The sports journalism community is in mourning following the sudden death of Mike Dixon, a respected Daily Mail columnist.
Dixon, who was in Melbourne covering the Australian Open, tragically collapsed and died shortly before his 60th birthday.
Mike Dixon has had a storied career spanning nearly four decades, during which he became a mainstay in press boxes around the world. His journey with the Daily Mail began in 1990 when he first took on the role of cricket correspondent, eventually going on to become a prominent voice in the world of tennis.
The sad news of his death was relayed in a poignant social media post by his wife Lucy on behalf of their children Sam, Robbie and Joe. The family's statement stated the following:
“We are devastated to announce that our wonderful husband and dad, Mike, collapsed and passed away while in Melbourne for the Australian Open. For 38 years, he lived out his dream of covering sports all over the world. He was a truly great man and we will miss him dearly. Lucy, Sam, Robbie and Joe .
We are happy to announce that our wonderful husband and dad, Mike, collapsed and passed away while in Melbourne for the Australian Open. For 38 years, he lived his dream of covering sports around the world. He was a truly great man and we will miss him greatly. Lucy, Sam, Robbie and Joe.
– Mike Dixon (@Mike_Dickson_DM) January 17, 2024
The Daily Mail reported:
Mike Dixon, the Daily Mail's legendary tennis correspondent, has tragically died at the age of 59.
Dixon was a well-respected and admired journalist who spent 38 years in the industry – 33 of which at The Mail since he started in 1990 – and his loss will be deeply felt by his colleagues.
He previously worked as a cricket correspondent for the Mail before moving to tennis and has covered 30 different sports in nearly 50 countries during a rich career.
Dixon was in Melbourne covering the Australian Open when he died, just days shy of his 60th birthday, on January 27.
He lived in Wimbledon with his family and loved following both Tranmere and Everton after growing up on the Wirral. His wife, Lucy, announced the news of his death in a joint letter with the family.
Recently, Dixon has drawn attention for his critical views of Novak Djokovic's stance on the Covid-19 vaccine. Through various articles, Dixon has not only challenged Djokovic's decisions, but also highlighted the potential ramifications on his legacy and public image.
“Mike Dixon: Novak Djokovic could ruin his chance at becoming the GOAT by refusing to take the vaccine… It's a strange hill to die for a player so desperate to be liked,” Dixon wrote in one of his articles.
Dixon wrote numerous articles insulting Novak, and even said this. Again very thankful that Novak was a classic and retweeted Dixon's death and said rest in peace. I love this man. pic.twitter.com/Any2nQwHsP
– Erin Elizabeth Healthy Nut News (@healthytruth) January 20, 2024
He also wrote a Q&A article titled “Novak Djokovic Q&A: Why is the World No. 1 so adamant about not getting the vaccine?” How much does he surrender in the process? And most importantly…what happens now?”
His critical stance was evident in another article where he said: “Mike Dixon: Novak Djokovic will remain a hero to some, but to many others, he has irreparably damaged his reputation… The world No. 1 thought he could work the system, but it turned out that the transaction Preference only goes so far.”
Despite their differences, Novak Djokovic showed sportsmanship and respect by acknowledging Dixon's death. The tennis star retweeted the announcement of Dixon's death with a simple but poignant message: My condolences to Mike Dixon's family [pray emoji] rest in peace.
My condolences to Mike Dixon's family, may he rest in peace https://t.co/skSMgwvBcZ
– Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 18, 2024
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic faced harassment from the public who urged him to “get vaccinated.” Djokovic appeared to respond on the court with his distinctive prowess and hit an ace to secure a three-set victory over Thomas Martin Echeverry.
He watches:
Watching Novak Djokovic deliver an ace after the crowd yelled “Get vaccinated” at him is incredibly satisfying.
Remember, they won't let the GOAT and one of the best people on the planet play tennis because he refused several doses of experimental mRNA gene therapy for… pic.twitter.com/2YqMPkTOi5
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) January 20, 2024
