Outpouring of grief after sudden death of sports journalist Grant Wahl

Geoff Bennett:

Good evening. It's good to be with you. We begin tonight with the sudden death of prominent American sports journalist Grant Wahl. Wahl was in Qatar covering the World Cup when he suffered what's described as acute distress and collapsed in the press box according to his agent. The incident happened inside the Lusail Stadium during the waning minutes of the World Cup quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands. Fellow journalist Keir Radnedge was sitting nearby.

Keir Radnedge, Journalist:

The medics were there very quickly. And they, you know, worked with him for, I don't know 20, 30 minutes before he was taken on the stretcher.

Geoff Bennett:

Wahl was transported to a nearby hospital in Doha where he was declared dead. USA soccer released a statement Friday night saying Grant made soccer his life's work and we are devastated that he and his brilliant writing will no longer be with us. As the news spread the outpouring of grief was immediate on social media. And in a postgame news conference in Philadelphia basketball Star LeBron James talked about his interactions with wall many years ago for a Sports Illustrated cover story on the then rising star.

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers:

It's a tragic loss. It's unfortunate to lose someone as great as he was.

Geoff Bennett:

While the circumstances of his death remain unclear, Wahl said on his podcast just two days ago that he'd not been feeling well.

Grant Wahl, Journalist:

So, I've had a case of bronchitis this week. I've been to the medical clinic at the media center twice now including today.

Geoff Bennett:

Earlier in the World Cup Wahl posted a selfie wearing a rainbow t-shirt and said he'd been detained for 25 minutes by Qatari authorities for his show of support for the LGBTQ community. Wahl was instrumental in helping grow the sport of soccer in the U.S. through his coverage of the game. Grant Wahl was 48 years old.

And we will hear more about Grant Wahl's contributions to the sports world later in the program.