We’ve all lost someone to cancer. It is a perpetual, all-encompassing disease that practically embodies our perception of Death, and one that has taken the lives of countless human beings and affected the lives of countless more. But if ALF’s ass-whipping of Lymphoma has shown us anything, it’s that nothing, not even cancer, can triumph over the power of human will.
Legendary sports personality and Sportscenter anchor Stuart Scott received the heartbreaking diagnosis seven years ago. Seven years. And last night, he received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award, named after college basketball coach and broadcaster Jimmy Valvano, at the 2014 ESPYs.
His speech was nothing short of beautiful, the kind of speech that I can do no justice in describing with simple adjectives, no matter how monosyllabic and pretentious they would be. You could almost feel the Nokia Center settle with the gravitas of Scott’s trademark voice as he sang the praises of his co-workers, his friends and family — everyone who helped him when he needed it most. Having spent 7 of the past 10 days laid up in the hospital with kidney failure and liver complications (among other ailments), undergoing 4 surgeries in the process, Stuart was unsure if he’d even be able to make it to the ESPYs to accept his award.
“I couldn’t fight,” Stuart lamented. “But the doctors and nurses could. The people that I loved…they could fight.”
But Scott did make it. He persevered and will surely continue to persevere because that’s just the kind of guy he is. He won’t be defeated by his greatest foe. He’ll go down, sure, but not out. In the words of Valvano, Scott will never give up. And his words will surely pull at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever done the same, or seen someone who has. Because in the end, cancer may defeat you, but it will never win.
“When you die, it doesn’t mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.” – Stuart Scott
We’ve all lost someone to cancer. It is a perpetual, all-encompassing disease that practically embodies our perception of Death, and one that has taken the lives of countless human beings and affected the lives of countless more. But if ALF’s ass-whipping of Lymphoma has shown us anything, it’s that nothing, not even cancer, can triumph over the power of human will.
Legendary sports personality and Sportscenter anchor Stuart Scott received the heartbreaking diagnosis seven years ago. Seven years. And last night, he received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award, named after college basketball coach and broadcaster Jimmy Valvano, at the 2014 ESPYs.
His speech was nothing short of beautiful, the kind of speech that I can do no justice in describing with simple adjectives, no matter how monosyllabic and pretentious they would be. You could almost feel the Nokia Center settle with the gravitas of Scott’s trademark voice as he sang the praises of his co-workers, his friends and family — everyone who helped him when he needed it most. Having spent 7 of the past 10 days laid up in the hospital with kidney failure and liver complications (among other ailments), undergoing 4 surgeries in the process, Stuart was unsure if he’d even be able to make it to the ESPYs to accept his award.
“I couldn’t fight,” Stuart lamented. “But the doctors and nurses could. The people that I loved…they could fight.”
But Scott did make it. He persevered and will surely continue to persevere because that’s just the kind of guy he is. He won’t be defeated by his greatest foe. He’ll go down, sure, but not out. In the words of Valvano, Scott will never give up. And his words will surely pull at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever done the same, or seen someone who has. Because in the end, cancer may defeat you, but it will never win.
“When you die, it doesn’t mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.” – Stuart Scott
A month ago, we asked you guys to pledge some of your MMA memorabilia to our ongoing “Fight for ALF” fundraising efforts. And while that plea sort of fell on deaf ears — I guess you’re not the obsessed hoarders we thought you were? — two more members of the CP writing staff have stepped up to add some items to the pile. Read on for descriptions of the items, details on what you need to do to get them, and a new update from angrylittlefeet herself.
I was going through some boxes I packed a while back and I found this stuff. A framed signed Georges St. Pierre picture, a GSP action figure from UFC 87 and two Mint Topps UFC GSP cards. One is a “fighter gear relic card” that has a fabric swatch of GSP’s man panties or jock strap or something. The other is a “fight mat relic card” that has a piece of the octagon mat from UFC 100. So long as nobody takes a black light to the photo, all the items are in great shape. Granted, I will play TAPS and cry watching these items go but I already have the life-sized cardboard cut-out of Georges that I shower with and anything I can do to help Laura — I am willing.
A month ago, we asked you guys to pledge some of your MMA memorabilia to our ongoing “Fight for ALF” fundraising efforts. And while that plea sort of fell on deaf ears — I guess you’re not the obsessed hoarders we thought you were? — two more members of the CP writing staff have stepped up to add some items to the pile. Read on for descriptions of the items, details on what you need to do to get them, and a new update from angrylittlefeet herself.
I was going through some boxes I packed a while back and I found this stuff. A framed signed Georges St. Pierre picture, a GSP action figure from UFC 87 and two Mint Topps UFC GSP cards. One is a “fighter gear relic card” that has a fabric swatch of GSP’s man panties or jock strap or something. The other is a “fight mat relic card” that has a piece of the octagon mat from UFC 100. So long as nobody takes a black light to the photo, all the items are in great shape. Granted, I will play TAPS and cry watching these items go but I already have the life-sized cardboard cut-out of Georges that I shower with and anything I can do to help Laura — I am willing.
