Vikes OLine Coach Passes Away at 56 - Tony Sporano

Horrible news. My prayers go out to the Sparano family....he was only 1 year older than me. Sobering.

RIP Tony.

I'm still shocked...  My heart goes out to the Sparano family.

From his wiki page...about his family...

Sparano was born in West Haven, Connecticut. He became known for wearing sunglasses, even during instances of relatively low lighting, due to an accident he suffered while working in a fast food restaurant at age 17 which damaged his eyesight and made sunglasses medically necessary.
Sparano and his wife, Carmela, had three children: sons Anthony Michael (currently an assistant offensive line coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars) and AJ (Anthony Junior)(an offensive line coach at Chabot College) both played college football at Albany, while daughter Meadow is a classically trained French pastry chef.
On July 19, 2018, Sparano was hospitalized in Eden Prairie, Minnesota after suffering from chest pains. He was released the following day and died two days later at the age of 56.

@"Jor-El" said:

Very sad news indeed. Too soon to speculate about his replacement?

Very sorry to hear this. Makes you wonder about our healthcare system ( I am a little jaded having gone through some things with my mom the last 10 years) 
Prayers to the Sparanos. Godspeed Tony!

@"Mighty mouse" said: This sucks....a big distraction during training camp.....that season fell apart when Stringer died.  Its time to mourn Sparano.  Very upset that doctors sent him home....very upset they didn't catch it before it happened.

This is terrible, shocking news. I feel so horrible for his family. Something similar happened to my best friend's dad, and around the same age actually. He went into the hospital with chest pains, they did a bunch of tests and let him go home and he died a day later...

Not to take away from Tony's passing, but maybe this becomes a catalyst for the team this season?

Lots of spiritual individuals on this roster including the new QB. Maybe they are the leaders who help others cope and bring the team more closely together? 

We'll see.

Of course those of us who've been a fan long enough are harkening back to Big K's passing. The impact that had on fans, friends, his family, players and a season.  Who doesn't remember Randy Moss @ the podium? 

I guess as fans all we can do is support the organization right now, pretty damn sad. 

@"StickyBun" said: Horrible. I'm guessing heart attack. Its rough, but you have to try and take care of yourself somewhat. But regardless, its a tragedy.

People don't want to hear it but you need to take care of your body. Being overweight and having a family history of either heart disease or other ailments means being extra diligent. Do what it takes to be around. No excuses. Just try your best.

I am not saying choke down ribeyes and sausage and live a life of slobbery and abandon,  but trying to live life in the effort of extending life isnt living.  trust me I was there for about 2 years and I was going to a dark place mentally way to often.

live for today and worry about yesterday tomorrow.  RIP Tony.

@"StickyBun" said:

@"Mighty mouse" said: This sucks....a big distraction during training camp.....that season fell apart when Stringer died.  Its time to mourn Sparano.  Very upset that doctors sent him home....very upset they didn't catch it before it happened.

I think its very possible the team doesn't fully recover from this. Tony was beloved, not only on the team but around the league. From what I'm reading, the team is sick over it. 

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Horrible. I'm guessing heart attack. Its rough, but you have to try and take care of yourself somewhat. But regardless, its a tragedy.

People don't want to hear it but you need to take care of your body. Being overweight and having a family history of either heart disease or other ailments means being extra diligent. Do what it takes to be around. No excuses. Just try your best.

at the same time.... enjoy life,  if living a long life means not being able to enjoy foods (or anything)  that make you happy... IMO,  choose happiness.   I have seen many perfectly fit people tip over from heart attacks and strokes,  when your time is up your time is up,  so make sure you arent wasting your time here worrying about tacking on an extra few days at the end. 

I am not saying choke down ribeyes and sausage and live a life of slobbery and abandon,  but trying to live life in the effort of extending life isnt living.  trust me I was there for about 2 years and I was going to a dark place mentally way to often.

live for today and worry about yesterday tomorrow.  RIP Tony.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Horrible. I'm guessing heart attack. Its rough, but you have to try and take care of yourself somewhat. But regardless, its a tragedy.

People don't want to hear it but you need to take care of your body. Being overweight and having a family history of either heart disease or other ailments means being extra diligent. Do what it takes to be around. No excuses. Just try your best.

at the same time.... enjoy life,  if living a long life means not being able to enjoy foods (or anything)  that make you happy... IMO,  choose happiness.   I have seen many perfectly fit people tip over from heart attacks and strokes,  when your time is up your time is up,  so make sure you arent wasting your time here worrying about tacking on an extra few days at the end. 

