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Sporting deaths of the year -- Part I

football30 December 2024 17:00| © AFP
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Dingaan Thobela @ Getty Images

The year was marked by the deaths of a number of sporting superstars from Franz 'Der Kaiser' Beckenbauer to the notorious OJ Simpson.

In the first of two parts, AFP Sport highlights the most notable of them:

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

O.J. Simpson died aged 76 of prostate cancer on April 10.

His stellar career as a running back for the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills were a mere footnote to the court case and eventual acquittal for the double murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

He was subsequently found guilty regarding the murders in a civil case and ordered to pay over $33 million. He also served nine years of a 15-year jail term for a failed armed robbery.

The lawyer for the Goldman family said he "died without penance".

ATHLETICS

Rebecca Cheptegei died aged 33 murdered by her boyfriend on September 5.

Her murder – weeks after competing in the Paris Olympics marathon – sparked outrage not only because of the brutality but activists said it was symptomatic of the plague of femicides across Kenya.

Femicide Count Kenya, which pulls data from local media, said 152 women were killed in 2023.

"This staggering number only represents cases reported in the media – the true count is likely much higher," the organisation said.

Pole vaulter Shawn Barber died aged 29 after a long illness on January 17.

A surprise world champion in 2015 aged just 21, the Canadian never recaptured that brio – he tested positive for cocaine before the 2016 Olympics but was allowed to compete as he convinced the authorities it came as a result of a romantic encounter with a girl.

Geoff Capes died aged 75 on October 23

Twice crowned the World's Strongest Man, he was a two-time European indoor shot put champion and two-time Commonwealth gold medallist.

Although one of the best shot putters of his generation he fell short at three Olympics.

A former policeman, he rather fetchingly had an unusual hobby for such a giant of a man, breeding budgerigars.

BASEBALL

Willie Mays died aged 93 of heart failure on June 18

Affectionately known as the "Say Hey Kid", he was one of the greatest players in the sport's history but was only once part of a World Series-winning team, the New York Giants, in 1954.

It was during the 1954 World Series that Mays pulled off one of the most famous plays in baseball history, a jaw-dropping over-the-shoulder catch during a Game One victory that came to be known simply as "The Catch."

He played it down: "When I made a great catch it was just routine. I didn't worry about it. Winning was important. Winning."

Pete Rose died aged 83 on September 30

Major League Baseball's all-time hit king – nicknamed "Charlie Hustle" – left the sport in disgrace after being banned for betting on games.

Over his 24-season career, Rose captured three World Series titles, in 1975 and 1976 with the Reds and in 1980 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 2010 Rose – who spent five months in prison in 1990 and early 1991 for tax evasion – apologised to many of his former teammates for "disrespecting baseball."

BOXING

Dingaan Thobela died aged 57 on April 29

Known as 'The Rose of Soweto' he was twice crowned world lightweight champion, winning the WBO title in 1990 and the WBA belt in 1993, and then in 2000 the WBC super-middleweight crown.

His career spanned before and after the apartheid era and overall his record read 56 fights, winning 40, including 26 by knockout, 14 losses and two draws.

CRICKET

Mike Procter died aged 77 of heart attack on February 17

Procter was an outstanding allrounder who became South Africa's first coach in the post-apartheid era.

His international playing career with South Africa was cut short in 1970 when his country was banished from world cricket because of its apartheid government.

Before the ban, South Africa won six of the seven tests in which he played, all against Australia.

However, despite the abrupt end to his test career Procter showed courage in saying it was secondary to the reason for it coming to an end.

"There are much more important things. Yes, I have lost a test career. But what is one test career compared to the suffering of 40 million people?"

Graham Thorpe committed suicide aged 55 on August 4

Left-handed batsmen are often described as either "stylish" or "gritty" yet Thorpe somehow managed to be both in an often struggling England team.

The Surrey star played exactly 100 tests for England from 1993 to 2005 averaging 44.66 with 16 tons and a top score of 200 not out.

England failed to win an Ashes series in the 1990s but if there was one thorn in the Aussies side it was Thorpe, who averaged more against Australia than he did in his career overall (45.74).

He was plagued by depression, notably after the collapse of his first marriage.

He movingly wrote in his autobiography, Rising from the Ashes: "There came a time when I would have given back all my test runs and test caps just to be happy again."

Ian Redpath died aged 83 on December 1

Despite Greg Chappell saying Redpath was one of two Australians – the other being the late Rodney Marsh – who would "kill" to get into the test side, he showed a softer side in his 66th and final test.

Prior to focussing on his antiques business Redpath made a century in his final innings against the fearsome West Indian attack – his third of the 1975/76 series the Aussies won – but became a then record 308th wicket for Lance Gibbs.

Before walking off he shook Gibbs's hand and offered the West Indian legend a glass of champagne at stumps.

Derek Underwood died aged 78 of dementia on April 15

Known as 'Deadly' he amassed 297 wickets in 86 tests – 42 more than any other English spinner.

The Kent stalwart would probably have reached the 100 test club had he not opted to first play in the Kerry Packer breakaway World Cricket Series (1977-79) and then the first England rebel tour of South Africa in 1981/82.

FOOTBALL

Franz Beckenbauer died aged 78 on January 7.

Known as 'Der Kaiser' he was one of only three men to win the World Cup as player (1974) and as a coach (1990) with then West Germany.

Uefa hailed Beckenbauer as "one of European football's greatest sons" who "shaped German football like no other".

His legacy was later tarnished by his involvement in a cash-for-votes scandal – he maintained his innocence – surrounding Germany's victorious bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

Declining health saw the personable former Bayern Munich legend withdraw from public life and live out his final days in Austria.

