- May 6 Saleh Selim, Egyptian football midfielder (10 caps; Al-Ahly Cairo SC 354 games) and executive (President Al-Ahly SC 1980-88, 1992-2002), dies at 71
Seattle Slew (1974-2002)
May 7 American racehorse (American Triple Crown 1977), dies at 28
- May 9 Dan Devine, American football coach, dies at 77
- May 12 Erich Kulas, ECW Wrestler (Mass Transit), dies after surgery at 22
- May 13 Valeri Lobanovsky, Ukrainian footballer and manager (b. 1939)
- May 17 Joe Black, American Negro League and MLB player, dies at 78
- May 17 László Kubala, Hungarian soccer striker (3 caps Hungary, 6 Czechoslovakia, 19 Spain, 4 Catalonia; FC Barcelona 186 games) and manager (Spain 1969–80), dies at 74
Sam Snead (1912-2002)
May 23 American golfer (US Masters 1949, 52, 54; British Open 1946; PGA C'ship 1942, 49, 51; Vardon Trophy x 4), dies of a stroke at 89
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions