Coverdales hold auction for Alzheimer’s

Tom Coverdale has never been one to quit.

In December 2002, Coverdale showed that attitude when he propelled the Hoosiers to an overtime victory in a national championship rematch against the then-No. 9 Maryland Terrapins.

It all seemed lost when Maryland’s Steve Blake sank a half-court shot as the final seconds ticked away in regulation. It seemed the Hoosiers would again suffer a heart-breaking defeat at the hands of the Terrapins.

The shot was eventually waived off — but that kind of shot can take the momentum from any team.

However, Coverdale — who finished with 30 points on the night — refused to let the Hoosiers drop the game, as they won 80-74 in overtime.

Now that Coverdale has graduated and moved on, he has not dropped that attitude.

Coverdale’s mother lost her eight-year battle with Alzheimer’s this May, and Coverdale and his family have decided to do something proactive for the destructive ailment, by starting the Coverdale Family Auction to Fight Alzheimer’s.

The goal of the auction is to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indiana and “bring awareness and raise funds to help researchers develop and improve treatments, strategies and medications that will improve the quality of life for individuals and caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease,” according to the event’s website.

The silent auction will run from July 22 to 31 at coverdaleauction.org. Some of the items up for auction include autographed basketballs from IU coach Tom Crean, former IU coach Bobby Knight, North Carolina coach Roy Williams, Purdue coach Matt Painter and legendary former Indiana State and Boston Celtic forward Larry Bird. Also up for auction is a dinner for two with Coverdale at Ruth Chris Steak House in Indianapolis.

Individual donations are also accepted.

— Candice Rohrman