Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com
Published - Friday, June 13, 2008
Nessler brings celebrity and passion to cancer fundraiser
ST. CHARLES, Minn. — Brad Nessler doesn’t get back to his hometown of St. Charles, Minn., too often. But when he does, the top-flight, network sports broadcaster brings some big-name company.
Nessler, an ABC and ESPN college football and basketball announcer, was joined by University of Minnesota men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith on Thursday for a charity banquet in Nessler’s childhood stom-ping grounds.
The banquet, which drew about 130 people to the St. Charles Moose Lodge, kicked off the 17th annual Bob Nessler Memorial Cancer Research Classic Golf Tournament.
Named after Nessler’s father, who died from cancer 18 years ago, the event has raised more than $260,000 for cancer research.
“It’s always good to be back home,” Nessler said. “Atlanta might be where I live, but this is home.”
Smith, who last season led the Gophers to the largest turnaround (11-win improvement) in program history, is perhaps as accomplished as a philanthropist as he is a basketball coach.
Thursday’s stop was the latest in a series of offseason charitable endeavours Smith has scheduled. Smith’s wife, Donna, was on hand just hours removed from a near 18-hour flight after a 10-day mission trip in Nairobi, Kenya.
“I was taught growing up in a family of 17 (children) it’s better to give than to receive,” Smith said. “It’s about sharing. To whom much is given, much is expected. I think it’s just a part of being a coach.
“I was really inspired by my parents, not that they had a lot to give, but what they did give, they gave freely.”
Smith said some of the most charitable people can be found in the athletic world. It’s also a virtue he tries to instill in his players.
“That’s what sports is all about,” Smith said. “If you’ve ever competed with a team, it’s about sacrifice, it’s about giving. That’s my whole conception of athletics. That’s what it’s supposed to teach you. If you miss that lesson, you’re not much of an athlete.
“I promise you Mike Leaf and the kids coming out of Winona State, they understand what giving means. That’s why they win championships. That’s the secret to success.”
Even with wall-to-wall guests, the banquet had the intimate feel of a family reunion.
Flanked by Nessler and Smith to her left and charity organizer Bruce Schott to her right, the proud matriarch, Nessler’s mother, Bunny, sat smack in the middle of the featured dinner table of distinguished guests.
Bunny, 86, is a three-time cancer survivor. She bounced and beamed around the room of friends and relatives.
“It was terrible the first time, which was 26 years ago, and I survived,” Bunny recounted. “Four years ago, I had another bout with cancer; survived that. Then the next year I had another bout with cancer, and I’m still here.
“I love it. I love to have all the family back home. It’s great we all get together.”
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