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Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Pens Emotional Statement After Passing of Fred McLeod

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The shocking death of Cleveland Cavaliers broadcaster Fred McLeod on Monday night led to an outpouring of emotional tributes to the popular broadcaster yesterday.

On Wednesday, the man who hired McLeod for that job, Cavs majority owner Dan Gilbert, issued a statement that expressed the deep sadness that he and his family had regarding McLeod’s passing.

“Fred McLeod was truly a one-of-a-kind person and friend,” the Gilbert family statement read. “Words cannot express our feelings as we think about the many special memories we have of Fred and a relationship that spans four decades. We will miss him tremendously.

“Fred was not only a great broadcaster and communicator that informed, explained and entertained, but he passionately embodied the Cavaliers ‘All for One. One for All.’ DNA in every aspect of his life.

“He had the gift of connecting with everyone he interacted with and leaving them feeling happier, stronger, more positive, and valued. Fred has left an impactful, lasting legacy in Cleveland, Detroit and beyond.

“Our family extends our deepest and warmest sympathies to Fred’s entire family, including his wonderful wife Beth, mother Marilyn, sister Lynn, and his three children, Sean, Jenna, Molly and each of their families.”

Gilbert became the Cavaliers’ majority owner in 2005 and hired McLeod the following year as the team’s play-by-play man on their television broadcasts. A native of Detroit, Gilbert was familiar with McLeod’s work in that department, since the broadcaster had served in a similar role for the Detroit Pistons for more than two decades.

While the start of the 2019-20 NBA regular season is just six weeks away, it’s unlikely that the Cavaliers will undertake any immediate search for McLeod’s replacement. That will likely begin once McLeod has been laid to rest.

Gilbert’s own health has been a source of concern over the past four months after having spent the summer in recovery from a stroke that he suffered in late May. There have only been a few updates regarding his condition since he was first hospitalized, with no timetable given regarding his return to the team.

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