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  Andy
Holland's baseline jumper sank through just before the buzzer sounded.
It may have lacked proper form, but it didn't matter.
The Bobcats hosted Holland and approximately 85 Special Olympics athletes
for an hour on Tuesday, Jan. 23, putting on a brief basketball clinic
for a faction of Charlotte's most enthusiastic and loyal fans.
The Bobcats dispersed into six groups of three players each and tutored
the excited crowd in all facets of the game. Still sweating and fatigued
after an hour and ½ hour practice, the Charlotte 15-man roster
and assistants shared basic skills along with the game's inner secrets.
Raymond Felton showcased how to execute a quick crossover to get past
a defender. Emeka Okafor had participants outwardly growling when they
hauled in a rebound before laying the ball in.
"It's a great experience and something they look forward to the whole
year," said Bob Bowler, a 25-year volunteer with the Special Olympics.
"It's a lifelong experience for them because they get a chance to
actually be up close the best players in the world. They can learn new
skills and show the pros how they can play."
And they showed they had some game.
Holland, without a shy bone in his 22-year-old stocky frame, taunted Felton
into a quick one-on-one. Sporting a No. 50 baby blue University of North
Carolina jersey that Felton was partial to, Holland, diagnosed with Down
Syndrome, posted up the 6-1 point guard and hurled an awkward turnaround
that he willed through the net.
Never mind that Felton didn't have an offensive retort. Holland already
had his claim to fame, simply adding, "I did good. I beat him."
Felton had little to say in his defense.
"It's all fun. Kids like this are less fortunate than I am - they
can't do some of the things I can do, some of the things we all can do,"
Felton said. "You get a chance to have fun with them, make them smile.
It's a good thing."
The clinic, in its third year, was coordinated by the Bobcats community
relations department. Hosting the Special Olympians, who represented eight
North and South Carolina counties, is another way the Charlotte franchise
continues to build a rapport with its surrounding areas.
"Community is very, very important to our organization and this is
a part of it," said Dell Curry, who serves as director of player
development. "We'll continue to build bridges to reach out to the
community and show them that it's not just about basketball. It's about
relationships in the community. This is a great way to do that."
Matt Carroll, who assisted first-year Bobcats forward Walter Herrmann
in teaching shooting techniques, echoed Curry's sentiments, saying the
experience was equally rewarding for the players.
"We're trying to reach out the community, but stuff like this when
we get to bond with them, spend some time with them and just seeing the
excitement in their face," he said. "We get just as excited
as they do when they hit a basket."
Onlookers to the Presbyterian Hospital Training Facility were impressed
with the Bobcats willingness to host the clinic in the midst of a stressful
82-game season.
"It says a lot," said 32-year old John Tsumas, whose younger
brother, George was a participant. "These kids look up to them whether
the players realize it or not. They're special in their eyes. Just by
them taking the time out of their day and giving up of themselves when
they don't have to…they're making lifelong fans. Every one of these
kids are going to be an Emeka Okafor or Sean May or Raymond Felton fan
from here on out, and a lot of that has to do with being able to see them
on the court."
Other participants weren't so busy honing their fundamentals, as they
were happily star struck by the Bobcats, old and new.
"Even five years ago when I played, the kids still remember that,"
Curry said, who participated as a player in a similar event when the New
Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets were still in Charlotte. "They recognized
that I was a player even though I'm a little older and little heavier
now. It just goes to show you once the kids interact with the players
and become familiar and adapt to a player, it's a lifelong fan not only
for that player, but the franchise as well."
"These athletes are tremendous Bobcats fans as well. They watch games
and are very up to speed on what's going on. And they're probably the
most excited fans you're going to have."
In what have may have been a slight role reversal, Carroll, who stayed
until every autograph and picture request was granted, realized how inspirational
the Special Olympians turned out to be.
"I think when one of them hits a shot and comes up and gives you
a hug, it means a lot. It feels like you've known them a lot longer than
just a couple of minutes."
Bowler, a full-time Special Olympics volunteer and coordinator of the
Mecklenburg County basketball program understands the greater importance
of what transpired on Tuesday.
"Our athletes are very loving, caring and sharing," he said.
"When they make friends, they're friends for life."
The tips and encouragement the Bobcats players provided will serve the
Special Olympics athletes well as many of them prepare to compete in the
2007 Special Olympics North Carolina Basketball & Cheerleading Tournament
in Cabarrus County, Feb. 23-25.
Nominate an athlete to be featured in an Athlete Spotlight.
Contact Leah Sundheim, at 1-800-843-6276, ext. 110. Click here
for past Spotlights.
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