Jimmy V’s spirit lives on after 15 years

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Published: December 5, 2008

This week, known in basketball circles as “Jimmy V Week,” is always a sad time for me.

If you’ve watched many games in the past few days, then you know what an impact that Jim Valvano had on college basketball and the sports world. It has been 15 years since bone cancer took Valvano away from us — and by us, I mean sports fans, hoops fans, and particularly ACC fans, who enjoyed his antics as N.C. State’s coach.

The basketball world has remembered him just the way Jimmy V would have wanted. It continues to raise money in his name to fight cancer. You can contribute by going to http://www.jimmyv.org.

A sad farewell tour

I will never forget the last time I saw Jim Valvano. It may have been the saddest day of my career in sports journalism.

On Feb. 28, 1993, Duke defeated UCLA at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and Jimmy V somehow found the strength and courage to carry out what I believe was his last assignment as the color commentary for the television coverage of the game.

I was covering the game, which was a pretty big one. But the real reason I was there was to interview Valvano, who was dying of cancer. In fact, he lasted only two months afterward, shortly after his unforgettable farewell speech at the ESPY Awards.

I stood there in Cameron after the game ended and watched Valvano, his body ravaged by cancer so badly that he could barely stand the pain, try to make his way out of the ancient gym. Security guards made a path through the crowd so he could exit.

“Jimmy V’s coming through guys, give him some respect. Clap, but don’t touch,” the guards instructed the fans.

Duke students clapped and offered words of encouragement. Valvano slowly reached up and shook their hands. He was so touched by their sincerity that he pulled a handkerchief from his coat and wiped his eyes.

“I never expected the support I get everywhere I go,” he said that day. “It keeps me fighting this. It’s special every time. I cry every time.”

One of a kind

Jimmy V was a character. He was unique. He was most always funny and people loved to be around him. He was one of those rare guys who controlled the room, and no one was jealous.

Sure, he had faults, but most who took the time to get to know him, they were easy to forgive.

My pal, Dick Vitale, once said of his beloved friend, “Jimmy V was Seinfeld before Seinfeld.” Dickie was right. Valvano had a one-liner for everything.

“My mother said I was vaccinated with the Victrola. I haven’t shut up since,” Valvano once said.

“When my wife heard about a proposed NCAA rule that prohibits a coach from leaving his college campus to recruit high school athletes the entire month of August, she looked at me and said, ‘Good, that means I can make love 30 times in August,’” Valvano said. “I said, ‘Good, put me down for two.”

That was Jimmy V.

Virginia fans will remember back to the 1990 season when Terry Holland and his entire team all had crewcut haircuts — a rage I believe was started by Matt Blundin during a winning streak. When Valvano’s Wolfpack came to University Hall, Jimmy V got caught up in the act.

Staples Barber Shop was giving away free crewcuts to all takers just off the basketball court as the entire arena watched. Valvano looked on as fans got their heads shaved. He laughed along and climbed into the chair a couple of times, teasing the crowd, getting lots of reaction.

No way was he going to let them cut his locks.

While Valvano had some dramatic wins over Virginia and spoiled one of the Cavaliers’ greatest seasons ever, 1982-83, no one in the basketball world was shocked.

Someone once said that if they had to pick a coach to coach just one game, it would be Valvano. He was known as a tournament coach and that’s where he thrived.

Getting past UVa that season eventually led to a hoops moment forever frozen in time: Jimmy V running wild on the court of The Pit in Albuquerque seconds after the Wolfpack won the national championship. He was just looking for someone to hug.

That day at Duke, he couldn’t even stand the pain that a hug would bring. By then the pain in his 47-year-old body was never ending, 24/7.

Still, he never turned away anyone seeking an autograph or those wishing him well that day. He had to use a special marker to sign his name.

“I can’t write,” Valvano said after the crowd was gone. “I have no feeling in my hands and feet at all. All they do is hurt.

“I can’t button my shirt. I can’t tie my shoes. I can’t tap dance on a bar at midnight. It’s hard for me when people come up. It hurts my hands, but how do you tell them that?”

That’s the way Jimmy V was — a fighter.

Who will ever forget his memorable words after receiving the Arthur Ashe Award for courage:

“There are three things we all should do every day, every day of our lives. No. 1 is laugh. You should laugh every day. No. 2 is think. Spend some time in thought. And, No. 3, you should have your emotions moved to tears. It could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, if you think, and if you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day.”

Jimmy V also taught us that night to never, ever give up. He never did and while he left us, his spirit remains. That’s why every year during this week we celebrate his life.

It’s been a heck of a day.