I am not saying choke down ribeyes and sausage and live a life of slobbery and abandon,  but trying to live life in the effort of extending life isnt living.  trust me I was there for about 2 years and I was going to a dark place mentally way to often.

live for today and worry about yesterday tomorrow.  RIP Tony.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Horrible. I'm guessing heart attack. Its rough, but you have to try and take care of yourself somewhat. But regardless, its a tragedy.

People don't want to hear it but you need to take care of your body. Being overweight and having a family history of either heart disease or other ailments means being extra diligent. Do what it takes to be around. No excuses. Just try your best.

at the same time.... enjoy life,  if living a long life means not being able to enjoy foods (or anything)  that make you happy... IMO,  choose happiness.   I have seen many perfectly fit people tip over from heart attacks and strokes,  when your time is up your time is up,  so make sure you arent wasting your time here worrying about tacking on an extra few days at the end. 

I am not saying choke down ribeyes and sausage and live a life of slobbery and abandon,  but trying to live life in the effort of extending life isnt living.  trust me I was there for about 2 years and I was going to a dark place mentally way to often.

live for today and worry about yesterday tomorrow.  RIP Tony.

Wait...I can't have ribeyes? Look, I understand avoiding fried foods and sugar, but what's wrong with a steak? Man... life isn't worth living without a juicy, medium rare, cowboy cut ribeye every now and then. 

@"StickyBun" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Horrible. I'm guessing heart attack. Its rough, but you have to try and take care of yourself somewhat. But regardless, its a tragedy.

People don't want to hear it but you need to take care of your body. Being overweight and having a family history of either heart disease or other ailments means being extra diligent. Do what it takes to be around. No excuses. Just try your best.

at the same time.... enjoy life,  if living a long life means not being able to enjoy foods (or anything)  that make you happy... IMO,  choose happiness.   I have seen many perfectly fit people tip over from heart attacks and strokes,  when your time is up your time is up,  so make sure you arent wasting your time here worrying about tacking on an extra few days at the end. 

I am not saying choke down ribeyes and sausage and live a life of slobbery and abandon,  but trying to live life in the effort of extending life isnt living.  trust me I was there for about 2 years and I was going to a dark place mentally way to often.

live for today and worry about yesterday tomorrow.  RIP Tony.

You aren't 'tacking on a few days at the end' by eating in moderation or not being obese: You are adding quality of life years to your lifespan. As you age, weight becomes more and more of a massive negative factor in your quality of life. It manifests itself in all kinds of diseases and ailments. Yes, of course people that are in shape die of heart attacks and strokes, but at a  significantly lower rate than people who are extremely overweight. And when they are elderly, they are way more active, mobile and spry. 

Listen, I have no idea if Tony had a history of heart disease or what he even died from: its a tragedy regardless. But you can see he was very overweight. I'll just guess that it had something to do with it because its overwhelmingly a medical fact, but I don't know for sure if it did. Maybe it didn't. Being happy doesn't mean putting on 50 extra pounds of fat....it just doesn't. What it does mean is your risk for many ailments goes way up no matter how you might rationalize it. I have a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins and obesity is a factor in probably 70% of them. I see what it does. My wife and I have a friend who's 55 years old and she's easily 40+ lbs overweight....she chose her primary care physician because she isn't required to be weighed on every visit and the doctor won't discuss her weight. How is that helping anything? 

Everyone is entitled to live life the way they'd like. But our country has an obesity epidemic that is devastating our healthcare system. Maybe its time we require those that are very obese and have been for years to pay more?

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Horrible. I'm guessing heart attack. Its rough, but you have to try and take care of yourself somewhat. But regardless, its a tragedy.

People don't want to hear it but you need to take care of your body. Being overweight and having a family history of either heart disease or other ailments means being extra diligent. Do what it takes to be around. No excuses. Just try your best.

at the same time.... enjoy life,  if living a long life means not being able to enjoy foods (or anything)  that make you happy... IMO,  choose happiness.   I have seen many perfectly fit people tip over from heart attacks and strokes,  when your time is up your time is up,  so make sure you arent wasting your time here worrying about tacking on an extra few days at the end. 

I am not saying choke down ribeyes and sausage and live a life of slobbery and abandon,  but trying to live life in the effort of extending life isnt living.  trust me I was there for about 2 years and I was going to a dark place mentally way to often.

live for today and worry about yesterday tomorrow.  RIP Tony.