"He towered over everyone... and yet he was so down to earth," said fellow 1974 World Cup winner Wolfgang Overath.

Andreas Brehme died aged 63 of a heart attack on February 20

The fullback was one of the stars of Beckenbauer's 1990 West Germany World Cup-winning side, scoring the penalty that sealed a 1-0 win over a robust Argentina in a dire final.

Also a member of the Beckenbauer team that had lost to a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina outfit in the 1986 final, he scored in the semifinal in a 2-0 win over an outstanding French side.

Brehme, who won the Bundesliga title with Kaiserslautern and Bayern Munich and a Serie A crown with Inter Milan, was described as a "brother" by another of Beckenbauer's pivotal players Lothar Matthaeus.

"I hope that they arrived somewhere where they belong, namely in heaven," a deeply-moved Matthaeus said of Beckenbauer and Brehme.

Christoph Daum died of lung cancer aged 70 on August 24

A colourful character, who missed out on the chance to coach Germany after failing a cocaine test, guided Stuttgart to the Bundesliga title in 1992.

Daum also finished runner-up in the Bundesliga five times, twice with Cologne and three times with Bayer Leverkusen.

Stricken with cancer – though in his usual indomitable spirit he said "cancer chose the wrong body" – he lived long enough to witness Leverkusen achieve the domestic double last term.

Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso dedicated the title victory to Daum, saying the victory "must be shared and enjoyed" with the former manager.

Sven Goran Eriksson died aged 76 of cancer on August 26

The first foreigner to coach England the urbane stylish Swede guided a star-studded side to the 2002 and 2006 World Cup quarterfinals – losing to eventual winners Brazil in the 2002 edition.

He also coached Lazio to the 1990 Serie A crown.

David Beckham, who Eriksson made England captain, saw him shortly before he died and paid an emotional and fulsome tribute to a man he described as a "gentleman."

"I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain but I will forever hold these last memories of this day with you and your family... Thank you Sven and in your last words to me 'It will be ok'."

Salvatore 'Toto' Schillaci died aged 59 of atrial arrhythmia on September 18

Schillaci lit up a pretty poor 1990 World Cup overall.

He arrived on the back of a Uefa Cup triumph with Juventus and then scored six times before hosts Italy bowed out on penalties in the semifinals to an overly-physical Argentine side.

For the Sicilian it was the high point of his career – he walked away with the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball for player of the tournament. He was to score just once more for Italy.

"His goal celebrations, in which his face became the symbol of a collective joy, will remain forever part of Italian football heritage," said Italian federation chief Gabriele Gravina.

George Eastham died aged 88 on December 20

He revolutionised English football winning a landmark case against his then club Newcastle allowing him to move to Arsenal.

Eastham – who had gone on strike and earned more from working for a friend's cork business – victory improved players' freedom to move between clubs and duly reformed the British transfer market.

A talented winger he was a member of Alf Ramsey's 1966 World Cup winning squad though he did not play – with his death just three remain.

Larry LLoyd died aged 75 on March 28

Labelled 'Big Head' by Brian Clough, the former Liverpool star formed a fearsome central defensive partnership with Kenny Burns in the Nottingham Forest side that won successive European Cups in 1979 and 1980.

Lloyd played his heart out for Forest despite his deep dislike of Clough – the feeling was mutual as the four-time capped England international recalled.

"I once said to him: 'I have great respect for you as a manager, but if I'm having a quiet pint and you come in, I walk. I don't want to be around you'. Of course, he has the last word. He said: 'I feel the same about you'."

Johan Neeskens died aged 73 of a heart attack on October 6

He was the powerful but smooth engine of the Ajax and Netherlands teams that created "total football" with Johan Cruyff at their heart.

Neeskens was part of the Ajax side that won three straight European Cups and a key component of the "Clockwork Oranje" Dutch team that reached consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, losing both.

He finished the 1974 World Cup with five goals, second to only Grzegorz Lato of Poland and top scorer in a Dutch team that also contained Cruyff and the flamboyant Johnny Rep.

"I always liked to play with style – and to win," Neeskens said.

Luigi Riva died aged 79 of heart attack January 22

Known as the 'Roar of Thunder', he fired unheralded Cagliari to the Serie A title in 1970.

He had a tough childhood, losing both his parents by the time he was 16. His move to Sardinia-based outfit Cagliari transformed both his and their fortunes.

Speaking in 2010, an emotional Riva reflected on the pain of his tragic upbringing, saying he would give up some of his football success "to change my childhood".

He is still Italy's all-time top goalscorer with 35 goals in just 42 appearances, winning the 1968 European Championship, and was also a member of the team swept aside by Mario Zagallo's sublime Brazil side in the 1970 World Cup final.

Mario Zagallo died aged 92 on January 5

Known as 'The Professor', Zagallo won the 1958 and 1962 World Cups as a player – he scored in the 1958 final – and parachuted in late aged just 38, he coached the remarkable 1970 side to victory.

He was also technical director when Brazil won the 1994 world crown.

He later reflected on the fabled 1970 World Cup, dominated by a spectacular Brazilian display, as his "greatest memory as a manager".

His and Beckenbauer's passing leaves France's Didier Deschamps as the only other man to have achieved the player/coach World Cup double.

Rachid Mekhloufi died aged 88 on November 8

Mekhloufi was a star of French football who became a symbol of the Algerian fight for independence.

In 1958, during the Algerian War, the striker quit Ligue 1 champions Saint-Etienne in mid- season to travel to Tunis with other French-based players and found a National Liberation Front (FLN) team.

In doing so he surrendered the chance to play for France – he had four French caps – at that year's World Cup.

He returned to play for St Etienne and earned 11 Algerian caps before becoming national team manager, a post he held twice.

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