Former 49ers great Dwight Clark dies at 61 after battle with ALS
Source: http://www.espn.com/
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Dwight Clark, the receiver who made one of the most memorable plays in NFL history and jump-started the San Francisco 49ers dynasty, died Monday at his home in Montana.
Clark, who had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) since he first began feeling weakness in his left hand in September of 2015, was 61 years old.
Clark's wife Kelly shared the news of her husband's death via his Twitter account.
Dwight Clark
✔
@DwightC87
I'm heartbroken to tell you that today I lost my best friend and husband. He passed peacefully surrounded by many of the people he loved most. I am thankful for all of Dwight's friends, teammates and 49ers fans who have sent their love during his battle with ALS. Kelly Clark.
Read more: http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23698130/former-san-francisco-49ers-great-dwight-clark-dies-61-battling-als
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,786 posts)R.I.P Dwight Clark
BeyondGeography
(39,374 posts)may have meant more to one city than any other sporting play in this countrys history. Im not exaggerating. Not because it was the beginning of a great Niners run, but because it came on the heels of so much suffering and division. Listen to the replay sometime and youll hear sheer joy.
RIP, Dwight.
jalan48
(13,869 posts)deurbano
(2,895 posts)he described it as a transcendent, religious type experience.
BeyondGeography
(39,374 posts)The play starts at 1:25. The crowd reaction really is a beautiful thing:
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)Way too young
Safe passage
camelfan
(130 posts)John Brodie, Gene and Vic Washington and Ted Kwalick. And though I no longer watch football because of CTE, this hurts. I was 17 when the Niners won that game, and it was the happiest I had been in a long time. Dwight always said there would never have been 'the catch' if it weren't for 'the throw.' Thanks, Dwight. You were a class act.
kimbutgar
(21,155 posts)I met him once at a fundraiser. Nice guy. You cant help wonder if those hits he took causes the ALs.
caraher
(6,278 posts)Sad loss. I remember that catch well.
The speed group - those in speed (non-line) positions, such as fullbacks, running backs, quarterbacks, halfbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, defensive backs, safeties and linebackers
The non-speed group - those in non-speed (line) positions, such as defensive and offensive linemen
They found that speed-position footballers were over three times as likely to die from a neurodegenerative cause than non-speed position players. 62% of the players in this study were in speed positions.
Ccarmona
(1,180 posts)The Catch is the greatest single event in Bay Area Sports History, including no-hitters & perfect games; Rickeys stolen base record; Giants, As, Warriors, Raiders, & Niners Championships.
7962
(11,841 posts)aeromanKC
(3,322 posts)Dang, sad news today. ALS is one of the worst. RIP Dwight Clark.
herding cats
(19,565 posts)He's free of his constraints now.
Peace to his family and loved ones.
PCIntern
(25,553 posts)given that we were not in the game. Being thrilled watching Dallas lose is a hobby of mine!
R.I.P. Mr. Clark
catbyte
(34,393 posts)sweetie lost his wife to it in 2013. My condolences to his family.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)but, always respected their players and success. RIP Dwight Clark.