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Many professional basketball players want
to be coaches when their careers conclude. For years, they have looked
to their coaches for advice on shooting, rebounding and passing, but they
have also looked to them for confidence, inspiration and motivation. After
their playing days are over, they want to contribute something back to
the sport that gave them so much.
The Sting players didn't have to wait until their WNBA careers ended to
get the opportunity to coach on Monday, Aug. 7 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
Along with Sting Head Coach Muggsy Bogues and Assistant Coach Earl Cureton,
the players served as coaches at a Special Olympics clinic at the Presbyterian
Training Center.
Approximately 50 Special Olympics athletes from Moore County, Mecklenburg
County and Rowan County rotated through five basketball skills stations,
including shooting, rebounding, defense, ball handling and passing. Each
station was staffed by at least two Sting players, so everybody got to
meet and interact with each other.
"Being a professional athlete is about being able to extend yourself
to the community and brighten someone's day, and I think we did that,"
guard Allison Feaster said. "One young woman had my jersey on, and
she was such an excited fan. It means a lot to be able to teach her skills,
both basketball and otherwise."
Bogues was a favorite among the Special Olympics participants, and everyone
in attendance ran to hug him when he entered the room. With an ear-to-ear
grin, Bogues hugged and talked to everyone before they were organized
into groups to begin the skills stations.
"That was a great feeling," Bogues said of his warm welcome.
"I've been working with some of them for quite some time, and it's
good to see them continue to grow. They teach me that you can't take anything
for granted, and we are all blessed in our own ways."
Throughout the clinic, Bogues went around the court, talking and laughing
with all the athletes and thoroughly enjoying himself.
"This is a treat for us as well as them," Bogues said. "The
players really enjoy working with Special Olympics, and the athletes get
really excited about coming here, participating and doing drills. It's
a mutual feeling, which is what makes it so special."
Andrea Stinson, a Sting guard from 1997-2004 and current community ambassador
for the organization, also received a warm welcome from the participants.
"This is just great," Stinson said. "I'm honored that they
know and appreciate me like this. I've seen and worked with them before,
but to have them all together and be able to hang out really makes me
smile."
The players said that they tried to teach the Special Olympics athletes
more than a specific basketball technique.
"We just have fun with them," guard Helen Darling said. "It's
beneficial just to interact with them and put a smile on their faces.
We let them play one-on-one with us, and they'll be the talk of the town
all day because of it. It's a great opportunity from both sides."
Bob Bowler, a 23-year Special Olympics volunteer and coordinator of the
Mecklenburg county basketball program, appreciates the time and effort
that the Sting organization put forth to make this event a success.
"It's a great opportunity for Special Olympics athletes to come and
show off their skills, while also learning new skills from some of the
best in the world," Bowler said. "These players are coaching
basketball, but they are also teaching these athletes to believe in themselves."
Each player brought their own personal touch to the station they were
coaching. Forward Tangela Smith, forward Sheri Sam and center Tye'sha
Fluker coached shooting technique, but they also taught them a dance move
to perform after a made shot or a great play. The loudest laughs were
coming from their station, as the athletes would be the most enthusiastic
about receiving an impromptu dance lesson from Smith.
"We just wanted to put fun into it," Smith said. "That's
what this is all about - having fun and being yourself."
Feaster realizes the importance that the Sting players have on the Special
Olympics athletes, and she hopes that the clinic will serve as inspiration
to strive for greatness in anything that the athletes do.
"We all carry ourselves in a very positive way," Feaster said
about herself and her teammates. "We have a lot of energy, and we
are very motivating people. Hopefully they can use those skills in their
everyday lives."
"I hope the Special Olympics athletes realize that people care about
them," Bogues said. "I want them to know they can believe and
achieve anything they choose. This event gives them an opportunity to
really believe in themselves, and that's a wonderful thing."
Bowler knows that the Special Olympics athletes had an enjoyable afternoon,
and they will cherish these memories forever.
"They've been calling me every day for the past three weeks excited
about the clinic, and they'll be talking about this for months to come,"
he said. "Tomorrow the first thing they will ask me is when they
are going to be able to come back."
Nominate a person to be featured in "Spotlight On"
-Contact Leah Sundheim at 1-800-843-6276,
ext. 110.
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