Norm Van Lier dead at 61

Forgive me if this is a d_b, but I just heard that former Bulls star and color guy Norm Van Lier was found unresponsive at his Chicago home around 11am this morning. He was pronounced dead a short time ago, the Chicago Trib is reporting.

 

Oh my God.

 

RIP. Damn. 61. Young.

 

Just so so sad about this. Norm was incredibly cool to me in Chicago, and his wife Susan is even cooler...she lives in LA, I believe.

As much as he could talk about basketball, every conversation seemed to lead back to the Stones, and his crazy times partying with them back in the day. No doubt he took a lot of great untold stories with him today. RIP, Stormin Norman. :'(

 

Was he currently a broadcaster? I though the Bulls are on the road right now.

 

Link:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-02-26-1622159365_x.htm

 

No. Actually, he and the Bulls were on the outs in recent years, IIRC.

EDIT: Never mind. Apparently, he was doing some work as an analyst for CSN Chicago. I could have sworn I read somewhere that there was friction between him and the team.

 

I know what will be discussed tonight in Midland, PA.

He was the alum of a once-proud school that my aunts and uncles all attended.

Man, they could play some f'ing basketball there. They ruled for decades.

 

I know the Big O is taking this hard. Stormin Norman looked up to Big O.
RIP

 

Norm was well liked by the Bulls organization and the fans. Only Jerry Krause had problems with NVL.

Norm and Jerry Sloan made up the toughest backcourt duo in NBA history. RIP Stormin' Norman.

 

I completely forgot he was from here.