Sadness has gripped the sports world, and beyond, following the death of legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt.  Tributes have and continue to pour in from those who knew Summitt, played for her and admired her.  I did not know Pat Summitt personally, but she nevertheless had a meaningful impact on my life. To begin, I began watching women’s college basketball because of Summitt.  I recall randomly coming across a women’s game on television some years ago and being struck by the strong, determined and passionate coach on the University of Tennessee sideline.  I didn’t know who she was, but I could tell I was witnessing something different.  There was an aura about her; a confident air that was at once impressive and appealing.  From that day, I began to follow and root for Summitt and the Lady Vols. In time, Summitt’s significance for me extended beyond the hardwood and spoke to me on a much deeper level.  As I learned more about her career and accomplishments, and watched her teams consistently compete for, and often win, national championships, Summitt’s unparalleled body of work became an inspiration.  Here was this woman, competing in a space not created for […]