Lee Evans Stricken With Brain Tumor

This is sad. He was a great runner. Merritt reminds me of a modern day Evans, both are the best of their generation and dealt with adversity.

We had a women that used to clean our house sometime ago. She got breast cancer and could not afford the surgery. However, by law they had to operated on her and now she is cured. She applied for carity care, which I never knew existed. If the doctors let Evans die they have broken the law.

I hope to God he gets better. He has tried to help so many people. It is just not fair to get this awful disease.

The quality of care is excellent in this country, but the healthcare system needs some improvement. Everyone is in agreement on that.

He just needs to fake not speaking English and being an illegal, then he'd get free medical care and more, live the high life. America in the Obama Depression but Democrats still throwing tens of millions of Americans into poverty, hunger, and death in favor of freaking illegals who they know will illegally vote for them.

Screw your arguments about health care. Please send positive thoughts to Mr. Evans.

Thank you.

Sad news, great man, a true student of the sport, an athlete par excellence, and a competitor always. I 'saw' Lee at a 'youth' meet about 12-13 yrs ago and he was chiseled like brick - absolutely incredible for a man of ~50. Evander Hollyfield was at the same meet - they were in amazing shape. Was privileged to witness several of the indoor Evans - McGrady battle royales in the day. Some of the best head to head battles ever and an absolute adrenaline rush each time. Pure sport.

he lived and coached in Africa for decades.should we, the taxpayers, provide world-wide health coverage for people who don't pay taxes here?brain tumor is a death sentence anyway, insurance or not.

Old Coach wrote:

1968 Olympian Lee Evans has a brain tumor and no health insurance

Ask yourself if it were you, what would you want others to do?

lethimcroak wrote:

he lived and coached in Africa for decades.

should we, the taxpayers, provide world-wide health coverage for people who don't pay taxes here?

brain tumor is a death sentence anyway, insurance or not.

Old Coach wrote:

1968 Olympian Lee Evans has a brain tumor and no health insurance

and without humanity.

+1 to ozzy.

Had he paid into Social Security and Medicare he would be eligible, at a minimum, for SS disability.

Since he lived elsewhere most of his adult life and elected not to pay in while away, he is on his own.

Yes, life is hard and merciless, and more so if you fail to look ahead.

lethimcroak wrote:

Had he paid into Social Security and Medicare he would be eligible, at a minimum, for SS disability.

Since he lived elsewhere most of his adult life and elected not to pay in while away, he is on his own.

Yes, life is hard and merciless, and more so if you fail to look ahead.

You have posted two very negative comments regarding one of the best athletes of our sport. Either you are a spoiled snot who never learned compassion or you are an out and out racist.

Let me state again that it was the IOC and USOC who gave Evans the death sentence, while glorifying other athletes who did drugs, but were "Golden Boys" in their eyes.

Even Muhammad Ali was given a second chance and was able to live his dream and, yes, his medical expenses over the years have been taken care of because he was given a second chance.

Compare how Bolt is perceived to how Evans, Carlos and Smith have been perceived in our sports history. Bolt makes millions, while the others have lived very ordinary lives. All were special athletes in our sport.

Evans was screwed for not being part of the system. The least the IOC and or the USOC or USATF could do now is help provide some medical care for him. He sacrificed a great deal in his life and gave back way more than anyone could expect from a world record holder and Olympic Champion. This is not a man who spent his life living off of other people.

And before you make another stupid comment, I am white, ran against Evans quite a bit and will always see him as a hero.

So, grow up and become a man instead of spending time knocking someone you have no idea about. Or better yet, just crawl away.

cowboy bob,

Your comments are seconded. Lee was brilliant and he has done more good then most anyone ever will who visits this forum.

You would not remember me but I believe I met you indoors at a large oversized indoor track back in your day. Very best to you.

I ran distance in college in the same era as Mr. Evans. I was at a few meets where I was able to watch him compete. There was no one as impressive as Lee Evans when racing! It's sad to see a magnificent athlete as he go through this. Whether it was his "fault" or not regarding health insurance it's a mark against our society that there is no safety net for one of our all-time great athletes.

Update from Dave Zirin's blog at The Nation:

[Finally a Paypal link to help Lee Evans: 1968 Olympian w/a brain tumor & no healthcare. bit.ly/w53dKZ ]

Read this morning that there is a good chance that the tumor is benign.

Hopefully that is true.

Lee Evans has lived his life after the Olympics as a missionary in Africa. He has helped many extremely poor, without hope of an education, or future of any kind, young African kids get scholarships all over the world.

He was my husband's coach in Africa and secured him a scholarship to the US, along with many other young athletes.

Now my husband is extremely well educated and serves the US in our government, trying to make a difference, alongside many deadweights who suck up our tax dollars and do nothing.

We just heard of Mr Evans' illness and plan to help, as should everyone he has helped, who is reasonably able.

Even if his condition is terminal, he should be able to die peacefully and comfortably.

Americans have it so good and don't travel enough to see the conditions that the rest of the world are living in. You would have more compassion if you would get out of America, and off of the resorts and see how REAL people live.

This great man was selfless along with many missionaries that work and serve others around the world. Of course he wouldn't have health insurance in the US, he no longer lived here. But since we all don't want to trek all over the world helping God's people, at least we can help the people, like Mr Evans who dedicate their lives to helping the less fortunate that you will never see.

Excellent post. So true, Americans can rarely see beyond their own good fortune. Helping others is a calling for some. Lee always impressed me with his courage and strength.