Former 49ers great Dwight Clark dies at 61 after battle with ALS

[Garion_55]

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]

1. I remember THE CATCH.....

R.I.P Dwight Clark

[BeyondGeography]

2. That catch

may have meant more to one city than any other sporting play in this country’s history. I’m 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 you’ll hear sheer joy.

RIP, Dwight.

[jalan48]

3. After years of losing to Dallas in the playoffs the Niners finally won. A great day.

[deurbano]

10. At the time, I was taking Sociology of Religion at Berkeley with the great Robert Bellah, and

he described it as a transcendent, religious type experience.

[BeyondGeography]

11. I found a clip of the broadcast

The play starts at 1:25. The crowd reaction really is a beautiful thing:

[Va Lefty]

4. Life long Cowboys fan here

Way too young

Safe passage

[camelfan]

5. I was a 49ers fan since the days of

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]

6. RIP Dwight

I met him once at a fundraiser. Nice guy. You can’t help wonder if those hits he took causes the ALs.

[caraher]

16. Seems likely

Football players have 4 times the risk of ALS, and that the risk for players in positions like his (prone to hits at high speed) have triple the risk of linemen for dying of a neurodegenerative disorder.

Sad loss. I remember that catch well.

Everett J. Lehman, MS, and team also set out to find out whether different positions played by footballers impacted on their risk of death from brain damaging diseases. They divided the players into two groups:

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]

7. Lifelong Niner Fan Here. It's a sad day for all of us

The Catch is the greatest single event in Bay Area Sports History, including no-hitters & perfect games; Rickey’s stolen base record; Giants, A’s, Warriors, Raiders, & Niners Championships.

[7962]

8. Oh wow, I didnt know he had that. How sad. RIP, great one.

[aeromanKC]

9. Cowboys Fan growing up Always Hated Dwight Clark for "The Catch"

Dang, sad news today. ALS is one of the worst. RIP Dwight Clark.

[herding cats]

12. I've been through ALS with a dear family friend. It's horrific.

He's free of his constraints now.

Peace to his family and loved ones.

[PCIntern]

13. This Eagles fan couldn't have been happier than day

given that we were not in the game. Being thrilled watching Dallas lose is a hobby of mine!

R.I.P. Mr. Clark

[catbyte]

14. ALS is a fucking, brutal, damned unfair, horrific disease. I lost my dad to it in 2000 & my

sweetie lost his wife to it in 2013. My condolences to his family.

[NewJeffCT]

15. Never a 49ers fan

but, always respected their players and success. RIP Dwight Clark.

[oasis]

17. Great player, class guy. Rest in peace.