Jim Valvano, American basketball player, coach, and sportscaster (b. 1946)
James Thomas Anthony Valvano (March 10, 1946 – April 28, 1993), nicknamed Jimmy V, was an American college basketball player, coach, and broadcaster.Valvano had a successful coaching career with multiple schools, most notably at North Carolina State University. While the head coach at NC State, his team won the 1983 NCAA Division I men's basketball title against improbable odds. Valvano is most remembered for his ecstatic celebration after winning the national championship game against the heavily-favored Houston Cougars.
Valvano is also remembered for an inspirational and memorable speech delivered at the 1993 ESPY Awards while terminally ill with cancer. Valvano implored the audience to laugh, think, and cry each day and announced the formation of The V Foundation for Cancer Research whose motto would be "Don't give up. Don't ever give up". He gave the speech less than two months before his death from adenocarcinoma. The ESPY Awards now include the Jimmy V Award named in his honor. Each year, a college basketball tournament called the Jimmy V Classic is held in his honor and in support of cancer victims and survivors.
1993Apr, 28
Jim Valvano
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Events on 1993
- 28Feb
Waco siege
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raid the Branch Davidian church in Waco, Texas with a warrant to arrest the group's leader David Koresh. Four ATF agents and six Davidians die in the initial raid, starting a 51-day standoff. - 27Mar
Giulio Andreotti
Italian former minister and Christian Democracy leader Giulio Andreotti is accused of mafia allegiance by the tribunal of Palermo. - 8Apr
United Nations
The Republic of Macedonia joins the United Nations. - 23Apr
Ethiopia
Eritreans vote overwhelmingly for independence from Ethiopia in a United Nations-monitored referendum. - 16Oct
Kent
Anti-Nazism riot breaks out in Welling in Kent, after police stop protesters approaching the British National Party headquarters.