RIP Shane Warne

[FileNotFound]

When I last visited Australia, in January 2007, I landed in Sydney on the last day of the Ashes cricket series. I knew nothing about cricket (still don't), but I learned of Shane Warne, who announced his retirement after that match and was given the media treatment that would be afforded a Michael Jordan, Tom Brady or Tiger Woods.

Warne died of a heart attack at age 52. The Sydney Morning Herald's home page is two screens deep with Warne stories before you get to any other news. A legend, indeed.

Shane Warne dead at 52: Australian cricketer dies of suspected heart attack, shocking sports world

 

[Driftwood]

I know only a tiny bit about cricket, but I knew who he was. He was apparently seemingly fine only hours before. The fact that he was only 52 is freaky and frightening.

 

[TrooperBari]

A thread I think most folks here can appreciate.

 

[Songbird]

Is she yea or nay the DH?

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Damn. Far too young.

 

[micropolitan guy]

I know only a tiny bit about cricket, but I knew who he was. He was apparently seemingly fine only hours before. The fact that he was only 52 is freaky and frightening.

Sometimes life throws you a googly.

 

[Slacker]

Elizabeth Hurley mourns her ex, cricket player Steve Warne: 'RIP my beloved Lionheart'

 

[TigerVols]

I'd never heard of the dude but damn his autobiography first page is epic!

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

Cricket is a fine sport. But Yanks don't have the attention span to follow along on a 5-day test match.

A few years ago I watched a couple of streaming Ashes tests and I remember Warne as a commentator. He was right down the middle despite his Aussie background.

 

[TrooperBari]

The existence of T20 -- and now even T10 -- cricket suggests the lack of attention span isn't a phenomenon limited to Americans.

 

[gingerbread]

I'd never heard of the dude but damn his autobiography first page is epic!

Warney's autobiography is brilliant and nearly all true. I covered his first Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (first time I ever even saw cricket live), and parachuted into many of his matches and Tests over the next few years, including Australia's WC matches in Pakistan. (Where women weren't allowed in the stadium. Fun times!) I certainly wasn't an expert on cricket but I learned within five seconds to never call him Shane -- only Warney. Or, as he once told me with that cheeky grin of his, he'd answer to "King."

Warney was a mixture of Joe Namath and Dennis Rodman, a cocky showman whose supreme talents usually but not always overshadowed his foibles. Though a ladies' man, he only ever treated me with respect, probably because I was a Yank who also happened to be covering a ton of Luc Longley's Chicago Bulls at the time. I could ask the most ridiculous cricket question and Warney would walk me through it, because all he wanted in return were stories about Rodman and Jordan.

Man, Warney was a legend. I need to re-read his autobiography. Amazon Prime also has a documentary about him: Shane: King of Spin.

 

[Driftwood]

I've always wanted to see an exhibition where a group of MLB All-Stars and world cricket's best play a game of baseball and a game of cricket.