NBC Sports columnist Mike Celizic passes away today

Sad news today; longtime MSNBC and NBCSports columnist Mike Celizic passed away from cancer at the age of 61.
Even though he had written for MSNBC virtually from the site’s beginnings in 1996, I had never met Mike until last year, in Las Vegas, of all places. Mike was a devout New Yorker, and to see him in Vegas wearing his jacket and trademark hat was akin to watching a cat swimming across a lake; something rarely seen in nature. His cancer was in remission then, and we all thought that the worst was over. Unfortunately, we were wrong.
Great piece here on Mike by NBCSports’ George Malone, who knew him well. It’s worth a read.
Mike, we pause to doff our hats to you today. You were one of a kind, a great writer, and an even better guy.
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A sad, fond farewell to Mike Celizic [NBCSports]