Jim Valvano famously uttered the words “Don’t Give Up… Don’t Ever Give Up.” His good friend Dick Vitale was in Branson last night as the keynote speaker for the South Central Missouri Fellowship of Christian Athletes Banquet, honoring the Coach of the Year and Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
Vitale delivered a similar message to that of his late friend. While, Valvano was talking about not giving up on fighting cancer, Vitale’s words were about not accepting “CAN’T” in life. He urged listeners to not give up on dreams, keep working for it. He talked about his time as a coach and working up the ranks. He spoke of his job at ESPN. He spoke passionately about his family and his wife being the “hall of famer” of the family.
He talked to a nearly packed house at the Chateau on the Lake. Branson Soccer Coach Brandon Scott was named Coach of the Year and Cassville’s Kassandra Graves and Joel Gertson from Reeds Spring received Athletes of the Year recognition.
Before the event Scott McCaulley and I, along with other members of local media got to sit down with Mr Vitale.
click player above to hear part of the press conference…
