Editor’s note: Front Row continues a look at the Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research, which began Wednesday across all ESPN platforms and runs through Dec. 6.
Dick Vitale discusses his friend, Jim Valvano, and the fight against cancer– CLICK TO LISTEN
There might not be a more passionate and visible advocate of The V Foundation than Dick Vitale.
The ESPN college basketball analyst has been a champion of the cause in the memory of his friend and former colleague, Jim Valvano, who lost his battle with cancer in 1993.
“I’m flat-out obsessed in the last chapter of my life to do something really positive to raise as many dollars as I can [for cancer research],” said Vitale said in our podcast (click the link above).
Vitale tells a story about how he witnessed Valvano cope with the disease one night in a hotel room near ESPN’s studios.
“He immediately just jumped out of his bed and started punching the walls and started screaming about how that he can’t take it, the pain,” Vitale recalled.
“He told me,’Take your worse toothache and run it through your entire body. That’s what I feel everyday.’
“Nobody should have to suffer like that.”
To champion this cause and also relate his passion for all things college basketball, Vitale is very active in social media.
The Basketball Hall Of Fame inductee tells Front & Center why he loves social media outlets like Twitter (@DickieV) and Facebook.
