Theodore Olbermann, father of MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann, died this afternoon after suffering complications from a surgery last year. Keith posted a tribute to his father at his Baseball Nerd blog a short time ago.

“He was my inspiration, and will always remain so,” he wrote. “His bravery these last six months cannot be measured. He is as much my hero now, as he was when I was five years old.”

In the past few months, Olbermann did not anchor a number of “Countdown” episodes so he could spend time with his dad. He had also discussed his father’s hospitalization several times on the program.

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