消息来源:http://goo.gl/xkZWuU
Turner Sports reporter Craig Sager has been selected to receive the Jimmy V
Perseverance Award at The ESPYS in July.
Sager, a 34-year Turner veteran and popular TNT sideline reporter known for
wearing flashy suits, has continued to work as he battles a recurrence of the
leukemia he has been battling for the last few years.
"When I was diagnosed with cancer, like so many other people, my life changed
forever," Sager said in a statement Monday. "Over the last two years, I've
done everything in my power to live my life as normally as possible. But at
times, you need support and I'm so thankful to everyone who has been there
for me."
"One of those pieces of inspiration has come from Jim Valvano himself," Sager
said of the late NC State basketball coach, who inspired millions with his
courageous battle against cancer in 1993. "I have his [ESPYS] speech saved on
my phone and, now 23 years later, its impact lives on with me and countless
others. There is no greater honor than receiving this award and I am very
humbled."
Sager missed 11 months while undergoing treatment for leukemia and a bone
marrow transplant from his son before returning to his position on the
sideline during TNT's NBA coverage in March 2015. But he revealed in an
interview with HBO in April that his cancer was no longer in remission.
The Jimmy V Award is given to someone in sports who has overcome great
obstacles through perseverance and determination. It is named for Valvano,
the NCAA-winning coach who gave an emotional acceptance speech at the 1993
ESPYS that included his famous words "Don't Give Up ... Don't Ever Give Up!"
He died of cancer later that year.
Sager has said he is in "unchartered waters" and must keep his strength up.
He also said he has already undergone two stem cell transplants. It's very
rare that someone would have a third, so he said he has to keep his strength
up and spirits undeterred despite the latest challenge in his cancer fight.
"Craig's positive attitude and passion have always been cornerstones of the
coverage he does for TNT and those attributes are a large part of what
endears him to fans," Maura Mandt, executive producer of the ESPYS, said in a
statement. "He serves as an inspiration to many as he continues his work
while battling this devastating disease."
Sager will fly back home to Atlanta on Wednesday morning to see his doctors,
then out to California that night for Game 5 of the Western Conference
finals. After TNT's playoff coverage ends, Sager is scheduled for eight days
of chemotherapy in Houston starting June 6. He undergoes the treatment once
every three weeks, and this will be his fifth cycle out of six.
The sixth cycle is scheduled for July, before he plans to head to Rio to
cover basketball at the Olympics for NBC.
知名记者Craig Sager获颁ESPN年度卓越运动奖 Jimmy V最佳毅力奖
Jimmy V 奖以篮球教练James Thomas Anthony Valvano 命名
曾带队获得NCAA冠军，并于1993因癌症病逝，
其演说中名言 : “Don't Give Up ... Don't Ever Give Up!”曾激励了许多人
Sager以穿着鲜艳闻名，近年被诊断出血癌后仍然没有放弃，持续与病魔对抗
并在经历11个月的治疗后再次回到NBA场边
他表示 :
“那些激励着我的事情中，有一部分就是来自Valvano。
我的手机里存着他1993年时的演说，这场演说在20年后的今天
仍然影响着我以及其他无数的人。而获颁此奖，对我来说是莫大的荣幸，
并令我受宠若惊。”