Kirk Herbstreit’s golden retriever Ben, who became beloved by sports fans for his broadcast-crashing appearances at college football stadiums and NFL games in recent years, died Thursday at age 10.

Ben was diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma in March, and Herbstreit — the ESPN college football and Amazon Prime NFL analyst — said Thursday the cancer spread throughout Ben’s organs.

“I’ve had dogs my whole life but Ben was 1 (of) 1,” Herbstreit wrote on X. “He was smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive-and welcoming to all. Always a big smile and a soft tail wag.”

This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know. We found out today the cancer had spread throughout Bens organs and there was nothing left we could do-we had to let him go. I’ve had dogs my whole life but Ben was 1 on… pic.twitter.com/jDvPTbNv2M

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 7, 2024

Ben first joined Herbstreit on the set of ESPN’s “College GameDay” in November 2021, when the show traveled to the University of Cincinnati for the Bearcats’ game against Tulsa. The Herbstreits live in Cincinnati, so Ben made the trip to the local Nippert Stadium that day. He first hit the road for a work trip shortly before that in October, when Herbstreit took him to Seattle. Herbstreit told The Athletic in December 2023 that his family was going through a difficult time then, including the hospitalization of his 20-year-old son Zak due to a heart condition, and Ben provided Herbstreit comfort while away from his family.

“We happily accommodate our lives around Ben and whatever it is he needs,” Herbstreit told The Athletic. “I report to Ben, is kind of how it works. Everyone else reports to my wife and I, and we report to Ben.”

Ben has had many NFL and college football credentials made in his name since. This season, the Atlanta Falcons credentialed Ben the “Wide Retriever” for a Week 5 “Thursday Night Football” game, while the Miami Dolphins gave him the title of “Chief Happiness Officer of Football” in Week 2. Penn State labeled him a “Treat Analyst” before this past Saturday’s “GameDay” show ahead of Penn State–Ohio State.

Ben had surgery in late July to remove two cancerous masses on his spleen and intestine, Herbstreit said on X in September. Herbstreit said Ben had an “incredible recovery” in the weeks that followed and that he was “just so thankful (Ben’s) feeling better and able to travel with me.”

Kirk Herbstreit pets Ben before the Ole Miss-Georgia matchup on Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo: Jeffrey Vest / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“Honestly I think being out and seeing people on the road really helps his spirit and gives him something to look forward to,” Herbstreit said on X at the time. “Will keep a very close eye on him and react accordingly. He had a GREAT Week 1. Taking it one week at a time.”

Ben helped ring in one of the first matchups of the 2024 college football season on the ESPN pregame broadcast of the LSU-USC game in Las Vegas. In the booth, Ben sauntered between Herbstreit and his co-analyst Rece Davis —his tail could be seen in the frame, wagging — awaiting pets from the two.

.@KirkHerbstreit‘s dog, Ben, made his way onto the LSU-USC pregame show 🐶😂 pic.twitter.com/BetPuCpvcl

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 1, 2024

On Oct. 23, Ben underwent a second chemo injection but weakened afterward, losing the use of his back legs, Herbstreit wrote on X on Monday. Herbstreit took Ben to a holistic doctor, where he was given a three-day Vitamin C IV, he said.

“I’m so thankful for ALL the love so many have shown him over the last couple years. One of the hardest things I’ve gone through in my life,” Herbstreit wrote. “Ben is my best friend and companion. I love him with all of my heart.”

(Photo: Andy Altenburger / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

OPEN DIVISION

Semifinals

Newport Harbor at Corona del Mar, 12 p.m.

Oaks Christian at JSerra, 5 p.m.

TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE

DIVISION 1

Semifinals

Westlake vs. Yucaipa at Crafton Hills College, 5:30 p.m.

Huntington Beach at Mira Costa, 5 p.m.

DIVISION 2

Semifinals

Brea Olinda vs. Irvine at Woollett Aquatic Center, 5 p.m.

Dos Pueblos at Capistrano Valley, 5 p.m.

DIVISION 3

Semifinals

Riverside King vs. Pasadena Poly at Riverside Poly, 5 p.m.

Los Osos at Santa Monica, 5 p.m.

DIVISION 4

Semifinals

Santa Ana at Cate, 3 p.m.

Diamond Bar at South Pasadena, 5 p.m.

DIVISION 5

Semifinals

Garden Grove at Palm Desert, 5 p.m.

Webb at Warren, 5 p.m.

DIVISION 6

Semifinals

Montclair at Edgewood, 5 p.m.

San Bernardino vs. Arroyo Valley at San Gorgonio, 5 p.m.

Note: Finals in all divisions Nov. 16 at Mt. San Antonio College (times TBA).

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

OPEN DIVISIONSemifinals

#4 Birmingham at #1 Palisades, 7 p.m.

#3 San Pedro at #2 Cleveland, 3 p.m.

DIVISION I

Semifinals

#4 Venice vs. #1 Granada Hills at Birmingham, 4:30 p.m.

#7 LACES at #3 Kennedy, 3 p.m.

Note: Finals Nov. 13 at Valley College (Div. I, 5:30; Open, 7).

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Saying goodbye to Paul George was one thing.

The LA Clippers decided in early July to draw a hard line in negotiations with the 34-year-old, who wanted a four-year, $212 million max deal that he would get from the Philadelphia 76ers instead. The prospect of paying him nearly $60 million at the age of 37 — especially given his health history during his five years in L.A. — was a nightmare scenario the Clippers wanted to avoid.

