OT: RIP Eric Montross
Former Tar Heel great that helped beat the Fab 5 has passed away from cancer at the age of 52.
I remember Michigan recruited him heavily before he chose UNC over us.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
Oh damn.
December 18th, 2023 at 7:16 PM ^
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!
RIP BIG E!!!!
December 18th, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
Huge bummer and a reminder that tomorrow is not guaranteed. RIP.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
Username sadly does not check out.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
Wow, so young!
RIP Mr Montross 🙏
December 18th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
Dang! So young! RIP young Heel.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:16 AM ^
https://www.unc.edu/posts/2023/12/18/eric-montross-dies-of-cancer-at-52/
Poor guy.
Aside: Why is it that so many disease courses are framed as "battles?" Not sure of the details in this case, but sometimes life happens in a medical way and there's not much you can do about it. In those cases, the idea that you're "battling" anything is ridiculous.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
Norm MacDonald had a sketch on that (he died of cancer too).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEzcO127O4c
-----
When you die with cancer, the cancer dies too. And, if there's an afterlife, the cancer isn't moving on to THAT, only you are.
So, at worst, you fight cancer to a draw. At best, you either beat the shit out of it and live further in this realm, or either beat the shit out of it because cancer is not with your soul in the next realm.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
I take it you've never experienced cancer nor had someone close to you go through it. For the person with cancer, sometimes your day is miserable. You feel awful from the treatment or just not being able to do what you want. It's a battle to get to up. It's a battle to go to your appointments. It's a battle to take your treatments. It's a battle to eat, to sleep, or enjoy your life. It's a battle to accept your fate.
So, it is a fight. A fight for your life and happiness. That's why it's a battle.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
100 times yes PP.
Don't tell me it's not a battle if you haven't had cancer yourself. When they bolt your head down to table for radiation, it's a f**ing battle. When your elderly Mother, who had to interrupt her life 400 miles away to come and drive you to treatments, it's a battle. When she has to pull over on the highway so you can throw up after treatment (despite the compazine which fails to help the nausea), it's a battle. When you get no sleep for days because dexamethasone* is the devil, it's a battle.
Many people have had worse experiences then me; many have lost the battle. But don't tell me that cancer is a not a battle.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
"I take it you've never experienced cancer nor had someone close to you go through it."
You're way off. I'm not sure what leap of logic you made to reach that conclusion. I've had extensive experience with hopeless medical scenarios (including cancer) in my extended family. I don't think you read my post very carefully. Here's the important part, again:
"... sometimes life happens in a medical way and there's not much you can do about it."
In case you still don't understand me, try this: Imagine you're at a prestigious medical center and you hear that you have a few months to live and that you should get your personal affairs in order as quickly as possible. (Real-life scenario ...) There's no wiggle room. You're done. You're "battling" your illness the same way Jeremy Renner battled the snowplow a couple of years ago. Am I making myself clear?
December 18th, 2023 at 1:01 PM ^
Strange hill to die on. It's a battle period. Even you are saying there isn't much you can do, but there might be something small that might give a sliver of hope to live another day, hour.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:08 PM ^
That's not my point. Of course daily life would be a battle. I'm referring specifically to the person vs. the disease. That's sometimes hopeless. Then you wind up with "So and so lost their battle (with something they had no hope of meaningfully fighting)." I can tell you that as a survivor I got tired of reading that.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
you have the right to feel how you feel and think what you think, but when you voice an opinion that is dubious at best and plain ridiculous at worst, you have to stand up to the scrutiny. It's great if you are a cancer survivor, but you don't speak for cancer survivors at large, nor anyone else. It;s obvious others have taken exception to your opinion on the subject. Best to just drop it and move on rather than attempt to justify it. I had a sister who died of bowel cancer and it happened quickly, but it was no less a battle for her, and all who loved her.
December 18th, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
Maybe struggle is the better word. How others deal with it or word it is up to them though.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
Damn blueheron, just let it go, it’s very weird your digging in on this
December 18th, 2023 at 11:21 PM ^
I think it's time for me to finally comment.
Heard
December 18th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
I have a front row seat for this at my job.
Every single thing a cancer patient (and their family) experiences gets forcibly frenched-pressed through a fragile membrane of expiring mortality. Pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, cytopenias, the list never really stops.
Every choice they make feels wrong. Defer on chemotherapy, and you are eschewing additional life. Accept chemotherapy and you are consenting to profound, sometimes toxic levels, of physical insult.
I'm not saying any of this to you in a snarky way, promise. I've just seen these struggles too much. Treatment or not, it's always a battle. And it never seems fair, either.
Edit: PSA- chemotherapy and immunotherapy have evolved exponentially over the past several decades. If it was me or my wife, I would consent to virtually everything that is available right now. Having cancer is awful, and the toll it takes is real. However, after I posted, I didn't want any other Mgousers to have more fear than necessary if they are staring down the business end of this treatment. It's a battle, but the team you work with will have an opportunity to help out with anything that goes wrong. Science is real and it is always on your side.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:12 PM ^
Your ridiculous,look up the meaning of battle.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^
Jesus, dude, I hope no one you love ever gets cancer. I can picture you at their bedside telling them to suck it up.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:25 PM ^
You're not battling, you're already dead grandma
December 18th, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
Man - that is terrible. Cancer, still fairly young, right before the holiday, leaves a family.
He was a former Detroit Piston. Obviously much more well known for UNC. 1993 Title Game was an epic game, 2 great college teams.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
Two great college teams decided by a really bad defensive coaching decision. Jimmy King should have been the only player guarding Donald Williams. Jalen had no business with that assignment and I am still not over it.
Montross was a force in that game. Webber had a monster game but it was not easy. Montross played big in that game.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:34 PM ^
+1.
