Valvano’s spirit is felt at ESPYs. What to know about NC State coach, his famous speech
In North Carolina and in the world of sports, former NC State basketball coach Jim Valvano is a legend.
The coach led the Wolfpack to win the 1983 NCAA men’s basketball championship.
But he’s also remembered for is work to raise money for cancer research as he battled cancer himself.
The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance is now given at the ESPYs, which are awards that honor athletes and recognize the year’s best moments in sports. On July 12, Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks will receive the award; he was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma and said in April he is cancer-free, ABC7 reported.
Learn more about Valvano’s legacy, his famous ESPY speech, and how to donate to the V Foundation.
Who was Jim Valvano?
Jim Valvano was the head coach of NC State’s men’s basketball team from 1980 to 1990.
The team also won the ACC Tournament Championship in 1983 and 1987.
Valvano was honored as ACC Coach of the Year in 1989.
After coaching, Valvano became a broadcaster for ESPN and ABC Sports.
Valvano’s cancer diagnosis
Valvano was diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma — which was discovered in his spine and later spread to his hips, legs and back — in June 1992, when he was 46 years old.
He won the inaugural Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award at the first-ever ESPY Awards in 1993, and died a month later.
His tear-jerking “Don’t Ever Give Up” acceptance speech is replayed on ESPN every year during V Week.
How to watch Valvano’s ‘Don’t Give Up’ speech
If you’ve seen Valvano’s speech, you’ve never forgotten it. If you’ve never seen it, you should.
“It’s called ‘the roadblock’ because ESPN stops all their other programming and plays this speech,” said Katie Sweet, the V Foundation’s director of communications.
“I’ve been in a restaurant when it came on, and everybody stops what they’re doing. Whether you’re seeing it for the first or fortieth time, you just drop everything to listen.”
You can watch Jimmy V’s famous ESPY speech in the new documentary “SC Featured: The Speech,” which will air Wednesday, July 12 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN before The ESPYS, and on Saturday, July 15 at 2 p.m. ET on ABC.
An annotated version of the speech can be found on ESPN’s website here.
What is the V Foundation?
Valvano co-founded the V Foundation for Cancer Research in 1993. He announced the beginning of the foundation during his memorable ESPY speech.
According to The V Foundation, the organization has awarded nearly $290 million in cancer research grants.
- The Foundation has funded a collaboration between N.C. State’s Veterinary School and the Duke Cancer Institute in its Canine Comparative Oncology project. It has provided over $1.4 million to support research that is working to find answers for human and canine cancers.
- The V Foundation has also provided more than $600,000 for Victory Ride grants — all funded at Duke, UNC and Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center.
How to donate to The V Foundation
Donations are tax deductible, and there are many ways to give. Get more information at www.v.org.
Because of an endowment fund, 100% of direct donations benefit cancer research and programs.
This story was originally published November 30, 2021 at 7:20 AM with the headline "Valvano’s spirit is felt at ESPYs. What to know about NC State coach, his famous speech."
