Former Wizards Coach Flip Saunders Passes Away

[OffTheWall2]

I was never his biggest fan when he coached us, however this is still incredibly sad news.

R.I.P. Flip

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Twolves_PR/status/658342139076587520[/tweet]

[JWizmentality]

Yikes. That just hit me like a tonne of bricks. Condolences to the family.

[miller31time]

Man, I just can't believe this. Condolences to his family. He seemed like a really classy, good man.

[mhd]

RIP Flip.

It must be especially hard for his son, who was an assistant here, and (I think) an assistant with Minny now.

[DMVleGeND]

Just devastating. 60 is way too young. RIP Flip

[FAH1223]

Wow. The family must have kept things very close knit b/c all the reports I read said he'd be OK

[FAH1223]

Star Tribune beat writer Jerry Zgoda provided an update on Saunders’s condition, and things seem pretty grim (emphasis mine):

There’s no question things have changed dramatically since the team announced his diagnosis in August, back when it quoted his doctors saying the cancer was very treatable and curable. Since then there have been changes to the way his body handled the chemotherapy (and maybe how much cancer they’ve found) that have made it life threatening. Everyone involved has gone radio silent because of the family’s request for privacy and federal patient-privacy laws, etc., but between the complete silence, the lack of people visiting as far as I can tell apart from his immediate family and very inner circle while he remains hospitalized here in Minneapolis and the things I’m hearing second-hand, well, none of it is good. I’ll just say this, and this is just my own opinion, if he pulls through this: I doubt very much he’s back this year, it’s probably unlikely he coaches again just because of the stress inherent doing both those jobs and I think there’s a pretty good chance he doesn’t return full time to either job. As far as the franchise goes, that will put them in a holding pattern for some time. I can’t see Glen Taylor allowing Milt Newton and Sam to make a major decision until they know more about Flip’s future and Glen decides who will run his team for the long term. I wouldn’t assume it’ll be Milt and Sam going forward, that’s just for the short term until things become clearer.

http://deadspin.com/it-doesnt-sound-like-flip-saunderss-fight-against-cance-1734159606

Wow and that was only 3 weeks ago.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JohnWall/status/658351387907092481[/tweet]

[80sballboy]

Horrible news. I saw John Wall's classy tweet. RIP Flip.

[montestewart]

Fly high, Flip

[closg00]

Surprise and sadness. RIP Flip.

[pineappleheadindc]

Wow...so young. Rest in peace, Flip.

Prayers also for his surviving family and friends.

I'll be about 10 days until home season opener, but I also hope that in addition to the opening night hype, the Wizards can find space and time for a moment of silence or other way to remember him.

[dangermouse]

Couldnt believe it when i read it this morning. RIP.

[FreeBalling]

Very sad news, I read the other day that Flip was not returning to coaching because of his illness.

My prayers go out to his family.

RIP FLIP

[Earth2Ted]

Very sad to hear- much too soon.

Will always remember him as our coach when John Wall came to town. That was a special time for me personally as I came back to the DMV that year, and my kid was born the same night Wall had his first big near triple double game against Philly.

Hard to believe, but it looks like he is the first major Wiz/Bullets coach to pass almost in the history of the franchise, Everyone else - Wes, Lynam, Motta, Shue, even Slick Leonard who coached us in the 60's - still appear to be with us, at the moment.

R.I.P. coach.

[payitforward]

So sad. The hard facts of life and death can't be held at bay. They force themselves on us - even in the play world of the NBA and this forum.

I'll say a blessing tonight for Flip Saunders, his family and all who held him dear. May he be long remembered for the effort and intensity he brought, and for the good he did for so many.

[verbal8]

It is very sad to hear this. He was taken much too young.

[WallToWall]

RIP Flip. Thanks for the memories.

[AFM]

RIP. I thought he was going to make it.
From KG:

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

He was 60. I'm 54.

When I go I hope others will say about me what I'm about to say about Flip.

"Well done, good and faithful servant."


Nobody's opinion matters any more. Your race is run. You fought the fight. I choose to believe you're in a MUCH better place. Thanks! No life is all sweetness and candies. No life is junk. The middle part is all subjective.

I just wanted Flip to get better and to have a lot of success in Minnesota.

Now, I just want him to R.I.P. Hopefully, he's up there with his mom and all the others who've passed on, in a better place.

[DANNYLANDOVER]

I was shocked when I read the news this morning. I never thought it was that serious.
A classy gentleman during his time with the Wizards. RIP Flip.