Comeback Player: YSU's Blocker gets national award for cancer fight

Youngstown State men’s basketball player Dallas Blocker receives national award for his fight against cancer

By Jon Moffett

jmoffett @vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

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Dallas Blocker sits in the men’s basketball locker room at YSU’s Beeghly Center on Tuesday after a press conference announcing that he had received the Comeback Player Award by The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Blocker was diagnosed with testicular cancer in Spring 2009 and underwent six months of intense chemotherapy and rehabilitation before returning to the court last fall.

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YSU - (42) Dallas Blocker plays tough defense on (10) Troy Cotton during their game Sunday afternoon. - Special to The Vindicator/Nick Mays

There was no way Dallas Blocker could’ve known the worst moment in his life would ultimately lead to the best.

But Blocker expressed those sentiments at a press conference Tuesday to announce him as the recipient of the V Foundation Comeback Player Award. Blocker’s official award presentation will be at the school’s athletic banquet next month.

“It means a lot,” Blocker said. “The V Foundation does a lot for cancer research and all kinds of help for people who are going through the same things I went through, and it’s probably saved a lot of lives.”

Blocker, 22 and a senior on the YSU basketball team, was diagnosed with testicular cancer last spring. After six months of intense chemotherapy and rehabilitation, Blocker returned to the Penguins this fall.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research, named after former North Carolina State coach Jimmy Valvano, has honored one student-athlete for the past 10 years who embodies triumph in the face of adversity.

Blocker said he was informed he’d be this year’s recipient and immediately called his mother to let her know.

“I was just really excited, and the first person I had to call was my mom because she’s always been there for me,” he said. “So I asked her if she was sitting down or around anybody, and when I told her she just started yelling and screaming because she was so happy.”

Blocker said he hopes to be an inspiration for others who have been diagnosed with similar illnesses. He said he wants to teach history at the high school level when he graduates this spring.

Blocker emphasized that there were no winners or losers among him and the other nine finalists.

Blocker lost all his hair, and some of his motivation, during his battle, but refused to give up hope. When the YSU basketball team opened its season Nov. 13, Blocker was in the starting lineup.

His advice to anyone who is feeling any sort of discomfort or pain is to get it checked immediately.

“Get checkups,” he said. “I kind of put it off because being a basketball player, or an athlete, you try to put off injuries because they’re not that bad. And I kind of put off things like that. But if you were to take advice from me, I’d say go get a checkup as often as you can. If it’s nothing, then it’s nothing. But at least you’re getting one.”

Valvano, who endured a long battle with cancer, is perhaps best known for his “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up,” speech.

“I remember watching it in high school. We watched it as a team before we went to state, and I just kind of watched it and said ‘I like that quote.’ But I never thought it would mean something to me in the long run,” Blocker said.”

But now, Blocker said, the speech hits home and he hopes Valvano, and perhaps even himself, can inspire others to keep their faith in difficult times.

When asked what his message to others in similiar situations would be, Blocker borrowed Valvano’s line.

“Don’t ever give up,” he said. “If life’s got you down, and things have not gone your way, never give up. If you’ve got the will to do it, then you’ve got the will to make it through anything.”