a sacrifice bunt. Rizzuto later extended his Yankee legacy as a beloved broadcaster until 1996, becoming know best for his exclamations of "Holy Cow". |
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| Dave Manzer 1961-2009 As former Head Coach for Messiah College Men's Basketball, Dave Manzer earned Coach of the Year honors and personally touched the lives of Panel members, amongst many others. Manzer was also an Assistant Head Coach for 3 Div. I programs, and worked Indiana's Top 100 Summer Camp in 2007, providing draft preparation for Greg Oden (#1), Michael Conley (#4), Daequan Cook (#21), and Carl Landry (#31). Manzer's birth defect ot the heart was minor until complications arose and he received a pacemaker in 2002. He is survived by his wife Kathy, and 3 children Andrea (20), Erica (16), and Aaron (6). |
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| Those two NFL guys whose fishing boat capsized off Florida's Gulf coast March 2, 2009 Despite their status as relatively unknown NFL journeymen, the two guys who lost their lives in a tragic boat accident will be remembered best for the tragic boat accident in which they lost their lives. They will also be remembered for [allegedly] playing football at the NFL level for at least some period of time. Reminding us of the fragility of life, the losses of "those two guys" is deeply mourned by each of us whose lives they touched personally. |
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| Harry Kalas March 26, 1936 - April 13, 2009 Harry Kalas was among the most respected and recognized broadcasters in baseball history. Over his career, Kalas broadcasted many NFL games, served as the radio voice for Notre Dame Football for several seasons, and did voice-over work for NFL Films and Campbell's Soup. But Kalas is best remembered as the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies. For 38 years, Kalas delighted fans with his smoky voice and singular home run calls. Mr. Kalas was behind the mic during many of the greatest moments in Phillies history, including Mike Schmidt's 500th homerun, Steve Carlton's 300th win, and the 2008 World Series championship. Kalas was inducted into the broadcaster's wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. |
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| Mark Fidrych August 14, 1954 - April 13, 2009 Nicknamed "The Bird", Mark Fidrych is remembered as one of baseball's most memorable characters. Pitching for the Detroit Tigers in the later 1970's, Fidrych's on-the-field antics included "manicuring the mound", talking to himself, talking to the ball, aiming the ball like a dart, strutting around the mound after each out, and throwing back balls that "had hits in them", insisting they be removed from the game. The Bird captured a cult following of "Bird Watchers", who would fill Tiger Stadium each time he pitched. Fidrych died in an accident while repairing his dump truck at his home in Northborough, MA. |
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