duncan228
07-08-2009, 11:31 PM
The Off-speed Pitch: These athletes live strong (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/The_Off-speed_Pitch_These_athletes_live_strong.html)
By Jerry Briggs - Express-News commentary
Feeling hot and tired because of the weather? Getting down about the slumping economy? Well, perk up. Lance Armstrong, who survived two cancer-related operations in the 1990s, is making another run at the Tour de France title. Here is his story and some other favorites about Texas-based athletes who shrugged off serious illness to continue their careers:
LANCE ARMSTRONG
Facing reality: The Austin-based cycling superstar was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996, and doctors gave him about a 50 percent chance to live.
Living strong: After four rounds of chemotherapy and two operations — one to remove a testicle and one for brain lesions, he began training again in 1998. By July 1999, he had won his first Tour de France. He won seven in a row through 2005 before he went into retirement. After a three-year layoff, Armstrong is looking strong again in the early going of this year’s Tour.
Quotable: “Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” — Lance Armstrong
PATIENCE KNIGHT
Facing reality: The former Clark High School student felt sharp pains shoot across her chest and back on her right side in 2006 as a Texas Tech sophomore. An MRI showed a fist-sized mass beneath her sternum near her heart — a case of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Living strong: Through 12 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation in the spring of 2007, Knight continued to train and compete in the shot put and discus for the Red Raiders. She went on to reach the NCAA outdoor championships in 2008 and 2009.
Quotable: “You couldn’t hit this woman with a hammer and hurt her. She never complained.” — Dr. Donald Quick, the oncologist who treated Knight.
SEAN ELLIOTT
Facing reality: The former Spurs forward knew during the 1999 NBA championship season that he would need a kidney transplant, but he kept it to himself. Beset with focal segmental glomerular sclerosis, he underwent a transplant that summer with an organ donated by his brother.
Living strong: In March 2000, Elliott realized his dream, taking the court against Atlanta at the Alamodome to resume his career. His second-half dunk elicited a thunderous roar from the fans. Elliott continued to play through the 2001-02 season.
Quotable: “It is a story that’s far beyond sports. It is a story of heart.” — former Spurs owner Red McCombs, talking about Elliott’s comeback.
JOHNNY MOORE
Facing reality: The former Spurs point guard suffered blinding headaches before and after a game in Denver in December 1985. Later, he was diagnosed with Desert Fever meningitis. For the next several months, he underwent debilitating treatment for the infection.
Living strong: Surprising even his teammates, Moore made it back to the Spurs the next season. Though he was never the same as an athlete, he competed in another 118 games through 1989-90.
Quotable: “He is a symbol of the Spurs, the way he attacked his illness and the way he plays the game.” — former Spurs coach Bob Weiss
Going the Distance
Former UT quarterback Street recalls teammate’s courage
Forty years later, former Texas Longhorns quarterback James Street says he “still gets chills’’ thinking about former UT defensive back Freddie Steinmark.
Though the cancer-stricken Steinmark underwent surgery to have his left leg amputated a few days after UT’s 1969 “Big Shootout’’ victory over Arkansas, he still managed to show up at the Cotton Bowl a few weeks later.
As top-ranked UT prepared to play Notre Dame, with the national title hanging in the balance, Steinmark went from locker to locker, giving pep talks to the Longhorns.
“He came in that locker room just like he was supposed to be there, like he was going to play, firing everyone else up,’’ Street recalled.
UT went on to win 21-17, and Steinmark got the game ball.
Street also related one less-publicized story.
On campus one day, Street said he looked up to find Steinmark, emerging from a swimming pool workout, lathered in perspiration.
“Hey, is it hard to swim with one leg?’’ Street asked.
“It’s not too bad if you don’t mind swimming around in circles,’’ Steinmark joked.
Steinmark died June 6, 1971.
He was 22.
By Jerry Briggs - Express-News commentary
Feeling hot and tired because of the weather? Getting down about the slumping economy? Well, perk up. Lance Armstrong, who survived two cancer-related operations in the 1990s, is making another run at the Tour de France title. Here is his story and some other favorites about Texas-based athletes who shrugged off serious illness to continue their careers:
LANCE ARMSTRONG
Facing reality: The Austin-based cycling superstar was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996, and doctors gave him about a 50 percent chance to live.
Living strong: After four rounds of chemotherapy and two operations — one to remove a testicle and one for brain lesions, he began training again in 1998. By July 1999, he had won his first Tour de France. He won seven in a row through 2005 before he went into retirement. After a three-year layoff, Armstrong is looking strong again in the early going of this year’s Tour.
Quotable: “Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” — Lance Armstrong
PATIENCE KNIGHT
Facing reality: The former Clark High School student felt sharp pains shoot across her chest and back on her right side in 2006 as a Texas Tech sophomore. An MRI showed a fist-sized mass beneath her sternum near her heart — a case of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Living strong: Through 12 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation in the spring of 2007, Knight continued to train and compete in the shot put and discus for the Red Raiders. She went on to reach the NCAA outdoor championships in 2008 and 2009.
Quotable: “You couldn’t hit this woman with a hammer and hurt her. She never complained.” — Dr. Donald Quick, the oncologist who treated Knight.
SEAN ELLIOTT
Facing reality: The former Spurs forward knew during the 1999 NBA championship season that he would need a kidney transplant, but he kept it to himself. Beset with focal segmental glomerular sclerosis, he underwent a transplant that summer with an organ donated by his brother.
Living strong: In March 2000, Elliott realized his dream, taking the court against Atlanta at the Alamodome to resume his career. His second-half dunk elicited a thunderous roar from the fans. Elliott continued to play through the 2001-02 season.
Quotable: “It is a story that’s far beyond sports. It is a story of heart.” — former Spurs owner Red McCombs, talking about Elliott’s comeback.
JOHNNY MOORE
Facing reality: The former Spurs point guard suffered blinding headaches before and after a game in Denver in December 1985. Later, he was diagnosed with Desert Fever meningitis. For the next several months, he underwent debilitating treatment for the infection.
Living strong: Surprising even his teammates, Moore made it back to the Spurs the next season. Though he was never the same as an athlete, he competed in another 118 games through 1989-90.
Quotable: “He is a symbol of the Spurs, the way he attacked his illness and the way he plays the game.” — former Spurs coach Bob Weiss
Going the Distance
Former UT quarterback Street recalls teammate’s courage
Forty years later, former Texas Longhorns quarterback James Street says he “still gets chills’’ thinking about former UT defensive back Freddie Steinmark.
Though the cancer-stricken Steinmark underwent surgery to have his left leg amputated a few days after UT’s 1969 “Big Shootout’’ victory over Arkansas, he still managed to show up at the Cotton Bowl a few weeks later.
As top-ranked UT prepared to play Notre Dame, with the national title hanging in the balance, Steinmark went from locker to locker, giving pep talks to the Longhorns.
“He came in that locker room just like he was supposed to be there, like he was going to play, firing everyone else up,’’ Street recalled.
UT went on to win 21-17, and Steinmark got the game ball.
Street also related one less-publicized story.
On campus one day, Street said he looked up to find Steinmark, emerging from a swimming pool workout, lathered in perspiration.
“Hey, is it hard to swim with one leg?’’ Street asked.
“It’s not too bad if you don’t mind swimming around in circles,’’ Steinmark joked.
Steinmark died June 6, 1971.
He was 22.