"I thought you would live forever." --Coach K's tribute to his friend Jim Valvano
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- čas přidán 2. 12. 2016
- Dear Jimmy,
You and I became brothers during the last four or five months of your life. You knew that you were dying of cancer. You were in Duke Hospital and we spent a few nights every week together.
We had many moments.
The very best moment though was when you said,
“I’m gonna die, but I’m gonna win.”
I asked you, “What do you mean?”
And you said, “I want to beat cancer. After I die, when we’ve finally beat cancer I want to be there."
I was with you when you died. And I never looked at our relationship as having a last moment. I always looked forward to the next moment.
I don’t remember the last thing I said to you, Jimmy.
And the reason I don’t is because I thought you would live forever.
Love your friend,
Mike
ABOUT THE VIDEO
The V Foundation, Duke Men's Basketball and Dear World will release a tribute video from Coach Mike Krzyzewski to his friend Jim Valvano in honor of Jimmy V Week, 2016.
The video and Coach’s accompanying “Dear Jimmy V” letter will be shared via each organization’s social media platforms during Jimmy V Week, around Duke’s matchup with Florida in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Each of the past two seasons while working with Dear World, Coach K invites his players to take a portrait and to tell a story behind it. Coach K says Dear World "has nothing to do with basketball, but everything to do with basketball" because it's a way to build trust between teammates.
Coach K's Dear World portrait, "Pursue Moments" sparked a story about his last moments with Jim Valvano. "To hear Coach K talk about his last moments with Jimmy V was something I"ll never forget," Dear World founder Robert X. Fogarty says. "Valvano's life was gift to all of us."
“We’re thrilled to share Jim Valvano’s legacy through the lens of one of our very special founding board members, Mike Krzyzewski,” said Sherrie Mazur, Vice President of Communications for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. “Dear Jimmy V exemplifies the power of friendship and the “don’t give up” spirit through two of the most notable coaches of all time.”
People who are inspired by the video are encouraged to write in their own memories of Jim Valvano using #DearJimmyV on social media.
Individuals are encouraged to use www.jimmyv.org as a place to contribute to the foundation's efforts.
Executive Producer: Jonah Evans
Director: Robert X. Fogarty
Cinematography: David Reece and Jeremiah Fry
Editor: Tori Gene McCarthy
Music: " Not Dark Yet" by Alex Santana
Archival Stills: Roger Winstead
Jim Valvano is my hero. I live my life by his strength. His courage is unmatched. A remarkable individual.
Couldn’t have said it any better myself.
I had the privilege of attending Duke when Coach K came on board at Duke, in the same time frame as Jimmy V at State. The rivalry was fierce, but despite that I think we were all charmed by Coach Valvano. He was so full of life and enthusiasm; how could you not love him? And a lot of us felt badly for him during the events of 1990. But no one ever expected this man, who defined the word "vivacious," to sicken and die so young in life. It didn't seem real! I am glad to know that Coaches K and V became such good friends, and I am very glad that Coach Jimmy Valvano life and desire to beat cancer are still being honored.
I graduated UNC.....I was taught to hate NC State...But I Love Valano
Coach K and Jimmy V are the goats.
Congratulations 2023 HOFmer Coach Jim Valvano!!! ❤🏀
Thank you CZcams for recommending this video. I needed to smile and cry at the same time.
Respect to Coach K from this NC State alum. Hell of a coach, hell of a man.
Being from Raleigh and a NCSU die hard fan, I am "big enough person" to know that friendships are forever,, life may not be, and Coach K is a good guy!
Me Too!!!
And that is truly the sign of a true friend - with you until the end. How lucky both Coach Valvano and Coach K were to become the best of friends at the worst of times and yet their friendship transends time. God bless Jimmy V's memory and god bless you Coach K for being a tremendous friend!
What a nice note.. I am from Raleigh, NC and my family are NC State alums and HUGE fans...Duke was a "hated" team, as well as UNC...but that's what rivals do., but I started liking Coach K many yrs ago when he became a close friend and "care giver to Jimmy V", I read that Coack K was always there for him during his chemo treatments and there just to be a friend...so even though I don't pull for Duke.....I will ALWAYS have good thoughts about CoachK, and if ever I get a chance to meet him, I will give him a big hug!!
