HOUSTON -- I spent a couple of hours with Craig Sager the day before he underwent a rare third bone marrow transplant, and it was clear that he was spent.The process was tiring and my relentless questioning didnt help, though he and his family were gracious enough to share what they were going through at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in those still-hopeful days back in August. After Id listened to his transplantation physician, Dr. Muzaffar Qazilbash, explain that almost no one gets three stem cell transplants and as I was gathering my belongings to leave, I was summoned back to Sagers room.I slowly entered, unsure of why he asked me to come back when he obviously needed to rest. When I pulled back the curtain that separated his hospital bed from the door, I heard his booming voice.Pick up that ball and sign it for me! he bellowed.Nearby was a marker and a basketball covered in signatures of all shapes and sizes.You dont want me to sign this, I replied. Im not famous.He didnt miss a beat despite the toll the years of cancer treatments had taken on his body.Everyone who visits me is special. Sign the ball! he said.I scribbled my name and thanked him again for his time. I had never met Sager before that day, but I quickly realized why he was so beloved across the NBA and beyond -- and why the sadness ran so deep Thursday after he died at the age of 65 .I spent nearly two days with him as he shared an intimate look at his last-ditch bid for life. His son was the donor for the first two transplants; this time , it was someone anonymous.It was clear by looking at him that he was very ill, but if I were to close my eyes and listen to what he said and how he said it, I doubt I would have known he was sick. Anyone who knows him knows that hes a character (see: flamboyant wardrobe). What was surprising was that even when he was staring down his own death, he maintained his TV-perfect smile and positive attitude.The relationship Sager had with his wife, Stacy, was clearly extraordinary. He gazed at her with a look of pure love, adoration and esteem. Stacy, who had two young children with Sager, fought back tears when we spoke about his fight.I asked her if he was as upbeat privately as he had been with me and while roaming the sidelines reporting. And I asked her if ever talked about fearing death.We dont really have those deep, dark conversations, she said. We dont have any negative conversations. Everything is one day at a time and lets be grateful and blessed that we have this day and enjoy it. Who knows how many days anybody has? So we just take it one day at a time and be happy.During an interview the day before his transplant, the one that sadly couldnt save Sagers life, Charles Barkley sat and listened as we talked. Sir Charles was quiet as a mouse as Sager spoke of all the treatments hed gone through and how much the support of his NBA family had meant to him.As we spoke, I noticed a black-and-white photo of a child with some baseball players hanging on the stark hospital wall above Barkleys head. I motioned toward the picture and asked who was in it.Thats not a picture, thats actually Charles Barkley, Sager deadpanned, cracking up the room.After we composed ourselves, Sager described the picture, which was of him as an 11-year-old with Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks and some of his teammates. Sager then explained that hed been a Cubs fan since that moment and bragged that he got to throw out the first pitch at one of their games earlier this year. A big deal for a native of Batavia, Illinois.The interview soon devolved into a conversation about how he bet on the Cubs to win it all every year and they never came through. When they captured their first World Series title since 1908 a couple of months ago, Sager was the first person I thought of, knowing what it meant to him.And when the Cubs posted a video of his day at Wrigley Field on their account Thursday, I knew that Sager was somewhere smiling to know that the world champions were now honoring him. Adidas Stan Smith Mens Cheap .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Adidas Stan Smith Womens Cheap .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. http://www.cheapstansmith.us/ . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Cheap Stan Smith For Sale . 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Im very, very thankful for everything that hes done for our football program, but its all about our football program and our football team in moving forward from this point forward.Hurd, a junior from Hendersonville, Tennessee, ends his Vols career with 2,638 yards rushing. He was only 440 yards away from Travis Henrys 16-year-old school rushing record.The announcement comes two days after Hurd ran for just 16 yards on eight carries in a stunning 24-21 loss at South Carolina. Tennessee entered that game ranked 18th and was a two-touchdown favorite.Hurd didnt carry the ball in the second half of the South Carolina game. Jones said Monday that an injury prevented Hurd from being available.I value our relationship and have a lot of respect for that young man and wish him nothing but the best, Jones said.Hurd rushed for 899 yards as a freshman and 1,288 yards last season while displaying a bruising style that made the most of his 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame.But he wasnt quite as effective this year. He ran for 451 yards and averaged just 3.7 yards per carry while working behind a line that has been hampered by injuries. Hurd had entered this season averaging 4.7 yards per carry.Hurd sat out a 45-38 double-overtime loss to Texas A&M with an unspecified injury and has rushed for a total of 44 yards on 21 carries in the two games since.I wish him well and hope he finds everything that hes looking for, Jones said.Hurd finished his Tennessee career with 26 total touchdowns (20 rushing, six receiving). He had 67 career catches for 492 yards, including 10 receptions for 81 yards this season.The loss of Hurd limits Tennesssees options in its rushing attack as the Vols also are missing Alvin Kamara, who sat out the South Carolina game with an unspecified injury.ddddddddddddJones said Kamara also wont play Saturday against Football Championship Subdivision program Tennessee Tech (3-5) and is questionable to return Nov. 12 against Kentucky. Jones also noted that defensive tackle Shy Tuttle will miss the remainder of the season with an injury that wasnt specified.Kamaras absence likely means sophomore John Kelly will be Tennessees main running back this week. Kelly ran for a team-high 94 yards on 14 carries against South Carolina and has rushed for 209 yards on 33 attempts this season.Obviously he will gain a greater role in our offense, Jones said. Hes an individual whos earned this opportunity. You talk about dynamics of leadership, hes one of the leaders of this football team. His energy. His passion. He was one of the most vocal players we had last night in my individual meetings with some guys. You talk about asserting your will on a football team, hes very, very passionate.Hurds transfer marks a surprising conclusion to the career of a player whose arrival helped signal the resurgence of Tennessees program. He was rated as a five-star prospect by Rivals and 247Sports.His decision to join the Vols spearheaded Jones mission to win back the state in recruiting after top Tennessee prospects had signed elsewhere in previous years. He now becomes the 12th player from Tennessees heralded 2014 recruiting class to leave the school with eligibility remaining. That class had been ranked among the top five in the nation by multiple services.Hurd also is the second former five-star recruit to leave Tennessee during this season. Wide receiver Preston Williams, who had caught only 16 passes in 1 + seasons at Tennessee, was granted his release Oct. 13.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '