Foundational Fitness: What Should V Stand For in Research Grant Fundraising?

According to Wikipedia, V was an American science fiction TV series running two seasons on ABC, chronicling the arrival on Earth of a technologically advanced alien species ostensibly coming in peace, but actually boasting sinister motives. According to CollegeHoopedia, ABC also has an annual V rerun on ESPN. The intent isn't sinister but, if you value the whole truth, there is some soapboxing fiction involved.

Veering off-course, the Nationwide Leader violates the time-honored vow of telling the entire story. It's vexing that ESPN's parade of glorification pitchmen, including staffers and it-takes-a-village coaches, incessantly laud former commentator Jim Valvano by chapter and verse. A "Jimmy V Week" culminates with an early-season two-night classic to enhance cancer research fundraising for a foundation named after an individual who joins John Calipari (UMass/Memphis) and Jerry Tarkanian (Long Beach State/UNLV) as the only coaches to have multiple schools under their watch forced to vacate NCAA playoff participation.

Anyone with a visible pulse supports the vision of finding a cure for cancer, but a classic lack-of-proper-perspective stemming from the cult-of-personality dynamic is ESPN's vivid hero worship of the vibrant Valvano. He isn't a bloodthirsty villain but there are a variety of vigorous reasons for not carrying ESPN's water supporting his canonization. After running afoul of NCAA investigators at Iona, a private attorney retained by North Carolina State was convinced that the institution could successfully sue Valvano for failing to ensure the academic progress of his players.

ESPN seems as if it will "never give up" a vintage and valiant voyage portraying V as the most virtuous coach in history. The sanitized version is in the network's veins. Voicing valid opposition to this mythical narrative leaves someone open to vilification as vapid and/or venomous. But the network's depiction of V is as real as fake girlfriend of Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o.

Irish idealist Dick Vitale spearheads promoting the V Foundation, which has raised an impressive $100 million-plus, and his visceral reaction probably is that any dissent makes Valvano the victim of a vicious vendetta. Anything but vapid, there is no doubt Vitale means well and has his heart in the proper place. But as verbose Vitale is wont to do, he has a tendency to vehemently go overboard with his voluminous embellishment.

In an affront to valuable numbers that never lie, there are times when ESPN sycophants shamelessly enhance Valvano's credentials as a "Survive and Advance" tactician, perpetuating a falsehood he was a late-game strategical genius. You can't take a vacation from the veracity of cold hard facts that Valvano ranks in the lower third of coaches among those with at least 150 close contests (decided by fewer than six points).

There is no reason to be vague and treat big boys with velvet gloves. ESPN could virtually avoid any vanishing credibility in this instance by incorporating recently-deceased Rick Majerus in the foundation equation. After all, the 24-year veteran college head coach was also a vocal ESPN analyst. Call it the V & M Foundation and add heart disease to the venture's research grants.

A tearjerker ESPY speech notwithstanding, it's a cancer of priorities and ESPN simply sullies its reputation with insufferable verbal voodoo vouching that Valvano was something he wasn't beyond a good coach who never had a season with fewer than four defeats in conference competition. Amid narcissism and extensive self-promotion, an "inspirational" story exists because a complicit sports media wants the maximum tear-inducement there like some fairytale. Forget the vulgar academic progress of Valvano's players at N.C. State (735 average SAT score in mid-1980s). But a network shouldn't be an outside-the-lines enabler seemingly accountable to no one while selling only a partial story. They have an obligation to tell the whole story; not vacillate and be on verge of failing their constituency in regard to vainly providing a genuine role model.

As for venerable Majerus, there won't be a movie made about his self-effacing humor, eating habits and fact none of his NCAA playoff teams with three different schools ever had to vacate NCAA play. In a stark scholastic contrast, his 1998 Utah squad provided the vanguard of Final Four achievements - only team ever to feature three Academic All-Americans among its versatile regulars. For the record, Majerus ranks among the top third of coaches in games decided by fewer than six points.

ESPN's abundant coverage seemed to revel in cancer frontman Lance Armstrong's arrogant stumblin' and bumblin' "one big lie" rather than taking his bike-ride fall in a valley as time for self-reflection. The view from this vantage point is that defend-the-brand revisionist history is unacceptable. But a final verdict persists about a greater-good higher calling. As many folks as possible should make a vital donation to the V Foundation. Just envision V as Victory (over cancer) or as Vitale (for his long-term heavy lifting in the project). Are you buyin' what ESPN is sellin' verbatim - accepting it hook, line and sinker? Very odd this vociferous emphasis on V.