He sport in America He won in 2024 with resounding collective and individual triumphs, but suffered irreparable losses due to the death of thirteen figures. Below is a review of these facts.
January: ‘Pajarita’ Reyes, Zagallo, Victor Luna and Luis Tejada
The Mexican extension player Rosa Maria ‘Pajarita’ Reyes died on January 4 at his residence in Mexico City due to pulmonary complications. He was 84 years old and just two months before, in November 2023, he had entered the Tennis Hall of Fame in his country.
Reyes achieved milestones, such as the doubles championship in Roland Garros in 1958, as well as the gold and silver medals in doubles at the 1968 Olympic Games organized by his country in an edition in which tennis was introduced as an exhibition.
One day later, on January 5, the world of sport exploded with the announcement of the death of the former Brazilian footballer and coach Mario Jorge Wolf Zagallo. He was 92 years old and proud to have left the mark of winning four world titles: as a player (1958 and 1962), as a coach (1970) and as an assistant (1994).
The former Colombian defender Victor Luna He died on January 28 in MedellÃn at the age of 64 due to a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. And the Panamanian goalscorer and World Cup winner in Russia 2018 Luis ‘Matador’ Tejada died on the same day at the age of 41 due to a possible heart attack while playing in a veterans’ soccer league.
April: OJ Simpson
The former player of the NFL Orenthal James ‘OJ’ Simpson died on April 10 at the age of 76 from prostate cancer. His football career was tainted when he was found guilty of the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and a man in June 1994.
Simpson, considered one of the best offensive running backs in history, 1973 MVP and member of the Hall of Fame NFLstarred in one of the most high-profile trials in the United States in the 90s of the last century. In 1995 he was acquitted by criminal proceedings and two years later convicted by civil proceedings. He also had to pay compensation of 33.5 million dollars.
May: Menotti, Cancelarich, Murray and Walton
On May 5th he left César Luis Menottithe coach who led the selection of Argentina to the 1978 World Cup title. He was 85 years old.
After that victory and due to the vertical, technical and involving style of play, ‘Menottism’ was born.
On May 14 he died at the age of 58. Fabián Cancelarichone of the Albiceleste goalkeepers in the World Cup Italy’90. He was a goalkeeper coach for Ferro Carril Oeste and died after suffering a decompensation while working with his pupils.
The American golfer Grayson Murraytwo-time winner of the PGA Tourwas found dead on May 25. He was 30 years old when he decided to commit suicide, according to his parents.
Bill Waltonoutstanding player of the NBA At the confluence of the 70s and 80s, he died on May 27 at the age of 71 due to cancer. He played with the Portland Blazers, San Diego Clippers and Boston Celtics. In 1993 he was promoted to the Hall of Fame.
August: Juan Manuel Izquierdo
The Uruguayan defender Juan Manuel Izquierdo He died in a hospital in Sao Paulo on August 26, just four days after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia on the field of the Morumbi stadium during a match in the round of 16 of the Libertadores Cup.
The 27-year-old player, who played for Mexican team San Luis, collapsed in the 84th minute of the match that Nacional lost.
September: Dikembe Mutombo
Considered one of the best defenses in the NBAthe former Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets player died at the age of 58 as a result of a brain tumor.
The Congolese nationalized American center was 2.18 meters tall and competed in eighteen seasons in the NBA.
October: Fernando ‘el Toro’ Valenzuela
The star of the Major Leagues, idol of the Dodgers from Los Angeles, owner of Club Tigres de Quintana Roo and pride of Etchohuaquila, a desert town in northwest Mexico with only 500 inhabitants, left this world three days before the start of the World Series.
The former left-handed pitcher was 63 years old and had serious health complications when he died on October 22 in Los Angeles, the city to which ‘Fernandomania’ took him in 1981, the year in which he came to the team to right the course and promote the miracle of winning the World Series, precisely against the New York Yankees.
“We’re going to win it all for you,” promised manager Dave Roberts before the start of the new battle with the Yankees. And the public promise to the unforgettable number 34 was fulfilled on October 30 with the World Series title that the ninth Angelina achieved.
December: Israel ‘Magnificent’ Vázquez
On December 3, he died at the age of 46. boxer Mexican Israel Vazquezwho was champion in the IBF junior featherweight category and also in the WBC super bantamweight category. A stage 4 sarcoma worsened his health condition.
The Mexican was a three-time champion with the World Boxing Council (WBC) and is also remembered for the four fights he had with his compatriot Rafael Márquez.
Vázquez had a 15-year career in the ring, from 1995 to 2010, winning 44 fights, 32 of them by knockout, and losing 5.
