I'm sure that most of you are familiar with DGNR8. He's a Browns fan who became a good friend to many of us and perhaps a not so good friend to others.
His real name was Ryan Knoch and he passed away late Thursday evening.
I don't have many details, but suffice it to say that I will miss him greatly. I never met Ryan, but we had become friends outside of this forum. He was a young man, only 36, with young sons who are left without a father. I didn't know before today if it was possible to shed tears over the loss of a person I had never actually met. I know now that it is.
There is already a thread on the Browns board to pay respects, but I felt it necessary to post one here as well since I now he had an impact on many over here.
Ryan was, in fact, a single father to those two sons. He was raised in what is called a broken family and was dedicated to not allow his sons to experience what he went through. Some of you may have had better relationships with Ryan thatn others, but still . . . say a prayer for his sons and family.
I can't imagine what those boys are going through! Thanks, lyman, for clarifying that. I was aware, but I'm sure many here wouldn't have been. Ryan and I spoke often about his sons and his devotion to them was clear.
I can't believe how much I miss him already! I'll never watch Monty Python without thinking of Ryan and I'm certain it will be the first time it has ever brought tears of pain to my eyes.
This is indeed a shocker. I did not know him personally, but you can develop relationship online in these forums. My prayers go out to the family and particularily those two boys. May our God comfort them and provide for them in their loss.
The world lost a great person Thursday night and I lost a friend. Like myself, DG wore his heart on his sleeve and it showed in his posts. He had solid convictions and he didn't always "play nice" but whether you knew him, disliked him, liked him or loved him please know that DGNR8 was one of the good guys. His passion for the Browns was only matched by his passion for family and friends and the world will never be the same without him.
Nice move by CBS giving a writers badge to the name. They've "pinned" the two threads in his honor as well. Thank you CBS Admins...especially R.W. Chan. Ryan always spoke well of you even if he didn't like some of the site's policies.
I looked through his posting history and his very last post on this site was a PM to me asking for a writer's badge. He was too humble to say that he deserved one for his contributions. Instead, he said that he wanted one because he knew that it would irk some members of the community, Steelers=sb in particular. That points to what kind of person DGNR8 was. Even when complaining about the site or our policies, he managed to find the humor in the situation. I didn't give him the badge then, but the outpouring of grief and the great showing of respect for him now proves that he always did deserve one.
Yes, I will admit I give you guys probably more crap then you deserve, but I've gained a lot more respect for you guys the gesture you showed for him. I have tried to help, but maybe I get a little more sarcastic then necassary. I still don't like some policies, but I will at least try not to make it so personal after today. Well actually I never hated you guys as people, just as admins.
I never personally debated with him, but read many of his posts. I always found them to be well thought out, well written, and with a sharp edge to them that made for very entertaining reading.
It was on an evening when Mano and DGNR8 were having their Monty Python hijack moments, that through an FB conversation DGNR8 had attempted to reassure me that he wasn't as much of an "azz" as he came off on the boards. I personally never thought he was, like many he seemed to have enjoyed passing good hearted barbs while talking about a subject that the majority of us enjoy discussing.
There were two things that I had gotten from our few and brief conversations, that Ryan's humor was genuine...and that he thought alot about you guys on here.
As I said on the Browns board that there will be a big void here on CBS without DGNR8. RIP Ryan...and my heart goes out to his family.
I hate to read DGNR8 passed away, I know we had fun last summer doing that vote them off poll thing where it was Steelers and Browns at the end. We discussed quite a bit back then got to know him about as well as you can know someone through here and he was a good guy. I wish the best for his sons and hope for the best for them. RIP Ryan, you won't be forgotten on here.
"After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. Treason has done his worst. Nor steel nor posion, malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing can touch him further." .. William Shakespeare
Though I didn't know DGNR8 as well as many on these boards I did enjoy reading his opinions. Without question he had one of the coolest Avatars on CBSSports. May he be resting in peace and may the angles in heaven be looking after his two boys during this time of grief and sorrow.
"After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. Treason has done his worst. Nor steel nor posion, malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing can touch him further." .. William Shakespeare
Though I didn't know DGNR8 as well as many on these boards I did enjoy reading his opinions. Without question he had one of the coolest Avatars on CBSSports. May he be resting in peace and may the angles in heaven be looking after his two boys during this time of grief and sorrow.
Peace. Beautifully said, VarsityClub!
If I could add any more favorites...one of DG's biggest pet peeves with the admins...you'd be fav'd! Thanks.
