Well, I guess I’ll think twice about whining when I pull a muscle on the treadmill from now on.
In an unbelievable reporting job by ESPN.com’s Chris Low, a story broke today that Tennessee senior guard Chris Lofton actually beat testicular cancer this past year secretively. When I say “secretively,” I mean that less than 10 people — and just one teammate — knew about this. This is jaw-dropping, unbelievable stuff. Seriously, I honestly can’t believe what I’m reading. I had to share this with you guys.
When idiots like myself were griping about Lofton taking a step back this season and wondering why he’d lost a step, seemed more out of shape and simply wasn’t the same player, he was recovering from radiation treatments after battling for his life.
As if the Legend of the Maysville, Ky., who will one day have his number retired at UT wasn’t revered enough, now we get to add the fact that Lofton was STILL a dominant scorer at times this year while undergoing cancer treatments. I simply don’t know what to say about this. Heroic comes to mind. Amazing does, too. Stunned as well.
I believe that this is one of the most miraculous stories I’ve ever heard, one of the most remarkable acts of selflessness and heroism ever by a college athlete. I am the king of hyperbole, but what tops this? He is so humble and soft-spoken that only one teammate — roommate Jordan Howell — found out about this situation, and that wasn’t until late in the season.
There were some whispers around the program about Lofton failing a drug test, and some even thought that Lofton would have taken something to get ahead, maybe something to help gain that step of slowness that hounded him coming out of high school. As it turned out, he did fail a test because of a tumor marker. The reason he lost a step this year wasn’t because he was off the juice. It was because he was taking treatments.
I am perhaps the biggest Vols fan who has ever lived. I am also a fan of journalism, of getting the story and beating everybody else to the punch. I’m finally a bigger fan of people who come through in heroic situations time after time, doing things that go beyond the normal call of duty, becoming people whom you are proud to say represents your program.
Chris Lofton, you are a truly remarkable person.
That is a great story.
The cancer does shed some light on the possibility that the steroid rumors could have been true. A lot of young athletic guys get testicular cancer after using steroids. Some speculate that Lance Armstrong’s cancer came from steroid use early in his cycling career. I’m not trying to denigrate Lofton’s achievement or heart, but rather offering a possible explanation of where the cancer came from. With the way steroids affect hormone levels and production (hormones that are produced in the testes), it’s quite possible that if he used steroids that could’ve caused the cancer. Either way, I’m glad he beat it and even more impressed that he didn’t turn it into some kind of sob-story excuse throughout the year, because he sure as hell caught a lot of heat for not having an SEC POY caliber year…again.
Bama paragon,
Listen, bro. I appreciate you coming by. I hope you stay, and you’re certainly entitled to an opinion, but what the heck, man?? Please, please, please don’t insinuate anything like that because if there is one thing about Lofton, it is his character. I don’t think he’d cheat under any circumstances whatsoever. That’s the reason why I never wrote anything about the “rumors” when I’d heard them. Because there was no way, with the things I know about Lofton and the way he lives his life and the faith he has and the strong foundation in just goodness and God, I thought there was no, no, no, no way that he would have done steroids. I still don’t. That’s why I never said anything about any of the rumors, and that’s why I called them “rumors” on here.
I probably never should have brought it up, but let’s leave this as what it is: An amazing story and a heroic effort by a legendary player. Until something comes out — which it never will because Lofton would never use — let’s not even get in our heads that he “possibly” could have used steroids. It would be the biggest sports disappointment of my life if I found that out because Lofton is such a moral individual, and I’d say that if he played for Bama, too. I love Shaun Alexander for the same reason. And the ESPN story even discusses the rumors, but let’s please don’t condemn him for rumors.
It’s possible, sure. But probable? I don’t think so. Not with the kind of person Lofton is. Thanks so much for the comments …
You know, this is a great story, and my jaw dropped when I read it. I’m glad he’s on the mend after what had to be a difficult experience to keep from his teammates and friends. I will say this though, that steroids aren’t the only cause of testicular cancer. Lots of young men have gone through it and never took steroids, so it might just be entirely possible that he falls into that category instead of the conspiracy theory category. And, if you’ve ever known someone to have survived it - or even had a scare - you’d realize it’s nothing to joke about.
I wasn’t joking or trying to be malicious. Sorry I even brought it up.
I do realize lots of people have testicular cancer who don’t take steroids, and I doubt Lofton took them–all I was saying is that it was a possibility. I also explicitly mentioned that “I’m glad he beat it and even more impressed that he didn’t turn it into some kind of sob-story excuse throughout the year” and for that he has my respect. I wasn’t trying to rain on the parade or (to use the parlance of our friend Mike Gundy) downgrade him. It’s a great story and I really hope some NBA team takes a chance on him so he can at least get a nice fat paycheck for a little while. I wasn’t trying to stir up any emotions or piss anyone off, so sorry I mentioned it. You guys run an enjoyable, entertaining site and I don’t want to seem ungrateful or like a troll. So, bottom line–Chris Lofton, whatever the cause of his cancer, is still awesome for beating it, and even more awesome for keeping it private and not even letting it enter the picture as an excuse for his slightly reduced performance output last year, despite the fact that it most definitely was the cause of it.
I’m certainly not calling you out BP. I’m glad you’re stopping by. The only thing I’m going to say is a lot of things are possible.
Andy Pettitte is one of the most moral, outspoken Christian athletes in MLB (even if he is a Yankee) and he took steroids. I just refuse to believe that Lofton ever would. I’m not with him every day, but cheating would be against everything he stands for.
Keep on coming by, brother. Glad to have your input.
And, Amy, always a pleasure.
I could tell you weren’t being malicious, too, by the way. That’s why I posted a “hold on a minute” response. You’re talking about a Big Orange Legend in the making. LOL
bama paragon personally I think you are total piece of crap for even leaning that way
I don’t care if he took steroids or not, which I think is BP’s point. I don’t think having done so would make him a bad person and I don’t think it would denigrate what he’s done. I also don’t think he did. Chris Lofton has my utmost respect for this and in a moment of personal weakness I will admit this: I am grateful that if the NBA lets him down, his UT family will not.
Bob-War, let’s please not get into a name calling contest. We strive on this site to be good-natured about our ribbing, and if you re-read the original comment and the partial retraction, you’ll see I think that Bama Paragon really didn’t mean for it to come out the way he did.
It’s not a big deal. What Lofton did was heroic, and nobody is disputing that.
Very good story. It’s does my heart good to hear that there are still young people out there like Lofton.
Bad form, bob-war.