Donald Williams - there's a flash from the past. Overall, he was not a great basketball player on the level of Montross, but he was FANTASTIC in the tournament that year. He, not Montross, won Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Deservedly so.
As great a game as the 1993 UNC/Michigan game was --- I'd argue the 1993 UNC/Cincinnati Regional Final was better. A forgotten game: UC made the Final Four in 1992 but 1993 was their better team (and every Bearcat fan I know says this). Van Exel was huge in the 1st half - UC led by as much as 14 but UNC clawed back led by Williams & Montross in the 2nd half. UNC misses an uncontested dunk at the buzzer (!!!) and it goes to OT. Williams w/ 2 huge 3-pointers in OT and the Tar Heels prevail.
I'd argue the 1993 Tournament was the best of all time. No memorable 1st Round upsets - but after that! Michigan/UCLA and Cal and Jason Kidd beating Duke in Round of 32. UNC/Arkansas was a great Sweet 16 game. UNC/Cinci and IU/Kansas in Regional Finals. Two outstanding National Semis (UM/UK and UNC/Kansas). And the Final.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:26 AM ^
Fuck you, cancer.
RIP, Eric - and thanks for some great games...
December 18th, 2023 at 11:33 AM ^
I was in some classes with his sister Christine, who went to Michigan. She was a wonderful person who became a well-respected physician and author. Not sure, but I believe his parents also went to Michigan. Though he was a tough foil for the Fab Five, he was by all accounts a very good guy. Sad day - RIP and all the best to the Montross Family
December 18th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^
They did. Wish he had followed them instead of beating us for a national championship. Indianapolis and Lawrence North legend. Very sad.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:11 PM ^
This made me think of Christine (I was in some pre-med stuff with her as well) and remember her as being a really nice person. I hope she and the family have the support that they will need. RIP
December 18th, 2023 at 11:39 AM ^
That's terrible news. Prayers for his family. RIP.
As an aside, I remember there was a minor character in the 1994 movie 'Above the Rim' that was based on him. The main character Watson (a blue-chip high school point guard) trash talks an opposing player named 'Montrose' after scoring on him, telling him, "What's up now, Mr. North Carolina?" After a blown play later in the game, Watson's coach reshuffles the lineup and moves Watson to SG, prompting Montrose to fire back, "Aww, what's wrong? Your coach took point away from you?"
December 18th, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
per wikipedia:
Montross' father and grandfather had played for Michigan. His father Scott was a teammate of Cazzie Russell in the 1960s and his maternal grandfather John Townsend was an All-American in the 1930s.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
Scott was class of 1969 I believe and was an SAE
December 18th, 2023 at 12:43 PM ^
Him picking UNC over us was a major surprise. Along the lines of Dane Fife choosing IU.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Always seemed like a good person. RIP.
Wonder what kind of cancer it was. It always hits me more when someone close to my age dies.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:48 AM ^
I came to terms losing to Hurley/Lattner/Duke the year before. However the 2nd year of the FAB-5 was a better team than that chain smoking Satan of basketball Dean Smith had that year.
However Montross deserved his ring for his monumental tourney run and it was not his fault his foil called time out with none left to give.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
Yes, the UNC loss was the one that always stuck in my craw. We had the better team, and it seemed like it was destined to happen for us - the Fab Five getting all the way back to the title game. We had just beaten a loaded Kentucky team that was supposed to be our toughest opponent. I was absolutely certain we were going to win the title.
But we just didn't play a great game. Webber was really the only guy who brought his A game, and carried the team until his fateful mistake. To this day I think it's the toughest sports loss I've experienced.
I never had anything against the UNC players themselves though. They seemed like good guys.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
Fisher got owned in that game. Michigan had the talent but the coaching was a mismatch.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
That loss was such a gut punch. If I remember correctly, we had a 10-point lead at one point. And we had actually beaten UNC earlier that season in the Rainbow Classic.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
I brought a sign to a gymnastics meet that said “Mom don’t send money. Send Montross.” (We were being silly.) people thought Michigan had a good chance to land him because he had Michigan connections.
RIP Montross.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
Terrible news.
I recall being so very excited that he was strongly considering UM back in the day. In fact, I asked Dickie V point blank if Montross was coming to Michigan - he all but guaranteed it (Dickie made a campus appearance in 1989 to a packed MLB auditorium).
RIP, Mr. Montross. Way too soon.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
RIP Eric. Cancer sucks. We really wanted him but UNC did fine by him.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
Rest in peace
December 18th, 2023 at 12:59 PM ^
Damn that is young. RIP Eric
December 18th, 2023 at 1:04 PM ^
Seemed like a great guy, reading his involvement in so many causes. It was a bummer him not coming to UM in 1990, but the next season we got both Juwan and Chris which would not have happened (getting both guys) if Eric had been on the roster.
Having lost a dad, brother, and brother-in-law to cancer, it must be trying for his family. Eric left the world as a champion.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
That's sad. Diagnosed in March and gone before the end of the year. Cancer sucks.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:22 PM ^
Sad news. So young as well.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:22 PM ^
His sister went to UM. She was in a sorority that I worked at. She was....tall.
December 19th, 2023 at 6:03 PM ^
Her name is Christine, she's a doctor and author. I worked with her at Tower Records on South U. Never even knew she was his sister until I went to a party at her house and I asked about the poster of him that was on her living room wall.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:22 PM ^
I remember when I was watching those games that 52 would have seemed old, but now.....now it is near, and as someone said, we never know how many tomorrows there are.
Far too young indeed. RIP.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:24 PM ^
Damn, too young. Fuck cancer.
Also, Being 7 feet tall is generally not good for longevity.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:27 PM ^
Fuck cancer. Gone too soon and way too young. Rest in peace forever. Prayers to his family.