He did a couple United games for Comcast. Sad. ------ Former DC TV Sportcaster Darrian Chapman Dies - 10/30 - Darrian Chapman, who used to be a sports anchor and reporter on Channel 4/WRC, and who, in 2000, moved to Chicago's NBC station, died suddenly on 10/30. The cause is suspected to be cardiac arrest. Chapman suffered a heart attack while working at WRC, but recovered. According to WMAQ, the Chicago NBC station: "Darrian joined the NBC5 sports team as a weekend anchor and sports reporter in May 2000. He came to NBC5 Chicago from NBC4 in Washington, DC, where he served as the station's weekend morning sports anchor and sports anchor for more than four years. While in the nation's capital, he also did some play-by-play for George Mason University's men's basketball team on 'Home Team Sports.' Prior to that, Darrian held the position of sports director at WGR NewsRadio 55 in Buffalo, NY".....
That's so very sad. Darrian was the best thing about Channel 4 sports for the longest time. My prayers are with the Chapman family.
This is sad. He was cool when he was with Channel 4, and I was happy to see him co-announcing one of the DC-Chicago games this season. He was fairly young, wasn't he?
He was also the Fire's PBP guy last year and did stuff for the Buffalo NPSL team way back when. He was a soccer fan and a good guy. He was 37. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-021030chapman,0,1888963.story?coll=chi-news-hed
He was a real nice guy who loved soccer. It's so sad that such a wonderful guy has been taken from us. Why couldn't it have been one of the anti-soccer "journalists"? Fate, I guess. GM
Darrian was my friend. I'm sitting here, still in shock, reflecting on all the things about him that should have told me that he was only "on loan" to me and others. I met him twenty years ago when we were room mates for the MD All-State Choir concert in October of '82. We became fast friends and spent a lot of time together during the rest of that year and the summer before college. We lost track of each other after college, but reunited when he came to DC to work for Channel 4. He was the most genuine and generous person I've ever met. His passion for life blended perfectly with his profession. He loved sports - all sports - and was a particularly avid soccer fan, having played in HS alongside Desmond Armstrong. He led a full life, and as some of you may have seen last night, he fulfilled a dream by singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir while he was covering the Olympics in Salt Lake City. He made a point of calling me immediately afterwards and bragging about it. It figures he was a singer; his enthusiasm knew no bounds, and singing was a natural release for such a big heart. How tragically ironic it is that his heart apparently failed him. I will miss my friend terribly.
It's been quite a while since I've posted on bigsoccer but I felt compelled to do so with this sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with the Chapman family and also to his friends like "Claymore". And to think I was upset when Darrian left Channel 4. God bless.
I was definatley shocked when I heard the news! A prayer goes out to his family. It really makes you think that life is short, so make the most of it and enjoy it and your family.
Aw man. I was bummed about this already, but your post drives home what I already believed about Darrian. A good man, the kind you'd want as a friend. Thanks for sharing, claymore...
More info and you can add your condolences at the bottom http://www.nbc5.com/news/1750017/detail.html K
Very very sorry to hear you lost your friend. I do remember his big smile on Channel 4 I remember watching Larry King a few nights back regarding someone else who died, that is a guy that was killed by the sniper just fishing w/his son, both innocently smiling (especially the son) at the camera This kind of stuff we all just don't want to see Claymore at least he was around for as long as he was and you guys got to be friends. All of us here are 100% with you on this
This is very, very sad news. My thoughts are with his family and especially his young children. I knew he had a heart attack while he was still here in DC, but it's still quite a shock to hear about him dying of a heart attack at the age of 37. I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet him at a DC United sponsor party before the 1999 season. He certainly one of the few local sports media personalities who was a true friend of soccer.
My lasting memory of Darrian is as host of WRC4's broadcast of the DC United victory parade along Pennsylvania Avenue after MLS Cup 99. Darrian and Wendy Rieger co-hosted it, and he more than covered for her mistakes and lack of knowledge about soccer, but always with his trademark friendliness and enthusiasm. This guy was never a bore, a prima donna, or an idiot -- he both knew sports and loved them, and got along well with people also while being the consummate professional without being stiff, arrogant, aloof. Sorry about your loss esepcially, Claymore, since you knew the guy well, but as was said, you got to know him well and spend time with him so you have some good memories that are personal, not just observations from a distance like the rest of us. This news makes this day suck more, combined with news of the death of Jam Master Jay. Friday (really, the weekend) can't get here soon enough.
There is a fund set up for his children: Here is the address. The Darrian Chapman Children's Fund, 1808 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.
Wow...that really sucks. I appreciated him because he was one the rare sportscasters around here to give DC United any play. He was a hell of a broadcaster, always enthusiastic. It was almost like he wanted to get out and play whatever sport he was talking about. My condolences to his family and friends.
I was also so shocked when I heard about this the other day. I remember speaking with him once - the only time I spoke with him. He told me that it was easier for him to get soccer coverage on during the weekend and he assured me that he always pushed to get United covered. Since he left DC I would bet the United coverage on channel 4 went down. He had a very earnest look and way about him; he just always seemed so pleasant. Hopefully we can remember him and his memory can live on by us all trying to be more pleasant and open minded - two qualities that Darrien seemed to possess.