Batavia Native Craig Sager, Longtime and Colorful Sports Announcer, Dies At 65

Craig Sager, the longtime sports announcer whose gentlemanly manner and boyish exuberance somehow mellowed the comically loud suits he became known for during his decades glowing in the public eye, died Thursday after a battle with cancer, Turner Sports announced. Sager, a Batavia native, was 65.

A graduate of Northwestern, Sager enjoyed a cult following of sorts during his heyday announcing for TNT and WTBS. Many Americans, though, first became aware of him as the largely unknown field reporter who rounded third base with Hank Aaron to interview the new home run king after pushing his way to the plate.

Sager died after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was inducted Tuesday into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

"Craig Sager was a beloved member of the Turner family for more than three decades and he has been a true inspiration to all of us. There will never be another Craig Sager. His incredible talent, tireless work ethic and commitment to his craft took him all over the world covering sports," a statement from Turner President David Levy said.

"While he will be remembered fondly for his colorful attire and the TNT sideline interviews he conducted with NBA coaches and players, it's the determination, grace and will to live he displayed during his battle with cancer that will be his lasting impact. Our thoughts and prayers are with Craig's wife, Stacy, and the entire Sager family during this difficult time. We will forever be Sager Strong."

Craig Graham Sager, Sr., a native of Batavia, Illinois, earned a bachelor's degree in speech at Northwestern. His broadcast career began in 1972 at WXLT in Sarasota, Florida, where he worked during Aaron's 715th home run. Sager joined CNN in 1981 and later became a 26-year staple of Turner's NBA coverage as a sideline reporter for "The NBA on TNT."

While working at Turner, he also appeared on broadcasts of football, baseball, golf and college basketball. He covered the PGA Championship, World Basketball Championships and the Olympic Games.

His outlandish wardrobe became as much a feature of his broadcasts as the games themselves. The psychedelic garb sometimes feature plaid paired with plaid, swirls of pattern and colors that glowed with a bright tint more like those seen on neon bar signs than on hard-working reporters stalking players and coaches for nugget of news.

Sager announced in March that his leukemia was no longer in remission and that doctors gave him three to six months to live.

He was "loaned" to ESPN for Game 6 of this year's NBA finals, where his sideline reporting for the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors became his last appearance on TV covering a sporting event.

Later in July, he was awarded the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the 2016 ESPY Awards.

"I — along with the entire NBA family — am deeply saddened by the passing of Craig Sager," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "Craig was as vital to the NBA as the players and coaches."

Silver said NBA teams will hold a moment of silence in Sager's memory at upcoming games.

Sager is survived by his wife, Stacy, and five children: Kacy, Craig Jr., Krista, Riley and Ryan.

Written by Todd Richissin

Image via Keith Allison, Flickr, used under Creative Commons