SARASOTA, Fla. -- John Calipari can turn a press conference into a filibuster. Larry Brown has known Calipari for 30 years and is well versed on his "communication skills." "He talks nonstop," Brown said.
Yet the unthinkable happened recently: Calipari was at a loss for words. On May 20 at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, Calipari was asked about what his mother, Donna Mae Calipari, would think about her son being honored at the Sixth Annual Dick Vitale Gala, benefitting the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. "She would be proud, she's happy my dad's here," Calipari said. "She told me toward the end I want you to take care of your dad so he traveled with us to all the NCAA tournament (games) ..."
Calipari stopped talking. His eyes welled. The emotion of losing his mother, 74, in November 2010 to lung cancer overcame him. A reporter broke the silence. "You're not going to make it through tonight?" Calipari replied: "No."
But Calipari did. In the process, Calipari and co-honorees Roy Williams of North Carolina and tennis coach Nick Bollettieri helped the V Foundation raise $1.5 million in one evening for pediatric cancer research at Vitale's annual gala. Just this year the V Foundation surpassed more than $100 million in donations and has awarded $80 million in research grants to more than 100 institutions in 38 states.
Calipari has been involved with the V Foundation for Cancer Research since its inception. Vitale knows if he needs anything -- anything at all -- Calipari is only a phone call away.
Read more about Coach Cal on CBSSPORTS.COM
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