TRIBUTES POUR IN FOLLOWING DEATH OF LEGENDARY CHICAGO SPORTS COLUMNIST

Mike Downey, a longtime sports columnist in the city of Chicago, died at the age of 72 on Wednesday.

Readers, fans and fellow journalists are remembering Downey, and they've paid tribute to him on social media.

"RIP Mike Downey..former Chicago sportswriter- and an excellent one by the way. First met Mike when he was covering the DePaul beat in the late 70s-early 80s for the Sun Times. Just a wonderful man with a sense of humor. Deepest condolences to his family and friends," said Bulls play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirsky.

"I loved reading Mike Downey as a kid. His column helped foster my love for watching pro sports," said one fan.

"RIP legendary sports columnist Mike Downey, who was even a finer person, a fabulous friend to so many in the business," said MLB reporter Bob Nightengale.

"I didn’t know Mike Downey personally, but admired his work all the way back to his Daily News days. Few could turn a phrase as well. Those who did know him speak of his good humor and his generous spirit. We’ve lost a giant of the profession," said Chicago Sun-Times writer Mike Clark.

"What a wonderful soul Mike Downey was. Loved reading his work. Loved reading his Facebook posts. Loved talking to him. Peace to his family and friends," said fellow journalist Rick Bozich.

"Mike Downey's unconventional style was a big influence on many young writers. We got a huge kick out of this lede from a Bulls-Lakers game that Mike wrote in 1979 when I was in college, and I kept the story in my desk at the Sun-Times for many years as inspiration. RIP," said Mark Potash, a longtime writer for the Chicago Sun-Times.

Downey was perhaps best known for his work on the Chicago Tribune, where he wrote a regular column from 2003 to 2008. In addition to the Tribune, his work was also seen in the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press.

2024-06-13T18:10:54Z