RIP Jim O'Connell

[Steak Snabler]

Veteran AP basketball writer. Never met "the OC", but always enjoyed his work and his appearances on the Tony Kornheiser Show.

Been rumored for weeks he has not been well, but looks like he has passed.

 

[Steak Snabler]

The AP obit. Didn't realize he was that young.

AP Basketball Writer Jim O'Connell dead at age 64

 

[Buck]

Read his stuff for many, many years on the wire.

 

[TigerVols]

The OC was a mentor to me; **** this stings a bit.

Funny how ages work...when I was under his wing, he seemed like he was 30 years older...not half that.

 

[Bronco77]

I still remember from my first job coming in at 5:30 a.m. for the Christmas Eve day shift (it was a p.m. paper in '82) for sports slot duty with my boss out for the holidays and seeing his Virginia-Chaminade game story atop the AP sports wire. No question about our lead story that day.

Mr. O'Connell belongs on the Mount Rushmore of college basketball writers.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

Growing up a basketball nut in the pre-internet era, I can't think of many people outside the local reporters and SI writers I read more often.

RIP

 

[KJIM]

These hurt more and more.

RIP

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I didn't know Jim well, but I saw him at so many games I also covered I felt I did. Very sad news. RIP.

 

[HanSenSE]

I talked to him a couple of times on the phone when I was checking progress of stories with New York. Always extremely kind, extremely helpful. Feels like I saw a gofundme appeal on some of my AP follows within the last week.

RIP.

 

[HanSenSE]

An appreciation.

May the Great Jim O’Connell R.I.P. With Highest of Irish Compliments, "Good Job Lad"

 

[HanSenSE]

 

[cjericho]

Good job St. John's.