Dick Vitale Congratulates Liam Hendriks On His Special Award
Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks fought perhaps the toughest battle of his career over this past offseason when he was diagnosed with cancer.
As a result, the three-time All-Star missed the first two months of the 2023 season.
At the end of May, however, Hendriks returned after beating cancer and was given a raucous standing ovation from the crowd in Chicago.
This year, he earned the prestigious Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS, which honors a person in sports who has battled through adversity and overcome it.
The award is named after late college basketball coach Jim Valvano, who gave an inspiring speech at the ESPYS 30 years ago in what would end up being his final public appearance before his passing.
On Twitter, college basketball announcer Dick Vitale congratulated Hendriks on his accomplishment.
This is a really deserving winner of the prestigious Jimmy V Perserverance Award for 2023 – Congrats to Liam Hendriksn! Read about his journey by @JeffPassan – via @ESPN App https://t.co/77toT8ceHj
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) July 12, 2023
Vitale has battled cancer for several years.
He fought through melanoma and lymphoma, and sadly was recently diagnosed with vocal cord cancer.
But Vitale, just like Valvano and Hendriks, has been a source of inspiration as he continues to soldier on in his life, living each day to the fullest.
He also fully understands what it’s like to face such adversity, as Hendriks recently did.
Hendriks has won two American League Reliever of the Year Awards over the course of his Major League career.
But this award simply means more.
Hendriks was fighting through a terrible disease, but he took lessons from both Valvano and Vitale and continued to live each day to the fullest as he recovered.
Now, he is healthy again, and ready to take on any challenge.
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