[BobbyB]

Response by readers touches former coach



Rick Bozich



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Former Moore High School basketball coach Tommy Finnegan wants to thank the dozens of friends and former players who have responded to my Dec. 26 column about Finnegan's remarkable five-year fight with Lou Gehrig's Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

"It's been overwhelming, truly touching," said Finnegan, 64. "Hopefully, I've given inspiration to some people."

Inspiration has always been a Finnegan specialty. He was particularly moved by a note from John Dizney, a 1976 Moore grad who played on Finnegan's first two teams.

Dizney is a middle school principal in Indianapolis. His note was a message of thanks for teaching him how to set goals and work toward reaching them.

"It made me feel all my years as a coach and teacher were worthwhile," Finnegan said.



One reader, Woody King, sent Finnegan basketball game tapes. He heard from Joe Jones, who officiated Finnegan's first fifth-grade basketball game.

Finnegan wanted to deliver a special thank you to his twin sister, Mary Walker, and Tim Meagher, a friend and former student at Flaget High.

"They've both been unbelievable in helping take care of me and visiting," he said. "Really kind in so many ways."

I'd also like to thank everybody who responded to the article. I've known Finnegan since 1979, when I covered high school sports for the Louisville Times. His passion for helping kids was unique. It has never wavered.
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