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An Unselfish Wish

Rayshawn An Unselfish Wish

When given the opportunity to have a wish come true, many people probably think of their own personal dreams. But for Rayshawn King, the opportunity to make a wish meant much more than that.

King, a high school senior, showed true strength and commitment to his team when he chose to play football while undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia. His courage was inspiring, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation ultimately offered him the chance to make any of his dreams come true.

Initially he chose to meet LeBron James at the NBA All-Star game, but then quickly changed his mind. As he told reporters, “I had made a selfish wish. I had a chance to really touch people and I was missing it.”

So instead of meeting his NBA idol, his wish was to provide a free meal for his entire school as a way of thanking them for their support through his fight with cancer. While sports is an integral part of his life, he clearly understands that “team” extends beyond sports: “I was upset when I realized that I wasn’t as good as I had been, but I also knew I had changed. Sports used to be my life and sports isn’t my life anymore. I know that people love and care for me.”

His generous wish didn’t go unrecognized. The president of Make-A-Wish was clearly impressed herself with King’s choice: “We’ve never had a wish like this. We’ve never had anyone who wanted to share his wish with this many people.”

Photo courtesy of News & Observer



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Happy Mother’s Day to the Sports Mom

Mom Happy Mother’s Day to the Sports Mom

Here is to all of the sports moms who arrange their schedule to drive young athletes to practice and games. To all of the moms who make sure the uniforms are clean and snacks are ready. To all the moms who are there rain or shine, win or lose. Thank you for all that you do.

Now make sure to call or hug your mother this weekend.

Photo courtesy of sheknows.com



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Title IX Turns 40

Title IX Title IX Turns 40

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Signed into law June 23, 1972, these words form the basis of the groundbreaking legislation that marked a great achievement for women in the United States. Under Title IX, women have made incredible strides both on the field and in the classroom. To commemorate this significant moment in equality, Sports Illustrated released an issue celebrating the legislation with nine essential stories related to Title IX.

According to the Sports Illustrated issue, 294,015 girls played high school sports 40 years ago. As of last year, that number is now well over 3 million and counting. We look forward to seeing this number continue to grow.



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Buccaneers Sign Paralyzed Player

Helping Hand Buccaneers Sign Paralyzed Player

With the negativity that sometimes catches the headlines of professional sports, it is heartwarming to hear stories such as this one that encompass true compassion, loyalty, and perseverance.

On Wednesday morning, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand to the team’s roster. LeGrand was severely injured in a game against Army in 2010. He was originally expected to be paralyzed from the neck down and need to remain on a ventilator, but he has since made a slow yet miraculous recovery and is expected to walk again.

Bucs Coach Schiano, LeGrand’s coach at Rutgers, said, “This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men.”



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Team Is Community

Okalahoma City Team Is Community

How great is the scene when a sports arena is all decked out in the same color shirt? The fans in Oklahoma City took that to the next level last night. Watching the Thunder-Mavs game last night, it looked like nearly every person who wasn’t a player or coach was wearing a white shirt reading “Team is Community.”

Beyond just a group of players in the same uniform, a team really is a community. From the star player, to the last man on the bench, to the cheerleaders, to the bus driver, everyone has a role and everyone contributes to the group in their own way. Last night, the fans in Oklahoma City did their part to cheer their Thunder to a W.

Photo courtesy of Royce Young/@dailythunder