If there was one person I could meet...

...it'd be Pat Summitt, coach for the Tennesse Lady Vols basketball team.

Photo courtesy of USA Today

I first became a fan of Pat Summitt's when reading an article in Sports Illustrated when I was in junior high in the orthodontist's office. I immediately liked her take-no-crap attitude. She held the same standards for every single one of her players. She simply believed in hard work. She was no stranger to the idea that hard work pays off. 

Pat Summitt is currently the most winningest coach of NCAA basketball history of either a men's or women's team. She has eight NCAA championships, second only to John Wooden. 

This week, Pat Summitt announced that she was diagnosed with early onset dementia. And she has no plans to quit coaching anytime soon. I admire her determination. Her strength. Her fight.

I had the privilege to see the Lady Vols play and Pat Summitt coach a few years ago. (Actually longer because it was before I had Carlee). We had made the trip to Palo Alto to watch the Lady Vols beat Stanford! I've followed the Lady Vols ever since reading that article. I've always wanted to attend a game but they rarely come to Southern California. After hearing about the diagnosis this week, I thought I'd like to make it to another game.After a quick search on the internet, I saw they're playing UCLA in December! I bought tickets for that game (and two others because apparently women's basketball tickets are so cheap they're sold in 3's). 

I'm excited to share with Carlee the only sport her mom really played. I told her last night that we're going to some basketball games. Her response "I don't like basketball." 

Sigh.

Maybe if I tell her there are cheerleaders there just like at football games, then she will change her mind.