– Our fundraising drive officially ends on July 28th. At the end of that time, the person who has submitted the biggest donation will win the signed, framed photo of GSP.
– The second-place donation will win the Bas Rutten gloves.
– The third-place donation will win either the GSP relic cards, orthat UFC 127 program from Jason Moles that was signed by everyone from Kenny Florian to Brittney Palmer — your choice.
– The fourth-place donation will get whatever we have left, basically.
At the moment, the highest donation so far has been $500 (!), followed by a $150 bid, so you’ve got your work cut out for you. But as we always say, every little bit helps, so please visit our Fight for ALF Indiegogo page and kick in what you can. Any questions, let us know in the comments. (And if you have any last-minute memorabilia donations to share, please drop me a line at [email protected].) And now onto Laura’s weekly update…
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Hola Taters! It’s Alf again. Just stopping by to let you all know how my latest procedures went.
Monday I had my chemo port installed. They only lightly sedate you for this but I actually fell asleep while they were cutting me open. Yeah. It’s pretty bad when something like this gets to be just another day. It’s much nicer than the PICC line. Nothing actually hanging outside my body to be dealt with. It just looks like an alien implant. Or a third nipple. Whatever.
Tuesday was chemo #2. They went ahead & stabbed right into that brand new port for that. No need to let it heal a little or anything. Reaction to #2 was way less than to the first one thank goodness. We have a nurse in the chemo ward that I swear looks right like Big John McCarthy. Freaks me the hell out. I keep expecting him to shout “Let’s get it on” when he hooks somebody up to their chemo.
Wednesday back to the hospital for another shot. This one is supposed to help my body build my white blood cells back up after chemo. I feel really good today but they tell me that’s from the shot — I will most likely wake up tomorrow with joint pain so bad it feels like I’ve been hit by a truck. Awesome. Don’t sugar coat it. At least my cable should be hooked back up tomorrow I hope. I’ve got episodes of The Wire to catch up on if I can’t freakin move.
So that’s about it. Lotsa procedures, lotsa shots, and a metric fuck-ton of trips back & forth to the hospital.
Oh and I’m back up to 96lbs! That ice cream rx is working!
We’d like to start by thanking each and every one of you who have already donated to the “CagePotato’s Fight for ALF” Indiegogo page. Thanks to your generous contributions, we have already managed to raise $1,040 to help Laura “angrylittlefeet” Nicholsonpay for the various expenditures related to her recent Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis. You guys are truly amazing.
That being said, we still have a ways to go if we are to reach our goal of $5000. So if you happen to have a few extra bucks laying around, please donate to this good cause today and help support a beloved member of the Potato Nation. And to give you an update on ALF‘s current situation, we go to none other than the woman herself:
Greetings Potato Nation. Our fearless leader, Ben, has asked me to write a little something to let you good folks know what’s going on with me while I go thru being treated for my cancer.
First of all I want to thank each of you for your generosity. Whether you sent kind words, donated, or just took the time to read and maybe share my site. I am grateful to all of you.
Let me just say that before my immune system took a fast trip right down the shitter I was an optometric tech. I am not a writer nor do I play one on TV. At times my grammar would probably give even the most sympathetic English teacher conniptions. And my relationship with punctuation is shaky at best. So bitch all you want in the comments, I realize it’s kind of a national pastime around here, but don’t say you weren’t warned.
Had my first official appointment with the cancer Doc last Friday. Up until now it’s just been a shit-ton of tests. So we go thru all the standard crap and of course he sends me for more tests. Another CAT scan, a PET scan ( which I suspect is much more unpleasant than it sounds) bloodwork etc. After all that they shuffle me off to begin chemo. Sounds like a party. In hell.
As far as how I’m feeling – well I’m anemic as hell so I am tired all of the time. But other than that not too bad all things considered.
Thanks again.
angry little feet
Visit the “CagePotato’s Fight for A.L.F.” Indiegogo page today and contribute whatever you can; $50 gets you a CP “Pull No Punches” shirt, $1000 gets you a “No Questions Asked” webcam show with BG or Karma, and Danga is still willing to take “Head Kicks for Cancer” from anyone who lives in the Boston area for the low, low price of $200. Thanks again, you guys.
-J. Jones
We’d like to start by thanking each and every one of you who have already donated to the “CagePotato’s Fight for ALF” Indiegogo page. Thanks to your generous contributions, we have already managed to raise $1,040 to help Laura “angrylittlefeet” Nicholsonpay for the various expenditures related to her recent Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis. You guys are truly amazing.
That being said, we still have a ways to go if we are to reach our goal of $5000. So if you happen to have a few extra bucks laying around, please donate to this good cause today and help support a beloved member of the Potato Nation. And to give you an update on ALF‘s current situation, we go to none other than the woman herself:
Greetings Potato Nation. Our fearless leader, Ben, has asked me to write a little something to let you good folks know what’s going on with me while I go thru being treated for my cancer.
