Sometimes, the only thing you can really do is resort to cliche, say life isn't always fair and move on. If dementia were the kind of thing you would wish on anyone, it would not be Pat Summitt. She is an icon, almost undoubtedly the best college basketball coach and maybe the best college coach of any kind.
But again, life's not always fair, or it can at least seem at times to be profoundly unfair. And so we get the news that Pat Summitt has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, meaning that one of the greatest minds in college sports will gradually begin to erode.
Rest assured that Summitt won't complain, at least not publicly. She'll continue to coach the Lady Vols basketball, likely very well, given that Summitt could still probably coach circles around most of her opponents on her worst day. And she doesn't really want you to feel sorry for her -- in fact, she'll probably get angry if you do. "There’s not going to be any pity party and I’ll make sure of that," she told the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
So don't feel sorry for her, but take an opportunity over the next year or so to watch a legend in action. The only thing about this that seems remotely fair is that we will have a chance to say goodbye.