His body was discovered on Sept. 8 in an isolated area of the Palo Verde Mountains.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/UFC/PhotoArchive/UFC/Middleweights/TannerBelt.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "", "358", "239", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Kevin Duckworth ","Kevin Duckworth
Former Portland Trail Blazer center Kevin Duckworth died on Aug. 26 while on his way to host a free basketball clinic at the age of 44. He was a two-time All-Star and was very active in the community.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NBA/NBA%20Finals/080826_Kevin-Duckworth.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Mike Powell", "Getty Images", "273", "408", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Gene Upshaw","Gene Upshaw
The executive director of the National Football League Players Association, Upshaw died on Aug. 20, succumbing to pancreatic cancer at the age of 63. Upshaw played 15 seasons in the NFL and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1987.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821upshaw_h1000.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Morry Gash", "AP", "273", "429", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Bobby Murcer","Bobby Murcer
An All-Star and longtime broadcaster for the New York Yankees, Murcer died after a battle with brain cancer on July 12. He was 62.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821bobbymurcer_h1000.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Julie Jacobson", "AP", "273", "457", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Christopher Bowman ","Christopher Bowman
A two-time U.S. figure skating champion, Bowman was found dead in a California motel on Jan. 10 after an apparent drug overdose. He was 40 years old.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821christopherbowman_v1000.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Marcy Nighswander", "AP", "358", "272", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Geremi Gonzalez","Geremi Gonzalez
The former major league pitcher died on May 25 after being hit by lightning at the beach in western Venezuela. Gonzalez started his career with the Cubs in 1997 and later played with the Devil Rays, Red Sox, Brewers and Mets.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821geremigonzalez_v1000.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Nam Y Huh", "AP", "358", "246", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Jim McKay","Jim McKay
Most known for his announcement of the tragedy at the 1972 Olympics, McKay was considered one of the best sports broadcasters of all time. He died on June 7 at the age of 86.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821jimmckay_v1000.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Anonymous", "AP", "329", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Johnny Podres ","Johnny Podres
A pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Podres' baseball career spanned 15 years. He died in January at the age of 75. Legend has it that Podres told his team they only needed to get him one run and they'd win Game 7 of the 1955 World Series. They got him two and won 2-0.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821johnnypodresv1000.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Stephen Dunn", "Getty Images", "358", "246", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Luc Bourdon","Luc Bourdon
The Canucks' 21-year-old defenseman died in a motorcycle accident in May. He was a first-round draft pick for Vancouver.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821lucbourdon_h1000.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jeff Vinnick", "NHLI via Getty Images", "273", "307", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Terrence Kiel","Terrence Kiel
The former Chargers safety was killed in a car accident after leaving a party in July. He was 27. Kiel had a four-year NFL career.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821terrencekiel_h1000.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Kirby Lee", "AP", "273", "367", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Skip Caray ","Skip Caray
The voice of the Atlanta Braves for 33 years, Caray died on Aug. 3 at the age of 68. He was the son of famed Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray and father to Chip Caray, yet another in the family line of baseball voices.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821skipcaray_v1000.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "John Bazemore", "AP", "358", "243", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Myron Cope ","Myron Cope
The legendary Pittsburgh Steelers broadcaster died on Feb. 27 at the age of 79. He was the voice of the Steelers for 35 years.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821myroncope_h1000.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Keith B. Srakocic", "AP", "273", "420", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","John Marzano","John Marzano
The former major league catcher died on April 19 after a fall down the stairs at his Philadelphia apartment. He had started a career in broadcasting and was 45 years old.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821marzano_h1000.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Jeff Carlick", "Getty Images", "273", "432", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Will Robinson","Will Robinson
A basketball icon, Robinson died in April at the age of 96. He was the first black coach of a major college program and worked as a scout for the Detroit Pistons.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821willrobinson_h1000.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Allen Einstein", "NBAE/Getty Images", "273", "407", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_obits2008[i++] = new Array("","Eight Belles ","Eight Belles
The filly broke both front ankles during the Kentucky Derby and had to be put down on the track, re-igniting a debate on the safety of horse racing.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Gilmore%2C%20Brian/PHOTOS/OBITS/080821eightbelles_h1000.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Brian Bohannon", "AP", "273", "380", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
// END editorial data