First of all I want to thank each of you for your generosity. Whether you sent kind words, donated, or just took the time to read and maybe share my site. I am grateful to all of you.
Let me just say that before my immune system took a fast trip right down the shitter I was an optometric tech. I am not a writer nor do I play one on TV. At times my grammar would probably give even the most sympathetic English teacher conniptions. And my relationship with punctuation is shaky at best. So bitch all you want in the comments, I realize it’s kind of a national pastime around here, but don’t say you weren’t warned.
Had my first official appointment with the cancer Doc last Friday. Up until now it’s just been a shit-ton of tests. So we go thru all the standard crap and of course he sends me for more tests. Another CAT scan, a PET scan ( which I suspect is much more unpleasant than it sounds) bloodwork etc. After all that they shuffle me off to begin chemo. Sounds like a party. In hell.
As far as how I’m feeling – well I’m anemic as hell so I am tired all of the time. But other than that not too bad all things considered.
Thanks again.
angry little feet
Visit the “CagePotato’s Fight for A.L.F.” Indiegogo page today and contribute whatever you can; $50 gets you a CP “Pull No Punches” shirt, $1000 gets you a “No Questions Asked” webcam show with BG or Karma, and Danga is still willing to take “Head Kicks for Cancer” from anyone who lives in the Boston area for the low, low price of $200. Thanks again, you guys.
(A personal message from Karmaatemycat, recorded last night.)
For years, Laura “angry little feet” Nicholson (aka “ALF”) has been a calming, motherly influence on CagePotato.com’s forums and comment sections. Just kidding — she’s a salty s.o.b., meaner than a sack full of rattlesnakes…and we wouldn’t change her for the world. A passionate supporter of mixed martial arts and a superstar on twitter (@angrylittlefeet), Laura has become a true friend to many folks in the Potato Nation.
Yesterday, we learned that Laura was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (“The big C“) and we were devastated. But we know that she won’t back down from this fight, and we’re going to have her back every step of the way.
Like so many Americans afflicted with cancer, Laura has no health insurance, and has already gone $10,000 into debt. We just want to help dig her out and raise her spirits. Every little bit helps, right? So we’ve started an Indiegogo page — “CagePotato’s Fight for ALF“ — and we’ll be asking for your donations* over the next couple months.
The $5,000 goal that we’ve set for this campaign represents a tiny slice of the financial burden that Laura will have to endure. That’s the reality. But we want ALF to know that we have her back, just as we’d have the back of any devoted CP family member who falls on hard times.
Give a dollar, give $5, give whatever you feel comfortable with. (By the way, a $50 donation gets you a CP t-shirt. A $1,000 donation gets you a live cam show with either BG or Karmaatemycat. Ten minutes, anything goes. Yeah, we’re working on better prizes.) All funds raised will go to Laura, even if we don’t reach our goal. Considering that tens of thousands of people visit this site every day, we’re confident that we can hit it.
We intend to mobilize the MMA community to help spread the word about Laura’s health situation and our efforts. In the meantime, visit the “CagePotato’s Fight for A.L.F.” Indiegogo page and join the fight. Thanks guys. We friggin’ love all of you.
(A personal message from Karmaatemycat, recorded last night.)
For years, Laura “angry little feet” Nicholson (aka “ALF”) has been a calming, motherly influence on CagePotato.com’s forums and comment sections. Just kidding — she’s a salty s.o.b., meaner than a sack full of rattlesnakes…and we wouldn’t change her for the world. A passionate supporter of mixed martial arts and a superstar on twitter (@angrylittlefeet), Laura has become a true friend to many folks in the Potato Nation.
Yesterday, we learned that Laura was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (“The big C“) and we were devastated. But we know that she won’t back down from this fight, and we’re going to have her back every step of the way.
Like so many Americans afflicted with cancer, Laura has no health insurance, and has already gone $10,000 into debt. We just want to help dig her out and raise her spirits. Every little bit helps, right? So we’ve started an Indiegogo page — “CagePotato’s Fight for ALF“ — and we’ll be asking for your donations* over the next couple months.
The $5,000 goal that we’ve set for this campaign represents a tiny slice of the financial burden that Laura will have to endure. That’s the reality. But we want ALF to know that we have her back, just as we’d have the back of any devoted CP family member who falls on hard times.
Give a dollar, give $5, give whatever you feel comfortable with. (By the way, a $50 donation gets you a CP t-shirt. A $1,000 donation gets you a live cam show with either BG or Karmaatemycat. Ten minutes, anything goes. Yeah, we’re working on better prizes.) All funds raised will go to Laura, even if we don’t reach our goal. Considering that tens of thousands of people visit this site every day, we’re confident that we can hit it.
We intend to mobilize the MMA community to help spread the word about Laura’s health situation and our efforts. In the meantime, visit the “CagePotato’s Fight for A.L.F.” Indiegogo page and join the fight. Thanks guys. We friggin’ love all of you.
