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Daily Madden: Prominent Sports Columnist Bryan Burwell Dies At 59

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SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Prominent St. Louis sports columnist Bryan Burwell has died at the age of 59, according to a newspaper report Thursday.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the he died after a short battle with cancer.

Burrell began his career with the Post-Dispatch in 2002. He also contributed to 101 ESPN Radio, and was nationally known for his appearances on ESPN's The Sports Reporter and Jim Rome Is Burning.
In 2011, Burrell wrote the book "Madden: A Biography." In it, he explored Madden's role as a central figure in the transition of football from the game it was to the giant industry.

Related: Bryan Burwell Talks About His New Book 'Madden: A Biography'

"I knew Brian for a long time and I knew him as a good guy, very thorough, always pleasant. You deal with a lot of people in that arena—he was always one of the good guys," Madden said. "You'd always put him on that side: O.K., you got the good guys. Bryan Burell was always one of those guys. And not just me—not just my picking but everyone's picking."

Burwell's columns and feature stories were honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors.

He also won awards from the Associated Press, United Press International, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Professional Basketball Writers Association, and the Pro Football Writers Association.

Burwell is survived by his wife, Dawn, and a daughter, Victoria.

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Daily Madden: Prominent Sports Columnist Bryan Burwell Dies At 59

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