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I happened to be in Denver in the fall of 2013 for part of Patrick Roys first training camp as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, and there was a palpable excitement around the once-great, now-moribund franchise.Buzz is an easy throwaway term, but its an apt description for what was happening in Denver.I was also on hand for Roys first game as an NHL head coach, when his Avs thumped Bruce Boudreaus Anaheim Ducks 6-1 and Roy completed the night by shoving over a barrier between the two benches in an angry postgame altercation with Boudreau and Ducks player Corey Perry. Glorious. The same Roy who smashed a television set in former coach Bob Hartleys office after being lifted in a game was back with a vengeance behind the bench.And it seemed to work, didnt it?The Avs, shockingly, won the Central Division in Roys rookie coaching year, sending him on his way to a landslide win in the Jack Adams Award voting as coach of the year.Under the guidance of the Hall of Fame goalie, the Avs went from being one of the worst teams in the NHL to having the third-best record. The hockey world, it appeared, was once again Roys oyster.But the Avs were bounced in the first round of the 2014 playoffs and then promptly sunk out of sight the next two seasons, finishing last in the Central in 2015 and sixth this past season, missing the playoffs both times, a team seemingly without a clue -- at least defensively -- for much of the time.Still, in spite of the setbacks, few could have seen Roys abrupt departure on Thursday from his twin roles as head coach and vice president of hockey operations, a bombshell announcement made by Roy himself, apart from the team.Clearly the move took the Avs by surprise, though according to what Roy told ESPN.coms Pierre LeBrun, the coach informed GM Joe Sakic earlier in the day of his decision.Long after social media was agog at Roy walking away from the team, the Avalanche website still listed him in his positions and there was no reference to his having resigned.The Denver Post reported that longtime Roy teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Sakic was on vacation. Eventually, a team release confirmed Roys departure with the obligatory thanks-for-coming-out line from Sakic, but it seemed the front office was shell-shocked.I recall a conversation with veteran defenseman Erik Johnson after the Avs were beaten by the Detroit Red Wings in the Stadium Series outdoor game at Coors Field in February. The Avs were very much in the playoff hunt then, and Johnson suggested that with a management/coaching team that included Hall of Famers Roy and Sakic in the organization, the price for failure would be paid by the players in the room.And it seemed a valid point: Sakic and Roy have resumes that would seem to make them impervious to organizational shakeups, and the players should be held accountable for their failures.The Avs have made minor lineup moves this summer, and as it turns out the catalyst for the biggest move came from within.Roy also told LeBrun on Thursday not to read too much into the departure, but its difficult not to when Roy himself said that its important for the vice president of hockey operations to have a say in the decisions that impact the teams performance.These conditions are not currently met, Roy added in his statement, which was released independently of the organization and presumably without the organizations knowledge. The Avs did not comment.Whether he was being frozen out purposefully by Sakic and the rest of the management/scouting staff or whether Roy simply felt time had run its course, its that clear Roy sensed a change in atmosphere in Denver, and in typical Roy fashion, he audibled.As it turned out, the play he called was a down-and-out-and-keep-going.But for how long?Roy, 50, still has an enormous presence in the game of hockey. A few potential next destinations immediately come to mind.If Quebec City is really ever going to get back in the NHL, Roy would certainly be a natural fit, the hometown hero bringing the NHL back home. The storylines dont get much better than that if youre a fan of hockey in Quebec City.Or what about the new team in Las Vegas? That team could use a coach with experience and a big profile. Roys profile might be more valuable than his coaching acumen, but his potential presence with an expansion franchise cant be ignored, at least if only for discussion purposes, by new Vegas GM George McPhee.And of course theres Montreal, where Roy has been a folk hero since leading the Canadiens to championships in 1986 and 1993. Already folks on social media are suggesting Roys departure from Colorado turns up the heat on current Habs coach Michel Therrien. As if its not hot enough already after the Habs collapsed and missed the playoffs last season thanks in large part to goalie Carey Prices ongoing injury issues.But the only thing that is certain after Thursday is that the Avs are under the gun now.Clearly, Roy felt snubbed and now the pressure falls squarely on the shoulders of Sakic, the Hall of Fame center, to find not just a replacement for Roy but one who can restore the teams luster.The Central Division is a bear and the Avs are a big blueberry bush.Sakic must find a coach who can help plug some of the many defensive holes in the Avs lineup. The search is made more difficult by the fact that Roy waited until into the second week of August to pull the chute on the Avs.Many have already pointed to Bob Hartley, under whom Sakic (and Roy) won a Stanley Cup in 2001 with the Avalanche.Why not?Hartley did wonders with a foundering Calgary Flames team two seasons ago, guiding them to the second round of the playoffs before they took a step back last season; he was fired and ultimately replaced by Glen Gulutzan.The one thing I know about the Avalanche is that the past is never far behind when it comes to trying to revive the teams fortunes, even if a big part of that past abruptly walked out the door Thursday afternoon.Diamondbacks Jerseys China . