Iron-willed Pat Summitt faces the scariest diagnosis there is
Pat Summitt after winning the 2005 SEC tournament. (AP photo)
Cancer would be one thing. People of all ages get cancer, and famous coaches are people, too. Jim Calhoun has had it. George Karl has had it. Jim Valvano and Vince Lombardi died from it.
Cancer is bad, but with most cancers you figure you stand a fighting chance. Pat Summitt doesn’t have cancer. She has been diagnosed with early onset dementia, and in her two-minute videotaped statement to Vol Nation she was brave enough to mention the scariest word there is.
That word: Alzheimer’s.
Pat Summitt is 59. She’s among the half-dozen greatest coaches in the history of college basketball. Auriemma, Knight, Krzyzewski, Smith, Summitt and Wooden — there, in alphabetical order, is your list.
She has been the best thing about Tennessee sports for nearly four decades. I met her in 1977, back when she was Pat Head. Already in her third season as the Lady Vols’ coach, she was coming off a silver medal as a player for the U.S. women’s Olympic team, and even a raging dunce like yours truly could tell she was driven in a way only the best and brightest are.
Women’s college basketball was an afterthought then. The NCAA didn’t crown its first women’s champ until 1982 — anyone recall the old AIAW tournaments? — but from the first, Summitt and her Lady Vols comported themselves as if they were the UCLA of Wooden and Alcindor and Walton. Her teams played the hardest, were possessed of the best fundamentals and took the games the most seriously, and so what if she had to wash the uniforms herself afterward?
She has won eight NCAA titles and 16 SEC championships. Her teams have reached the Final Four 18 times. Over the years people have often wondered if the great women’s coach would have succeeded coaching men, and the answer has always been easy: She’d have won coaching fire ants. She’s that good at what she does.
But now she has early onset dementia. She plans to keep coaching, to try medication and “mental exercises” — doing puzzles before going to bed, that sort of thing. But the reason Alzheimer’s is the most terrifying of all diagnoses is because there’s no cure. You get worse and worse until you forget who those people around you are. You forget who you are.
Dean Smith, whose name appeared before Summitt’s in our above alphabetical Valhalla, is suffering from “a progressive neurocognitive disorder that affects his memory,” according to his family. But Smith is 80, and he last coached in 1997. Pat Summitt told Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post she’d like to keep coaching for three more seasons; at the same time, Summitt conceded there was a time last season when she couldn’t remember what play to call.
In her taped statement, Summitt said she’ll ask her three assistants to do more, but what she faces isn’t just a question of delegating. So long as she coaches now, she’ll be viewed in a way no coach has ever been. For decades we’ve watched her patrol the sideline and clap her hands and loose the Summitt Stare, but now, as cruel as it sounds, we won’t be thinking, “There’s the coach who has won more college games than anyone of any gender.” We’ll be wondering if she’s OK.
Then again … this is Pat Summitt. In September 1990 she’d flown, while nine months’ pregnant, to Pennsylvania to visit a prospect named Michelle Marciniak. Summitt went into labor, and en route home the pilot offered to land the private plane in Richmond.
The Lady Cavaliers of Dawn Staley were then Tennessee’s bitter rival. “I am not,” Summitt famously said, “having this baby in Virginia.”
Tyler Summitt, now a walk-on for Tennessee’s men’s team, was born in Knoxville. Six months later, the Lady Vols beat Virginia in overtime for the NCAA title.
Pat Summitt’s will can bend steel, but this is Alzheimer’s she’s facing. Proud as she is, I don’t believe she’d protest if we say a prayer.
By Mark Bradley
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186 comments Add your comment
LaTavius J.
August 24th, 2011
11:24 am
@ The Human Bedpan
My point is that you are obviously an empty callous person. Sure there is lots of suffering in the world. But there are lots of good beautiful things too. Do you think this whole orbiting rock (Earth) just happened? Do you think the millions of species that LIVE on the earth just happened? This is an article about someone having a horrible disease and all you can do is throw daggers. You are probably short, bald, and ugly. No wonder you have such a cynical outlook on life.
dean
August 24th, 2011
11:26 am
As well they should be Bedpan. Have a great day.
Get over Coach K being called great.
August 24th, 2011
11:29 am
So LaTavius, because we can’t fathom that stuff happens we create silly Gods?. Tricks are for kids, so are gods.
The Reverend Baby Doctor Bedpan
August 24th, 2011
11:31 am
LaTavius J.
August 24th, 2011
11:24 am
@ The Human Bedpan
My point is that you are obviously an empty callous person. Sure there is lots of suffering in the world. But there are lots of good beautiful things too. Do you think this whole orbiting rock (Earth) just happened? Do you think the millions of species that LIVE on the earth just happened? This is an article about someone having a horrible disease and all you can do is throw daggers. You are probably short, bald, and ugly. No wonder you have such a cynical outlook on life.
