| |
|
NBA -- League mourns the death of ref Greg Willard
By Ryan Medida PhilBoxing.com Wed, 03 Apr 2013
 Greg Willard.
SAN FRANCISCO - The NBA family lost one of its own last Monday when veteran referee Greg Willard passed away after a nearly year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 54.
Willard officiated 1,494 regular season contests and 136 playoffs games. He also called two NBA Finals games. Willard was diagnosed with cancer last season while working the Western Conference finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. His last officiated game was the pre-season skirmish between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz last October at the Anaheim Center.
"The entire NBA family joins me in mourning the loss of one of our own, Greg Willard," NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement.
"Greg touched all those with whom he came in contact thanks to his extraordinary spirit, dedication and hard work. As a Finals referee he reached the highest levels of his profession while at the same time demonstrating a strong commitment to his family and his community. Our thoughts are with his wife, Laurie, their children and the rest of the Willard family during this difficult time," the statement added.
Arenas all throughout the NBA will observe moments of silence in Tuesday night's and Wednesday night's games and in Willard's honor all league officials will wear wristbands or patches with Willard's No. 57 for the rest of the season. (RM)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ryan Medida.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention , Tue, 16 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin , Tue, 16 Dec 2025JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES , Tue, 16 Dec 2025Split-T Management Signs Amateur Standout Adrian Salazar , Tue, 16 Dec 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO , Mon, 15 Dec 2025Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 15 Dec 2025Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships , Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025 , Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION , Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC , Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships , Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON , Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM TODAY'S CHM: 2 REMATCH SEASON CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES , Sat, 13 Dec 2025Donaire to fight Tsutsumi on December 17 in Japan By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025Nesthy faces Indon legend By Joaquin Henson, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025Bob Santos Joins Broadcast Team for Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During WBA’s 104th Annual Convention , Sat, 13 Dec 2025Championship Bouts Set for the Bantam and Intermediate Division , Sat, 13 Dec 2025SEAG Triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon in Rayong By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025Jeremy Marticio wins IIEE SIKAT, ICFF won PTC World Engineering Opening By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025Facularin to fight Torres on December 13 in Japan By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Dec 2025Baricuatro wins, Veloso falters in SEAG boxing By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Dec 2025BASH BOXING AND UP NEXT FIGHTING RETURN WITH SPECIAL EDITION UNF 29 TOMORROW NIGHT AT ACE · MISSION STUDIOS IN LOS ANGELES , Fri, 12 Dec 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|