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. 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The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it.Arnold Palmer brought a country club sport to the masses with a hard-charging style, charisma and a commoners touch. At ease with both presidents and the golfing public, and on a first-name basis with both, The King died Sunday in Pittsburgh. He was 87.Alastair Johnston, CEO of Arnold Palmer Enterprises, confirmed that Palmer died Sunday afternoon of complications from heart problems. Johnston said Palmer was admitted to the UPMC Hospital on Thursday for some cardiovascular work and weakened over the last few days.Today marks the passing of an era, said Johnston, Palmers longtime agent at IMG. Arnold Palmers influence, profile and achievements spread far beyond the game of golf. He was an iconic American who treated people with respect and warmth, and built a unique legacy through his ability to engage with fans.Palmer ranked among the most important figures in golf history , and it went well beyond his seven major championships and 62 PGA Tour wins. His good looks, devilish grin and go-for-broke manner made the elite sport appealing to one and all. And it helped that he arrived about the same time as television moved into most households, a perfect fit that sent golf to unprecedented popularity.If it wasnt for Arnold, golf wouldnt be as popular as it is now, Tiger Woods said in 2004 when Palmer played in his last Masters. Hes the one who basically brought it to the forefront on TV. If it wasnt for him and his excitement, his flair, the way he played, golf probably would not have had that type of excitement.And thats why hes the king.Beyond his golf, Palmer was a pioneer in sports marketing, paving the way for scores of other athletes to reap in millions from endorsements. Some four decades after his last PGA Tour win, he ranked among the highest-earners in golf.It is not an exaggeration to say there would be no modern-day PGA Tour without Arnold Palmer. There would be no PGA Tour Champions without Arnold Palmer. There would be no Golf Channel without Arnold Palmer, PGA Tour Commisioner Tim Finchem said in a statement.No one has had a greater impact on those who play our great sport or who are touched by it. It has been said many times over in so many ways, but beyond his immense talent, Arnold transcended our sport with an extraordinarily appealing personality and genuineness that connected with millions, truly making him a champion of the people.On the golf course, Palmer was an icon not for how often he won, but the way he did it.He would hitch up his pants, drop a cigarette and attack the flags. With powerful hands wrapped around the golf club, Palmer would slash at the ball with all of his might, then twist that muscular neck and squint to see where it went.When he hits the ball, the earth shakes, Gene Littler once said.Palmer rallied from seven shots behind to win a U.S. Open. He blew a seven-shot lead on the back nine to lose a U.S. Open.He was never dull.Im pleased that I was able to do what I did from a golfing standpoint, Palmer said in 2008, two years after he played in his last official tournament. I would like to think that I left them more than just that.He left behind a gallery known as Arnies Army, which began at Augusta National with a small group of soldiers from nearby Fort Gordon, and grew to include a legion of fans from every corner of the globe.Palmer stopped playing the Masters in 2004 and hit the ceremonial tee shot every year until 2016, when age began to take a toll and he struggled with his balance.It was Palmer who gave golf the modern version of the Grand Slam -- winning all four professional majors in one year. He came up with the idea after winning the Masters and U.S. Open in 1960. Palmer was runner-up at the British Open, later calling it one of the biggest disappointments of his career. But his appearance alone invigorated the British Open, which Americans had been ignoring for years.Palmer never won the PGA Championship, one major short of capturing a career Grand Slam.But then, standard he set went beyond trophies. It was the way he treated people, looking everyone in the eye with a smile and a wink. He signed every autograph, making sure it was legible. He made every fan feel like an old friend.Palmer never like being referred to as The King, but the name stuck.It was back in the early `60s. I was playing pretty good, winning a lot of tournaments, and someone gave a speech and referred to me as `The King, Palmer said in a November 2011 interview with The Associated Press.I dont bask in it. I dont relish it. I tried for a long time to stop that and, he said, pausing to shrug, there was no point.Palmer played at least one PGA Tour event every season for 52 consecutive years, ending with the 2004 Masters. He spearheaded the growth of the 50-and-older