Jimmy Valvano, 1993 – announcing the Jimmy V Foundation
November 30 - December 9 is Jimmy V week on ESPN. You may not know who Jimmy Valvano was, but if you have had the misfortune of knowing someone afflicted with cancer, the odds are he and his life’s mission impacted your life.
Jimmy Valvano was a successful basketball coach, commentator, and author. He was a person of strong conviction and personal drive. At an early age he pulled out white index cards and began to write down his personal goals for life. He wanted to play high school and college basketball, he wanted to become an assistant coach, go on to become a head coach, cut down the nets in Madison Square Garden and win a National Championship. At age 36, he was able to pull out those cards and cross off every item on the list. Throughout his life he developed a personal philosophy which allowed an ordinary man to accomplish the extraordinary. He was commented, “There are 86,400 seconds in a day. It is up to you to decide what to do with them.” Jimmy V chose to cherish and make the most of each one.
After accomplishing his goals on the basketball court, he explored new directions from writing to commentating. He was not interested in limiting himself to a single profession. He embraced diversity in his life and his interests.
In 1993, Jimmy Valvano was given an obstacle that would prove to be his most difficult. He was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer proved to be too much for him to personally overcome, but through his vision and passion he has inspired and continues to inspire funding for education and research to cure cancer. At the time of his diagnosis, cancer was an underfunded and devastating disease. His charismatic and infectious attitude towards life and easy appeal to people made him an ideal person to raise the awareness of cancer and its impacts on our world and to raise arms to find a way to cure cancer. While no cure has been found, through continued research many forms of treatment have been developed. The Jimmy V Foundation has risen over $100 million in the past 20 years to fund cancer awareness and research.
Jimmy V is an inspiring person. His attitude towards life, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles is something to admire.
Below is a video clip from the 1993 ESPY awards when he received the Arthur Ashe award for Courage. During his speech he announces the Jimmy V Foundation. This is a must see!!!
Below are the highlights from the 1983 National Championship. It was one of the most exciting endings the tournament has ever seen.
What do you think of Jimmy Valvano, his life and his mission? If I gave you five index cards to write down your goals and dreams for your life, what would you write down?
