ARAB TIMES, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016
NEWS/FEATURES
21
Obit
‘Life is too beautiful’
NBA TV reporter
Sager dies at 65
HOUSTON, Dec 16, (AP): Craig Sager never once
thought about giving up as he battled cancer for more
than two years.
“Man, life is too beautiful, too wonderful, there’s just
too many things,” he said in late August. “It’s not just
you. It’s your family and kids and all. Fight. Fight until
the end. Fight as hard as you can.”
The end for the beloved TNT broadcaster came Thursday when the man known as much for his outrageous
wardrobe as his relationships with the NBA’s elite succumbed to the disease he fought so hard to overcome.
Turner Sports announced his death without disclosing
details. He was 65 and had worked basketball games for
TNT for nearly a quarter-century.
“There will never be another
Craig Sager,” Turner President
David Levy said. “His incredible
talent, tireless work ethic and
commitment to his craft took
him all over the world covering
sports.”
His son, Craig Jr, posted a
loving video tribute to his father,
tweeting: “We packed a lifetime
and then some into these 28
years together.”
Sager’s passing brought out
Sager
condolences from every corner
of the NBA and Hall of Famer Larry Bird expressed
what many were feeling. “He was as identifiable with the
NBA as any player or coach,” Bird said. “The league will
not be the same without him.”
Magic Johnson echoed those sentiments on Twitter.
“The NBA family lost a legend who changed the way
sideline reporters did their job. RIP Craig Sager,” Johnson said.
It wasn’t just the NBA community that mourned his
passing , with Vice President Joe Biden and Drake expressing sadness at the loss.
Singer Andrea Bocelli performs with singer Katharine McPhee at Madison Square Garden on Dec 15, in New York. (AP)
Music
Cheerful
Sager had two bone marrow transplants with his son
as the donor before undergoing a third one from an anonymous donor at the end of August in Houston to fight an
aggressive form of leukemia. To no one’s surprise, he
was characteristically cheerful .
“It really isn’t all that painful, not physically,” he said
then. “I think the hardest toll is mentally and emotionally.
I have this thing of positive thinking. I think if you think
something is going to be right and you think positive then
you feel that way and if you feel that way you’ll act that
way. I try not to get down.”
Sager announced in April 2014 that he had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, and he missed the
playoffs and much of the following season as he underwent the first two transplants. Sager revealed in March
2016 that his leukemia was no longer in remission. He
said doctors told him the typical prognosis was three to
six months to live. He was overwhelmed by how news of
his fight spread and people across the world started talking about the Sager Strong campaign.
“At first was our family’s fight,” Sager said. “Then because of TV and TNT and people seeing me in the stands
and I talk to people and then it got bigger and then that inner circle became an endless world to tell you the truth.”
Sager then started gaining inspiration from everyone
who shared their story or reached out to show support.
“They saw that I refused to give up and I refused to give
in and that I’m still fighting it and they saw a lot of inspiration in what I was doing,” he said. “Now I feel I’m not
only fighting for what I want and what my family wants,
but for everybody out there who has cancer or will.” His
battle brought out the soft side of Gregg Popovich, the
prickly San Antonio Spurs coach with whom he had many
memorable exchanges during in-game interviews.
Sager never faulted Popovich for his gruff attitude
during those interviews, saying “he’s trying to win a
game. He doesn’t want to talk to some reporter.”
“Later, he said, ‘You’re still going to be media on the
court, but off the court can I call you and see how you’re
doing?’ I said: ‘Heck yes,’” Sager recalled in August.
“Just keep treating me the way on the court you always
do. He said: ‘I wouldn’t want it any other way.’”
After learning Sager had died, Popovich spoke somberly for close to two minutes before a game in Phoenix.
Unique
“A day like this, basketball has to take a back seat, as
we all think about somebody who was very unique, very
special,” Popovich said. “Whether you really knew Craig
or not, you got the feeling that he was a very special person in a lot of different ways, and right now I just feel
for his family.”
“He was a way better person than he was a worker,
even though he was amazing in that regard. He loved all
the people around him and everybody felt that,” he said.
“The most amazing part of him is his courage ... if any of
us can display half the courage he has to stay on this planet, to live every life as if it’s his last, we’d be well off.”
Sager sported suits in every color of the rainbow and
plenty of shades not found in nature, from teal to fuchsia
to magenta. He would match plaid blazers with paisley
ties or striped shirts — all in bold hues.
Kevin Garnett once told him to burn an entire outfit.
In a 2016 interview with HBO’s “Real Sports,” Sager
recalled how Popovich reproached him for trying to
stand out. Sager explained to him: “Coach, you don’t understand. If I’m not wearing bright colors and if I don’t
feel lively, it’s not me.” Sometimes lost in the glare of
his wardrobe was Sager’s relentless nature as a reporter.
Every time Popovich would give a terse non-answer, an
unfazed Sager would pepper him with another question.
