NEU » sciplines perhaps facing the axe desp

Holly Warlick was a Knoxville native who wasnt actually that much younger than Pat Summitt -- just six years. Yet Warlick became the lifelong pupil, the woman who, as much as anyone, cherished, guarded and maintained the Lady Vols legacy that Summitt built.In 1980 she became Summitts first All-American, and was the first Tennessee player to have her number retired. For many years, she was perennially atop the list of assistant coaches who could become head coaches.But other than four years split between Virginia Tech and Nebraska at the start of her coaching career, Warlick never left home. In 2012, Warlick became head coach of her hometown Lady Vols. But a part of her home, and her heart, is gone now.We had such a strong connection, Warlick said during a teleconference Tuesday morning after it was announced that Summitt, 64, had passed away from the effects of Alzheimers disease.We shared so much outside of basketball. Honestly, I didnt see me coaching anywhere else but Tennessee.Warlick became an assistant coach at her alma mater in 1985, and was at Summitts side for every one of Tennessees eight NCAA titles. And after Summitts diagnosis of early onset dementia, Alzheimers type in 2011, Warlick essentially took over all the duties of being a head coach without getting the title. In fact, Warlick insisted right up until Summitt stepped down in April 2012 that Summitt was still the head coach.It was a sincere, heartfelt sense of loyalty that Warlick always kept front and center throughout her career working for Summitt. And now, facing the rest of her coaching days and life without her mentor, Warlick looks to hold onto all the moments they had together.She taught me what character and integrity means, Warlick said. I think probably the most important thing she taught me is not letting anything break your spirit.If there was ever a time that might have happened to Summitt, it was when she got the horrible diagnosis that she knew would end her career and her life prematurely. But Summitt refused to let that happen; she started the Pat Summitt Foundation, was head coach emeritus at Tennessee, and did all she could -- until her final days -- to continue to positively impact the world around her.She put it out there -- she said, Its not a pity party, Warlick said. We all knew what this disease does. But she put her life out there. Its always what Pats done. Its all about awareness. What better stage for Alzheimers to be on than with Pat, because of how hard she fights her battles.What do you do? Whats the best way to find a cure for this disease? Thats what Pat wanted to do. She didnt want to hide from it. She wanted to continue to have an impact. Maybe not so much to help her, but to help people in the future.Warlick pointed out that it was the very same mentality that Summitt always had in regard to coaching womens basketball.Look at the players who are afforded the opportunity to play in big arenas, to get scholarships, to have a per diem, Warlick said. Its due to a lot of the foundation, the groundwork, that was laid. Her outspoken awareness of her disease is going to do nothing but lay the groundwork for people to come.Pat always wanted to give women opportunity. Pat exemplified being tough, and then showing love. And thats hard to do. I know what shes meant for the Lady Vols; this is what she built. She afforded a lot of people the opportunity to say, One day, I want to coach. I want to be like Pat Summitt. Pat was a model that a lot of people used to help start their program.Even on a day when Warlick acknowledged her heart was broken, she also remembered what an incredibly funny person Summitt was, too, and the way theyd tease each other.Pat and I talked a lot about her career and my career, Warlick said. I had great opportunities to go, but I just thought, It just doesnt get any better than this. She and I used to joke, and Id say, You know, Summitt, Im going to be pushing you up in your wheelchair to the court. And shed say, Youre going to be sitting right next to me. And I said, Absolutely.?Its a very sad day, but I reflect back on all the lives shes touched. It simply amazes me the impact Pats made in so many peoples lives. Chase Anderson Brewers Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Cecil Cooper Brewers Jersey . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/999y-ben-gamel-jersey-brewers.html . