Louisville Announcer Bob Valvano Suffers Heart Attack

UPDATE 12/22/2012: According to his Facebook post, Valvano underwent a procedure to clear a 100 percent blockage in one vein.

Later, in a text-message exchange with The Courier-Journal, he said he was told, “Had I gotten on plane, I probably would have been gone. As it is, they had to shock me back once during procedure when I went into cardiac arrest. They shocked me once and procedure was successful. So I feel pretty good.”

Andy Sweeney, who produces Valvano’s WHBE ESPN-680 talk show, said he expects Valvano to be released from the hospital this weekend.

12/21/2012 Posting...

University of Louisville Cardinals Basketball broadcaster Bob Valvano is resting comfortably at Jewish Hospital is Louisville after suffering a heart attack.

WHAS11.com reports Valvano was walking to airport security in Louisville when, as he wrote on his facebook page, he felt a strong pain in his chest that was too strong to be acid reflux.

He said he called 911 and a fellow passenger who was a cardiologist stayed to help him until an ambulance arrived. Doctors found one vein 100% blocked and did a procedure to open it.

Valvano calls Louisville games on WHAS11 TV and ESPN broadcasts as well as radio broadcasts.

Valvano is the younger brother of the late North Carolina State college basketball coach and TV commentator Jim Valvano. He is active in the V Foundation, Jim Valvano's legacy in the fight against cancer, and authored a book about his brother titled "The Gifts of Jimmy V".

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