Jim Valvano ESPY Speech

Strong Bad
Strong Bad Posts: 4,278
edited April 2 in Clubhouse Archives
I saw this re-broadcast last night on one of the ESPN channels. WOW, what an incredible speech! I remember watching it back in '93. Even if you can't watch the video, take time out at some point and read it.

The part where the guy was holding up the card telling Jimmy V he had 30seconds left to finish, and his response to that is simply priceless!


http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jimvalvanoespyaward.htm

I'm not sure how long Jimmy V lived after that, but i think it wasn't more than 6 months. Correct me if i'm wrong.



John
No excuses!
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
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  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited July 2006
    It still gives me chills....
    One of the most memorable sports speeches of all time -- echoing Lou Gherig's farewell speech.
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • ahorvitz
    ahorvitz Posts: 235
    edited July 2006
    The best thing about the ESPYs is that they replay the end of Jimmy V.'s speech every year.

    Gives me chills too...
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2006
    ahorvitz wrote:
    The best thing about the ESPYs is that they replay the end of Jimmy V.'s speech every year.

    Gives me chills too...

    They also play Jimmy's speech every year during the Coaches v. Cancer men's basketball tournament. He was a great guy with a ton of courage. His speech puts things into perspective and is very inspiring.

    From Wikipedia , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Valvano

    Shortly before his death, he spoke at the inaugural ESPY Awards, presented by ESPN, on March 4, 1993. While accepting the inaugural Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award, he announced the creation of the "V Foundation", an organization dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. He announced that the foundation's motto would be "Don't give up. Don't ever give up." His speech has become legendary, and he closed the speech by saying, "Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever. I thank you and God bless you all." One thing Valvano also said in the speech that many remember most are the following words:

    "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 received a lengthy standing ovation. He died less than two months later.
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2006
    he was one of the greats. ACC Basketball is the best.
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  • Strong Bad
    Strong Bad Posts: 4,278
    edited July 2006
    Who could ever forget the amazing run by Jimmy V and the Wolfpack to take the NCAA title in 1983.
    No excuses!
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  • marker
    marker Posts: 1,084
    edited July 2006
    He was the speaker at my high school graduation only about 2 months after winning that title.

    I was never a State fan, but it was a lot harder to hate State with him there.
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  • opus
    opus Posts: 1,252
    edited July 2006
    I really enjoyed the story about Mr. Valvano's first pregame speech at Rutgers. Very funny. The speech is very poignant and heartwarming.
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