Surrounded by basketball coaches and players, an emotional Kelly Roberts accepted the Viking Fan of the Year award on behalf of her late husband, Don Roberts, who recently passed away from cancer. Don was a huge fan of both boys’ and girls’ sports teams, and his presence will be missed.
Don Roberts loved watching the boys and girls play sports at CCHS. He would prowl the sidelines at football games, cheering and encouraging the kids, occasionally letting the referees know that they needed glasses, or, if they missed one call too many, just skip the eyeglasses and go and buy a cane. If a player missed a tackle, and if that player was related to him, he might let that player know it. If a player made a great play, he darn sure let that player know it.
Don attended the volleyball games and watched through the years as the teams got better and better. The last two years the Vikings won the Section 7A championship and went to state. Proud moments for all Vikings fans. And more so for Don, his wife Kelly helped coach those teams. At baseball games, basketball games, softball games, Roberts could be found urging on the aspiring athletes in blue and white. Don Roberts loved all things Vikings. But mostly Don Roberts loved all of the kids who played sports and represented Cook County.
After a long, hard fight, cancer took Don this past winter. But he wasn’t forgotten. Last week, when the Cook County Booster Club announced its Viking Fan of the Year, Kelly was asked to come forward to receive the award. Coaches and players from the girls’ basketball team surrounded a profoundly moved Roberts. Her brother, John Jacobsen, read a moving tribute to his late brother-in-law. Fans stood and cheered. They cheered a long time. Kelly went back to her seat. The boys came out and took the floor to warm-up. It wasn’t long before the game started. Don Roberts wasn’t there, but somewhere he was telling the kids to pick it up, run their offense, and for heaven’s sake, play some defense!
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