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

makubesu · Post #121 » by **makubesu** » Tue Sep 13, 2022 3:53 am

One of the crazy things to me is how we form relationships with sports commentators. Like I listen to the BS pod probably twice a week, for a total of 3 hours? That’s more than I talk to my own parents. One day Bill will hang it up, and that’s it, he’s out of my life.

So people are sad about Tjarks because it’s truly a tragic story, but also because many of them really formed a bond with him. It’s a very genuine grief.

Eric Millegan · Post #122 » by **Eric Millegan** » Tue Sep 13, 2022 3:58 am

A bit about the GoFundMe. It’s not about the Tjarks family needing money. And it has nothing to do with whether or not Simmons gives money. It’s about everybody grieving. We want to DO something, show the family we care. The GoFundMe gives US that opportunity. And that’s why Simmons and others share it. It’s basically a “send flowers to this address.” Would any idiot EVER say “Why do WE have to send flowers? Simmons should send all the flowers he needs!” The Tjarks family has said they are in a good place financially. That’s not what this is about. Maybe they’ll use it for the son’s education as a reminder of how many people loved his Dad.

LewisnotMiller · Post #123 » by **LewisnotMiller** » Tue Sep 13, 2022 10:38 am

RIP mate.

Post #124 » by **Howard Mass** » Tue Sep 13, 2022 4:45 pm

R.I.P. RealGM Alumni Jonathan Tjarks. I joined RealGM in 2000 and through the years, we have had some good Writers go on to do good things and it is so sad to see one come and go and this happen to him. My condolences to his Wife, Son and Friends.

Shootit · Post #125 » by **Shootit** » Tue Sep 13, 2022 5:15 pm

Man, that's depressing news. Remember reading about his diagnosis last year on here. Damn shame it robbed him of years with his family. Re-reading that article about fatherhood hits harder now. My 2nd son was born around the same time as Jackson. I just feel for his son and wife who will no longer have their dad/husband around any more.

Both my boys stop whatever they are doing and give me a big hug when I come home. Fathers mean so much to kids. Definitely will savor these moments.

RIP Jonathan, gone way too soon.

Chanel Bomber · Post #126 » by **Chanel Bomber** » Tue Sep 13, 2022 10:08 pm

Jonathan Tjarks was an interesting basketball thinker and person, he will be missed. The courage he showed in the fight for his life within this realm was apparent in his analysis too - he was a Maverick in every sense of the word.

My condolences to his loved ones.

Roger Murdock · Post #127 » by **Roger Murdock** » Tue Sep 13, 2022 11:02 pm

Tjarks was a great writer and basketball mind.

Something I've grown fond of especially as I've gotten older is surrounding yourself around people with positive world views because negativity is overpowering and crippling, but also easier. People in the media tend to get more notoriaty the more negative and toxic they become

Tjarks was the opposite. He always focuses on the positive and had an optimistic disposition even when going through a world of ****. He always focused on what players did well, how they can help etc.

He also thought about basketball in unique perspectives from mainstream and wasnt afraid to be different. Also he loved big men and unique players/styles.

Im sad to see him go. One of my friends from childhood has a similar type of very rare/small/hard to track cancer + a new born. My friend is doing better thank tjarks but their diagnosis and timelines were basically on top of each other and seeing Tjarks go has me scared and concerned for my poor friend.

The Laker Kid · Post #128 » by **The Laker Kid** » Tue Sep 13, 2022 11:20 pm

Rest in Peace dude... I only know of him because of the Ringer podcast. He left us way too soon.

Sixercise · Post #129 » by **Sixercise** » Wed Sep 14, 2022 1:18 am

Just finding out today....quite shocking and very sad :'( I grew up reading his articles here on RealGM before he joined The Ringer....very thoughtful and well-spoken whenever he spoke his mind. He will be deeply missed by this community :'(

azcatz11 · Post #130 » by **azcatz11** » Wed Sep 14, 2022 4:45 am

Pod is up

https://www.theringer.com/the-bill-simmons-podcast/2022/9/14/23351556/jonathan-tjarks-tribute-2018-nba-re-draft-kevin-oconnor-j-kyle-mann-chris-ryan

Paradise · Post #131 » by **Paradise** » Wed Sep 14, 2022 12:43 pm

The greatest purpose in life as a man is to create legacy.

He created one in his own life and one for us basketball fans to enjoy new insight and content. He’s going to be a staple in sports journalism history.