Sager’s persistence was on display at the start of his
career, when the 22-year-old found himself in the middle of one of the most famous moments in sports history. Making $95 a week in 1974 as the news director at
WSPB — a Braves-affiliated AM radio station in Sarasota, Florida — Sager risked getting fired by deciding
to hop a flight to Atlanta for a game with Hank Aaron
a home run away from breaking Babe Ruth’s career record. With a last-minute credential, Sager was stuck in
the third-base photographers’ well. As the historic homer
sailed out of the park, Sager, without thinking, sprinted
onto the field and wound up chasing Aaron down the
third-base line. When Aaron’s teammates mobbed him
at home plate, Sager can be seen in his trench coat in the
middle of the scrum.
The next day, Sager caught a 5:00 am flight to Sarasota to be back for his morning drive responsibilities, and
his tapes from the game wound up in Cooperstown.
Sager worked as a reporter on the Olympics, Major
League Baseball playoffs, the NFL and the NCAA Tournament, among other sports. But he was indelibly connected to the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver said
the “true original” was respected for his reporting — and
his inspiring fight. Bulls star Dwyane Wade sold paisley
ties during the 2016 playoffs to raise money to combat
blood cancers.
Ross, Blige, Legend headline 2017 Essence
‘Dream’ reaps benefits of career
This May 1969 photo made by Stephen McCabe at the age of 15 shows
musician Jimi Hendrix performing at
the Santa Clara County, California,
Folk Rock Festival. McCabe, now a
San Diego State University researcher,
is one of those responsible for naming
of a newly discovered rare plant after
Hendrix. The plant, found in Baja California, Mexico, has been christened
Dudleya hendrixii, or ‘Hendrix’s liveforever’. Liveforevers are a kind of succulent with enormous lifespans. (AP)
Springsteen
Inaba
Variety
NEW YORK: Bruce Springsteen’s 1957
Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, referenced in
his iconic song “Born to Run,” is up for auction and is expected to fetch several hundred
thousand dollars.
Springsteen super fan Michael Crane
said on Thursday the auction of the car was
the first in the planned sale of his entire
Springsteen collection because he wanted
to move on from his long love affair with
The Boss.
“I’ve been a fan since I was 7 years old. I
got to meet Bruce Springsteen with the car,
which was amazing. But I’m ready to move
on in my life and I want to pass the torch on
to somebody who will enjoy the car and get
to drive it,” Crane, 46, told Reuters.
Crane, who like Springsteen is also from
New Jersey, believes Springsteen was referring to the car in his 1975 hit “Born to Run”
in the line, “I looked out across my hood and
saw the highway buckle ‘neath the wheels of
a gold Chevy 6.”
The car is being sold on eBay in an
auction that ends on Monday. Bidding on
Thursday afternoon was $200,100 – below
the undisclosed reserve price. (RTRS)
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ATLANTA, Dec 16, (AP): The-Dream
is reaping the benefits of a stellar music
career inside his lavish Atlanta home in
an area where the singer dreamt of living when he worked a few blocks away
more than decade ago.
It’s a home built on The-Dream’s
Grammy-winning hits from co-writing
Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring
On It),” creating the hook for Kanye
West’s “All of the Lights,” and singing
on “No Church in the Wild” by Jay Z
and West. His solo career is well-decorated with a plethora of radio-friendly
bangers, including “Falsetto,” ‘’Shawty
Is a 10” and “Rockin’ That Thang.”
Now, The-Dream is once again up for
two Grammys for his work on West’s
“Ultralight Beam,” nominated for best
rap song and rap/sung performance. The
nominations come at an appropriate time
for the singer-producer, who released his
six-track EP, “Love You to Death,” last
week.
Shortly after listening to John Coltrane during a photo shoot, The-Dream
— who is signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation
management — spoke with The Associated Press about his Grammy noms,
West’s recent meeting with Presidentelect Donald Trump and why he thinks
Jay Z should meet with Trump as well.
AP: You have a gorgeous home.
The-Dream: Thank you, man. When
I used to work my 9 to 5, I used to go to
this abandoned house down the street. It
was for sale, but nobody knew it. It was
a mansion. Every day, or at least four
days out the week, I would just stand
on the porch of the house for like a year
straight. That was around 2001 or 2002.
I told myself back then, “This is the kind
of house I’m getting.”
AP: You’re expected to release your
new album “Love Affair” next year.
Why did you decide to release an EP
now?
The-Dream: The album was done in
August. ... Instead of pouring a body of
work on you, let me give you time to really show you what Dream is on.
AP: You mentioned that “Ultralight
Beam” should have also been nominated
star-studded telethon for those affected by
recent wildfires in her native Tennessee has
brought in about $9 million.
Parton headlined the Tuesday night event
that was broadcast on several cable networks
for song of the year at the Grammys.
Why?
The-Dream: It embodies where we
are in the world right now, the feeling.
A song isn’t just about hearing; you have
to feel something when you walk away.
Usually in those Grammy categories, the
song with more feeling actually wins. ...
When I listen to this record, whether I’m
in it or not, I would still feel something
listening to it. I would know what that is.
There’s a world trying to figure out religion; that’s why there are so many atheists because religion is forever moving
the goal post. It’s like I’m trying to keep
my faith. Everybody is trying to find that
place. ... Ultimately, the song affects so
many people once you get it into your ear.