________________________________________________________________________________
Again, passing judgement on me. What is wrong with being bald? That’s a bad thing? And short? You really want to pick on someone because they are short?
Who’s throwing daggers? Not me. I just suggested that instead of praying, make an effort to promote science so these horrible things can be treated and cured. You can’t do that with prayer. If it makes you feel better, good for you, but it is not the solution. Your response is to insult short, ugly and bald. Is that what a true christian does? If so, your god totally sucks.
Larry Munson
August 24th, 2011
11:33 am
I saw a movie once and in it
tloutn
August 24th, 2011
11:43 am
To all of you, thank you very much for the kindness and respect you have shown to Pat. Since first hearing of the news yesterday I’ve read many articles on her and many of the comments left have left me angry and bitter that such cheap shots could be taken at such a wonderful person. All of you have shown such class and dignity. Thank you!
Get over Coach K being called great.
August 24th, 2011
11:48 am
How did this go from paying respect to Pat Summit to her being a wonderful person? Come on. She has made a zillion dollars at UT. That was her true motivation. Not some molding girls into whatever.
AlwaysAVol
August 24th, 2011
12:01 pm
Mr. Bradley, excellent article. I grew up in East Tennessee and I can remember no one before Coach Summit involved with women’s athletics. Coach Summit, along with Coach Dooley (thank you Georgia) are two of the classiest, finest people you could ever meet. They are more than coaches, they are teachers. Coach Dooley has introduced a “Vol For Life” program that should be mandatory on every campus on every school across the nation. Coach Summit has one of the highest graduation rates for her players of any sport in all of college. The main quality that shines through in both of them is that while they care deeply about being competitive and being the best at their sport, they care more about what they teach their “kids”. My dear Momma found out last year she has Alzheimers, as did her mother. My dad and her sister can’t even say the word. I feel I lose her a little at a time, a bit more each day. I have always heard God doesn’t lay on us more than we can handle and that everything happens for a reason. It is sad to see someone so vibrant as Coach Summit get such a terrible disease, but if there is anyone who can beat it, anyone who can face it fearlessly heads on, Pat Summit is the one to do it. And I bet we all learn something from her along the way. God bless Pat, God bless my Momma, and God bless any and all whose family is affected by this despicable thief. GO VOLS!!! GO DAWGS (in all but one game)!!!!
Partisay
August 24th, 2011
12:11 pm
Excellent piece. As a Lady Vol season ticket holder, of course, it makes me sick to think about. But it’s great to see all these fine remarks on here. We all like to beat each other’s brains in when we play each other but I think, for most, there is the utmost respect for the pioneers that helped our teams be where they are today. I have always had so much respect for Coach Dooley over the years even though I am born and raised in Tennessee. And Hugh Durham was one of my favorites.
Of course, there is always the idiots who want to get on here and run their mouth. Deadpan, of all times, wants to argue religion. And then you have an ignorant idiot like Get Over Coach K (stupid names also, for both – that says alot right there) who says Pat’s motivation is money, not molding girls into “whatever”. Nice choice of a word. Again, says alot. It’s the last I will speak of those two yahoos because I am not going to spend this topic arguing with someone that Pat Summitt is not a wonderful person. There are many wonderful people all over this country that help all kinds of people throughtout life. How sad their lives must be to get on here at this time and type the things they do.
Thanks again Mark. Classy. As are the Dawgs.
Get over Coach K being called great.
August 24th, 2011
12:27 pm
Mark,
Say what. Stage 3 or 4 lung or pancreatic cancer (the inoperable kind) would clearly be more dreaded to the person who has it. Dementia would be more dreaded by the people around her.
LaTavius J.
August 24th, 2011
12:35 pm
@ Human Bedpan & Get over Coach K ( obviously the same person )
You “both” have been flushed. You are obviously the SAME person. How weird is that? Do you talk to each other? Is one a boy and one a girl? Do you all wear each other’s clothes?
Larry Munson
August 24th, 2011
12:39 pm
Dear Pat. Just wait until you get to the diaper wearing stage. Reached that milestone 2 years ago. No fun.
Reminds me of the time
Old Dawg
August 24th, 2011
12:41 pm
We lost my father 19 years ago to Alzheimer’s. It truly is an odd journey, especially when the person is talented. My father asked me numerous times “how long will I be like this?” during the early stages of the disease. I never knew how to answer the question. I still don’t.
Pat Summitt is royalty in Tennessee. Like Peyton Manning, folks name their children after her and pray openly that their daughters will be able to play for the Lady Vols. Though her reign at UT is slowly fading, the dream will always be in the hearts of UT fans.
The Reverend Baby Doctor Bedpan
August 24th, 2011
12:41 pm
See? Another so called christian casting stones. I’m an idiot? I just ask that people focus their efforts on science more then praying and something good may come of it. And I managed to say that without hurling insults.
