The Jimmy V Classic has always been very special to me. As a member of the board of directors for the V Foundation, Ive had the opportunity to spread the word about the job being done by the foundation to raise money for cancer research.It was also special because, up to this point, I would be working with my buddy, the late John Saunders. He had such a love for the Jimmy V Classic. Last year he worked the game as the play-by-play announcer. He often hosted halftime and between-the-game segments.We shared stories about the game and Jimmy Valvanos life. Let me tell you how close Jimmy V and John Saunders were. John named his daughter Jenna after him, using the same initials. Jenna Tianna Vanessa named after James Thomas Valvano.John developed such a special relationship with Jimmy when they worked together in the studio at ESPN. They often talked about their families and how much they meant to each other. There was so much passion, and that is what John displayed as he worked so hard to help the V Foundation. He was dedicated and worked so diligently for his buddys cause.Every year, John Saunders served as the emcee at my gala, which raises money for the V Foundation. I saw him interact with so many youngsters who were battling cancer. John had a love for people. He was as special as it gets.Everyone knew his talent as a broadcaster, whether it was on SportsCenter, hosting The Sports Reporters, calling a game, hosting college football or basketball studio shows. He was Mr. Versatility with the ability to communicate so well with people.John was a warm, caring guy, a loving husband and father whose family meant everything to him. He lived his life in a proper way.I can think about so many things about him that were so special to me. I get really emotional when I think about the fact that John is not with us anymore. He was there for me back in 2008 when I thought I had throat cancer. I had the scare of my life.I was getting ready for surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. I had to go through the presurgery rituals around 6:30 a.m. I was getting prepared when I walked in the room and sitting there was John Saunders, along with Sandy Montag (then with IMG). I could not believe it.I was shocked beyond belief. I get emotional just thinking about what that meant to me for John to show up.He said that he couldnt let me go in without wishing me luck.John and I set up a way to communicate how the surgery went. I carried around a card with a picture of St. Jude on it. I was squeezing it, praying. I told him that if the surgery was successful, he should give me a thumbs-up. If the news was not good, do nothing.When I came out of surgery and through the anesthesia before I snapped out of it, there was John Saunders. He gave me thumbs-up and I gave him a big hug.John was always there for me.Last April, when I was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, John Saunders presented me. His words were so special, and the fact that he was there meant the world to me.John was as good as it gets. Whenever I called him for a favor, he was right there.Oh, is he missed. He will never be forgotten.If you enjoyed watching John on ESPN, saw him on SportsCenter or calling a game, you will remember him. You can help by joining us and making a donation to the John Saunders Research Grant for Cancer Research. I am proud to say to all of the supporters out there who were touched by John, we have raised more than $100,000. That figure has been increased to more than $200,000 thanks to ESPN and John Skipper. That grant will be presented at my gala this year.John would be thrilled that those dollars will go to help kids battling cancer, so please make a donation.?I will never forget Aug. 10, 2016. I got the phone call from ESPNs Josh Krulewitz. We knew that John had some health problems in the past, but I was stunned beyond belief. We had no idea that he would pass so prematurely.He seemed so excited about life the last time I talked to him.Life is so short. Enjoy every moment.Dont forget about John Saunders when you watch Purdue and Arizona State and Duke against Florida at the Jimmy V Classic. He was a prime time player in the biggest game of all, the game of life.Nike Air Max Plus Tn Ultra Customize . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Cheapest Kobe Shoes . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.com/cheap-max-90-shoes.html . 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Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2.An elated Jack Wighton is free to play in Canberras qualifying final after being found not guilty of a shoulder charge.The NRL judiciary panel of Sean Garlick, Royce Ayliffe and Mal Cochrane took just five minutes to find Wighton not guilty of the grade-two shoulder charge on Wests Tigers forward Joel Edwards.Wighton faced a four-match ban if found guilty on Tuesday night at Rugby League Central.It was good to get the result. I cant wait to get out on the park on the weekend. I was always confident. I always had faith, Wighton said.It was just one of those tackles that looked worse than what it was.It has been a long day, a rough start to the week and it is good to get it over with.I am just really excited about the weekend.Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said it was a verdict star fullback Wighton deserved.I am really happy with the hearing and for the team and for Jack, Stuart said.He has been pretty settled and confident for two days. He has handled himself really well because he has put so much into the season.Stuart admitted the case had been a distraction for his team.I wanted to do some stuff with the team this afternoon and we had to postpone it, he said.dddddddddddd.We havent had a session this week. But we will get through it. It is a challenge. It is not going to be anything but another hurdle we have to overcome.In arguing his case, judiciary prosecutor Peter McGrath conceded the first point of contact between Wighton and Edwards was their forearms but said that didnt matter.It was a classic shoulder charge that player Wighton was at least careless in the way he effected it, McGrath said.The upper arm was tucked and forced against his side.There was forceful contact. He made no attempt to make a conventional tackle.Wightons defence counsel Nick Ghabar argued the tackle in the Raiders win over the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday was more a collision than a charge.Player Wighton has gone in rather clumsily, he said.But he did not have his upper arm or shoulder tucked into his side.The arm was never braced and he followed through with a pushing-type motion.A small group of Raiders fans celebrated outside League Central after the verdict was read out. ' ' '