RIP Fireball Jr. | Syracusefan.com
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RIP Fireball Jr.

br801

br801

Co 2020-21 Iggy Award Winner Hoops Leading Scorer
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br801 said:
Sadly, I just learned that Richie Zitrin (Fireball Jr.) passed away in April. He was a tremendous writer and journalist, and an even better guy in real life. RIP, sir. You will be missed.

Obituary for Richard Alan Zitrin https://www.democratandchronicle.com/obituaries/pnys1169647

Here is a piece he wrote on the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings.
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This is sad news, indeed. I had a few conversations via pm with him over the years. He was thoughtful and insightful and I always learned something from him. He was the standard bearer for sober second thought around parts extant. RIP Fireball Jr.
 
Cowtown said:
This is sad news, indeed. I had a few conversations via pm with him over the years. He was thoughtful and insightful and I always learned something from him. He was the standard bearer for sober second thought around parts extant. RIP Fireball Jr.
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Yes, he and I had some good conversations that way though the years, especially during Covid. He saw and overcame a lot, but always was full of good cheer and optimism.
 
br801 said:
Sadly, I just learned that Richie Zitrin (Fireball Jr.) passed away in April. He was a tremendous writer and journalist, and an even better guy in real life. RIP, sir. You will be missed.

Obituary for Richard Alan Zitrin https://www.democratandchronicle.com/obituaries/pnys1169647

Here is a piece he wrote on the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings.
Expand...
Sorry to hear. He and I shared a couple of direct messages over the years. Going to take a look for them. Thoughtful man and writer.
 
cuseattle said:
Sorry to hear. He and I shared a couple of direct messages over the years. Going to take a look for them. Thoughtful man and writer.
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He really was.

I probably should have noted his passing in a separate thread because he really deserves that (but wouldn’t have cared either way).

Maybe one of the moderators can do that with these posts. orange79 OrangeXtreme Cheriehoop CuseLegacy
 
br801 said:
Sadly, I just learned that Richie Zitrin (Fireball Jr.) passed away in April. He was a tremendous writer and journalist, and an even better guy in real life. RIP, sir. You will be missed.

Obituary for Richard Alan Zitrin https://www.democratandchronicle.com/obituaries/pnys1169647

Here is a piece he wrote on the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings.
Expand...
Simply, he was just an all-round good guy.

I was lucky enough to work with him years ago.
Smart and incisive.
He was great sportswriter and reporter in general.
Loved his true crime reporting, music and his life in the Roc.
Miss you, man, miss you.
 
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Sad to hear. Had some great back and forth interactions over the years in the NBA thread especially regarding LeBron James. Definitely had his opinions but did a great job of expressing them. Now knowing he was a sports writer makes a lot of sense. I never knew that.

RIP. He will be missed.
 
br801 said:
Sadly, I just learned that Richie Zitrin (Fireball Jr.) passed away in April. He was a tremendous writer and journalist, and an even better guy in real life. RIP, sir. You will be missed.

Obituary for Richard Alan Zitrin https://www.democratandchronicle.com/obituaries/pnys1169647

Here is a piece he wrote on the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings.
Expand...
Man, what a shame. He was very passionate but in a gentlemanly way. A real mensch. I always felt I could learn something by reading his posts. RIP Fireball Jr.
 
br801 said:
Sadly, I just learned that Richie Zitrin (Fireball Jr.) passed away in April. He was a tremendous writer and journalist, and an even better guy in real life. RIP, sir. You will be missed.

Obituary for Richard Alan Zitrin https://www.democratandchronicle.com/obituaries/pnys1169647

Here is a piece he wrote on the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings.
Expand...
That was a powerful piece on Kent State. I have read books on the subject but nothing from someone who witnessed the tragedy.
RIP Fireball.
 
KaiserUEO said:
Oh man, that really saddens me.

I had some awesome conversations with him
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Ditto.

Toward the end [when people changed their handles several times / over time], I got confused between "fireball phil" and "fireball jr."

But back in the day, I used to really enjoy conversations with him. Had LOTS of debates about LeBron / Ohio.

Believe he was a multi-time cancer survivor, as well -- so a bad ass.

RIP Richie.
 
Always sad to hear about losing someone from our Syracusefan community. Didn't know him but based on the responses here I wish I did. RIP!
 
RF2044 said:
Ditto.

Toward the end [when people changed their handles several times / over time], I got confused between "fireball phil" and "fireball jr."

But back in the day, I used to really enjoy conversations with him. Had LOTS of debates about LeBron / Ohio.

Believe he was a multi-time cancer survivor, as well -- so a bad ass.

RIP Richie.
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Yep, it got confusing.

We had just as many private conversations as public on the board.

He ‘got’ me from day 1. We shared a lot of laughs.

And yes, we both are strong Yankees #15 to the HOF guys.

RIP my friend.
 
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