Louisville fans and basketball fans in general please keep Kevin Ware in your thoughts today. What a terrible sight to see I teared up, please know Cards we are all Cardinals tonight.

Thanks, that was really Sad for a Great Kid.

Is he a Senior? Hopefully not, so he has a year to rehab his injury before going to the next level.

Rick Pitino said he will be back next year...

(03-31-2013 05:37 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  Is he a Senior? Hopefully not, so he has a year to rehab his injury before going to the next level.

He's a sophomore. Will be out for a year, and hopefully back for 2014-15.

One of the worst injuries I've ever seen. I was going to post the youtube video but felt its too gruesome for any board.

Praying for a speedy recovery.

Though Kevin had a very circuitous route to the Louisville Cardinals, he quickly became a fan favorite and an integral part of the team. The fact that he had come into the family after so much adversity made it much more heartbreaking to this Card fan, and I would imagine most of my fellow Louisville fans would agree with me. We were so glad to see him proving himself from the bench, and then to watch this happen was so very excruciating. Thanks for all your prayers and kind thoughts. He is a kid of very high character.

Horrible injury, but I think he will be back. His attitude & spirit are tremendous!

(03-31-2013 07:36 PM)texasorange Wrote:  Horrible injury, but I think he will be back. His attitude & spirit are tremendous!

The emotion on Russ Smith's face says it all...

Also, I thought this was a very powerful message from Bob Valvano, Jimmy V's brother.

Quote:Robert Valvano
Okay violating my self imposed Facebook abstinence here just one time before June 1, but I hope you will understand...
Today was that exceptional...

I have broadcast games for 17 years, 12 on radio with Paul Rogers for the University of Louisville games. Only one other time, of a much more personal nature, was I moved to tears on the air. In Albeuquerque, the same site as my brother Jim's national championship, Louisville came from 20 points down in an Elite Eight game to go to Rick Pitino's first Final Four with the Cards. For various reasons, including a tremendously generous gesture by then assistant coach Kevin Willard, I was so moved...but that was more personal...

Today, Kevin Ware suffered one of the most gruesome injuries you'll see on basketball court, or anywhere. In the first half, he jumped to challenge a shot, simply landed wrong and his leg was grotesquely broken and twisted.
What followed was unlike anything I have seen at a game, coaching or broadcasting. Louisville players began crying on the court; a few vomited at the sight, as the injury was right in front of the bench. Duke players and Coach K were obviously moved as well...
Making it more surreal was how it happened. No one could see from the outer reaches of this vast arena what exactly occurred. Even our viewpoint, courtside right opposite Louisville's bench was difficult to see, but players on the court, who could see it in detail, started dropping to the court. Paul and I thought there might have been a collision we missed. A few broadcasters in the further points actually thought someone took a shot at the players; in this day of terrorism that may be sad, but not illogical.
Three players dropped to the court. Peyton Siva dropped to a knee to pray...clearly not business as usual...

As the time stretched on, it became apparent the injury was awful. In today's instant media,pictures were quickly transmitted. The players looked stunned, sad, bewildered...
Kevin Ware asked his teammates to gather around before going off on a stretcher and told them, "I will be fine. Now go out and win this game..." which only added to the emotional impact...

What transpired after halftime was almost overwhelming to witness. The emotion etched on the players' faces was unlike any I had ever seen at a game. I can't even describe it, truly...pain over their friend, effort to refocus on the game, determination to win, in many ways for Kevin Ware.
It seemed like little happened to make people forget the injury. As Louisville improbably pulled away to a 22 point win, the crowd started chanting "Ke-Vin, Ke-Vin..." The game ended without the Cards cutting the nets down, and Rick Pitino urging the crowd to honor Kevin by chanting again as he stood on the podium.

There was a play very late with the game essentially over, where Luke Hancock--who started the year so bumpily and was the subject of fans' wrath-- taking a leadership role, waving everyone away so he could create a shot for walk on Tim Henderson, who proceeded to nail a three point shot, and receive an exuberant hug from the normally stoic Hancock.
All game we saw that emotion from players who rarely show it. It is one of the times sitting courtside gives a vantage point I am not sure TV could capture...although I know many simply watching at home were moved to tears...

And so my broadcast partner was moved to tears as well...and I was unable to do much to help him...overwhelming...

It was incredible...and I thought about why? Players get hurt all the time...why was this so emotional?

Of course it was gruesome. That is undeniably a big part. But to watch the unique bond that is a team, and how much pain these kids had to play through, and how they rallied together...AND rallied to play for their fallen teammate...again, overwhelming...

I was moved at the emotion by the Duke players and coaches as well.That was a reminder again how blessed you are when the outcome of a game can be so important to you. It IS important; that's fine, but in moments like that you realize how fleeting it all can be and how it can all go away. Even young bullet proof players at that moment can't help but be reminded, "There but for the grace of God go I"...

It makes anyone watching feel the same about their own lives. How fragile it all can be; you must embrace the moments, pull those dear to you near, and don't waste the time you have with them...it all can go away so fast...

Yes, all that from basketball game. So I was very moved, and know I wasn't alone...

After the game I got a hug from Russ Smith who was devestated at the injury. I got to share a moment with Gorgei Dieng and Peyton Siva, emotional and spiritual leaders in many ways on this team. It is different, a bit subdued, but they are happy and proud, and maybe in many ways, more meaningful than just a usual post game congratulations...

I wander around for a bit, pass a closed training room and hear what sounds like a player laughing hysterically. I ask, "Is that someone laughing?". Somber subdued voices tell me, no those sounds are from one of the players crying, wailing, the sounds now gut wrenching as I realize what the reality actually is...

i won't mention the player's name, as i am not interested in violating his privacy, but i am reminded again...they're people, not X's and O's,and in so many meaningful ways, just kids at that.

Every once in a while the game transcends the sport, and the sport transcends itself, sending life lessons and creating human drama of the highest order.

Today was one of those days, and I was humbled to try and help Paul find the words to describe it on radio.
That's probably impossible, when you are asked to describe some things you've never seen before.

But I will never forget having the opportunity today, to try...

THAT IS A TERRIBLE INJURY

My heart goes out to the young man and his family.

The bright side of this terrible injury is that it just became that much more difficult for any opponent that Louisville Faces, as if we needed it to be even more difficult. These kids are going to be full of emotion as they try to win one for Andre. Glad to see he will be back next year. It is clear that the kid is loved by his team mates.

Definitely praying for him. It's very difficult to play again after this type of injury. It's pretty stunning how it happened. This injury usually happens to soccer players, for obvious reasons.

Who was the player who ran over and got down next to him? He deserves a lot of props for getting down there to console and distract Ware.

Luke Hancock. He transferred in from George Mason and I think his actions show why, despite never playing a minute last year, the team voted him and Siva as Co-Captains in the preseason.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

I'm still awake in bed thinking about Kevin. Really took something away from the win.

Your heart has to go out for Kevin, his Family and his team. At this point we can only pray that we see him back at full strength one day in the future! I'm still shocked at what happened. Praying and wishing the best for him.
Good Luck #5

The doctors put Kevin back together and he is up and walking on crutches today.

Interview with ESPN. Got me a little misty eyed when he talked about waking up and seeing the trophy and knowing his brothers did that for him.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...ft-my-mark