Tennessee women’s basketball coach emeritus Pat Summitt said she enjoyed a documentary about her career, “Pat XO,” at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.Not even Pat Summitt can beat Alzheimer’s. That’s what you tell yourself, however much that reality hurts.
You watched the vacant stares throughout the 2011-12 women’s college basketball season, her last as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols. You heard the sad stories of her forgetfulness, stories whispered with great regret, as if no one ever wanted to criticize publicly the greatest coach her sport has ever seen.
You watched and you winced and you cursed the unfairness that this could happen to such a superb coach and better person at the tender age of 59.
Then you positioned yourself in front of the television Tuesday night to watch the ESPN documentary “Pat XO.” A love letter? Sure. And no one deserves it more.
But what was equally striking was Summitt’s behavior, her memory of long-ago events as she recalled her past with son Tyler. Some say that’s common with Alzheimer’s patients, but her eyes looked far less foggy than in her final year on the bench. Her voice seemed stronger and more certain.