Wait...I can't have ribeyes? Look, I understand avoiding fried foods and sugar, but what's wrong with a steak? Man... life isn't worth living without a juicy, medium rare, cowboy cut ribeye every now and then. 

now and then is the key.... sirloins for your daily beef intake B) ,  but that ribeye or porterhouse should be reserved for special occasions... like breakfast tomorrow!  ( i have 1 left over that was reverse seared and cooked with a little pecan wood... holy crap each bite is like chewing on heaven)

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Horrible. I'm guessing heart attack. Its rough, but you have to try and take care of yourself somewhat. But regardless, its a tragedy.

People don't want to hear it but you need to take care of your body. Being overweight and having a family history of either heart disease or other ailments means being extra diligent. Do what it takes to be around. No excuses. Just try your best.

at the same time.... enjoy life,  if living a long life means not being able to enjoy foods (or anything)  that make you happy... IMO,  choose happiness.   I have seen many perfectly fit people tip over from heart attacks and strokes,  when your time is up your time is up,  so make sure you arent wasting your time here worrying about tacking on an extra few days at the end. 

I am not saying choke down ribeyes and sausage and live a life of slobbery and abandon,  but trying to live life in the effort of extending life isnt living.  trust me I was there for about 2 years and I was going to a dark place mentally way to often.

live for today and worry about yesterday tomorrow.  RIP Tony.

You aren't 'tacking on a few days at the end' by eating in moderation or not being obese: You are adding quality of life years to your lifespan. As you age, weight becomes more and more of a massive negative factor in your quality of life. It manifests itself in all kinds of diseases and ailments. Yes, of course people that are in shape die of heart attacks and strokes, but at a  significantly lower rate than people who are extremely overweight. And when they are elderly, they are way more active, mobile and spry. 

Listen, I have no idea if Tony had a history of heart disease or what he even died from: its a tragedy regardless. But you can see he was very overweight. I'll just guess that it had something to do with it because its overwhelmingly a medical fact, but I don't know for sure if it did. Maybe it didn't. Being happy doesn't mean putting on 50 extra pounds of fat....it just doesn't. What it does mean is your risk for many ailments goes way up no matter how you might rationalize it. I have a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins and obesity is a factor in probably 70% of them. I see what it does. My wife and I have a friend who's 55 years old and she's easily 40+ lbs overweight....she chose her primary care physician because she isn't required to be weighed on every visit and the doctor won't discuss her weight. How is that helping anything? 

Everyone is entitled to live life the way they'd like. But our country has an obesity epidemic that is devastating our healthcare system. Maybe its time we require those that are very obese and have been for years to pay more?

I also come from a family of large people on 1 side and thin on the other,  guess which side has the history of heart issues?  yes diet and exercise can be helpful for some, probably most,  but if it consumes your life to stay fit... and you dont enjoy working out  and eating like a rabbit... WTF is the point?   I have never enjoyed working out,  i did it for sports, but those days are long gone (like the cartilage in my knees) I have buried a lot of friends and family in the last 5 years and have watched them die from a lot of different causes and give my druthers, right now,  I say give me the quick death any day.  I will take a massive heart attack over having my body slowly erode away from age or other disease any day.  This sounds like I am advocating sloth and hoping for a heart attack,  I am not,  but I am also saying that if I am happy and carrying a few (dozen) extra pounds... IMO that is a better life than being fit and miserable.  If Tony was happy with his life and truly enjoyed living as he did,  why not?   

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Horrible. I'm guessing heart attack. Its rough, but you have to try and take care of yourself somewhat. But regardless, its a tragedy.

People don't want to hear it but you need to take care of your body. Being overweight and having a family history of either heart disease or other ailments means being extra diligent. Do what it takes to be around. No excuses. Just try your best.

at the same time.... enjoy life,  if living a long life means not being able to enjoy foods (or anything)  that make you happy... IMO,  choose happiness.   I have seen many perfectly fit people tip over from heart attacks and strokes,  when your time is up your time is up,  so make sure you arent wasting your time here worrying about tacking on an extra few days at the end. 

I am not saying choke down ribeyes and sausage and live a life of slobbery and abandon,  but trying to live life in the effort of extending life isnt living.  trust me I was there for about 2 years and I was going to a dark place mentally way to often.

live for today and worry about yesterday tomorrow.  RIP Tony.

