This week is deemed Jimmy V Week by ESPN. It is the kickoff for the start of the NCAA Men's Basketball season and this week has fetured some very highly ranked teams facing off against eachother.
Jim Valvano has been for me one of the most infuentional people in my life. No i never did know him personally, but through all the things that he did in his life and all the troubles that he had to endure has been so inspirational.
Jim Valvano was the head basketball coach for the North Carolina State University Wolfpack for the decade of the 1980's and the head coach for the National Champion NCSU Wolfpack in 1983. In the early 1990's he was diagnosed with an untreatable cancer. He was awarded the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY's in March of 1993 and died from his cancer less than 2 months later. Below is the link to his speech from his reception of that award and one of the most inspiratoinal speeches that i have ever heard and one that i send to anyone who has family who has been touched by cancer to help them get through the tough times.
Jimmy V ESPY Speech