AP: Kanye caught some criticism for
meeting with Trump this week. What do
you think about them meeting?
The-Dream: Everybody should. Jay
Z should go next. Everybody should so
you can come back and report to us and
let us know what’s going on. We need
briefings, too. Eventually, ‘Ye is going
to tell — whatever that is. And we know
‘Ye is blacker than black. You cannot
not go and see him. You can’t. It’s the
same thing when the police shootings
happened. I asked Jay to meet with every
police chief that he could, because that’s
the only way. Being a leader means you
still have to shake that person’s hand.
AP: Have you spoken with Kanye
since he was released from hospital?
The-Dream: No, I haven’t. I want to
send a shoutout to ‘Ye. I know he went
off on Jay about not reaching out to him.
I reached out to ‘Ye two times and still
haven’t heard back from him. I just want
to let ‘Ye know that, and I’m not mad
at him. I’m not going to go crazy about
it at my show. I love ‘Ye to death, but
he still hasn’t hit me back. I’m sure his
mind is busy. It’s a lot of people that care
for ‘Ye, including Jay and he knows that.
This isn’t a good time of year for anyone
who has lost someone. I lost my mom
on the 23rd of December in 1992. Her
birthday is on December 1st. That’s why
people commit suicide around Thanksgiving and Christmas, because that’s
and livestreamed online. Parton says in a
statement that all donations have yet to be
counted, but the total stands at around $9
million. The total is expected to rise in the
coming days as mail donations are counted
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judge Carrie Ann Inaba and soap opera
star Robb Derringer are engaged.
The couple made the announcement on
social media Wednesday.
Inaba detailed Derringer’s proposal to
People magazine . She says Derringer got
down on one knee at the secluded beach cove
along the California coast Saturday where the
couple shared what she called a “spontaneous
and magical first date.” People reports the
couple has yet to set a wedding date.
Derringer has had roles on several soaps,
including “Days of Our Lives,” “General
Hospital” and “All My Children.” (AP)
started a viral dance craze while still a teenager
with “Crank That,” was arrested Thursday for
illegally possessing a gun, police said. Officers
entered his Los Angeles home early in the
morning and took him into custody after discovering the firearm, a police spokesman said.
Although the United States has lenient
gun laws, Soulja Boy is banned from
owning a firearm as part of his probation
following an earlier arrest. The rapper was
detained in 2014 for carrying a loaded gun
after police pulled over the driver of his car
on suspicion of ignoring a stop sign.
The 26-year-old rapper, whose real name
is DeAndre Cortez Way, was behind one of
the previous decade’s biggest dance memes
with his debut single “Crank That (Soulja
Boy)” in 2007. (AFP)
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and the telethon is rebroadcast.
The money goes to the Dollywood
Foundation’s My People Fund. It will
provide $1,000 each month for six months
to families who lost their primary residence
in the fires. (AP)
LOS ANGELES: ‘Dancing with the Stars’
LOS ANGELES: Soulja Boy, the rapper who
NASHVILLE, Tenn: Dolly Parton says a
the time when families come together.
... I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve dealt
with it long enough to know that he cannot be thinking about that. He has to be
thinking about his mom at this particular
point. Once he gets into the new year,
he’ll be all right.
AP: You have your paintings on the
walls of your home, and you’ve given
some away to Beyonce, Jay Z and Kelly
Rowland. How did you get involved?
The-Dream: I used to draw cars
when I was growing up. I wanted to be a
car designer. I’ve never been professionally taught. It’s something that comes
and goes. I may feel like it in the morning and set up an easel then start to paint
what I’m feeling at the time.
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For the first time, music icon Diana
Ross brings her star power to a stage
at the 2017 Essence Festival in New
Orleans.
Ross was among the headliners announced Thursday for the festival annually held in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
“This is big,” said Michelle Ebanks,
president of Essence Communications
Inc., on getting Ross to agree to perform.
“We’ve wanted her to join us forever and
we’re so happy she finally said ‘yes!’ She’s
just off receiving the presidential medal of
honor and she’s just, like President Obama
said, a part of the American soundtrack.
She represents grace and glamour and we
couldn’t be more excited.”
Ebanks said the Essence brand is
about the “triumph of the everyday
woman.”
“Diana Ross is that. She grew up in
the housing projects in Detroit and now
basks in international stardom. As a
community we can just enjoy so many
chapters in our lives by listening to her
soundtrack,” she said.
Joining Ross at the 23rd annual event,
presented by Coca-Cola, will be R&B’s
Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Chaka
Khan, Erykah Badu, India.Arie,
Jazmine Sullivan, Lalah Hathaway
and first-timer Michel’le.
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LOS ANGELES: “Deadpool” star Ryan
Actor Ryan Reynolds touches his star during his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in Hollywood, California on Dec 15. (AFP)
Reynolds made the unveiling of his star on
the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday
a family affair.
The Canadian-born actor turned out with
his mother Tammy, his brothers, nephews
and nieces as well as his wife, actress Blake
Lively, and their two children.
“It’s a special moment that comes along
only once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. I
would have been sad to have missed it without them,” Reynolds said after the ceremony
in Los Angeles. (RTRS)