The Detroit Free Press reported early tonight that former Michigan standout Robert "Tractor" Traylor has died. He was as animated and playful as a firework. The Tractor was one of my favorite highlight-makers growing up. I think that's the best way to describe him. He also broke my heart once, after he gave one of Cameron Indoor Stadium's rims a seizure with one of his spectacular trademark slam dunks in a game at Duke in late 1996, giving Michigan a last-second win.

Rest in piece, Tractor.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110511/SPORTS06/110511035/Report-Robert-Traylor-dead-34?odyssey=nav|head

Upon further reading, Traylor apparently suffered from a heart attack. That's sad at any age, but, at 34, it's tragic. It's always a strange feeling when an athlete you grew up watching passes on.