RIP Don West

[Strummer]

Mike Tenay announced Don West has passed away at 59.

loved his enthusiasm and willingness  to learn the business.

also there was an SNL sketch about him in 1996 with Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan.

RIP

[NintendoLogic]

I always liked the guy. His enthusiasm was just so infectious. On top of that, he was a legitimately great salesman. He apparently single-handedly made TNA house shows profitable with his hawking of merchandise. Rest in power.

[SirEdger]

1 hour ago, Strummer said:

Mike Tenay announced Don West has passed away at 59.

loved his enthusiasm and willingness  to learn the business.

also there was an SNL sketch about him in 1996 with Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan.

RIP

What sketch are you referring to?

[Strummer]

It's on the 11/16/96 show hosted by Robert Downey Jr.

the "Shaq Plaque" sketch

[Robert S]

19 minutes ago, Strummer said:

It's on the 11/16/96 show hosted by Robert Downey Jr.

the "Shaq Plaque" sketch

[Robert S]

And as I am not able to edit my post above, here an original Don West baseball card shill:

 

[KawadaSmile]

Don West fucking ruled. 

[Tenese Sarwieh]

Don West had an enthusiasm that never felt force and you could tell he loved TNA the product. May he rest in peace and receive the recognition he deserves from wrestling.

[Timbo Slice]

He’s also, by all accounts, one of the good guys in the business and had respect from everyone, which is tough to do. His enthusiasm was much needed in wrestling and I’m sad he’s gone. I really wish there were more folks like him in wrestling. He’ll be missed. 

[sek69]

I went to a TNA house show in Bumfuck, WV in a high school gym a long time ago, and Don West was there selling the absolute hell out of his brown bag gimmick at the merch table. Dude looked like he was having the time of his life, that man was pure enthusiasm distilled in human form. 

[TonyPulis'Cap]

The word you keep see coming up in all the tributes is 'enthusiasm', which was undoubtedly true - it was infectious when you listened to him, and it was great to hear an announcer genuinely enthused in what he was watching. But on top of that, I thought he became a genuinely great announcer. When you get into late 2004 and into 2005 with the start of TNA's 3 hour PPVs, he and Tenay have formed into a proper commentary team that plays off each other brilliantly. They were a huge part of those PPVs and unlike so much modern wrestling commentary which detracts from what you are watching, they enhanced it - just made you happy listening to them. As others have said as well - just seems to have been a great bloke that everyone has had kind words to say about.  

[sek69]

Don's enthusiasm was so infectious he was able to get Sam the Eagle-ass Mike Tenay to mark out on several occasions, that's probably his biggest accomplishment.