Photos: Notable deaths in sports in 2017

Sports

Notable sports deaths in 2017

A look back at the athletes and sports figures who died in 2017.

Dec. 21: Legendary sportscaster Dick Enberg was the voice of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also called Super Bowls, Final Fours, UCLA basketball and San Diego Padres baseball games in career that stretched more than five decades. He was 82.

Dec. 13: Tommy Nobis was the man Atlanta built its NFL franchise. Nobis, a linebacker from Texas, was the first player drafted by Atlanta. Mr. Falcon was 74.

Nov. 20: Terry Glenn, a former NFL wide receiver who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, last played with the Dallas Cowboys in 2007. Glenn died in a one-car accident near Dallas. He was 43.

Nov. 19: Jana Novotna was the 1997 Wimbledon women's single champion. The native of Czech Republic had battled cancer. She was 49.

Nov. 7: Roy Halladay was a retired MLB pitcher who was a two-time Cy Young winner at Toronto and Philadelphia. He pitched a postseason no-hitter in 2010. Halladay was piloting a small plane when it crashed off the Florida coast. He was 40.

Oct. 7: Connie Hawkins was a 6-foot-8 power forward who flourised in the ABA and as a member of the Globetrotters. Hawkins ended his basketball career as a member of the Atlanta Hawks in 1976. Hawkins, whose No. 42 is retired by the Phoenix Suns, was 75 years old.

Oct. 8: Y.A. Tittle was a Hall of Fame quarterback who was immortalized by one of sport's most famous images of defeat. He was 90.

Aug. 14: Frank Broyles was college football coach who led Arkansas to its only national title in 1964. Broyles, from Decatur, later became the school's athletic director. He was 92.

Aug. 7: Don Baylor was a one-time member of the Atlanta Braves' coaching staff (1999). He was the 1979 American League MVP and won a World Series with the Twins in 1987. He managed the Rockies (1993-98) and Cubs (2000-02). He died after battling cancer at the age of 68.

Aug. 6: Darren Daulton was an All-Star catcher with Philadlephia. Daulton died after four years with brain cancer. He was 55.

Aug. 2: John Reaves played quarterback for the Florida Gators and went on to play with five NFL teams. He is a member of the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame. He was 67.

Aug. 2: Ara Parseghian was a former college football coach at Notre Dame where he won two national championships in 11 seasons. He died at the age of 94.

July 14: Hootie Johnson served as chairman of the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club for eight years. Under his leadership, the Masters saw increased viewership and attendance. His legacy, howver, was tarnished by his refusal to include female members. He was 86.

July 5: Gene Conley was a professional star on the court and diamond, Conley won three NBA titles with the Boston Celtics and a World Series with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957. He was 86.

Detroit Pistons' general manager Jack McCloskey holds up an Eastern Conference Finals Champions t-shirt in the locker room after the Pistons beat the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, 103-94 to advance to the NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers, June 3, 1989. (AP Photo/Mark Elias)

May 30: Ken Cooper played end at Georgia from 1955 to 57. He was an assistant coach at Georgia and went on to become head coach at Ole Miss from 1974 to '77. He was the SEC Coach of the Year in 1975. He died in Savannah at age 80.

FILE - In this June 12, 1991, file photo, Frank Deford, editor and publisher of The National Sports Daily, holds a proof of the final front page of the newspaper after a news conference at the paper's offices in New York. Award-winning sports writer and commentator Frank Deford has died. He was 78. Deford passed away Sunday, May 28, 2017, in Key West, Florida, his family confirmed. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan, File)

Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., speaks to supporters during a campaign stop at Midwest Aviation in Paducah, Ky., Monday, November 1, 2004. (AP Photo/The Paducah Sun, Stephen Lance Dennee)

FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, file photo, former NFL player Cortez Kennedy poses with a bust of himself during the induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio. The Orlando Police Department confirmed that Kennedy was found dead Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in Orlando. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 24: Nicky Hayden of the USA rides the #69 Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda during practice ahead of round one of the FIM World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on February 24, 2017 in Phillip Island, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

FILE - In this March 15, 2017, file photo, Defendant Aaron Hernandez listens during his double murder trial in Suffolk Superior Court, in Boston. A judge is set to hear arguments in a push by lawyers for former NFL star Aaron Hernandez to erase his conviction in a 2013 murder. The former New England Patriots tight end hanged himself in his prison cell April 19 while serving a life sentence in the killing of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, Pool, File)

5 JUN 1995: NEW YORK METS MANAGER DALLAS GREEN WATCHES HIS TEAM IN ACTION DURING THEIR 5-3 LOSS TO THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS AT DODGER STADIUM IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT

FILE -- Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause speaks to the media Monday Oct. 2, 1995, in Deerfield, Ill. Jordan scored 40 points in the Bulls' 101-93 loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night Feb. 5, 1998, but more attention was focused on his off-the-court statements. After the game, the Bulls' second loss to the Jazz in 10 days, Jordan reiterated what he has said numerous times: He won't play for the Bulls next year unless Phil Jackson is his coach. Jordan was responding to comments made by Krause, which were reported by the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Michael S. Green)

Lou Duva removes the mouth piece from the mouth of Zahir Raheem after he defeated Rosendo Sanchez at the U.S Boxing trials in Oakland, California. (AJC photo/Johnny Crawford) 4/96

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2012, file photo, former professional wrestler George "The Animal" Steele bites the baseball before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston. WWE Hall of Fame member George "The Animal" Steele, whose given name was Jim Myers, has died at age 79, the WWE announced Friday, Feb. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

061014 - Athens, GA -- Georgia defensive end Quentin Moses (94) sits quietly on the bench as time runs out and Georgia loses Saturday, October 14, 2006. (BOB ANDRES / AJC staff)

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 21: Fab Melo #13 of the Boston Celtics poses for a portrait during the 2012 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at the MSG Training Center on August 21, 2012 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES - 1990: Charles Shackleford #33 of the New Jersey Nets stands on the court during an NBA game in 1990. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice : Copyright 1990 NBAE. (Photo by Ken Levine /Getty Images)

050607 - ATLANTA, GA -- Andy Marte (cq, 11) started at third base for Tuesday night's game against the Angles at Turner Field. (BEN GRAY/AJC staff)

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 2: Starting pitcher Yordano Ventura #30 of the Kansas City Royals jokes with teammates as he walks off the field after the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on June 2, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Jimmy Snuka Wrestler Jimmy Snuka, New York, America September 2, 2015: Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka has been charged with the 1983 murder of his girlfriend Nancy Argento. (Rex Features via AP Images)

1/31

Dec. 21: Legendary sportscaster Dick Enberg was the voice of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also called Super Bowls, Final Fours, UCLA basketball and San Diego Padres baseball games in career that stretched more than five decades. He was 82.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Jesse Jackson

PHOTOS: Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson found stage and home in Atlanta

Spring training Day 5 (Saturday)

PHOTOS: Day 5 of spring training for the Braves

Valentines for Veterans

Metro Atlanta students write valentines to veterans

GHSA Championship, Dance, Akins Ford Arena, Athens

PHOTOS: Georgia teams dance way to state championships

More Galleries

Spring Training Day 1

PHOTOS: Braves arrive for spring training

Kennesaw State University new baseball facility

PHOTOS: A look at Kennesaw State baseball's new home

aajc 011926 hawks-mlkgame

PHOTOS: Hawks and Bucks in action on MLK Day

atlanta hawks, boston celtics

PHOTOS: Hawks fall at home to Celtics