I heard tonight that Tug McGraw died this evening after battling brain cancer for nearly a year. As a sports fan, a baseball fan and a lifetime Phillies fan this was really sad news. In addition to giving Philadelphia a world series win in 1980 (not to mention helping the NY Mets to two championships) he was really all that was good about sports. He was a great competitor but always funny and lived and loved life. He gave a lot to the community, and this area really loved him till the end. In New York he'll always be remembered for his slogan "You Gotta Believe!".
Tug was able to participate in the closing ceremonies for Veterans Stadium a couple of months ago at the end of the baseball season. After a beautiful closing ceremony, he was a surprise guest, (because of his poor health it wasn't known if he'd be there) being driven out to the pitchers mound in a limo at the very end of the ceremony. He recreated his strikeout to end the 1980 World Series--even managing to jump off the mound as he did that great night. The crowd went crazy for him and he smiled from ear to ear. There are a million funny stories about him and quotes from him. I never met him, but always felt like I knew him--just as any Phillies fan would tell you. In all of my years as a sports fan, I can count on one hand the number of times I've felt that way about an athlete.
You can read more about him
in this article from the Phillies web site. 
