RIP To Sport Science Legend John Brenkus
I don't want to believe this terrible news. John Brenkus was the absolute best, and hearing he took his only makes this loss even more devastating. Brenkus seemed like an all around good guy who just loved explaining sports through the most outlandish measures and data. You can't tell me you weren't excited when SportsCenter cut to a new Sport Science segment and Brenkus explained to you that the force from a single Dwight Howard dunk is stronger than 800 tiny toddlers, and could power an average midwest town for 27 minutes. I remember watching these over and over again when I was younger and home for the summer watching SportsCenter 5 times in a row.
Kevin love boxing out a sumo wrestler? Sign me up. There was even an episode where he measured the force an NFL defensive tackle would put on an average guy, and tested it himself by getting launched into the stratosphere by an actual DT. Nothing but respect for someone willing to put their body on the line for science, and entertaining America's youth. A good host would simply explain the data, a great host gets in the mix to explain the data. Brenkus was an A+ host.
A bunch of the old Sport Science videos are scattered around YouTube, either on ESPN's throwback channel or random accounts. Would be cool if ESPN would put all of John Brenkus' videos in one spot, and properly pay homage to the sport science legend. John Brenkus and his incredible show made a lasting impression on me, because I even spoofed his iconic show with Barstool Sports Science. Getting to rewatch all the Sport Science videos to mimic his cadence was such a nostalgia trip that unlocked so many good memories.
It's heartbreaking to find out someone who seems like they have it all together was going through an all out mental battle with themself. If you're going through something, reach out to a professional, and just try to hold on for one more day. Wishing the best for John Brenkus' family. While John may have lost his fight, I hope he's at peace from what he was going through. RIP to a sports legend.