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford. Taylor Williams Brewers Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Hank Aaron Jersey . PAUL, Minn. When Eilish McColgan takes her place on the start line in Rio next month it will be a major achievement that she is able to run, let alone compete with the worlds best.The British star has endured a nightmare run of illness and injury since placing 10th in the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the 2013 World Championships -- a tale of misfortune so serious it almost led her to quit athletics for good.After switching to the 5,000m under the watchful eye of mum and 1988 silver medallist Liz, the 25-year-old McColgan is ready to defy the odds at the 2016 Games, just months after she was in too much pain even to walk.In 2014 I had some sort of viral illness, McColgan told ESPN. I had a lot of heart problems as well. I went into a condition where the heart just doesnt slow down, its like its going at 100 miles an hour. That meant for the whole of 2014, I struggled to get consistent training in.It wasnt until I took a break at the end of the season and went on holiday that the illness started to fade away. So I started to get myself into really good shape over Christmas 2014 going into 2015.The time off did wonders for McColgans health and she was finally able to return to training with the British squad at a training camp in South Africa. However, after being struck down with yet another illness, worse was to come.It was literally a couple of days after Id started running again, McColgan said. I twisted my ankle while I was out on the grass jogging. That was it. Id fractured a bone in my ankle. I couldnt believe it.My specialist said its the type of fracture hes yet to see heal naturally. Some members of the public might just leave it like that, because they dont have to return to running so many miles a week.After eight or nine months, it was obvious it wasnt healing, so I eventually had surgery. In my left foot I now have seven screws and a metal plate.Her ankle patched up, McColgan was then presented with the mental challenge of building herself back up for a tilt at Rio. But there was a problem. Her foot was not going to withstand the impact of vaulting hurdles in the steeplechase.At the start of the year I wrote down the qualifying times I needed for the steeplechase, the 5,000m and the 10,000m, and pinned them onto the wall, McColgan said.Id never done a 10km, Id only ever done one 5km, but my foot wasnt going to hold up for the steeplechase. Even though Id never done those other events, you just cant let go. I train my whole life to make the Olympic Games and something was saying to me dont be giving up.Running on her ProForm Performance treadmill, McColgan would chase those qualification times as the pain in her ankle refused to die down. As recently as Februaary this year she was hardly able to walk, and even now she is limited to running half the miles she would typically in training.ddddddddddddThe determination eventually paid off though. Taking inspiration from her mum, McColgan ran a personal best for the 5,000m in her first track race in two years at Julys British Championships, somehow dragging her body to Rio qualification.Still coached by her mum Liz -- a silver medallist in the 10,000m at Seoul 1988 and world champion in Tokyo three years later -- McColgan is determined to emulate her achievements and reach her first Olympic final, having failed to make it out of the steeplechase heats at London 2012.Its exciting to be following in my mums footsteps, she said. Shes been through a lot. Shes not been as injured as me so early on in her career, but its nice to have someone there who has been through it.My mums coached me from the word go. Without her I wouldnt even be able to call running my hobby, let alone my job. Im still amazed by her achievements, but Im now within 10 seconds of her 5k PB [personal best].McColgan, who ran a new PB to finish seventh in the 1,500m at Londons Anniversary Games last Friday, has recently been an outspoken critic of doping controls while training in Kenya. However, there was a hint of weariness when she touched on the topic again as she insisted she was focussing on her own performances.With Russian athletes banned from the track and field competition at Rio, and their countrymen in other disciplines perhaps facing the axe despite the International Olympic Councils decision against a blanket ban, McColgan will at least be facing a cleaner field next month.But after the setbacks of the past two years, perhaps just finishing the race will be triumph enough for the Briton. While some athletes may choose to dope and take the easy way out, her story is built on hard work.Im glad I persisted because there were a lot of times where other athletes would have given up, she said. Im still here and Im still going, giving it another try.Making the team was far beyond anything I could have imagined for this year. Id love to make the final though. Its going to be exceptionally tough because the Ethiopian and Kenyan girls are close to the world record day in, day out.To be on the start line in Brazil far outweighs anything I could have imagined for this year. Its strange though, as soon as you start running well again, you forget all the setbacks youve had over the years. Its going to be difficult, but thats what Im training for every day, to make that final. ' ' '