BOSTON – Sunrise, sunset.
This week, the song written in 1964 by composer Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick, came to mind after a Tuesday morning notification of the death of an extended family member was coupled with the wonderful birth of my newborn great niece, Quinn Willow McBurnie, all the perfect 7 lbs, 9 oz. of her.
But then, the sledgehammer fell, as the colleagues of the late Sekou Smith of NBA TV announced his death as they came “on air,” all visibly shaken from his sudden death. Two deaths from complications of COVID-19 and one wonderful birth, showing the circle of life in these challenging times.
The tributes to Sekou Smith came from every corner of the world and every bucket of the National Basketball Association. From Commissioner Silver’s heartfelt remarks to those of Sekou’s friends and colleagues.
“The NBA mourns the passing of Sekou Smith, a beloved member of the NBA family. Sekou was one of the most affable and dedicated reporters in the NBA and a terrific friend to so many across the league. He covered the game for more than two decades, including the past 11 years with Turner Sports, where he showed his full range of skills as an engaging television analyst, podcast host and writer. Sekou’s love of basketball was clear to everyone who knew him and it always shined through in his work. Our heartfelt condolences go to his wife, Heather, and their children, Gabriel, Rielly and Cameron.”
The NBA’s head of basketball communications, Tim Frank – one of the more loyal and dedicated Notre Dame grads and fans you’d ever know, paid tribute to his Michigan rival with these words:
“You meet a lot of people in this business but I’m not sure you could find a better guy than Sekou Smith,” wrote Frank. “His smile, his laugh, his s%#*-talking about Michigan football, his slow walk, that look when he was getting ready to disagree with you. He was just a unique, incredible friend.
“I now cherish even more the time we got to spend this summer in the (NBA) Bubble (venue from this past summer competition in Orlando). I still chuckle at how cold he was in the arenas, because he came to Florida and brought nothing warm (to wear in the air conditioned venues)! And as usual, he just smiled and mocked himself as he sat there frigid.
“Everyone in the NBA knew Sekou and good luck finding anyone who didn’t love the guy. It just wasn’t possible to have a bad experience with him. Ok, except for when Michigan would beat Notre Dame and I would literally hear about it until the next time they played.
God bless Sekou’s family. Please just know how special he was and what he meant to so many people. He was simply an amazing human being.”
“Ok, Sekou, just for you, I’ll do it,” wrote Frank. … “Go Blue”