Posted on 02/25/2007 8:15:15 AM PST by Mr. Brightside
Broncos running back Damien Nash dies
By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer
7 minutes ago
DENVER - Broncos running back Damien Nash collapsed and died after a charity basketball game in suburban St. Louis on Saturday, less than two months after the slaying of teammate Darrent Williams.
"We have been informed of the passing of Damien Nash," team spokesman Jim Saccomano said Saturday night. "We are attempting to get more details. ... We do know it's true."
Officials at Christian Hospital in St. Louis said the 24-year-old Nash died early Saturday evening. The cause of death wasn't immediately determined.
Nash collapsed shortly after participating in the game benefiting a foundation named for older brother Darris Nash. The foundation raises money for heart transplant research. It was established last month, after Darris Nash, 25, received a heart transplant.
Former Missouri receiver Sean Coffey was at the event with Nash at Riverview Gardens High School and told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch there was no indication anything was wrong.
"Everything was normal. ... We were playing around at the game. ... He was fine," Coffey told the newspaper. "I give my best to his family. This is crazy. I can't believe this is happening. It was the first time I had seen him in a couple of years. I can't believe he's gone. I'm so happy I got to see him one last time."
Nash was from East St. Louis, Ill., and played two years at Missouri after playing at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas.
Lee Baker, who was teammates with Nash at Coffeyville, was supposed to have dinner with Nash after the basketball game. One of Baker's friends received a call that Nash had collapsed a short time after leaving the event.
"We still don't know what happened. He looked in great shape. He had four 3-pointers. He had a big smile on his face. There was no indication," Baker told The Associated Press. "He was a great guy. It's hard to believe. I want to think I'm dreaming. I was looking at him today, and thinking how proud I was of him. I was so happy for him."
One of Baker's final memories of Nash was of him holding his infant daughter after the game.
"I feel fortunate to have met him," Baker said. "At the game, you saw the looks on people's faces and how much they appreciated him."
A fifth-round draft choice by Tennessee in 2005, Nash played in three games for the Titans. The Broncos signed him as a free agent last season and he played in three games, rushing for 66 yards on 18 carries. In his two-year career, he had 24 carries for 98 yards and seven receptions for 55 yards.
"The Denver Broncos organization is once again struck with profound sadness over the tragic loss of one of our players," team owner Pat Bowlen said in a statement. "This is a tremendous tragedy and our hearts go out to the entire Nash family."
The Broncos are still reeling from the slaying of Williams, who was shot once in the neck while leaving a New Year's Eve party in his rented stretch Hummer in downtown Denver hours after the season ended. His slaying remains unsolved.
"The Broncos family has suffered a great loss with the passing of Damien Nash," coach Mike Shanahan said from Indianapolis, where he was attending the NFL's scouting combine along with general manager Ted Sundquist. "I am stunned and deeply saddened by this tragedy, and send my deepest condolences to Damien's family."
Nash's death came two days after former NBA great Dennis Johnson collapsed and died after his developmental team's practice in Austin, Texas. Johnson was 52.
Heart attack maybe?
RIP.
who's gonna be #3??
Very sad. Prayers for his family, friends and teammates.
Reminds me of how Pistol Pete exited the court...
There are genetically based heart anomalies primarily among Blacks that causes this every once in a while - can be the greatest athlete in the world prior to the moment it kills you.
It's really rare but every time it happens it gets a lot of publicity.
I'll have to take your word for that right now, but I've read about many white athletes who have died suddenly when they were considered to be in excellent physical health. Pete Maravich comes to mind, and many high school and college athletes as well.
The rate among blacks for several of these is quite a bit higher than for whites - other ones, like Marfan's syndrome, are not.
It's certainly not exclusive to black athletes.
no kidding....if I am a Denver Bronco, I wouldn't leaving the house right now..
It does appear to be genetic given his brother's problems (needing a heart transplant at age 25). How sad for his family, no doubt having spent their time worried about their sick older son only to have their apparently healthy son die suddenly. And with the complications that can arise from a heart transplant, the older son may not be out of the woods yet.
Stories like this I am so glad that our schools have Automated External Defibrillator's (AED)....by every gym.
Well, he died after a fundraiser for his 25 year old brother to get a heart transplant.
Start the NFL/Mob conspiracy theory generator.
How sad. Keeping the family in prayer.
Ping
Sad news, indeed. Prayers for his family.
Thanks MG70,
This Broncos fan is once again mourning for the loss of a player. Prayers to Nash's Family and the Broncos.
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