Detroit Free Press Sports Columnist Drew Sharp Has Died

DETROIT (WWJ) - Drew Sharp, a Detroit Free Press columnist, died Friday morning at his home in Bloomfield Hills, according to the newspaper. He was 56.

An autopsy is being performed by the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office said the cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

A Detroit native, Sharp joined the Free Press in 1983 covering high school, college and pro beats before becoming a full-time columnist in 1999, according to the newspaper.

Robert Huschka, executive editor of the Detroit Free Press, said Sharp was a "powerful voice with big opinions ... and he will be greatly missed."

Tony Ortiz is among those at WWJ Newsradio 950 who knew Sharp well.

"He as a guy who knew Detroit sports in and out. Yeah, he was negative sometimes and he could drive you absolutely nuts, because it's like — look, things are going well for Detroit teams and yet Drew could find that one negative," Ortiz said. "But nine times out of ten he knew, he just knew something was going to happen, he knew what was going to go wrong."

Social media has been flooded with condolences from fans and those in the sports world.

Dick Vitale called Sharp a great guy and Ken Kal said he was stunned by the news. Terry Foster, of 97.1 The Ticket, called Sharp one of his best friends and mentioned how they'd been through so much together throughout the years when they both covered the Pistons.

The Ticket's Scott Anderson wrote on Facebook: "He was provocative, funny, witty, generous and surprisingly likable for someone who pissed off so many who read his column. But he was also a friend, one who will be missed greatly. RIP, to the 'Paragon of Integrity.'"

Sharp leaves behind a wife, Karen.

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