Wait...I can't have ribeyes? Look, I understand avoiding fried foods and sugar, but what's wrong with a steak? Man... life isn't worth living without a juicy, medium rare, cowboy cut ribeye every now and then. 

now and then is the key.... sirloins for your daily beef intake B) ,  but that ribeye or porterhouse should be reserved for special occasions... like breakfast tomorrow!  ( i have 1 left over that was reverse seared and cooked with a little pecan wood... holy crap each bite is like chewing on heaven)

Well, to that I'll only say that the cost of ribeye prevents me from having it more often than I should anyway. Over the 4th, ribeyes were on sale and I bought 12 of them. Kills me that I have to freeze them, but oh well. I'm just glad my kids aren't really old enough yet to catch on to the fact that when we have steak, daddy gets the ribeye and they get sirloin. :-)

@"StickyBun" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Horrible. I'm guessing heart attack. Its rough, but you have to try and take care of yourself somewhat. But regardless, its a tragedy.

People don't want to hear it but you need to take care of your body. Being overweight and having a family history of either heart disease or other ailments means being extra diligent. Do what it takes to be around. No excuses. Just try your best.

at the same time.... enjoy life,  if living a long life means not being able to enjoy foods (or anything)  that make you happy... IMO,  choose happiness.   I have seen many perfectly fit people tip over from heart attacks and strokes,  when your time is up your time is up,  so make sure you arent wasting your time here worrying about tacking on an extra few days at the end. 

I am not saying choke down ribeyes and sausage and live a life of slobbery and abandon,  but trying to live life in the effort of extending life isnt living.  trust me I was there for about 2 years and I was going to a dark place mentally way to often.

live for today and worry about yesterday tomorrow.  RIP Tony.

You aren't 'tacking on a few days at the end' by eating in moderation or not being obese: You are adding quality of life years to your lifespan. As you age, weight becomes more and more of a massive negative factor in your quality of life. It manifests itself in all kinds of diseases and ailments. Yes, of course people that are in shape die of heart attacks and strokes, but at a  significantly lower rate than people who are extremely overweight. And when they are elderly, they are way more active, mobile and spry. 

Listen, I have no idea if Tony had a history of heart disease or what he even died from: its a tragedy regardless. But you can see he was very overweight. I'll just guess that it had something to do with it because its overwhelmingly a medical fact, but I don't know for sure if it did. Maybe it didn't. Being happy doesn't mean putting on 50 extra pounds of fat....it just doesn't. What it does mean is your risk for many ailments goes way up no matter how you might rationalize it. I have a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins and obesity is a factor in probably 70% of them. I see what it does. My wife and I have a friend who's 55 years old and she's easily 40+ lbs overweight....she chose her primary care physician because she isn't required to be weighed on every visit and the doctor won't discuss her weight. How is that helping anything? 

Everyone is entitled to live life the way they'd like. But our country has an obesity epidemic that is devastating our healthcare system. Maybe its time we require those that are very obese and have been for years to pay more?

I also come from a family of large people on 1 side and thin on the other,  guess which side has the history of heart issues?  yes diet and exercise can be helpful for some, probably most,  but if it consumes your life to stay fit... and you dont enjoy working out  and eating like a rabbit... WTF is the point?   I have never enjoyed working out,  i did it for sports, but those days are long gone (like the cartilage in my knees) I have buried a lot of friends and family in the last 5 years and have watched them die from a lot of different causes and give my druthers, right now,  I say give me the quick death any day.  I will take a massive heart attack over having my body slowly erode away from age or other disease any day.  This sounds like I am advocating sloth and hoping for a heart attack,  I am not,  but I am also saying that if I am happy and carrying a few (dozen) extra pounds... IMO that is a better life than being fit and miserable.  If Tony was happy with his life and truly enjoyed living as he did,  why not?   

Because I guarantee you that Tony didn't plan on dying at 56 years old and he'd love to be here with his family and grandkids for another 25 years. You are rationalizing big time and your prism is extremely narrow. And who says being fit is somehow miserable? lol. I find that hilarious. For you, maybe it is. 

I'm not going to debate with someone the downside of being obese from a health standpoint, its self evident. Having heart issues from a genetic standpoint are anomalies, which you seem to not be acknowledging.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Horrible. I'm guessing heart attack. Its rough, but you have to try and take care of yourself somewhat. But regardless, its a tragedy.