Champions Tour, winning 10 times and drawing some of the biggest crowds.He was equally successful off with golf course design, a wine collection, and apparel that included his famous logo of an umbrella. He bought the Bay Hill Club & Lodge upon making his winter home in Orlando, Florida, and in 2007 the PGA Tour changed the name of the tournament to the Arnold Palmer Invitational.The combination of iced tea and lemonade is known as an Arnold Palmer.dddddddddddd Padraig Harrington recalls eating in an Italian restaurant in Miami when he heard a customer order one.Think about it, Harrington said. You dont go up there and order a `Tiger Woods at the bar. You can go up there and order an `Arnold Palmer in this country and the barman -- he was a young man -- knew what the drink was. Thats in a league of your own.Palmer was born Sept. 10, 1929 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the oldest of four children. His father, Deacon, became the greenskeeper at Latrobe Country Club in 1921 and the club pro in 1933.He had two loves as a boy -- strapping on his holster with toy guns to play Cowboys and Indians, and playing golf. It was on the golf course that Palmer grew to become so strong, with barrel arms and hands of iron.When I was 6 years old, my father put me on a steel-wheeled tractor, he recalled in a 2011 interview with the AP. I had to stand up to turn the wheel. Thats one thing made me strong. The other thing was I pushed mowers. In those days, there were no motors on anything except the tractor. The mowers to cut greens with, you pushed.And it was this, he said, patting his arms, that made it go.Palmer joined the PGA Tour in 1955 and won the Canadian Open for the first of his 62 titles. He went on to win four green jackets at Augusta National, along with the British Open in 1961 and 1962 and the U.S. Open in 1960, perhaps the most memorable of his seven majors.Nothing defined Palmer like that 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills. He was seven shots behind going into the final round when he ran into Bob Drum, a Pittsburgh sports writer. Palmer asked if he could still win by shooting 65, which would give him a four-day total of 280. Drum told him that 280 wont do you a damn bit of good.Incensed, Palmer headed to the first tee and drove the green on the par-4 opening hole to make birdie. He birdied the next three holes, shot 65 and outlasted Ben Hogan and 20-year-old amateur Jack Nicklaus.Palmer went head to head with Nicklaus two years later in a U.S. Open, the start of one of golfs most famous rivalries. It was one-sided. Nicklaus went on to win 18 majors and was regarded as golfs greatest champion. Palmer won two more majors after that loss, and his last PGA Tour win came in 1973 at the Bob Hope Classic.Tom Callahan once described the difference between Nicklaus and Palmer this way: Its as though God said to Nicklaus, You will have skills like no other, then whispered to Palmer, But they will love you more.I think he brought a lot more to the game than his game, Nicklaus said in 2009. What I mean by that is, theres no question about his record and his ability to play the game. He was very, very good at that. But he obviously brought a lot more. He brought the hitch of his pants, the flair that he brought to the game, the fans that he brought into the game.Palmer combined power with charm, reckless abandon with graceful elegance. Golf no longer was a country club game for old men who were out of shape. He was a mans man, and he brought that spirit to the sport.It made him a beloved figure, and brought riches long after he stopped competing.That started with a handshake agreement with IMG founder Mark McCormack to represent Palmer in contract negotiations. Palmers image was everywhere, from motor oil to ketchup to financial services companies. Even as late as 2011, nearly 40 years after his last PGA Tour win, Palmer was No. 3 on Golf Digests list of top earners at $36 million a year. He trailed only Woods and Phil Mickelson.Palmers other love was aviation. He piloted his first aircraft in 1956, and 10 years later had a license to fly jets that now are the standard mode of transportation for so many top players, even though the majority of them are merely passengers. Palmer flew planes the way he played golf. He set a record in 1976 when he circumnavigated the globe in 57 hours, 25 minutes and 42 seconds in a Lear 36. He continued flying his Cessna Citation 10 until he failed to renew his license at age 81, just short of 20,000 hours in the cockpit.Through it all, he touched more people than he could possibly remember, though he sure tried. When asked about the fans he attracted at Augusta National, Palmer once said, Hell, I know most of them by name.Only four other players won more PGA Tour events than Palmer -- Sam Snead, Nicklaus, Woods and Hogan.Palmers first wife, Winnie, died in 1999. They had two daughters, and grandson Sam Saunders plays on the PGA Tour. Palmer married Kathleen (Kit) Gawthrop in 2005.Details on a memorial service and burial will be announced later.Palmer was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997, which was caught early. He returned to golf a few months later, winking at fans as he waded through the gallery, always a smile and a signature for them.Im not interested in being a hero, Palmer said, implying that too much was made about his return from cancer. I just want to play some golf.That, perhaps, is his true epitaph. Palmer lived to play. ' ' '