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Craig Sager once drank 26 beers during a round of golf

Craig Sager is an impressive guy.
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Craig Sager is an impressive guy. The TNT sideline reporter continues to work amid his fight with leukemia. He’s known as one of the NBA’s great human beings.

Fox Sports Sun’s Jason Jackson shared a great story with the Palm Beach Post about a round of golf he played with Sager during the 2013 playoffs.

From Jackson, via the Post:

“I don’t think he’ll be mad at me because this is awesome​...During the Milwaukee series in 2013 we went and played golf north of Milwaukee, and one of his buddies from growing up came up from Chicago. It was them, myself and Telly Hughes, the courtside reporter for the Bucks.

“It was one of those days where it was windy and 60 degrees and you could’ve just called it off, especially after living in South Florida — ‘Nah, this is a bad one. Let’s back off.’ And Craig was wearing shorts on this blustery, why-are-we-out-here day.

“Anyway, Craig Sager drank 26 Bud Lights in 18 holes and did not miss a putt. He two-putted maybe six greens, and everything else was in. We lost $70 each. It infuriated me. I don’t mind having a beverage after a round, right? But he kept having beers and I kept losing, and I thought, ‘I know this dude. This is a Midwestern man who has utter control of his constitution.’ There was no way.

“That was the day we really connected on a whole other level. When you play golf, you spend so much time out there and there are a lot of conversations. I’ll never forget that day. Ever.”

More: Athletes share support for Craig Sager

Stay strong, Craig.

[Palm Beach Post]