Jouganatos: Legends Never Die

Every kid holds a dream. That dream rooted in inspiration for a passion. In that passion, every kid finds a hero to put atop a mantle as that inspiration for their dream.

For my generation and those around me trying to break into this world of Sports Journalism, Craig Sager was one of our heroes.

It's an understatement to say that the announcement this afternoon of Craig's passing from his long, hard-fought battle with acute myeloid leukemia came as a heartbreaking surprise to many of us. The same way we were shocked in disbelief when he was diagnosed back in 2014 shortly before the NBA Playoffs.

"Craig Sager has leukemia?"

Watching him fight this horrible and heartbreaking disease known as cancer from afar was one of the most torturous things us in this business and the NBA world have had to deal with. We prayed every night to God, "Please let Craig be okay". We thanked God when it was confirmed his son, Craig Jr., was a match for the bone marrow transplant he needed for remission.

And then we cried when it was announced the cancer had came back. Which brings us full circle to today's tragic announcement of his passing.

There's nothing I can say in this article that can compare to the reporter, and more importantly the man, that Craig was. He loved his wife Stacey and all five of his children equally. His passion for living life and doing his job is a trait that couldn't have been taught to even the most common of people. The things that Craig did and covered over the span of his illustrious career could make up over fifteen reporter's bucket lists.

He met Hank Aaron at home base following his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth on the list for first all-time. World Cup Soccer, Major League Baseball, March Madness. There wasn't a stone in this business that he couldn't turn.

And the outfits that he wore doing those things? That's in a whole other category.

But it was with the NBA on TNT for more years than I've been on this earth that Craig left his mark on all of us. MJ, Karl, LeBron, Tim, Craig talked to all of them. Players and Coaches have come and gone in this League year after year. But one of the main constants was always Craig right there in the middle with his mic and bright, out of this world, suit. The questions he asked were second fiddle to the joy and enthusiasm he showed every night on television. Craig was the definition of a life goal. Joy and enthusiasm pouring from his body into his words.

In a sports journalism world where we were always taught to report it black and white with no in between, our guy Craig was fifty shades of green and purple Easter pastel. In what made him different to the norm made him a hero to the rest of us. After all I've never seen Superman on the job wearing Clark Kent's suit and tie.

Even as the leukemia tried to hard to take his body from him, the spirit that drove Craig's work never faded away. It only grew stronger. And with that we cherished the last few times he was on television even more. How relaxed and at peace he was in his life despite his whole world around him seemingly changing. Everyone concerned and worried. Everyone except Craig. He didn't want sympathy, he never cried whoa is me. He just kept on going. Who could forget his story during his video montage just before his speech to accept this past year's Jimmy V Award at the ESPY'S.

" At one point they wanted me to be in total isolation and I said, 'Doc if you keep me here it's not going to say on my tombstone that he died of leukemia, it's going to say he died of a broken heart' ".

He showed us what it was like to love what you do and because of that we grew up passionate about this business. Because why do something if you don't love doing it? The way he treated the fan sitting in the arena the same as Lebron James postgame made him a hero. But how he kept fighting through his illness and showed us to never let something stop you from living your life? That made him a legend.

And legends never die.