Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective
Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective
With 1,098 wins throughout her career, women's college basketball coach Pat Summitt is one of the most successful coaches in women's basketball history.
About
Sum It Up follows the journey of former women’s college head basketball coach, Pat Summitt. From Clarksville, Tennessee Pat graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1974. Soon after she would become head coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of Tennessee's Knoxville campus at the ripe age of 21. She would go on to coach the team for the next 38 years, amassing eight NCAA championships and 1,098 wins, the third-highest in women’s college history. She also won a silver medal in the 1976 Olympics as a player and a gold as head coach of the 1984 Olympic team. However, the book takes a more serious turn when it is revealed Pat was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2011. In spite of her diagnosis, she would guide the Tennessee Lady Volunteers to their 16th SEC championship in March 2012 before retiring that same year.Â
Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective's Relation To Sport Business
Pat Summitt’s career as a coach and accomplishments is something that not many have achieved. Throughout her life, she has had to face many challenges, simply because of her gender. As a young girl growing up with athletic brothers, she would always be teased and felt as though she could not be as talented as them. In 1970 as she prepared to go to college, no athletic scholarships were available to women forcing her parents to pay her way. Her brother’s on the other hand, all received athletic scholarships. Instead of being discouraged by the lack of support for female athletes, Pat went on to pave the way for many. She holds many achievements including multiple coach of year awards, 2 Olympic medals and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.
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Why read Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective?
Sum It Up follows Pat Summitt’s journey that unfortunately ended in 2016 when she succumbed to Alzheimer's at 64 years old. Pat’s book summed up her life in a hilarious yet honest way, something that is not really seen in most autobiographies. As someone who is not the biggest basketball fan, and more so not a college basketball viewer, I found myself quite intrigued by Pat’s story and how her success paved the way for many women in just college basketball, but all females in sport. Unfortunately, Pat’s work has not been enough for women’s equality in college basketball. Recently the NCAA has come under fire for not providing the women’s teams with the same equipment in their weight rooms as the men. Hopefully, more organizations can see the value of female athletes which is something Pat worked her entire career for. Because of Pat Summitt’s inspiration and leadership Sum It Up deserves a spot on our Shelf!
