People are remembered through their actions, the impact and influence that they had on others. Craig Sager will be remembered for all of that. Sager, a 40 year sports broadcaster for networks such as TNT, TBS, CBS and CNN, died this past Thursday after a two-year long battle with Leukemia at the age of 65. An Illinois native, Sager attended Northwestern University where he majored in speech while also taking on the role of the school’s mascot, Willie the Wildcat. Beginning at Northwestern, Craig Sager developed into one of the most popular and successful sports broadcasters of his time.
Sager first made his name when at 22 years old, he interviewed Hank Aaron on his way to home after hitting his 715th homerun, breaking Babe Ruth’s all time record of 714. He then worked for CNN where he covered the MLB and College Football. Throughout his career he covered the greatest events sports has to offer including the the NFL, the World Series, the Pam Am Games, World Cup soccer, the PGA tour and the Summer and Winter Olympics. Sager’s true form of expertise however, was sideline reporting with the NBA. He worked on the Turner Network’s coverage of the NBA for over two decades, interviewing NBA greats including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul and Lebron James as well as coaches such as Doc Rivers, Phil Jackson, and Gregg Popovich. Best known for his colorful attire and straight forward questions, Sager was a master at his work and seemed at such ease with his constant free spirited attitude and endless positive energy. In a tribute to Sager, ESPN broadcaster John Anderson described Sager as this: “He became famous for a career standing on the sidelines, yet Craig Sager was always very much in the middle of things.” He developed a great friendship with longtime San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich through their many in game sideline interviews which became must see television for basketball fans with Sager’s straight forward questions and Popovich’s classic blunt responses.
Although famous for his broadcasting success, Craig Sager’s lasting impact on the sports and broadcasting world will be through his care of others and love of life. When he was initially diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia back in 2014, Sager was forced to miss the 2014 and 2015 NBA playoffs and part of the 2014-2015 NBA regular season, as well as the 2015 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Sager responded in an even rarer approach with a wave outstanding energy, enthusiasm and professional determination to return to the job he loved so dearly. He beat the disease into remission and returned to the sidelines for the 2015-2016 NBA season. At one point during his third bout with treatment, doctors told him that they wanted him to be in total isolation. Sager refused this request knowing that he would die of a broken heart if he could not return to his job. That was the Sager spirit. His sartorial radiance brought a certain light to the NBA and though he was often jokingly criticized for his wardrobe decisions, Sager never changed. He treated everyone like a friend and approached every situation with a smile. He was never one to stay quiet and complacent and did it all while refusing to blend in.
Craig Sager’s death was just a few days after attending one of his daughter’s basketball games and just one day after his anniversary with his wife Stacy. Sager always made sure he was there for his family and lived up to this promise until he could no longer. At the 2016 ESPYS in June, Sager received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award for his battle with Leukemia. He described his struggles of the past few years and inspired his audience. “Time is something that cannot be bought, it cannot be wagered with God, and it is not in endless supply. Time is simply how you live your life.” Sager used his time to its fullest value and loved every second of it. He never failed to impress and his positivity was never questioned. That’s life Sager style.
