Like a lot of people we expect, we cried when Jim Valvano died of cancer in 1993. Mike Krzyzewski was one of his pall bearers and we’ve never seen Coach K so absolutely stricken. But Valvano could do that to people.
He gave that incredible speech at the ESPYs of course, which rivals the great farewell speech of Lou Gehrig as a proud and moving goodbye by a sports figure.
He also oversaw the birth of the V Foundation, which he hoped would one day end all cancer.
It hasn't done that yet but it has made progress.