Dan Pires 1956 - 2008

Hey guys ... just wanted to add my two cents on this sad, sad day. All the tributes you've read over at BSMW and heard from other reporters is true. Danny was a great reporter, but an even better guy. He ALWAYS had time to talk about anything, whether it was football or journalism or family. His good nature was always welcome, and would always make sure to leave you laughing with a great joke or story. (One of our favorite shared punchlines came from the Geico commercial with Little Richard: "Mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce! Wah-HOOOOOOO!!!!!")

Sportswriting -- and working a beat -- can be a little like high school, where cliques develop. The print guys hang out with the print guys, the radio guys eat lunch with the other radio guys, and so on. Danny was one guy who cut across all the different social circles -- it didn't matter if you were a student reporter covering the team for one day or someone who's worked for ESPN for a million years. He treated everyone the same way, with real respect and appreciation, and always made everyone he met feel good.

For many of us who have covered the team the last few years, it's a really difficult day. Foxborough won't be the same this fall.

I'm going to sticky this thread for a while. With people are on vacation and coming and going this time of year, they will be checking in from time to time and may want to add to the thread.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/SPORTS/806260370/-1/SPORTS0705

This says it all....

This is sad news.

Life is so precious yet so fragile.

My prayers go out to his friends and family.

There was an updated piece added this morning:

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/NEWS/806260337

The last part regarding a post written by Dan when Alan Greenberg died (another really nice guy) just really makes you think.....it's just unbelievable. I'm sure he never imagined that being 25-30 was middle aged...definitely makes me appreciate things a little more. Needless to say the words at the end of what he wrote are good words to live by

Ian

MoLewisrocks said:

A good rule of thumb in situations like these is if you don't have anything nice to say, consider STFU...

Dan was far more active over at the planet and had personal relationships with many of the members. RAS posted some pretty poignant thoughts at his close friend's passing in the thread there that like Shalise's and Mrs. B's merit cross posting here:

http://www.patriotsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=34728&page=6

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So saying he was a good writer of local events is bad? Sorry I do not forget what actually happened. To minimize the hole he dug himself into minimizes his going above what is normal to be considered good.

The Standard-Times regularly ran screeds where he compared Brady to Dilfer. That makes his work as as a local reporter so good as to be surprising. I won't miss his reporting on the Patriots, but coverage of Dartmouth-Wareham track meets will suffer appreciably.

Just because he died tragically young am I supposed to forget he was the source for the "Rodney wants to renegotiate too" crap during the Seymour hold out. Why should I get ******ed just because somebody died?

PatsChick87 said:

Wow, just Wow. What are you 8yrs old, or just totally without any decent social skills at all? Welcome to the ignore list idiot!:banned:

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Wow, your maturity of telling someone you'll ignore them is so cool.

castlelong1 said:

Wow, your maturity of telling someone you'll ignore them is so cool.

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So your point here is to what?? Educate us??

A man died and people who have a differing opinion than you are choosing to remember him. How does this impact you??

Or do you just enjoy being the proverbial "turd in the punchbowl".

I say this, respect him or not, he was in the game, getting published. I am reminded of a quote from Teddy Roosevelt....

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

I say the achievements of Mr. Pires far outrank any shortcomings that you seem are worthwhile to add to this remembrance.

Dan Pires passes away.....

I don't know much about the guy, but I have read some of his Pats articles.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080625/NEWS/80625006/-1/NEWS06

Re: Dan Pires passes away.....

Yeah dude....it's the first sticky at the top of the page.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=84300

Re: Dan Pires passes away.....

I'm honestly sick of death.

RIP and thoughts and prayers to his family.

Class man all the way - RIP DP.

My condolences to his family.

RIP, Dan Pires.

Sad news indeed. Dan was one of my favorite sportswriters. I will miss him.

Wow, that is horrible. Talented writer. Much too young to pass. God Bless his family. Rest in Peace Dan!

Pats726 said:

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/SPORTS/806260370/-1/SPORTS0705

This says it all....

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Wow, what an article!!! Thanks for posting it.

Here are the plans for the services from the funeral home. http://www.saundersdwyer.com/Obituaries.htm

Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, Monday, June 30th at 10:45 AM. Funeral Mass at St. Lawrence Church at 12 Noon. Burial will be private. Visiting hours Sunday, June 29th from 3-8 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CIB/ Pires Education Fund, c/o Credit Information Bureau, 70 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick, RI 02888.

Directions to Our New Bedford Location

From Boston: Travel Route 24 South to Exit 12, Route 140 toward Taunton and New Bedford. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Route 140 south toward New Bedford. Travel approximately 20 miles to the traffic signal at the end of Route 140. Turn left onto U.S. Highway 6 East. Continue 1 mile to Park Street. Turn left (north) onto Park Street and continue to its end. The funeral home is the last building on the left (west) side of the street, approximately 60 miles from Boston.

From Providence: Travel I-195 East to Exit 13A, Route 140 South toward New Bedford. Travel South approximately 1 mile to traffic signal at the end of Route 140. Turn left onto U.S. Highway 6 East. Continue 1 mile to Park Street. Turn left (north) onto Park Street and continue to its end. The funeral home is the last building on the left (west) side of the street.

From Cape Cod: Travel I-195 West to Exit 13A, Route 140 South toward New Bedford and Dartmouth. Travel south approximately 1 mile to traffic signal at the end of Route 140. Turn left onto U.S. Highway 6 East. Continue 1 mile to Park Street. Turn left (north) onto Park Street and continue to its end. The funeral home is the last building on the left (west) side of the street.

The last time I was here I saw his name logged in...ugh I was shocked and saddened to hear of his so unexpected death.
He'll be missed; my thoughts are with him and his family and friends.
Thank you for all your insight over the years. Godspeed.

A little late to this thread.

But a quick few words.

His passing not only affected me but a few friends of mine who would babysit his kids from time to time.

He will be missed deeply.

My thoughts, prayers and condolences to the family,