By Tom Scott
MLB All-Star Fanfest
The United Spinal Mets and Yankees wheelchair softball teams participated in the 2006 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Fanfest in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Spinal players joined representatives from other wheelchair softball teams from across the country, hosting clinics and exhibitions games for the thousands of fans in attendance.
“United Spinal is excited to be affiliated with MLB and its 2006 community initiative. Having a chance to participate in Fanfest activities each year only furthers our mission of getting more MLB teams to support wheelchair softball,” said Victor Calise, United Spinal director of sports marketing.
As part of its initiative, MLB grants wheelchair softball teams the rights to use certain trademarks of professional baseball teams such as primary logos. Recently, the Baltimore Orioles have begun sponsoring a local team called the Metro Stars. United Spinal hopes these types of sponsorships will continue to grow and bring more recognition to wheelchair athletes nationwide.
United Spinal players joined representatives from other wheelchair softball teams from across the country at the MLB All-Star Fanfest in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Navigators Participate in 2006 National Junior Disability Championships
Nine athletes from the United Spinal Navigators, between the ages of 8 and 17 from the New York and New Jersey area, participated in the 2006 National Junior Disability Championships (NJDC) in Tampa, Florida, on July 22 to July 29. The event was a week-long multi-disability national championship for athletes with physical disabilities who qualified under Wheelchair Sports USA, National Disability Sports Alliance, Disabled Sports USA, U.S. Association for Blind Athletes, and the Dwarf Athletic Association. The sports contested included track, field, pentathlon, swimming, archery, table tennis, weightlifting, 3 on 3 basketball, and boccia. Athletes are classified according to their abilities and must meet qualifying standards according to classification and age division. International teams are invited, and a “dual medal” system is employed.
The United Spinal Navigators is a wheelchair sports team promoting excellence and developing opportunities in wheelchair sports for people with disabilitiesbetween the ages of 5 to 21 years old. The Navigators compete in track, field, table tennis, swimming, and road racing. Their mission is to provide disabled athletes with opportunities to train, participate and excel in wheelchair sports for regional and national competitions. The Navigators’ main goal is to build the foundation that will enable disabled athletes to excel in wheelchair sports and give these young athletes an opportunity to reach their ultimate goal—to qualify and compete in future Paralympics Games.
DAM2DAM Thumbs Up! Bike Tour
It was November 17, 1991, the Detroit Lions had scored in a crucial game against the Los Angeles Rams. Mike Utley felt he was invincible at 6′ 6″ and 315 pounds. He was at the top of his game, a champion, and thrilled to be doing what he loved: playing football. Utley was attempting to throw a block during a pass play when he went down. He knew immediately that something was wrong. An eerie silence descended over the stadium as Utley lay there motionless. When they wheeled him off the field, Utley gave the crowd a thumbs up to let them know that he would return. Mike Utley, #60, was paralyzed. Utley’s courageous thumbs up has come to symbolize his fighting spirit. In his own fight to walk again, he has focused all of his energies helping others with spinal cord injuries. The Mike Utley Foundation was founded in January 1992 and is committed to providing financial support for rehabilitation, education and research for spinal cord related injuries.
The DAM2DAM Thumbs Up bike tour, which takes place September 30, will move us closer to our ultimate goal of finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. All registered riders will receive a bike tour jacket, goodie bag, refreshments at rest stops and a Bikers BBQ at the finish line.
For more information, please visit www.mikeutley.org/biketour.html.
Rangers Youth Hockey Camp Clinics
The United Spinal Rangers sled hockey team recently held two clinics during the New York Rangers Youth Hockey Camp at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, New York. Players from the United Spinal Rangers demonstrated the sport of sled hockey to camp participants, ages 7 to 15 and hosted exhibition games that offered the kids an opportunity to gear up and try out the sleds for themselves. Representatives from the New York Rangers, including Adam Graves, also participated.
“We thank the Rangers for inviting us back to participate in their youth hockey camp. We feel privileged to have the opportunity to educate over 100 youths not only on sled hockey, but also on spinal cord injury and disorders,” said Billy Hannigan, a member of the United Spinal Rangers.
Tom Scott is staff editor.
