Douglas travels to ceremony
By Paul Trembacki
Sports
Editor
It seems as though Katie Douglas is spending more
time in the air than on the ground lately.
Douglas, fresh off scoring 19 points in an 88-78
Elite Eight victory over Xavier Monday night in Birmingham, Ala., will
travel to Minneapolis today to receive the inaugural V Foundation Comeback
of the Year Award.
Douglas thought about not attending the ceremony
so that she could prepare for Purdue's Final Four game with Southwest
Missouri State Friday in St. Louis. Douglas will leave from Minneapolis
tonight and join the team in St. Louis for practice Thursday.
"It’s a very special award that I’ve
received," said Douglas, who has overcome the loss of both parents
and teammate Tiffany Young during her career.
Douglas will receive the award as ESPN The Magazine
hosts its inaugural college basketball awards show and honors the top
performers in men’s and women’s college basketball from 7
to 9 tonight.
Douglas could walk away with more awards. She is
a nominee for player of the year and swing forward of the year. However,
the V Foundation's award is all hers.
The V Foundation was established in 1993 by ESPN
with Jim Valvano at the inaugural ESPY Awards. Valvano, who won an NCAA
title at North Carolina State in 1983 and later joined ESPN as an analyst,
passed away April 28, 1993 at the age of 47 after a battle with cancer.
Nick Valvano, CEO of the V Foundation, said Douglas
is an inspiration to all, much like Jim Valvano.
"She is the perfect choice to receive this first-time
honor," Nick said. "Like other terrible diseases, cancer impacts individuals
and families. Katie has risen above all these challenges and typifies
what Jim meant when he said, ‘Don’t give up. Don’t ever
give up!"’
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