Following his heartfelt acceptance speech for the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 1993 ESPY’s, Jimmy Valvano slowly walked off the stage and down the steps, his failing body supported by his two closest friends. Not a dry eye could be seen in the audience. Valvano, coach of the 1983 NCAA National Championship men’s basketball team at North Carolina State, was in the terminal stages of bone cancer. Within two months he passed away. He spoke for a mere eleven minutes that night and the words Valvano shared have resonated far beyond his life.
“Don’t give up, don’t ever give up,” said Valvano. These words have become the philosophy of the V Foundation, an organization for cancer research founded by Valvano and ESPN. After the Foundation was established in 1993, ESPN has hosted the annual “Jimmy V Week,” a week of remembrance for Valvano as well as support of cancer research. Valvano shared during his speech, “How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal, and you have to be willing to work for it.” Since 1993, the V foundation has raised over $100 million towards cancer research.
What sometimes tends to be forgotten about sports is that they are not an end in itself, but a means to an end. Along with many other things in life, sports are a means to happiness, courage, success and redemption. Valvano knew this. He knew that, although engulfed by a terrible disease, the success he achieved in coaching provided a stepping-stone for cancer research and funding. “We need your help. I need your help. We need money for research. It may not save my life. It may save my children’s life. It may save someone you love. And it’s very important,” Valvano said.
People like Valvano provide a perspective that is very rare in the common man, one that is cast from an understanding of how little time they have left. It is because of this perspective that it is imperative for us to listen to what people like Valvano share.
“To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special,” Valvano said.
The increase in controversy, violations, cheating and scandals has become a cancer to the value of athletic achievements. Although these problems need to be recognized, in no way should they diminish the importance of athletics.
This “Jimmy V Week,” one should remember and appreciate the significance of sports and what it can give to us.
Whether it may be for success, thought, emotions, cancer research or the celebration of Valvano, there are many things in life, including sports, which can provide us a means to a greater end.