People don't want to hear it but you need to take care of your body. Being overweight and having a family history of either heart disease or other ailments means being extra diligent. Do what it takes to be around. No excuses. Just try your best.

at the same time.... enjoy life,  if living a long life means not being able to enjoy foods (or anything)  that make you happy... IMO,  choose happiness.   I have seen many perfectly fit people tip over from heart attacks and strokes,  when your time is up your time is up,  so make sure you arent wasting your time here worrying about tacking on an extra few days at the end. 

I am not saying choke down ribeyes and sausage and live a life of slobbery and abandon,  but trying to live life in the effort of extending life isnt living.  trust me I was there for about 2 years and I was going to a dark place mentally way to often.

live for today and worry about yesterday tomorrow.  RIP Tony.

You aren't 'tacking on a few days at the end' by eating in moderation or not being obese: You are adding quality of life years to your lifespan. As you age, weight becomes more and more of a massive negative factor in your quality of life. It manifests itself in all kinds of diseases and ailments. Yes, of course people that are in shape die of heart attacks and strokes, but at a  significantly lower rate than people who are extremely overweight. And when they are elderly, they are way more active, mobile and spry. 

Listen, I have no idea if Tony had a history of heart disease or what he even died from: its a tragedy regardless. But you can see he was very overweight. I'll just guess that it had something to do with it because its overwhelmingly a medical fact, but I don't know for sure if it did. Maybe it didn't. Being happy doesn't mean putting on 50 extra pounds of fat....it just doesn't. What it does mean is your risk for many ailments goes way up no matter how you might rationalize it. I have a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins and obesity is a factor in probably 70% of them. I see what it does. My wife and I have a friend who's 55 years old and she's easily 40+ lbs overweight....she chose her primary care physician because she isn't required to be weighed on every visit and the doctor won't discuss her weight. How is that helping anything? 

Everyone is entitled to live life the way they'd like. But our country has an obesity epidemic that is devastating our healthcare system. Maybe its time we require those that are very obese and have been for years to pay more?

I also come from a family of large people on 1 side and thin on the other,  guess which side has the history of heart issues?  yes diet and exercise can be helpful for some, probably most,  but if it consumes your life to stay fit... and you dont enjoy working out  and eating like a rabbit... WTF is the point?   I have never enjoyed working out,  i did it for sports, but those days are long gone (like the cartilage in my knees) I have buried a lot of friends and family in the last 5 years and have watched them die from a lot of different causes and give my druthers, right now,  I say give me the quick death any day.  I will take a massive heart attack over having my body slowly erode away from age or other disease any day.  This sounds like I am advocating sloth and hoping for a heart attack,  I am not,  but I am also saying that if I am happy and carrying a few (dozen) extra pounds... IMO that is a better life than being fit and miserable.  If Tony was happy with his life and truly enjoyed living as he did,  why not?   

Because I guarantee you that Tony didn't plan on dying at 56 years old and he'd love to be here with his family and grandkids for another 25 years. You are rationalizing big time and your prism is extremely narrow. And who says being fit is somehow miserable? lol. I find that hilarious. For you, maybe it is. 

I'm not going to debate with someone the downside of being obese from a health standpoint, its self evident. Having heart issues from a genetic standpoint are anomalies, which you seem to not be acknowledging.

then dont debate it.... I just people shouldnt spend their lives worrying about tomorrow and miss out on today.   and yes I hate traditional shit people do to try and stay in shape,  to me running for the sake of running (staying in shape) is torture (physical and mental)  if I am not going to be tackled or arrested... why run?   and there is a big difference between being obese and being a larger person, IMO obesity is carrying weight that prevents you from enjoying life,  the person that gets winded walking up a flight of stairs.  I dont think Tony was that out of shape.   you want to take extremes in this conversation.. .you do in about any topic you go into.  I am not talking about extremes, I am talking about being a little heavy and living with the risk vs being in ideal shape for the opportunity to die a few years later.  risk is risk,  everybody has to determine their own level in terms of the rewards.  you want to live to 90 and die slowly in some home as your body slowly fails you... go be you,  I would much rather check out at 60 or 65 quickly and not have to be trapped in my own mind in some home.  we all die from something,  and most dont really get to pick when or how,  I just am not going to focus so much on trying to change that date.

Yah, I've read where gut weight is the worst for men in terms of health issues. 66% obesity rate in the country is an epidemic and the %'s are even worse among minorities and lower income.

Anyways, back to Tony - RIP and condolences to his family, friends and The Vikings Org.