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81-year-old Memphis fan refuses surgery until Tigers game is over

An 81-year old Tigers fan has Memphis on the top of her priority list. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

George Washington v Memphis

It's been said that 'fan' is short for 'fanatic'. And that definition certainly rings true for an 81-year-old college basketball fan.

Dealing with a collapsed lung, the elderly woman wouldn't let doctors operate on her until  her beloved Memphis Tigers finished their NCAA Tournament game against George Washington.

Thankfully, the Tigers came away with the victory, though the 71-66 win wasn't without dramatics -- something I'm sure the doctors would have preferred to avoid.

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