Friday, May 18, 2007

Self to attend Vitale gala

Advertisement

Kansas University's Bill Self is one of several major college coaches who will attend tonight's "Dick Vitale Gala to Benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research" at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sarasota, Fla.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will be honored and serve as guest speaker at the $1,000-a-plate dinner.

The event raised more than $250,000 last year for The V Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to saving lives by helping find a cure for cancer.

Other coaches who will attend include Memphis' John Calipari, Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Marquette's Tom Crean, Indiana's Kelvin Sampson, Louisville's Rick Pitino, Notre Dame's Mike Brey and Maryland's Gary Williams.

"I don't know how much I'll be helping by being there, but it'll be a fun time. I've not been to the event in the past. Certainly it's for a good cause, and I'm looking forward to it," Self said Thursday.

ESPN announcer Vitale - who was a good friend of former North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer - is grateful for the help of Self and others.

"These guys really care about people," Vitale said of coaches. "That is why we are gathering - to help someone in need. These coaches are about a lot more than Xs and Os. They are people with the same everyday problems like you and me. They are good people with hearts of gold."

¢ Russell notches "A" mark: Former Kansas University javelin thrower Scott Russell placed second to Cuba's Guillermo Martinez at the Caixa Grand Prix meet Wednesday in South America.

Russell, a Windsor, Ontario, native who lives in Lawrence, threw the spear 275.45 feet - the fifth-best mark in the world this year and, more importantly, an "A" qualifying standard in Canada.

Russell fell short of reaching the Olympics in 2000 and 2004 despite winning the Canadian championships. Canada not only requires a top-two placing at nationals, but requires athletes to reach a certain standard - 258-4. Now that he has an "A" mark for the first time, the ex-Jayhawk will be eligible for the 2008 Olympics if he can place at the '08 Canadian meet.

The throw has qualified him for this summer's World Championships in Japan.

Comments

jakejayhawk (anonymous) says...

Go Scott, make us proud! You can be the latest in a very, very proud Jayhawk track and field tradition. You may be throwing for Canada, but you will be representing the Jayhawk Nation.

May 18, 2007 at 8:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

nocaljayhawk (anonymous) says...

what a shock---Koach Kommercial the guest of honor. I suppose it had to be that way, since it's impossible to remove Vitale's lips from Koach K's arse.

May 18, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

Actually, Coach K was also a close friend of Jim Valvano, so I imagine that had something to do with it, but I'm sure Vitale sweet talked him, too.

May 18, 2007 at 12:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Any real news in Kansas hoops?

At least LJW is trying i suppose...

May 18, 2007 at 3:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Muska (anonymous) says...

the word around Lawrence is that Jeremy Case and Matt Kleinmann are probably going pro...

May 18, 2007 at 8:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

Dick Vitale is awesome baby!

May 18, 2007 at 8:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

byron (anonymous) says...

Case going pro? You're out of your mind!!

May 18, 2007 at 10:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Think how much MORE money they could raise for the V foundation, if they all stayed home and donated not only the $1k per plate but the prices of the plane tickets, hotel stay, car rental, and meals. They would probably double the current contribution. Come on, baby, give late Jimmy V some luv, huh? Put the money to a better cause than sitting around a pool swapping tired stories.

May 18, 2007 at 10:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

Unbelievable... some people are just unbelievable. Coaches who are friends, get together and raise over $250,000 for a great cause, and some people who are not doing or giving anything(Jaybate), have the balls to complain that the coaches are not doing enough. Whatever happened to acknowledging the good that people do instead of complaining that they don't do enough. Especially when you are doing nothing yourself to help the cause. unbelievable baby!

May 19, 2007 at 11:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kcmostwanted (anonymous) says...

Scott Russell is the Man... he was my fitness teacher this past semester.. 6-8" and a great man!! Congrats Scott!!!!

May 19, 2007 at 12:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Self is no dummy. If you don't sign Bob Knight's letter to puff Vitale for the BHOF, then you get ignored by Vitale even when you have a Number One seed in the tourney. Coaches probably feel they have to pay the per plate fee to guarranty they get good pub from DV. No, that couldn't be, could it? :-)

May 19, 2007 at 1:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Jayhawk86,

I don't see how anyone can criticise someone for encouraging coaches to stay home and give those suffering and dying from cancer not only the per plate fee, but their travel expenses as well, but I forgot there really are people like you in the world.

May 19, 2007 at 2:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Jayhawk86 Post script,

How exactly do you know what I do and don't do regarding the fight against cancer, or any other activity in my life outside of what I post here about KU basketball? Don't respond with any questions asking me about what I do either. Just write exactly what evidence you have that I do absolutely nothing about the fight against cancer and other health related activities. I really am very interested to read this. I suspect that either you don't have any evidence, or the evidence you have is erroneous? Which is it? If it is erroneous evidence, and not simply a groundless assertion, produce the evidence to prove it. FWIW, I flatly deny the notion you leave that I do absolutely nothing in the fight against cancer and other health related issues. With all due respect, you appear a liar, or a fool, or both, in this regard. Not knowing you beyond your posts here, I can't say if appearance equals reality in your case, but appearance certainly makes me wonder.

