Monday, July 30, 2007

Leukemia is a Bitch

In the course of about one day leukemia killed two kindly old gentlemen.

Former San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh died at age 75 after a long battle with leukemia.

Walsh was an innovator in the NFL bringing about several important changes. First and most obvious is the West Coast Offense. Designed to use the short pass the way most teams traditionally used the running game, the West Coast Offense revolutionized offensive football. Another of his ideas was the increased importance placed on the left tackle to combat a new generation of pass-rushing ends and linebackers. And finally he brought a sense of wisdom and civility to the NFL. He proved that you didn't need to be the biggest, baddest, nastiest team to win; speed and execution could defeat brute force.

Bill Walsh 1931 - 2007

Tom Snyder, late night TV host died at age 71, he also suffered with leukemia.

Most of Snyder's best work was before my time but he did briefly host the show after Letterman for a few years before Craig Kilborn took over. He used to share a joke or pithy comment at the end of each show. This one is my favorite: "The human shin; a device used for finding furniture in the dark."

Tom Snyder 1936-2007

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