Craig Sager and His Colorful Style Return to the NBA Sidelines
The sideline reporter was diagnosed with leukemia last year.
— -- The man in the colorful clothes was back on the NBA sidelines Thursday.
Longtime Turner Sports sideline reporter Craig Sager – best known for his outlandish, garish outfits – returned for his first NBA game in 11 months, working the Chicago Bulls’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sager, 63, hadn’t worked a game since April, when he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Sager had a bone marrow transplant from his son Craig Jr., who filled in for his father during last year’s NBA playoffs, and spent part of his absence in isolation. He had hoped to return for last fall’s baseball playoffs or the start of the NBA season, but instead had to resort to watching the games on TV.
"It's not just the games. It's the people," Sager said when asked what he missed most in the interim. "The NBA is such a family. I try to get there three hours before the game, talk with the ushers and the security guards, the coaches and the fans . . . I just missed the whole atmosphere. I like being there."
Sager said Thursday he’s “totally in remission.” He said he lost nearly 50 pounds during his leukemia battle, forcing him to update his wardrobe.“I had to get new clothes because my other ones didn’t fit because I lost so much weight,” he admitted during a pre-game report.For Thursday’s game, Sager wore a red, black and gray plaid jacket, with a striped shirt and solid red tie – a crisp, subdued look for Sager.
“Bulls colors,” the Illinois native joked.
Luckily, Chicago mascot Benny the Bull was on hand to help. During a pause in game action, the mascot approached Sager with a new sport coat – still Bulls colors, but louder and vintage plaid, more in line with Sager’s usual outfits. Benny the Bull hugged Sager, and Sager waved and blew kisses to the crowd, the man in the colorful clothes back on the sidelines again.
“This does fit pretty good,” Sager said, studying his new jacket.
The Associated Press and ESPN.com contributed to this report.
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