GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 11: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 and Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals shakes hands with United States Senator John McCain prior to the coin flip before the start of a game against the New England Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona.

Arizona sports community pays tribute to John McCain

theScore staff
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Norm Hall / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Senator John McCain died Saturday at 81 years old, after a long battle with brain cancer. Many in the sports world from his home state of Arizona promptly paid their respects to the man who served 31 years in the upper chamber of Congress.

Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald called McCain a "dear friend." Last year, Fitzgerald wrote an article of appreciation for the Republican senator, who as a young man spent more than five years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam conflict.

McCain was also known for his advocacy for boxing reform, trying over the years to institute a national boxing commission.

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