The Death of Len Bias Turns 25

Len Bias
1963-1986

25 years ago today, Len Bias's death stunned the D.C. area, and shocked the sports world. It was one of those morbid "where were you?" moments you commiserate over years later on occasions just like this, sad hallmarks that remind you exactly how much time has gone by, and just how much of a life was never seen.

I was born in 1985, so I wasn't able to grasp what Bias meant until years later. Even still, it's hard to comprehend without being alive to watch his full life arc. The concept that there was a player as good as Michael Jordan was in college, and that he played for Maryland was hard enough to conceive as a young Terps fan. Then, for that man to die two days after being drafted as Larry Bird's heir apparent to the Boston Celtics throne... it's so tragic that I always well up any time I think about it for too long.

Instead, I'll use this space to honor the side of Bias that still brings joy to people. Instead of focusing on "what could have been," because ultimately it's impossible not to, I'll revisit what Len Bias was during his far too brief stint on this planet.