The sports world mourns the passing of one of the brightest mind as John Brenkus passed away after a battle with depression.
Depression has been one of the least talked about and most dangerous illness as it often goes unnoticed, and now the world loses Brenkus to that very illness.
Brenkus was the founder of ESPN's 'Sports Science' show and was an Emmy-winning host for the show, and passed away at 54 years old.
Loved by all of the sports world, and sparked an ignition for learning the analytics and science surrounding sports, which has changed how fans and staff interact with sports.
Miami Heat forward Kevin Love spoke on the tragic news on an Instagram story post.
"John Brenkus was a good man. Very saddened by his passing. Please don't hesitate to reach out to a loved one and do not suffer along. There is another way," said Love.
His message to everyone speaks volumes, as you never know what someone may be going through in their life. Brenkus was well known inside the sports community with nothing but good things to say about him.
The battle of depression is most often an internal battle, and a hard one to beat because it makes people feel alone. Love's message to reach out to friends, family, or anyone, and to treat others how you want to be treated, because you never know what someone may be going through.
Brenkus had previously shared his struggles with depression in an interview with former NFL defensive end, ESPN analyst, and now FOX Sports analyst Marcellus Wiley, by stating that his dog saved him from taking his own life in 2023.
As the sports world mourns the loss of Brenkus, and shifts focus to the war on depression, fans, players and everyone in-between should always be sure to check on people around them, as depression can be a sneaky, lonely road.
