Joe Jares 1938-2016

When Joe Jares died on July 2 at age 78, from lung disease, he was hailed in Los Angeles as a legend for his years as a journalist in his hometown. But he first became a star at SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, where he spent 15 years as a writer and associate editor. Jares primarily covered tennis and college basketball at SI, chronicling the dominance of the Lew Alcindor--led UCLA Bruins but never letting his allegiance to his alma mater, USC, where he had been a freshman basketball player, cloud his work. Not that Jares shied away from getting personal. He wrote about his USC fraternity in "Life in the Jock House" and explored the pro wrestling career of his dad, Frank, in "My Father The Thing." Joe, who left SI in 1981, was a father himself, leaving behind two daughters, two grandchildren and his wife, Suzy. He is also survived by his brother, Frank Jares Jr.