A sportswriting legend has passed away.
Frank Deford, the longtime author, Sports Illustrated writer, NPR commentator and HBO Real Sports contributor, died Sunday at age 78. Deford had been with SI since 1962, NPR from 1980 until his retirement this month, and HBO since 1995.
He was also editor-in-chief and publisher of The National, a short-lived but acclaimed daily sports newspaper that ran from 1990-91, and made appearances throughout his career on ESPN and CNN.
Deford had been ill, Real Sports host Bryant Gumbel said Monday, but had been recently released from the hospital.
One of the most respected members of the sportswriting community, Deford received the National Humanities Medal from President Obama in 2013 and won numerous awards during his career, including a Peabody and an Emmy.
[Mon. news from ESPN.com 5.29]
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