I Think They're Gonna Need A Bigger Pine Box

Former NBA center Manute Bol passed away from acute kidney failure and the rare skin disease, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Do you remember the big guy?

The 7’7” Bol was a NBA fixture for 10 seasons after being drafted by the Washington Bullets in 1985. Mostly known for his height – especially after he was paired with 5’3” point guard Muggsy Bogues – Bol finished his career 14th in NBA history in blocked shots, and remains the only player to have more career blocks than points scored. But his legacy may not be from ball but a contribution to modern slang - he's credited with coining the popular apology – “My bad.”

It's said that Bol might have created the phrase in the 80s when he was playing with the Golden State Warriors. If Bol made a mistake in practice, he would announce, “My bad” as his way of saying that it was his fault. The phrase caught on with his teammates and eventually the majority of the country.