Ditto for the no-trade clause that George wanted and was denied. Add in the long-term planning component — a four-year max deal for George would have gone one year past the length of Kawhi Leonard’s deal while cutting too deeply into the precious salary cap space that would be better used on younger superstars who might become available — and you start to understand why the nine-time All-Star was in a Sixers jersey for his reunion game at Intuit Dome on Wednesday night.

Even if this Leonard-led era never pans out — and the track record speaks for itself at this point — the Clippers protected their ability to go big again in the summer of 2027. And with teams like the Bucks and Sixers having gone all in on their problematic three-star plans that are failing miserably at the moment, there’s an argument to be made that the Clippers’ vision will pay off.

If only for a night, it didn’t look like these Clippers needed George in their 110-98 win. Norm Powell, the guard who replaced George in the starting lineup and who deemed George’s departure “addition by subtraction” in the preseason, had 26 points (while hitting six 3s) and six assists while outplaying his former teammate (George had 18 points and seven rebounds).

The newcomer who wouldn’t be here if George had stayed, Derrick Jones Jr., was one of many productive role players who contributed a pivotal part when the lone available Clippers star, James Harden, had an off-night (5-of-15 shooting, six turnovers; 18 points and six assists).

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The Clippers improved to 4-4 — not too shabby considering Leonard (right knee) has yet to play this season. The Sixers — who have been without Joel Embiid (left knee) all season and George for all but two games (left knee) and must now worry about Tyrese Maxey after he suffered a hamstring injury against the Clippers — saw their pressure-packed situation get even worse as they fell to 1-6. 

But when it comes to the George saga that was the top story of the NBA summer, and which will surely be discussed and re-litigated for years to come, the question that has confounded so many rival front-office executives and scouts this season is this: Why were the Clippers willing to say goodbye to George without getting anything in return?

As The Athletic’s Anthony Slater recently detailed, the Warriors remain both frustrated and confused by their offseason pursuit of George (and Utah’s Lauri Markkanen) that fell flat. Everyone from Golden State owner Joe Lacob on down chimed in on the matter, with Steph Curry, Draymond Green, coach Steve Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. sharing their view of the sign-and-trade situation gone wrong.

There’s an old and outdated adage in the NBA that you just don’t let star players walk for nothing, but the Clippers — as so many around the league saw it — had gone against that grain by passing on their only real chance at recouping assets for George with the Warriors.

But just as the Clippers aren’t regretting the choices that led to George’s departure to Philadelphia, team sources are adamant in their defense of the Golden State decision as well. And the reasoning has everything to do with the financial flexibility that they valued more than what the Warriors had to offer. Strange as it might sound, they would argue that there are times when nothing is better than something.

Paul George walks near the Clippers bench on Wednesday. (Harry How / Getty Images)

Had the Clippers agreed to do the deal, with the most likely scenario being Golden State sending Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul, Moses Moody and a first-round pick their way in exchange for George, then team sources say the second-apron luxury tax penalties that would have come with it would have put the total cost at approximately $110 million. The Clippers had serious interest in Warriors fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga and would have likely done the deal if he was included along with the first-round pick, but team sources say he was never truly available.

The two teams did discuss scenarios that included Kuminga, team sources said, but the Warriors later pulled him off the table. Considering he was the only young Warriors prospect whom the Clippers truly saw as a potential star, that was the real X-factor in it all. Even Brandin Podziemski, the second-year guard who was on the Clippers’ wish list, wasn’t available. So rather than take what Golden State offered, and having to navigate the second-apron hell that came with it, the Clippers decided to target the role players of their choosing elsewhere.

If you somehow haven’t heard by now, the second-apron luxury tax penalties that come when a team’s payroll exceeds $189 million are the bane of every billionaire’s existence. Even owners like the Clippers’ Steve Ballmer, the former Microsoft CEO whose net worth of $123 billion makes him the richest owner in sports, are now forced to fear the consequences that come with spending your way to the top.

Frozen draft picks. A restriction against making trades in which multiple player salaries are aggregated. No midlevel exceptions, sign-and-trades, or ability to send cash out in trades. Minimum-salary players abound.

A blank check isn’t enough anymore.

GO DEEPER

How are NBA GMs and execs trying to build teams and compete in the parity era?

The list of roster-wrecking ramifications is long, and perhaps even boring to the casual fans, but the truth of it all is that front-office executives whose teams are in that unwelcome financial state are like handymen with an empty tool belt. Among all of the involved parties in George’s Clippers exit, opinions differ when it comes to the second-apron effect.

On the one hand, the Clippers offered George a three-year, $150 million deal that would have put them in the second-apron territory throughout the length of that contract. They even offered a four-year deal for less than max money, further proving that point. To some extent, quite clearly, they were willing to deal with the second-apron life.

On the other hand, the Clippers showed a strong commitment to avoiding the second apron in all the scenarios that didn’t involve either elite players or young players with the potential to be elite (George or Kuminga). There’s a gray area here on this front, but it’s just silly to pretend that it didn’t come into play.

To watch George fall short against his old team on Wednesday was to wonder if maybe the Clippers didn’t make the right call after all. He is still an elite player in this league, the kind of two-way talent who would fit in beautifully on any legitimate title contender.

But the Clippers aren’t that, not with Leonard’s tenuous status and Harden’s advanced age. Nor are the Sixers, who have a franchise centerpiece in Embiid whose near-constant health issues put him alongside Leonard when it comes to being a calculated risk.

George wanted to maximize his money, and he did just that. The Clippers wanted to protect their future, and they did that too. Whether that makes it a win-win is in the eye of the beholder, but it might be that simple in the end.

(Photos: Tim Heitman, Barry Gossage / NBAE via Getty Images. Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic)