Craig Sager to undergo third bone marrow transplant on Wednesday

TNT’s Craig Sager — the most recognizable sideline reporter in the NBA and arguably across all professional sports — will undergo his third bone marrow transplant on Wednesday.

The transplant will be his third in as many years after first being diagnosed with leukemia in 2014. His son, Craig Sager II, announced the news Tuesday afternoon on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/CraigSagerJr/status/770760157320052736

Sager’s first transplant came thanks to his son back in 2014, but the disease returned in March of 2015. He then received a second bone marrow transplant, and in March of 2016, it was revealed that he was no longer in remission.

Sager was supposed to report on basketball for the 2016 Rio Olympics, but missed it due to treatments.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an update from Sager himself, that featured Sager discussing things he has done over his life, and how he continues to live:

“I have met life’s challenges by climbing the Great Wall of China, riding with the bulls in Pamplona, sailing the Pacific Ocean with Ted Turner, jumping out of airplanes over Kansas, hang gliding off the cliffs of Mexico, bungee jumping atop a tower in San Antonio, and swimming with the sharks in the Caribbean.

“I have run the bases with Hank Aaron after No. 715, thrown out the first pitch at Wrigley Field, graced the cover of ‘Sports Illustrated’, and received the Jimmy V perseverance Award at the ESPY’s. I have covered eight Olympiads, dozens of Super Bowls, 24 Masters, and NBA games too numerous to count.

“I live on the golf course at Bridge Mill Athletic Club in Canton, Ga., with the love of my life Stacy and two awesome children 11-year-old Riley and 10-year-old Ryan and a 70-pound boxer named Princess Jasmine. I also have three highly motivated and successful older children; Kacy, Craig Jr. and Krista. We are surrounded by loving friends and neighbors including Stacy’s mother Mary Jo.

“I continue to live life full of love and full of fun the only way I know how.”

That’s quite the life Sager has lived. Hopefully everybody’s favorite sideline reporter is better and on his feet again as soon as possible.

[AJC]