Brazilian soccer (footballer) legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento ‘Pelé,’ died over the New Year weekend at the age of 82. Pelé had a tumor removed in September 2021 and begin chemotherapy shortly thereafter.
On December 21, 2022 Pelé was readmitted to the hospital where doctors stated that his tumor had advanced requiring, “greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions.”
Pelé begin his career in Santos, a port city near São Paulo Brazil in 1956 at the age of 15. Pelé quickly became one of soccer’s most elite players turning down numerous requests by European clubs to sign him after the Brazilian teen helped Brazil win back-to-back World Cups in 1958 and 1962.
Pelé won his first major title with Santos in 1958 where he finished the tournament as the leagues top scorer with 58 goals, a record that stands to this day. Despite having a tremendous career and being considered one of the best to ever play the game, Pelé was also known for his humanitarian work as he was appointed as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1994.
Pelé leaves behind seven children, five grandchildren, his wife Marcia Aoki and a legacy that will be admired for generations to come.
The sports world lost a legendary figure on Monday when reports started to come in from Park City Utah, that rally driver Ken Block succumbed to injuries sustained from a snowmobiling accident. Block, who was co-founded of DC Shoes and founder of Hoonigan was known around the world for his daredevil stunts and even more so for his precise driving skills.
Block accrued a mass following on a number of social media platforms where the daredevil posted videos of everything from rally car racing, to snowmobile stunts. Block leave behind his wife, Lucy Block, daughter (who has followed in his footsteps) Lia Block, and a young daughter and son (names unknown). Block died at the age of 55 near his ranch in Woodland Utah.
During Monday night’s game in Cincinnati where the Bengals hosted the Buffalo Bills, Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered an injury after tackling Bengals player. Damar got to his feet where he wobbled and collapsed on the field. Personnel rushed to his side before paramedics were called out to help resuscitate Hamlin.
Early reports on Tuesday say the Hamlin experienced cardiac arrest on the field. Hamlin is currently in a medically induced coma in a Cincinnati hospital where he remains in critical condition (at the time of this writing).
In other sports the Denver Nuggets have won two of their last four, with wins over the Miami Heat (124- 119), and the Boston Celtics (123-111) and losses to the Sacramento Kings last Wednesday (126-127) and again on Monday night in Minnesota to the Timberwolves (124-111).
