ESPN host Dave Cokin dead at age 71 just weeks after he revealed cancer diagnosis & warned fans ‘I’ve got days left’

LEGENDARY sports better Dave Cokin has died at 71 after revealing his cancer diagnosis with a heartbreaking message to fans just weeks ago.

The ESPN sports talk radio host, known for his decades as a professional handicapper, announced his retirement as he warned that he was entering his final days.

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WagerTalk TV: Sports Picks and Betting Tips

Dave announced both his retirement and cancer diagnosis with a heartbreaking post on X .

“Ok the time has come,” he said in the post on June 25.

“I went to the doc about one year ago for what was supposed to be maybe a 30 minute biopsy. Turned into about an 8 hour procedure.

“After speaking with the meds and weighing the options I opted to pass on the chemo and let nature take its course.”

The Las Vegas legend went on to say that the cancer had taken “dead aim” at his carotid artery.

“Basically, you should not count on getting a Christmas present from me,” Dave wrote.

“I’ve got days or weeks, perhaps a couple months left and I’ll be going, going, gone.”

He then announced that he was retiring but still planned to cap, or analyze sports bets, each day because it’s what he loved to do.

Dave opened up to the Las Vegas Review-Journal about his cancer last month from home hospice care.

“Choice was inpatient care with chemo and a good chance I kick the bucket anyway,” Dave told the outlet via text as he couldn’t speak coherently due to the cancer.

“So I said, ‘No thanks. I’ll let nature take its course and get me the (expletive) outta here.’

“Great decision. I’m gonna die, but on my terms.”

He told the Journal that despite the cancer’s growth, he planned to enjoy his remaining days.

“The cancer is growing, and there are some ominous signs. But my original prognosis was weeks or months, and I already crushed that,” Dave said.

Dave Cokin's retirement announcement in full

On June 25, Dave Cokin announced on X that he was retiring from his longtime profession of sports betting because he was dying from cancer.

“Ok the time has come,” Dave kicked off the series of posts.

“I went to the doc about one year ago for what was supposed to be maybe a 30 minute biopsy. Turned into about an 8 hour procedure.

“After speaking with the meds and weighing the options I opted to pass on the chemo and let nature take its course.

“The original prognosis was weeks, possibly months. I’m already one year in and feel good. I look like s**t but will accept the opinion of many that I looked like s**t anyway.

“Unfortunately after mostly spinning its wheels and accomplishing surprisingly little, the cancer has now taken dead aim (grim but accurate choice of words) at my carotid artery.

“One doesn’t have to be a med whiz to know what that means.

“Basically you should not count on getting a Christmas present from me. I’ve got days or weeks, perhaps a couple months left and I’ll be going, going, gone,” he said.

He continued, “So the big announcement. I’m retiring. I’ll still be capping each day as that’s what I’ve loved to do for most of years and I’ll still post any really strong opinions [at WagerTalk] but there will be days off where I just get one more watch of some great flicks with my friends.

“Sorry about being long winded but it’s my dime.

“My thanks to my closest friends and especially to those who’ve made repeated trips from Rhode Island just to hang out.

“My words can’t come close to covering it to Erin who has literally saved my life twice,” he added, echoing what he shared on Facebook – that his concerned friend Erin first took him to the doctor when he started losing weight and having bad eyesight last year.

“I guess that’s about it. I’ve gotten all my ducks in a row, I made enough to leave $$ to those I feel were most loyal and I just want to do something nice for.

“Replies are open and I’ll do my best to answer as long as I able to you. Based on what I know my end will be a mostly painless 10–15 minute bleed out.”

He joked, “Really hope it’s not in the middle of a good film noir!”

“Thanks so much who’ve followed my occasionally brilliant but mostly mediocre tweets over the years.

“You’d be surprised how much I’ve appreciated you guys!” Dave concluded.

“Now it’s days or weeks, maybe a couple months. Bet the ‘over.’

“I’m enjoying my life and think I’ll stick around for a while.”

He told the Journal that he approached the end of his life with a positive attitude because he felt grateful.

“It beats feeling sorry for oneself,” Dave said.

“Maybe I’d feel differently if my life sucked. It sure didn’t. I’ve had a great time.”

Fellow radio host Lawrence Prezman announced Dave’s death on his show WagerTalk on Tuesday.

‘TRULY ONE OF THE GREATEST’

He said that Dave passed away at around 4 am that morning.

“Very rarely do we meet a legend in life and me and the entire WagerTalk team were lucky enough to have one in our work family for many, many years,” Lawrence said.

“Dave lived one of the most colorful lives out of anyone I’ve ever come in contact with,” he continued, praising Dave’s kindness and dry humor.

Lawrence choked on tears as he remembered how Dave took pride in what he did for a living, adding that he was “truly one of the greatest.”

“Dave was one of the pioneers in the sports handicapping industry and he saw it through so many changes,” he said.

SPORTS BETTING PIONEER

Born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island , Dave moved to Las Vegas in 1987 and started his broadcast career as a guest on Lee Pete’s sports talk radio show.

He eventually became the co-host of Pete’s Stardust Line show, which is the longest-running sports betting show in radio history.

Choice was inpatient care with chemo and a good chance I kick the bucket anyway.

So I said, ‘No thanks. I’ll let nature take its course and get me the (expletive) outta here.’

Great decision. I’m gonna die, but on my terms.”

Dave Cokin

He was a featured panelist on USA Network’s Proline TV show since 1993.

Dave, who was known for almost always wearing a flat hat, co-hosted ESPN Radio’s The Las Vegas Sportsline betting show from 2011 to 2018 with Matt Youmans.

He also co-hosted Cofield and Cokin on ESPN Radio and The Pete Rose Show on the Sports Fan Radio Network.

In recent years, Dave shared his expert betting picks and predictions on WagerTalk, where fans called him the greatest of all time.

Fans and fellow betters shared tributes to the GOAT on social media following news of his death.

“The Goat. Rest in peace Dave,” one wrote under Lawrence’s tribute as another added, “RIP to a true legend in the game. The REAL ones know!”

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