Dick Vitale Gala and its army of youngsters set fundraising record
Another Dick Vitale Gala is in the books and the fight continues.
This year's event raised a record $2.8 million topping the $2.3 million it took in last year, which was the previous high.
"Awesome, unbelievable," Vitale shouted after he learned of those numbers.
But there is no time to rest, no time to sit on one's laurels. Cancer doesn't wait for anyone, so Vitale's army is not going to take a break.
There are many things to take away from Friday night's event, which capped a year of fundraising for pediatric cancer research by the Vitale legion. But it was the children on the front lines of this battle who again stood out.
Amid a sea of sports celebrities, the cancer-fighting kids captured the spotlight. Many are in different stages of the battle, but they all share a common demeanor. They don't complain and continuously look to help others.
Spend time with them and you know why Vitale is driven to tears when he pleads for money to help in their fight against cancer, which really never ends.
Talking to them was worth the price of the $1,000-plate dinner. They will send you home wondering how you can complain about anything, especially losing a game.
These kids have no fear. They are warriors with a positive attitude who teach the adults how to conduct their lives. They are happy. They smile and lift each other's spirits, going above and beyond the call of duty to help others though their situation might be dire.
The internet is flooded daily about world turmoil, but on this night every year this gala demonstrates that us humans are capable of loving acts, especially when prompted into action as they were with these youngsters.
Already plans are in motion for the next Vitale Gala; The honored guests are planned to be ESPN's Chris Berman, West Virginia head basketball coach Bob Huggins and Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly.
The purpose of the gala is raise money, but with all the sports figures in attendance there was some sports talk and here is a sample:
Archie Griffin (former Ohio State running back and only person to win the Heisman Trophy twice, the last one coming in 1975): "It's a great honor to win it twice, but it really speaks to the type of teammates I had at Ohio State. I always said it was about being in the right place at the right time with the right people, including the coaching staff and head coach Woody Hayes.
Now 62 and looking spry, Griffin recently retired from his position as president of the Ohio State Alumni Association, but he continues to help as a consultant.
Former Tampa Bucs coach Jon Gruden sounded as if he had no desire to return to coaching.
"I haven't lost a game in seven years," Gruden said with a smile, looking very content and why not with his reported wealth.
Gruden's wife, Cindy, seems to match her husband in the energy department.
"I have to do that to keep up with him," she said.
She noted that she and her husband hold no ill will toward the Glazer family, which fired Jon in 2009 despite coaching the Bucs to their only Super Bowl title in 2003.
Willie Taggart, USF head football coach, said he is all for those satellite camps the SEC coaches hate and is looking toward the joint camp he will conduct with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh on the USF campus on June 4.
"Last year we did it together, and it was a big hit for all of us. We are trying to get the entire Tampa Bay area of kids to come out. We absolutely want to see these satellite camps continue so the kids don't have to pay and go all over the country to attend them," Taggart said.
The former Manatee High quarterback was not interested in commenting on the rumors the Big 12 Conference might expand and USF could be part of it.
"I just want to win our conference. We (USF) have never won a (football) conference championship. We want to win our conference and pack RayJay (Raymond James Stadium). We are only thinking about the American Athletic Conference, but we want to make it hard for anyone to say no to us if we want to change things."
Cancer survivor Jake Taraska, outfielder for Inspiration Academy, said he orally agreed to accept a scholarship to play baseball at NAIA Keiser University in West Palm Beach, calling it the perfect fit academically and athletically.
The Seahawks (37-20) won their first Suncoast Conference Tournament and will play next in the NAIA Regionals.
Alan Dell, Herald sports columnist/writer, can be reached at 941-745-7056. Follow him
on Twitter @ADellSports
This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Dick Vitale Gala and its army of youngsters set fundraising record ."