Coaches vs. Cancer, now known as the 2K Sports Classic, is in its 18th year and has raised more than $50 million for cancer research in a splendid partnership between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society.
Normally, the beneficiaries of this charitable endeavor are nameless faces and families who battle disease in their own courageous and private manner. It has always been a worthy cause, but this year’s edition of Coaches vs. Cancer seems to be even more meaningful and more personal because of two coaches who roamed the sidelines last night at Madison Square Garden.
Those of us in the metropolitan area are well aware of Steve Lavin’s battle with prostate cancer. The St. John’s coach underwent surgery on Oct. 6 and was back in charge of his team last night as the Red Storm showed terrific heart and determination before falling 81-72 to No. 16 Arizona, Lavin’s second game back since the surgery.
He was lively and intimated, bouncing along the sidelines in his white sneakers, yelling at referees, encouraging his team and coaching with every ounce of his energy.
It was as if he was having his own victory party, showing everyone in the Garden that cancer wasn’t going to keep him from doing the job he loves.
“I thought we demonstrated we have a long way to go,” Lavin said. “But there are some real positives we can take away from the game.”
But Lavin wasn’t the only coach waging a battle against disease. In the night’s first game, Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy was back on the bench ready to continue his first year as the Aggies’ head basketball coach. A&M might have lost 69-60 to Mississippi State, but it was a victory for Kennedy, who was coaching just his second game after missing more than a month after being diagnosed with the early onset of Parkinson’s disease.
Kennedy wasn’t as mobile as Lavin. The 47-year-old is trying to recover from a severe bout of exhaustion. He seldom got off his seat, and when he did he moved slowly and deliberately.
“You look at him and you see how precious life and health is,” said Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury. “We all take it for granted way too much. He’s a tremendous coach, and he’s way too young to be fighting what he’s fighting.”
The Aggies fell behind 31-9 early in the game, but like their coach they battled back closing within eight points with 4:28 left before fading.
After the game, word circulated A&M’s associate head coach Glynn Cyprien was going to speak to reporters. But it was Kennedy who slowly walked through the door and took his seat alongside a couple of his players. He gave them credit for sticking together through “an awkward situation” and talked about it being a long season with a lot of games remaining. He sounded like a coach ready to take his team back.
“I’m thankful to be here,” Kennedy said when I asked him how he felt. “It’s God’s blessing. I didn’t know I’d be here a week ago. I feel bad for our team because I haven’t been able to help them as much as I’d like. I’m hoping to continue to get better every day and hopefully we as a group can get better and see some wins.”
Normally it’s all about the basketball and which team can escape these two nights at the Garden feeling good about themselves and the season ahead. It’s usually the scoreboard that dictates those feelings. But last night was a victory not only for the cause but two courageous coaches.