Post by Paul on Jan 5, 2008 11:39:59 GMT
Clinton Grybas death
Journalist's sad death
By staff writers
January 05, 2008
MELBOURNE-based sports commentator Clinton Grybas has died, aged 32. Grybas was a stalwart of FOX SPORTS AFL coverage and commentator with radio station 3AW in Melbourne.
Staff at 3AW became concerned this morning when he failed to turn up early to prepare to host the Sports Today show. He was found at his apartment and rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
General manager of 3AW, Graham Mott, said his death had not yet sunk in.
"He's just one of those genuinely brilliant people who is very good at what he did and a terrific bloke as well.
"At a time like this, while you can think about the wonderful things he did, it's still hard to get over the fact he's gone, no longer with us.
"We wish his family and friends the best at a most difficult time for everybody," Mott said.
Grybas started his sports journalism career with ABC Radio in 1995 after studying journalism at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
He spent five AFL seasons with the ABC before moving to 3AW in 2001, where he covered all major sports and events.
Grybas, who was named AFL broadcaster of the year in 2005, once said his favourite on-air moment was calling Australia's victorious women's water polo final at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
"Australia won on a last second shot, 17,000 people were going crazy and the call was apparently excellent, or so I have been told often by people who can remember exactly where they were when they heard it," he said.
David Malone, CEO of FOX SPORTS said, "This is a very sad and tragic event and our thoughts are very much with his family at this time. Clinton has made a tremendous contribution to FOX SPORTS and had added so much to the coverage of the game he loved."
Tony Sinclair, Director of FOX SPORTS channels, echoed those comments. "Clinton was a most respected broadcaster and true professional. His knowledge and passion for footy stood him apart. The loss of such a young, successful man is truly a great tragedy."
Colleague Graham Bond spoke tearfully about losing his friend and fellow commentator.
"To lose a friend, a colleague, a brilliant talent, someone I've worked closely with for the last seven years, and I was just really looking forward to another season with Clinton on 3AW football and on the sports department," he said.
Bond said Grybas possessed an unsurpassed ability to cover any sport.
"Whatever we threw to Clinton he was able to handle," he said. "He lived for his job, he loved his sport, he loved everything about what he did and it's such a sad loss that he's not going to be able to continue doing that."
Cricket Australia also paid tribute to Grybas.
"Cricket Australia and cricket in general are deeply saddened by the passing of Clinton Grybas today," CA chief executive James Sutherland said.
"He spent many hours working for two of our broadcast partners on our sport, was a talented broadcaster and liked by members of the Australian cricket team who he regularly interviewed post-match.
"Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."
The cause of Grybas's death is not known.
Journalist's sad death
By staff writers
January 05, 2008
MELBOURNE-based sports commentator Clinton Grybas has died, aged 32. Grybas was a stalwart of FOX SPORTS AFL coverage and commentator with radio station 3AW in Melbourne.
Staff at 3AW became concerned this morning when he failed to turn up early to prepare to host the Sports Today show. He was found at his apartment and rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
General manager of 3AW, Graham Mott, said his death had not yet sunk in.
"He's just one of those genuinely brilliant people who is very good at what he did and a terrific bloke as well.
"At a time like this, while you can think about the wonderful things he did, it's still hard to get over the fact he's gone, no longer with us.
"We wish his family and friends the best at a most difficult time for everybody," Mott said.
Grybas started his sports journalism career with ABC Radio in 1995 after studying journalism at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
He spent five AFL seasons with the ABC before moving to 3AW in 2001, where he covered all major sports and events.
Grybas, who was named AFL broadcaster of the year in 2005, once said his favourite on-air moment was calling Australia's victorious women's water polo final at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
"Australia won on a last second shot, 17,000 people were going crazy and the call was apparently excellent, or so I have been told often by people who can remember exactly where they were when they heard it," he said.
David Malone, CEO of FOX SPORTS said, "This is a very sad and tragic event and our thoughts are very much with his family at this time. Clinton has made a tremendous contribution to FOX SPORTS and had added so much to the coverage of the game he loved."
Tony Sinclair, Director of FOX SPORTS channels, echoed those comments. "Clinton was a most respected broadcaster and true professional. His knowledge and passion for footy stood him apart. The loss of such a young, successful man is truly a great tragedy."
Colleague Graham Bond spoke tearfully about losing his friend and fellow commentator.
"To lose a friend, a colleague, a brilliant talent, someone I've worked closely with for the last seven years, and I was just really looking forward to another season with Clinton on 3AW football and on the sports department," he said.
Bond said Grybas possessed an unsurpassed ability to cover any sport.
"Whatever we threw to Clinton he was able to handle," he said. "He lived for his job, he loved his sport, he loved everything about what he did and it's such a sad loss that he's not going to be able to continue doing that."
Cricket Australia also paid tribute to Grybas.
"Cricket Australia and cricket in general are deeply saddened by the passing of Clinton Grybas today," CA chief executive James Sutherland said.
"He spent many hours working for two of our broadcast partners on our sport, was a talented broadcaster and liked by members of the Australian cricket team who he regularly interviewed post-match.
"Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."
The cause of Grybas's death is not known.