I know im randomly asking but does someone know of a method to get back into an instagram account??
I somehow forgot the password. I would love any tips you can offer me!
Jim Valvano will live forever.
Tears again
What a beautiful human that Jimmy was. Wish he was still around so I could meet him. He’s a huge inspiration to me to this day.
Beautiful. Now let’s get to the Final tonight, Coach K. You’ve earned it. One last time. Never give up. ❤️
Lots of Love from this Forever Wolfpack!
He will live forever, Coach K. He always will live on in spirit.
fourtyfive thousand views with zero dislike. Yes🙌
When I became a Duke fan 33 years ago, I guess I thought it was because they played the game of basketball really well. Last year, when Coach announced that this would be his last year, I realized that I am not a "Duke" fan; I am a Coach K fan. Duke will always be there, and I'm sure Jon will put a good team out there to compete, and I will probably follow them. But there is only ONE Coach K., just as there was only one John Wooden, and One jimmy V.
That was so sad Jimmie v
a wonderful human being I met his daughter once at church a great lady too ; life is precious do not EVER EVER take it for granted this is from someone who feels blessed every day post transplant patient in 9TH year living on one lung and happy just to open my eyes every morning
2023 rip 🙏🏽
Coach K seems like a lovely human being! You can tell how much these 2 cared for each other!
Touching RIP Jimmy V
Thanks Coach K for being there.
Today would have been Jim Valvano's 77th birthday. He was only 47 years old when he died in 1993, just a few years older than I am today.
Powerful
The dichotomy between the public perception of Coach K and the reality of who he is as a person is puzzling. I get it. Everyone enjoys a Duke loss, mainly because of Coach K's phenomenal accomplishments, but when I listen to that I feel as though his national championships pale in comparison to who he is as a person. Let's not minimize his impact on others off the basketball court. After all, as we all just witnessed, that's what is most important in this life.
Harry Holl .. I'm a life-long Pack fan.. pre-dating the V era.. and I concur with your statement.
Coach K is a great man whom does things for and with the community and his players that the public has no knowledge of.
They only despise because of the success of the program, and it's unfair.
Coaches V and K had a tremendous friendship that lives on to this day. It brings tears to my eyes to watch snippets such as these.
Even the worst of enemies can become brothers by the end. They hated each other for a time till the last years of Jimmy’s life.
happy
Mike and Jim both came in the ACC the same year 80/81 season. Mike was not only a friend he also supported and stood up for Jim Valvano during Jim's last couple of seasons at N.C.State when the program was being accused of point shaving allegations as well as other irregularities. The majority of them which were never proven. The School, The Carolina biased media did a number on him. Everyday there was something new and it was front page news. The Jealousy over Jim Valvano by the news media especially in North Carolina was unlike anything that I have ever seen. I mean it was downright pathetic because they couldn't prove the vast majority of what they were printing. The things that happened at N.C State during that time fail in comparison with what went on over at The University of North Carolina with the Athletes taking fake classes, known as paper classes. That was proven and several Basketball players were involved in those Classes. So F the damm Biased North Carolina media I haven't forgotten how they treated Valvano. I have always respected Coach K for his backing.
That was said by a great man. Make knows every thing. Like forever
Jimmy walked past me once when I was an undergrad at NC State
Coach K defines what it means to be a great friend. God Bless you always!
So much dust in this room
Carlos Peterson You'll get there
losing it all I need help 804 9263643
This hits all my emotions! Seems like yesterday! Jimmy V was a great guy& so is coach K
If valvano was to stay.Coach k was never made
And cancer still exists
and that's why I give $ for cancer rresearch, hopefully , there will be cures for different kinds of cancers in the near future
I lost my sister to cancer....she smoked for over 25 years, hopefully people will take it seriously when they hear smoking causes cancer
I don’t like duke but very cool coach k