Sports figures we lost in 2024

As is my wont, I like to pay tribute to people from the world of sports that we lost in the past year. 2024 was a typical year in that several notable athletes passed away. The sport of baseball was particularly hard hit this past year. Each succeeding year becomes increasingly more difficult for me as I lose athletes who were my childhood heroes. That is one of the problems with aging.In the next two weeks I am going to cite 20 people from the world of sports that died in 2024. I'm guessing that you have heard of each of them, but I might be able to cite some facts about these people that you are not aware of and if that brings a small smile to your face… so be it.Most of these people were older and their deaths were not totally unexpected. Though we may mourn their passing, we can certainly remember their exploits both on and off the playing fields. We'll begin with Greg Gumble. One of the first Sports Center anchors for ESPN, he had an illustrious broadcasting career with CBS and NBC as well. Everyone that commented on his passing mentioned what a great person he was and that says everything you really need to know about the man. Greg Gumble succumbed to cancer at the age of 78.Nascar lost two Hall of Famers in 2024. Fred Lorenzen passed away at the age of 89. He was a Daytona 500 winner and won the Coca Cola 600 twice. In 1963 at the age of 26 he became the first driver to amass $100,000 in earnings in a single season. Not the dollar figures we see today, but for the time period it was quite an accomplishment.Bobby Allison passed away in 2024 at the age of 86. A native of Hueytown, he was perhaps the most famed member of the Alabama Gang along with Neil Bonnet and Red Farmer. He had two sons that raced and tragically he lost both of them while he was still an active driver.Clifford Allison died in a practice crash at Michigan International Speedway while son Davy died at Talladega Motor Speedway trying to land his helicopter in the infield at the famed track. Bobby somehow managed to deal with this heartbreaking reality. Bobby's brother Donnie was also a racer.Several basketball players passed in 2024 including Bob "Butterbean" Love. You may not be familiar with him, but he is the third leading scorer in Chicago Bulls history. Perhaps you have heard of the two ahead of him... Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen!Love's nickname was unique and it came from his love of lima beans. Sorry, but I can't believe I just put the word love and lima beans in the same sentence. Bob Love was 81.Jerry West had several nicknames from "Ol' Zeke from Cabin Creek" to "Mr. Clutch." The West Virginia star went on to fame with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. A 14 time All Star, he is the man who's profile makes up the NBA logo.A coach and executive of renown after his playing days, Jerry West was 86.Dick Van Arsdale passed away at the age of 81. The first player drafted by the Phoenix Suns, I remember him more from his college days at Indiana where he starred with his twin brother Tom.Frank Selvey is one that some of you younger readers may not be familiar with. His death this past year at age 91 brought back memories for me however. Selvey attended Furman University and was the leading scorer in the nation his junior and senior years.He is still the only Division I player to score 100 points in a single game. Frank Selvey went on to play several years in the NBA.Bill Walton may be a broadcaster for many of you, but I remember his playing days vividly in both college and pro basketball. Although he was a great player in the NBA with the Portland Trailblazers, it was his collegiate career at UCLA that brings back my most vivid memories.He was a three time national player of the year with two national titles and was part of an 88 game winning streak compiled by the Bruins. That streak included perhaps the greatest individual game in college hoops history.It was the 1973 National Championship game against Memphis State where Walton excelled. He scored 44 points that came from a 21 of 22 shooting performance. He added 13 rebounds in an 87-66 UCLA victory. Walton himself would later relate a comment his coach, the legendary John Wooden, made to him following that game.Wooden said, "Walton I used to think you were a pretty good player until you missed that shot." Bill Walton passed at 71Three former NFL players passed in 2024. Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center for the Oakland Raiders died at age 86. It is hard to throw statistics out for offensive linemen, particularly the center – so I won't even try. For me the thing that always intrigued me was his number.How can anyone named Otto not sport the number 00?Eugene "Mercury" Morris passed away last year at age 77. He was a member of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins backfield along with Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris was the breakaway threat and was extremely proud to be a member of the still only undefeated team in NFL history.Finally the sports world lost a controversial figure in O.J. Simpson. There was no controversy to his playing abilities. The star running back from USC was one of a few to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single NFL season.Yet he is likely to be known for the slow speed chase he was involved in more so than his playing excellence. In a Ford Bronco, driven by former teammate Al Cowlings, the drama unfolded on live TV. Simpson was being pursued by police for questioning regarding the murder of his wife Nicole.In a trial that enthralled the nation, O.J. Simpson was acquitted, though he was convicted in a civil trial. It's too bad as it would have been better to remember him for running on the field or at least through airports. O.J. Simpson was 76.Sometimes a death in sports is very unexpected. Such was the case of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau. The Columbus Blue Jacket veteran was home for his sister's wedding when tragedy struck.He and his brother were riding bicycles when they were struck by a car. Both of them died from their injuries. Occasionally the sports world is left with shaking their heads wondering how something like this can happen. Johnny Gaudreau was just 31.