I had an unusual experience last night.

I was at an event benefitting the First Tee of Chicago. Luke Donald was the host, and he was joined by Steve Stricker, Mark Wilson and Mark Rolfing.

Among the auction items was art by LeRoy Neiman on the upcoming Ryder Cup at Medinah in September. Included was a giant golf ball painted by Neiman.

Benjamin Isaacs, a terrific man who worked with Neiman as CEO of Cobalt Artworks, greeted us during the cocktail reception. He was excited about Neiman’s work for the Ryder Cup. He took out a camera phone and showed us a picture of the great artist recently celebrating his 91st birthday.

“Isn’t it amazing at 91 he’s still painting?” Isaacs said.

A couple hours later, Isaacs, ashen-faced, came up to me and put his hands on my shoulders. “LeRoy just passed away,” he said.

It was surreal in that prior to meeting Isaacs earlier this year I had no connection to Neiman. Then suddenly myself and others had to console someone who was very close to him.

Isaacs composed himself and gave a beautiful speech to the crowd, paying tribute to Neiman. It reminded everyone what a huge figure he was in sports.

Neiman showed there is more to documenting sports than through words, video and pictures. His iconic art, detailing the great games and events and athletes of the last 50-plus years, also defined a generation of sports in his own unique way.

From the obituary in the Wall Street Journal:

Neiman was fascinated with large game animals, and twice traveled to Kenya to paint lions and elephants “in the bush” in his trademark vibrant palette.

But it was the essence of a basketball or football game, swim meet or cycling event that captured his imagination most.

“For an artist, watching a (Joe) Namath throw a football or a Willie Mays hit a baseball is an experience far more overpowering than painting a beautiful woman or leading political figure,” Neiman said in 1972.

With his sketchbook and pencil, trademark handlebar mustache and slicked back hair, Neiman was instantly recognizable.

At a New York Jets game at Shea Stadium in 1975, fans yelled, “Put LeRoy in,” when the play wasn’t going their way.

A New Daily News story has several pictures of Neiman with athletes, including his most famous subject, Muhammad Ali. From the story:

Muhammad Ali was his favorite subject, and he once explained to the Daily News’  Bill Gallo why he was drawn to larger-than-life figures.

“It’s not the act of arrogance to draw, it’s humbling – you must use your  God-given talent. And of all the people I sketch, in most cases I feel I have to  measure up to the subject,” he said.