Oh, and one more thing, don't go all melee mouthed on me, like some Rush Limbaugh ditto-head, who after making an outlandishly overbroad and so essentially false comment backpedals by saying, well, that's not what I really meant to write, or you are misstating what I said.

Be a man, or a woman, as the case maybe, and defend exactly what you wrote, not what you meant to write, not what you thought you wrote, but exactly what you wrote.

May 19, 2007 at 3:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

Well, Jaybate I must have struck a nerve. I wrote what I wrote and I stand by it. Although I do not have any direct proof of what you do or do not do regarding the fight against cancer or any other health related issues, I will say this. It has been my experience that those people that actually do have involvement and are sincere in any charity are usually gracious when someone does something to help further their cause. They don't start critsizing the money that is being contributed and complaining that those contributing are not giving enough. They are thankful and they appreciate what has been done. This is something that I have not noticed in any of your posts. Nothing to infer that you think what they are doing is a good gesture for a great cause. I see defensiveness in your posts. Are you now feeling bad and feel the need to redeem yourself by inferring that you do contribute to society in some way? That you are a great man with many charitable causes? If that is the fact, I say Kudos to you. The world needs all the help it can get. If you calling me a liar or a fool, makes you feel better about yourself, then so be it. If you want to turn it all on me because I do not have any "direct evidence" of what you do in your outside life, then that is fine also. But for you to "suggest" that the coaches aren't doing enough because YOU don't think so, makes you a jerk in my book.

May 19, 2007 at 10:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ytf23 (anonymous) says...

As a physician, I have to agree with many of Jaybate's statements. *Any* help given to cancer research is welcome and appreciated. In general, fundraisers are great for generating funds, but *need* a human touch to really make the grade. These guys aren't just 'having a good time' in a fundraiser's mind, they're generating both the *trust* (between each other and the public) with their own celebrity and credibility that cancer research really does benefit from these funds and *publicity* to get the word out about cancer research and what help it needs. It *would* in fact be difficult to do these things at home - you might be able to raise more money on a one-time basis by donating more and staying home, but it's very difficult to create an infrastructure for future donations without interactions like these.

May 20, 2007 at 7:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

Kudos Jayhawk86

I read jaybate's post the other day and thought about saying something but left it alone.

I think it is absolutely great what Vitale and a lot of the college basketball coaches do to help the V Foundation. Keep up the good work!

May 20, 2007 at 8:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Jayhawk86,

You have no evidence. You admit you have no evidence. And so your response supports the appearance that you are a liar and/or a fool.

To others who have responded...

Again, they could raise twice as much money staying home and money is what is needed.

I paid particular attention to the sensible comments of he physician who responded. He said face time was needed for infrastructure building and continuity. Certainly, the physician knows something about this sort of thing.

IMHO, however, if a media event is needed to promote continuity and other persons donating, then have a virtual meeting, have every coach send in some streams of himself advocating for the cause, and then give twice as much.

We live in the 21st Century. There's no need for these guys to get on planes, be away from their families, eat food and drink beezos in the spa to promote the fight against cancer. People will learn about the V Foundation through electronic media. The coaches can meet electronically and create the same visual and sound bytes. They can promote the V Foundations electronically. They can raise twice as much money from themselves and just as much from others IMO.

If the physician responds, I will give a long listen. If Jayhawk86 responds, again without evidence, I'll just say again he supports the appearance that he is a liar or a fool.

May 20, 2007 at 4:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

Actually Jaybate, I believe the physician agreed with all of my statements concerning the fundraisers. So, I guess in a way, so do you.

If all you have to get on me about is the fact that I have no evidence of what you do, then I think you are arguing the wrong point.

At the end of the day, charities and those involved appreciate what people do for them. They don't bitch and moan about those people not doing enough. That is really the point of it all. No one cares if i have "proof" of what you do. You still come off sounding ungrateful about what THEY do. As long as people are raising money and contributing to the fight towards cancer, should we really care how they do it?

I know, I know. I have no evidence of what you do in your personal time. Frankly, I do not care. I do however wish that you could find it in your heart to say "Good job coaches. Way to contribute to a great cause. Keep up the good work." Instead of pointing out that if they did it your way, maybe they could raise more money.

Reminds me of part of a quote on another great Jayhawk site.
"It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena"

Please give those in the arena credit and quit pointing.

But alas, all you really want to focus on is the fact that I said you do nothing and I have no evidence to back it up. Well if your incredible ego keeps you from seeing what is really important in these posts, then...

May 20, 2007 at 6:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

I imagine that the bulk of the money comes not from the handful of coaches who attend this event, but rather the other folks who pony up $1000 to dine WITH the coaches. If the big-names stayed home and donated $2500 instead of showing up and paying $1000, then the event would likely raise less money, because there would be less incentive for anyone else to go.

May 21, 2007 at 7:45 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

Good point, Chicago JHawk: $1000 per plate would really add up as the bulk of the fundraising for such a "live" and "in person" chance to rub elbows with some big name college coaches. Not to mention the publicity generated by the event which (in this case) is not only good for the cause in question, but also positive PR for the schools and their coaches. (Or at least, I think, the majority will see it this way....)

May 22, 2007 at 3:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )