Jason Jones: RIP to my friend and one …

Jason Jones: RIP to my friend and one of my mentors, Marty McNeal. I’ll never forget the first time I met you when I was in college. You let me tag along while you covered a Kings-Warriors game. When I tried to leave you alone so you could write, you told me “Fuck a deadline. We’re hangin.” When I told you it didn’t feel right to cover the NBA without you on the beat, you told me not to worry and do my thing. You gave me shit about L.A., I made fun of you for liking the Mets and Yankees. I just talked to you a couple weeks ago. I’m hurt right now. Thanks for everything you did for me.

Today, Sacramento Kings General Manager …

Today, Sacramento Kings General Manager Vlade Divac issued the following statement on the passing of Martin McNeal, the team’s beat writer for The Sacramento Bee from 1992 to 2005: “I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing of my friend Marty Mac. I’ll never forget his incredible sense of humor and he will be forever remembered as a truly iconic figure in both the Sacramento and national media landscape.”