Standing Tall - Coach Stringer

Anonymous

Standing Tall - Coach Stringer

Anonymous

I saw this beautiful woman on Oprah, most of know her from the horrendous remark that Don Imus made about her team when he called them "nappy headed hoes" ... This coach of Rutger's University had bc and NEVER TOLD ANYONE OF HER FAMILY OR FRIENDS. Maybe you can catch it on Oprah late, late tonight, they usually run in the wee hours of the morning the next day (so yesterday's show should be tonight after the news shows). She explained that her children had just lost their father (age 47) and she felt they couldn't handle another blow.  She didn't even tell her mother!  And this woman has never felt sorry for herself but watched how her mother always handled adversity!  

Here's an excerpt from ABC news. 

 Rutgers University women's head basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer has experienced enough tragedies during her life to pack into five lifetimes. Her coal-miner father lost both of his legs when Stringer was a child, her husband died suddenly of a heart attack in 1991, her daughter, Nina, was misdiagnosed with a case of spinal meningitis that left her unable to walk and talk, and coach Stringer had her own battle with breast cancer. During numerous stays in the hospital, Stringer began to do some soul-searching.

"I spoke to so many preachers and ministers and rabbis to understand why things happen as they did. And I was told often that we are all put on this earth to help one another, and that my experience would help others. And I didn't understand that at the time."

Instead of feeling sorry for herself, Stringer has stood tall and faced these challenges head-on. She realized that she could not abandon her love for the game of basketball and her responsibility of coaching and mentoring young women on and off the basketball court.

"We can all be knocked down," Stringer told ABC News, "but we've got to get up. It's not that we can handle so many of the things that come to us, but we respond to that."

Last year, Coach Stringer and her team had to face a painful challenge together when syndicated radio host Don Imus made his inflammatory comments about certain members of the Rutgers women's basketball team.

"It wasn't like it was something that was new to me," Stringer says, "You know, how do I stand up? And I taught these young ladies as I had taught them throughout life and as I had learned throughout life, you stand up."

Anonymous

Rockmom....THANK YOU SO MUCH for bringing this to our attention!!! I'm a huge women's college basketball fan and have always admired Coach Stringer, but didn't know of her personal difficulties or, especially, that she has had bc. What a strong, amazing woman she is (not to mention a great coach)! I DVR Oprah every day and then decide if I want to watch or delete the show. I'll definitely be watching this one!

What an inspiration she is!

~Marin

swimangel72

What an inspirational story! My daughter played college basketball (she just finished her last season as a senior) so when our family heard how Coach Stringer supported the girls on her team, we all cheered (and wished our daughter played for her!) Not many coaches have that backbone! I am simply amazed at her strength - and for today, I promise NOT to complain about my aches and pains - in honor of her. Thank you Rockmom for posting this story!  

AnnNYC

I love Coach Stringer!  I will definitely be watching Oprah tonight!  Thanks, Rocktobermom

Anonymous

I saw her yesterday on Oprah and bawled my eyes out. A truly inspirational woman who has been through so much (bc was just the latest of her life's setbacks)...