Pat Summitt, With Dementia, Wins Sports Illustrated Award
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EmailWhen Coach Summitt told her mom, "We're gonna work through this like we work through everything else," she never imagined she would be crowned as Sports Illustrated's "Sportswoman of the Year."
See the interview with Coach Pat Summitt above, with transcript below. Also, see the Sports Illustrated trailer video to the right. It promotes the Sunday edition of Sports Illustrated, featuring Coach Summitt as "The Sportswoman of the Year" on the cover.
Pat Summit:
"Well, it's obviously a tremendous honor and I am humbled by it, to be up there with Coach 'K'. I am looking forward to the trip (to New York to accept the Sports Illustrated award as 'Sportswoman of the Year').
"Obviously, when you think about Coach 'K' and Coach Summit being there together, I know my son Tyler is going to go up, too. So I'm excited for him and I know he is excited.
"Again, I've been fortunate enough to be in the company of a lot of great coaches. I just really appreciate this honor and to have it with Coach 'K' makes it even more special."
Reporter:
"Is this another way to show the world how you can live your life with dementia and keep achieving?"
Pat:
"I said when I was diagnosed with dementia, I was like 'I've got to find a way to beat this.' I'm (also) dealing with rheumatoid arthritis but fortunately that's not bothering me now. I think with the dementia, every day I'm doing puzzles and everything I can to make sure that I'm doing the right things. I'm going to go to work every day I can."
Reporter:
"Coach, the only other college basketball coaches to get this award, I think, are John Wooden, Dean Smith of course, Coach 'K' and now you. That is elite company, isn't it?"
Pat:
"Well, it's amazing! I never ever thought about anything like this. You know, I've been in their company and I can just tell you I am always learning from everybody else.
"It's not about me, it's about the other people who have influenced my life.
"With my mom, when we went through the diagnosis, she just fell apart.
"I said, 'Don't. I don't want any tears. We're going to work through this like we work through everything else.' "
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