Jim Valvano--Laugh, Cry, & Think Each Day

Here's the video of the speech that you saw in English class on Tuesday. Jim Valvano coached the North Carolina State Wolfpack to an upset victory in the 1983 NCAA men's basketball championship game. Valvano parlayed this victory with his gift of public speaking to become one of the most likable and recognizable coaches in the land. I had the pleasure of listening to Valvano speak to a group of Delaware high school basketball coaches and All Stars. Leaving the Dover banquet hall that night, I thought to myself, "This guy is going to be a world shaker." Or something like that.

His North Carolina State teams would never come close to matching the success of the 1983 season. Then came the news that Valvano had developed cancer.

Only ten years after his national championship, his body ravaged with cancerous tumors, Valvano was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY's (ESPN's annual BESTS). Valvano, an inspirational coach, was probably even a better public speaker. This speech will make you laugh, cry, & think, three things, that according to Valvano, you should do every day.

The Jimmy V Foundation was founded in his honor. It's still active and important today, raising millions of dollars to fight cancer. Dick Vitale, once a close friend of Valvano, is a main P.T. Player in the battle against the insidious disease.

Listen to the speech again, and tell me what you can learn from the words of this brave man.

clipped from www.americanrhetoric.com