Basketball writer, Jonathan Tjarks of the Ringer in Hospice battling cancer (update: Tjarks has sadly passed away)

[ReddoverKobe]

You guys should be angry towards the American healthcare system, not Bill Simmons. If he received this treatment any other developed country in the world, it would be free.

Plus, no one knows what Bill Simmons has done or is going to do. At the end of the day, it’s his money and he can do what he wants with it.

Of course he can do what he wants with his money. Just like we have the right to call him out for not taking care of one of his employees families when he has a kajillion dollars.

Which again you have no idea what he is or is not doing yet. But hey, feel free to be outraged for no reason.

[ATRAIN53]

crushing, dude is only 34, has a kid

If you read the article his wife says-

"We are in a good place financially right now"


Simmons has had him on various podcasts with updates when they guy could,
But he's clearly getting near the end and how do you podcast that?

That article also says he wants to set his own schedule now, so guy is done listening to doctors and going to appointments.
He's dfoing what he wants now as he watches his final days zoom by.

This is one cool thing I like about Ringer. The writers do share personal life stuff.
Kevin O'Connor losing his father a few years back was tough to read as well.

[whocurrz]

Deleted to stay the only topic at hand. Very sad stuff, especially considering how young both he and his child are. Hope for a miraculous recovery and him and Tjarks and his family are able to make the most of their time together.

[Texas Chuck]

GB never fails. Instead of letting a thread be about a guy who contributed to the basketball community, you guys have turned it into your anti-Simmons agenda. Simmons sucks, but man is this not the place.

Glad Jonathan is making peace with this and has a faith that helps him. I can't imagine how awful this is for he and his family.

[IAMZOOTED2]

Tears in my eyes as I type this. I am a huge fan of his work and I hope somehow his child learns what a great, funny, intelligent guy his dad was…

[KokoKaizer]

Oh my...

I'm not into religions, but I hope he's in peace with himself and I just feel for his family...

[CP War Hawks]

I'd just start listening to him on the ringer podcast. Distinctive voice and I like his takes on the younger prospects. Hope he gets way better.

[Point-Forward]

Hope he recovers and all the best wishes for him.

I remember it was one of the first basketball writers I started reading in a foreign language (I'm from Spain), back when he wrote for RealGM. It's been like 10 or 12 years since that. Time flies.

[Nuntius]

He is so young too. This is extremely sad.

I really hope that science finds a way to eventually beat cancer. This disease is

[sca]

This is so sad. I remember him from his RealGM days. Didn’t know that he’s been battling cancer. We’re at the same age and I also have a young son, so reading about this hit me in the feels. We have a saying, “çıkmadık candan ümit kesilmez,” which translates to “hope (about a person’s life) should not be ceased until (that person) dies” so I’m still considering him as someone who’s still fighting cancer, even if he’s in hospice care.

I’ve also read his articles on battling cancer today. They’re really good. I urge everyone to read them. I don’t consider myself a religious person (am an atheist, actually) but it warmed my heart to see him find comfort in his faith.

[Edrees]

That's sad to hear. I remember when he would represent RealGM in post game pressers. Hope he has a peaceful time with his family with whatever time he may have left.

[okboomer]

Over the past year I've listened to him more. Good writer and Podcaster. What a terrible situation.

We argue about sports on the forum and other places as well as potentially getting annoyed and upset over them. This Ideally will give us prospective that ultimately we are watching games that are supposed to be fun and there are much more important things in life.

[Slim Charlez]

So heart breaking considering his age and the fact that he has a young son. Just had an aunt pass away from something very similar, such a wake up call that life is so short when it's cancer since it can happen to any of us.

[Capn'O]

I remember when the news of his condition broke. Though expected, this is such tough news for a wonderful writer and as others have mentioned I just hope he and his family are able to have meaningful last moments. I love his thoughts in his piece on fatherhood about the need for community. I'm not a religious person but those kind of "life groups" are the type of communities that we haven't quite figured out outside of religious structures. They are desperately needed.

Terrible for his family, if I could take his cancer from him, I really would, as a person with strong depression, to me, fighting for your life is such an alien concept, I fighting for opposite. I would really give him my years, that person has young child and has lots of things to look forward to. Sadly things aren't looking good.

It's a beautiful sentiment. I obviously don't know you in real life but just know your contributions here, particularly on international ball which is a blind spot for many including myself, are valued.

[Big J]

You guys should be angry towards the American healthcare system, not Bill Simmons. If he received this treatment any other developed country in the world, it would be free.

Plus, no one knows what Bill Simmons has done or is going to do. At the end of the day, it’s his money and he can do what he wants with it.

Of course he can do what he wants with his money. Just like we have the right to call him out for not taking care of one of his employees families when he has a kajillion dollars.

Which again you have no idea what he is or is not doing yet. But hey, feel free to be outraged for no reason.

Then why is there a GoFundMe? That needs to be taken down if he's been taken care of.

[Snakebites]

Whatever- I feel like I say the same thing every time there’s a sensitive topic on the General Board. The financial side of this is not something anyone here knows about, and it’s frankly none of our business.

Hospice means they’re no longer trying to fix the issue or prolong his life. The focus of care now shifts entirely to comfort in his remaining days. And that is an extremely sad situation that warrants respect it isn’t getting from everyone here.

[PaulKellerman]

So heartbreaking. I remember reading Tjarks on RealGM years ago and loved his insights. He's spectacular on any podcast, very easy on the ears. My prayers are with his family and him

[Big J]

Whatever- I feel like I say the same thing every time there’s a sensitive topic on the General Board. The financial side of this is not something anyone here knows about, and it’s frankly none of our business.

Hospice means they’re no longer trying to fix the issue or prolong his life. The focus of care now shifts entirely to comfort in his remaining days. And that is an extremely sad situation that warrants respect it isn’t getting from everyone here.

It's the business of the people who donate to a GoFundMe under false pretenses. If he's been taken care of then there is no need for fundraising. If he hasn't been taken care of then it's the public's right to call out Simmons. So something shady is going on one way or another.

[Pharmcat]

Deleted to stay the only topic at hand. Very sad stuff, especially considering how young both he and his child are. Hope for a miraculous recovery and him and Tjarks and his family are able to make the most of their time together.

There is no more “recovery” , that’s why he has transitioned to hospice care where the goal is the make the patient comfortable as they are about to pass.

[Pharmcat]

Cancer has taken away some close loved ones so i know that pain his family is dealing with.

Cancer really does friggin suck. What kind of cancer does he have?

Sarcoma , which is a brutal disease and frankly doesn’t get enough attention like other cancers do.