You christians never stop do you?
Dr. Anthony G Beck
August 24th, 2011
12:54 pm
I’m shocked that such a Champion would just throw hands up and accept that “Alzheimer’s” is her fate and that to “try medication and “mental exercises” is anywhere close to a winning strategy. Contrary to popular belief….both Dementia and Alzheimer’s can be reversed and I’ve done it. What has to happen is getting to the ROOT of what is causing the dysfunction and yielding these so called symptoms. It’s my sincere hope she would look into Functional Medicine and it’s approach to curing chronic diseases. I’d be more than happy to team up.
Get over Coach K being called great.
August 24th, 2011
1:09 pm
lol at the Munson chap on here that can’t complete the entire
NC Dawg
August 24th, 2011
1:24 pm
Class. We need more Pat Summitts coaching our kids.
Al Ciraldo
August 24th, 2011
1:31 pm
I own you Munson.
VOLinATL
August 24th, 2011
1:42 pm
Being a UT alum and from Knoxville, I have had the chance to meet Pat several times. Once, many years ago, I played a game of racquetball agaist her. She was more competitive than anyone I had ever gone against. But once the game was over, she was a gracious as could be. God Bless her in her fight!
Get over Coach K being called great.
August 24th, 2011
1:45 pm
Peyton Manning is royalty. What? TN is 22-1 against Memphis. Guess who was QB on that TN team.
Fact is, he never won the SEC and only has 1 SB to show for all his greatness. Here’s an analogy. Vanderbilt at times has had teams that could move the ball up and down the field. To look at the stats you think they were great. Manning has great stats BUT WHERE ARE THE RINGS. He as as many NCs as Ryan Leaf and only 1 more SB than Ryan Leaf. And both have no heismans
DIT
August 24th, 2011
1:47 pm
Not a Vol fan, but if you can’t respect what she has done for women’s basketball you have been on another planet! Sad news.
Ryan Leaf
August 24th, 2011
1:55 pm
Wait, I did win my schools first conference championship and took WSU to its first Rose Bowl in 67 years.
Larry Munson
August 24th, 2011
2:19 pm
I believe some day we will find a cure for Alzheimer’s and that we will put a man on the moon. Don’t laugh both will happen.
Making baby Jesus cry for over 2000 years.
August 24th, 2011
2:41 pm
So you all really thing praying will help?
LaTavius J.
August 24th, 2011
2:51 pm
@ baby Jesus
Guess not……I prayed you would go away and it did not work apparently.
Bishop Eddie Long
August 24th, 2011
3:00 pm
I pray for more fine young men.
wiseoldawg
August 24th, 2011
3:06 pm
Great coach. Great competitor. Greater lady. God bless you Coach Summit
Pat Summitt’s dementia: How will it affect the Lady Vols? (The Week) | Breaking News Today
August 24th, 2011
3:38 pm
[...] at times last season — and she’ll obviously have to rely on her assistant coaches more, says Mark Bradley at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. As she continues on, “she’ll be viewed in a way no coach has ever been.” For [...]
Andy
August 24th, 2011
4:23 pm
Well done Mark.
Mark Bradley
August 24th, 2011
4:29 pm
Thanks, Andy. And thanks to all.
The iron-willed Pat Summitt faces the scariest diagnosis there is | Mark Bradley « Poetry & Poverty
August 24th, 2011
10:15 pm
[...] — Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Mark Bradley, writing about the University of Tennessee’s women’s basketball coach, Pat Summitt, in a very moving column, “The iron-willed Pat Summitt faces the scariest diagnosis there is | Mark Bradley.” [...]
Vietnam Vet
August 25th, 2011
1:42 am
“Memento mori”
Pat Summitt’s dementia: How will it affect the Lady Vols? (The Week) | Get News | Breaking News
August 25th, 2011
11:42 pm
[...] times final deteriorate — and she’ll apparently have to rest on her partner coaches more, says Mark Bradley at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. As she continues on, “she’ll be noticed in a approach no manager has ever [...]
Bama Fan#2
August 26th, 2011
4:49 am
Pat Summit could coach your favorite team and beat UT with them and
turn around beat your favorite team with her UT team. The lady is a
living legend and very nice person who loves her school and state.
Brent Bagley
August 28th, 2011
10:13 am
Our thoughts and prayers to one fine lady and a heck of a coach.
Virginia Lawing
August 29th, 2011
10:55 pm
When I heard the news I had to fight back the tears! Womens basketball owes Coach Summitt many thanks! Coach Summitt is one of the most down to earth person that I have ever met! She truly loves coaching and appreciates her fans. It will be a very sad day when Coach Summitt has to step down. I pray for only the best for her and her family. May God bless you Pat. We love you.