KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Nike Air Max Thea Baratas Mujer . -- Pat Summitt struggled for several months with how to tell the womens basketball players at Tennessee, recruits and fans that she was having memory loss problems. Finally, her son Tyler helped convince her to open up. The 59-year-old Hall of Fame coach surprised the sports world Tuesday by saying she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia -- the Alzheimers type. Step down after 37 seasons? Not a chance. "I plan to continue to be your coach," she said in a statement released by the university. "Obviously, I realize I may have some limitations with this condition since there will be some good days and some bad days." Tennessee athletics director Joan Cronan said Summitt, 59, initially chalked up her memory problems to side effects from medicine she was taking to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The coach first consulted local doctors, who recommended she undergo a more extensive evaluation. In May, she travelled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where doctors performed a spinal tap and other tests that eventually produced the diagnosis. Summitts first reaction was anger, but that soon gave way to determination. "Shes ready to fight this and move on," Cronan said. "She had to come to grips with how she wanted to face it." Talking about it was a big step and her son was instrumental in making that happen. "Tyler has been so courageous in this," Summitts longtime associate head coach Holly Warlick said. "He encouraged her to come forward." Tyler has been supporting his mother throughout this process; he went to the Mayo Clinic with her in May. And though he has been a great sounding board, the 20-year-old said his moms revelation is a life lesson for everyone. "It seems like she teaches me something new every day, and she is currently giving me one of the best life lessons of all: to have the courage to be open, honest, and face the truth," he said. "This will be a new chapter for my mom and I, and we will continue to work as a team like we always have done." Summitts family and closest confidants have known about her condition since she first learned of it, but the Hall of Fame coach first revealed the news publically to the Washington Post and Knoxville News Sentinel. She informed the Lady Vols about her diagnosis in a team meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Junior guard Taber Spani said the meeting was business-like, with Summitt calmly telling the Lady Vols nothing would get in the way for their quest of a ninth national title this season. "More than anything she just emphasized that shes our coach and that she wanted us to have complete confidence in her, and we do," Spani said. Warlick said the players told Summitt that they were committed to her and the Tennessee family and would not let her down. Warlick said for Summitt, the support was "like a weight was off her shoulders." "I watched how our team reacted to us today," Warlick said. "They said, Pat we love you. Were a family. Were going to get this done. Youre going to get through this." Warlick said Summitt also wanted to crush any speculation about her health after the announcement. "We got on the phone immediately and called kids and commitments and had nothing but a huge amount of support," Warlick said. "I think its one thing to see it on the (TV news) ticker. Its another thing to hear from Pat Summitt that were here, were going to be here and nothing is going to change about Tennessee basketball." Baylor coach Kim Mulkey wouldnt expect anything to change. She who won a gold medal playing for Summitt in the 1984 Olympics and expects Summitt to face dementia with the same toughness she approaches basketball. "Shes our John Wooden. If you are a Tennessee fan or not, theres no denying her place in womens basketball," Mulkey said. "I played for the woman. Shes as tough as nails. People think Im tough. Im a pussycat compared to Pat Summitt .... Pat Summitt will fight. Pat Summitt will be on a crusade to help people with dementia." Cronan and UT-Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek have pledged their confidence in Summitt as well, maintaining that Summitt will be allowed to coach as long as she feels capable of doing so, which was a relief to Summitt, Warlick said. "Pat Summitt is our head coach and she will continue to be," Cronan said. "She is an icon not only for womens basketball but for all of womens athletics. For Pat to stand-up and share her health news is just a continuing example of her courage. Life is an unknown and none of us have a crystal ball. But I do have a record of knowing what Pat Summitt stands for; excellence, strength, honesty and courage." Warlick, who with fellow Lady Vols assistants Dean Lockwood and Mickie DeMoss, will assume extra responsibilities as needed to help Summitt. As college basketballs winningest coach, Summitt has spent 37 seasons at Tennessee and has 1,071 career victories and eight national championships. She is not the alone in her fight. Retired mens basketball coach Dean Smith -- the 80-year-old former North Carolina coach, who has 879 victories, reached 11 Final Fours and won two national championships -- is suffering from a progressive neurocognitive disorder that affects his memory. That doesnt surprise any of Summitts former players or rivals. "Im definitely shocked to hear the news, but knowing Pat she will get through this, and we will all stand by her side through this," Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings said. "Shell face yet another obstacle with determination and will power to live life to the fullest." LSU coach and former Lady Vol Nikki Caldwell agreed. "Ive known Coach Summitt for 23 years and there has never been a fight that shes backed down from," Caldwell said. "All of us who have played or coached under her leadership, we know she will take this fight on like she does with every task. She will do it with dignity, toughness, courage and an unwavering commitment." Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker said shes excited Summitt is going to continue coaching and doing what she loves. "Im so proud of her for coming forward with it. I think a lot of people would have hid it," she said. Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma summed up most of the reaction to Summitts diagnosis. "You dont necessarily associate dementia with people our age so this announcement really put things in perspective," Auriemma said in a statement. "Pat has great support from her family, friends and staff and I know they will help her immensely. There is no doubt in my mind that Pat will take on this challenge as she has all others during her Hall of Fame career -- head on. I wish her all the best." Nike Air Max 90 Hombre Mercadolibre . This according to former linebacker Brandon Spikes and cornerback Aqib Talib. Nike Air Max 1 Ultra Moire Baratas . Sitting five points out of a playoff spot with only 10 games left on their schedule, the Canucks are in danger of missing the postseason in their first campaign under head coach John Tortorella. PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins say defenceman Kris Letang will miss at least six weeks after having a stroke last week. The Penguins made the announcement on their website, adding his condition is treatable with blood thinners and at this point isnt believed to be career threatening. Letang has been cleared to go on vacation with his family during the NHLs Olympic break. Further testing also showed Letang, 26, has had a very small hole in the wall of his heart since birth. This defect is present in all individuals before birth but usually seals shut in most cases and its possible the condition led to the stroke. "Kris had one brief episode of dizziness and nausea last week," Penguins GM Ray Shero said. "We held him out of the Los Angeles game Thursday night, and when he continued to feel ill, tests conducted in Phoenix on Saturday gave us the first inddication of his condition. Nike Air Max 90 Mujer Blancas. "Further testing then was conducted when he returned to Pittsburgh, and he continued to undergo a battery of tests here this week." The six-foot, 201-pound Letang was a Norris Trophy finalist last year as the NHLs top defenceman and has 10 goals and 18 points in 34 games this season. Letang has played 419 career games over seven seasons, registering 227 points, including 54 goals. "I hope that by making my condition public at this time, I can help other people by encouraging them to seek medical help if they experience some of the symptoms associated with a stroke -- regardless of their age or general health," Letang said. "It obviously was a shock to get the news but Im optimistic that I can overcome this and get back on the ice." After six weeks of treatment, Letang will be re-evaluated. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
