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Azinger appreciates Vitale's cancer fundraising work

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 19, 2009

SARASOTA - Of the 750 guests attending last week's Dick Vitale gala to benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research, none was more appreciative than Paul Azinger.

The Sarasota High graduate and U.S. Ryder Cup captain didn't need any coaxing to join a star-studded guest list at the Ritz-Carlton and participate in an emotional fund-raising effort spearheaded by Vitale, a Bradenton resident.

After winning 11 PGA events between 1987-93, culminating with the 1993 PGA Championship, Azinger was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in his right shoulder.

"I was 33 and I'm not going to say I was the best player in the world, but I was the hottest player in the world,'' Azinger said. "It all ended overnight. There was six months of chemo, five weeks of radiation and here I am at the age of 49. I had a pretty good run and I've won only once since. My career has never been the same, but that's OK.''

As Azinger spoke, Vitale ambled by for an embrace.

"Paul knows better than most how important tonight is because he's a cancer survivor,'' Vitale said. "He knows.''

Azinger has experienced the depression that comes with any cancer diagnosis.

"Cancer will never be cured and it can't be prevented – it's part of the fabric of human existence – but there are ways to treat it,'' he said. "It's not a death sentence. Fortunately for me, events like this raised money long before I was diagnosed. It was people like Dick Vitale that allowed me to still be here today. I appreciate Dickie V. and I'm very glad to be here. I don't know that anyone's ever said no to Dick Vitale.''

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