9 9:02 pm Pacific Time —LeBron ·James (LeBron James) said something kind to Wahl, who wrote the first sports pictorial cover story of the NBA superstar when he was a high school student on Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary…I remember this reporter was a special person.
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"First of all, I express my condolences to his family," James said after the game against the Lakers. "I really liked Grant , and that shot - I'm still a teenager who was in charge of shooting - it's a cool thing, he's always cool around him."
"It's a tragic loss," he added. "It is unfortunate to lose someone as great as him. I hope everything is well for his family and may he rest in heaven."
7:53 pm Pacific time — CBS News reported that Grant Val in the stadium heart attack attack.
Val said in a podcast Thursday that he had contracted bronchitis while covering the World Cup...which forced him to take a few days off to report.
Val said that due to the bad weather, he had been to the clinic many times...but he felt much better.
6 pm Pacific Time -Grant Wahl's wife CelineJust just issued a statement about his death…Says: "I am so grateful to my husband @GrantWahl's football family and many friends who have reached out tonight."
CBS sports reporter Grant Val, one of the most respected football journalists in the country, passed away while covering the World Cup, his brother announced Friday. He is 49 years old.
Grant died in Qatar …Eric Val believes this involves a foul because he claims the reporter received a death threat for supporting the LGBTQ+ community in a rainbow shirt.
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Eric says Grant’s health problems are zero…In a heartbreaking Instagram video, “I don’t believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed.”
As we reported earlier, Wahl was detained by for nearly 30 minutes after security in the World Cup on November 21 …after he appeared at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Qatar for the first match against Wales .
In a country where homosexuality is considered illegal, he wore a shirt with soccer and rainbow patterns to express his support for the LGBTQ+ community.
At the time, Eric praised his brother and condemned the football administration… said, “@FIFA is ashamed of losing all control over this corrupt World Cup.”
Several hours ago, Grant also tweeted the Argentina vs. Holland game…his last post was posted at 1:05 pm Pacific Time.
Eric said he talked to Grant's wife Celine, who said he collapsed at the stadium and underwent CPR and was taken to the hospital by Uber where he died.
Eric added that Celine had spoken with Joe Biden President's chief of staff Ron Klein and White House .
The US Football Association issued a statement on Wahl's death… said: "The entire US Football Association family was very sad to know that we had lost Grant Wahl."
" In the United States, Grant's passion for football and commitment to enhancing its image in our sports world have played an important role in helping promote people's interest and respect for our beautiful sports. "
" It is equally important that Grant believes that the sport has the power to promote human rights, which has been and will continue to inspire everyone. ”
Grant’s last post on his Substack focused on the indifference of Qatari officials towards the deaths of migrant workers during the World Cup… He said, “They don’t care at all. ”
