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 […]
As the calendar turned to October, the crisp fall temperatures reminded us that football was in full bloom. For many, that is a good thing, as football remains the sports king of America. However, the recent report of three football-related deaths in four days was alarming, to say the least. That these tragedies all involved high school athletes raises the concern even the more. According to a report in USA Today, this season there have been at least seven football-related deaths involving high school athletes – and we still have nearly two months to go. Last year, eight players died from football-related injuries, the highest total since 1976. Much work is being done to stem the tide of concussions and other serious injuries in football. While such efforts are certainly to be applauded, this recent report is a sober reminder of just how much work remains to be done. Photo credit: Getty Images