LOUISVILLE, Ky. — They brought University of Louisville basketball to new heights, and now they’re hoping to elevate their city’s fight against the pandemic.
What You Need To Know
- Members of the 1980 men's national championship team, hall-of-fame trailblazer Valerie Owens Combs receive their vaccines
- They said they want to encourage others to receive their shots
- Roger Burkman lost a brother to the virus in June
- They all plan to come back in two weeks to receive their Pfizer booster shot
Three members of the 1980 men’s national championship team and hall-of-fame trailblazer Valerie Owens Combs walked into the YMCA in West Louisville to receive their COVID-19 vaccines Wednesday.
The men, who included the '80 tournament "Most Outstanding Player" Darrell Griffith, Scooter McCray, and Roger Burkman said Combs organized the effort. They added that they hope to encourage other Kentuckians to get the shot when their opportunity comes up.
"I want to encourage the whole world to get this shot so we can get back to our normal lives, and be with our friends, and get our hugs, and all of that," said Combs, who was Louisville's first scholarship woman baller. "Because I miss getting our hugs from all of our friends and family and these guys as well."
The day was quite personal for Burkman, who told the gathered press he lost a brother to the virus on June 7. He echoed his fellow Cardinals' sentiments that everyone should take the vaccine when they can.
Griffith said he wants to take care of his health and be an example for others.
"I just want to make sure that people know it’s OK, and that they should do the right thing," he said after his injection.
They all plan to come back in two weeks to receive their Pfizer booster shot.
The group also brought a 91-year-old woman who had not yet received her vaccine.