RIP.

Big J · Post #132 » by **Big J** » Wed Sep 14, 2022 2:04 pm

Paradise wrote:The greatest purpose in life as a man is to create legacy.

He created one in his own life and one for us basketball fans to enjoy new insight and content. He’s going to be a staple in sports journalism history.

RIP.

Being a good person is more important than leaving a “legacy”.

Jadoogar · Post #133 » by **Jadoogar** » Wed Sep 14, 2022 2:09 pm

That article he wrote about fatherhood was absolutely heartbreak
RIP

Post #134 » by **Nuntius** » Wed Sep 14, 2022 2:14 pm

That is indeed tragic. May he rest in peace

Post #135 » by **Harry Garris** » Wed Sep 14, 2022 3:27 pm

Big J wrote:
Paradise wrote:The greatest purpose in life as a man is to create legacy.

He created one in his own life and one for us basketball fans to enjoy new insight and content. He’s going to be a staple in sports journalism history.

RIP.

Being a good person is more important than leaving a “legacy”.

Being a good person is part of it. Legacy isn't just a list of your accomplishments, it's how people remember you.

Paradise · Post #136 » by **Paradise** » Wed Sep 14, 2022 8:01 pm

Big J wrote:
Paradise wrote:The greatest purpose in life as a man is to create legacy.

He created one in his own life and one for us basketball fans to enjoy new insight and content. He’s going to be a staple in sports journalism history.

RIP.

Being a good person is more important than leaving a “legacy”.

You cannot have a true legacy without being a good person.

Big J · Post #137 » by **Big J** » Wed Sep 14, 2022 11:33 pm

Paradise wrote:
Big J wrote:
Paradise wrote:The greatest purpose in life as a man is to create legacy.

He created one in his own life and one for us basketball fans to enjoy new insight and content. He’s going to be a staple in sports journalism history.

RIP.

Being a good person is more important than leaving a “legacy”.

You cannot have a true legacy without being a good person.

MJ.

Post #138 » by **Clyde Frazier** » Thu Sep 15, 2022 12:53 am

Read on Twitter

I remember when he first started writing articles here so it was cool to see him move on to the ringer and succeed. Such a sad story, RIP.

payton2kemp · Post #139 » by **payton2kemp** » Thu Sep 15, 2022 1:01 am

Eric Millegan wrote:A bit about the GoFundMe. It’s not about the Tjarks family needing money. And it has nothing to do with whether or not Simmons gives money. It’s about everybody grieving. We want to DO something, show the family we care. The GoFundMe gives US that opportunity. And that’s why Simmons and others share it. It’s basically a “send flowers to this address.” Would any idiot EVER say “Why do WE have to send flowers? Simmons should send all the flowers he needs!” The Tjarks family has said they are in a good place financially. That’s not what this is about. Maybe they’ll use it for the son’s education as a reminder of how many people loved his Dad.

It says it was to help him pay bills. The US health system is in a sad state of affairs when gofundmes are a regular way of paying for healthcare. I've seen way to many.

we want to help raise funds for him and his family to help with medical care, expenses, and other needs. Insurance only covers so much given the kind of treatments he's receiving.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Lets-help-our-friend-jonathan-tjarks?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Big J · Post #140 » by **Big J** » Thu Sep 15, 2022 3:42 am

therealozzykhan wrote:
Eric Millegan wrote:A bit about the GoFundMe. It’s not about the Tjarks family needing money. And it has nothing to do with whether or not Simmons gives money. It’s about everybody grieving. We want to DO something, show the family we care. The GoFundMe gives US that opportunity. And that’s why Simmons and others share it. It’s basically a “send flowers to this address.” Would any idiot EVER say “Why do WE have to send flowers? Simmons should send all the flowers he needs!” The Tjarks family has said they are in a good place financially. That’s not what this is about. Maybe they’ll use it for the son’s education as a reminder of how many people loved his Dad.

It says it was to help him pay bills. The US health system is in a sad state of affairs when gofundmes are a regular way of paying for healthcare. I've seen way to many.

we want to help raise funds for him and his family to help with medical care, expenses, and other needs. Insurance only covers so much given the kind of treatments he's receiving.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Lets-help-our-friend-jonathan-tjarks?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Yea, it's for bills. If they wanted people to send flowers they should have given an address where the flowers can be sent to. Simmons should be taking care of the bills, not tweeting out gofundme links begging strangers to help his employee's family.