About those profiled in The Pluck of the Irish: 10 Notre Dame sports figures who made a difference:
About Haley Scott:
“Haley Scott's redemptive story remains one of the most remarkable not only in Notre Dame athletics, but also in the history of the University. Her ability to battle her way past the original diagnosis of likely paralysis to eventually return to the pool qualifies as one of the great motivational tales featuring Fighting Irish sports figures. She continues to tell her story today in an effort to influence others who fight against tough odds – and Jim Hayden relates her inspiring journey perfectly.”
~ John Heisler, Senior Associate Athletics Director, University of Notre Dame
About George Blaha:
“George is a Michigan institution. For more than 40 years, people’s lives have revolved around what George has to say about the Pistons. He has his own signature style. It is never 7 minutes and 38 seconds left to play. It is 7 and 38. He called tremendous games about tremendous payers, and when the Pistons won that ’89 title, it capped his career.”
~ Kelly Tripucka, Notre Dame All-American basketball player (1977-81); 10-year player in the National Basketball Association (1981-91) and Pistons television analyst for FSN Detroit (1993-2001).
About Tommy Hawkins:
“Tommy Hawkins was a superb communicator. He enjoyed several extraordinary careers – basketball, broadcasting and as a sports executive – while he lived an exemplary life for inclusion. Tommy represented the Dodgers with class and was a significant contributor to the Dodger organization.”
~ Peter O’Malley, President, Los Angeles Dodgers, 1970-1998
About Red Smith:
“It was the Super Bowl, 1981, in New Orleans. I was seated in the press box next to Red Smith. He was an incredible sports writer. I was a sports writer. I didn’t care who won the game. Getting seated next to Smith was my victory. We talked. We bonded. He was from Wisconsin. I was from Wisconsin. He went to Notre Dame. I went to Notre Dame.
“After the game, he made his way to the interview area, a frail man navigating the post-game quote-gathering circus. He was slow to return to the press box. I worried about him. When he returned, he looked frail, feeble, winded. I couldn’t imagine him writing anything good at that point. The next day, I read his column. It was wonderful, like eating whipped cream.”
~ Bill Dwyre, 1996 Associated Press Sports Editors Red Smith Award winner, Los Angeles Times Sports Editor (1981-2006) and columnist (2006-16).
