SportsCenter My Wish

[KevinmH9]

Anybody been watching these this year? Yeah, I know they've been doing them every summer over the past several years, but I've been watching them this year, and I can honestly say that I haven't been able to keep a dry eye during any of them.

With all the unoptimistic news in the world today, it's pretty cool to see stories like these.

 

[shockey]

Re: SportCenter My Wish

yup.

 

[BYH]

The Chris Paul one absolutely blew me away. I could not believe how kind he was to the kid with whom he was playing. At lunch, Paul was asking all sorts of questions about how and when he got sick, and on the ride back from their lunch, Paul told the kid he was tougher than anyone he knew. Wow.

I IMd a friend of mine who covers the NBA and asked him if Paul was a good guy. He said he is, without any doubt at all, one of the very best in the league. He definitely won me over the other night.

 

[Gutter]

The Chris Paul one absolutely blew me away. I could not believe how kind he was to the kid with whom he was playing. At lunch, Paul was asking all sorts of questions about how and when he got sick, and on the ride back from their lunch, Paul told the kid he was tougher than anyone he knew. Wow.

I IMd a friend of mine who covers the NBA and asked him if Paul was a good guy. He said he is, without any doubt at all, one of the very best in the league. He definitely won me over the other night.

WFW.

Having met and worked with Chris Paul personally through my work at a previous employer, he is genuinely that way. He is that engaging even when the cameras are not rolling.

However, I'm sure his "critics" will throw out the below-the-belt shot against Hodge a few years ago and label him an asshole. Whatever.

 

[Big Circus]

The Chris Paul one absolutely blew me away. I could not believe how kind he was to the kid with whom he was playing. At lunch, Paul was asking all sorts of questions about how and when he got sick, and on the ride back from their lunch, Paul told the kid he was tougher than anyone he knew. Wow.

I IMd a friend of mine who covers the NBA and asked him if Paul was a good guy. He said he is, without any doubt at all, one of the very best in the league. He definitely won me over the other night.

WFW.

Having met and worked with Chris Paul personally through my work at a previous employer, he is genuinely that way. He is that engaging even when the cameras are not rolling.

However, I'm sure his "critics" will throw out the below-the-belt shot against Hodge a few years ago and label him an asshole. Whatever.

The story about him setting the scoring record in high school after his grandfather's murder is heartbreaking.

 

[Gutter]

The Chris Paul one absolutely blew me away. I could not believe how kind he was to the kid with whom he was playing. At lunch, Paul was asking all sorts of questions about how and when he got sick, and on the ride back from their lunch, Paul told the kid he was tougher than anyone he knew. Wow.

I IMd a friend of mine who covers the NBA and asked him if Paul was a good guy. He said he is, without any doubt at all, one of the very best in the league. He definitely won me over the other night.

WFW.

Having met and worked with Chris Paul personally through my work at a previous employer, he is genuinely that way. He is that engaging even when the cameras are not rolling.

However, I'm sure his "critics" will throw out the below-the-belt shot against Hodge a few years ago and label him an asshole. Whatever.

The story about him setting the scoring record in high school after his grandfather's murder is heartbreaking.

Definitely ... scored 61 points to match his grandfather's age at his death (missing a FT on an and-1 on purpose to finish at 61):

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3387106&categoryid=2459788

 

[Mizzougrad96]

The Paul story was a great one. They bat about .200 on these, but that one was great.

 

[Smash Williams]

Bumping because this year's series starts today, and one of the kids featured is from my area. I volunteer with MaW, and I worked with one of the wishgranters who helped put together his wish on another kid's wish. She's convinced it's going to be a full 30 minute special because of how much they filmed.

I haven't had a kid with a sports wish yet, but one kid's backup wish cracked me up - a teenage boy wanted to be the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs because "they need the help."

Yeah, the packages are summer filler and schmaltz and filled with tinkly piano music. And I'm sure we've all heard similar stories from other sports teams. But it's so meaningful to these kids, and I've enjoyed them a lot more since I got involved with the organization from the inside.

 

[service_gamer]

I've only seen the promo spots for them, but did one kid choose to hang out with LaDainiana Tomlinson? What, did he send the paperwork in three years ago?

 

[Deeper_Background]

I haven't had a kid with a sports wish yet, but one kid's backup wish cracked me up - a teenage boy wanted to be the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs because "they need the help."

Yeah, the packages are summer filler and schmaltz and filled with tinkly piano music. And I'm sure we've all heard similar stories from other sports teams. But it's so meaningful to these kids, and I've enjoyed them a lot more since I got involved with the organization from the inside.

He couldn't be any worse than Brody Croyle, I say give him a shot!

 

[mustangj17]

I've only seen the promo spots for them, but did one kid choose to hang out with LaDainiana Tomlinson? What, did he send the paperwork in three years ago?

Ron Dayne was the first choice, but he was busy.

 

[CR19]

At least Tiger Woods couldn't do one of these things. Can't say the same about Ben Roethlisberger, unfortunately.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

We Raider fans have so few reasons to smile regarding our team. This is one.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5389690&categoryid=3286128

 

[Shaggy]

I love that ESPN does these. They should do twice as many and cut the "Who's more Now" feature or whatever they decide to do this summer.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

I love that ESPN does these. They should do twice as many and cut the "Who's more Now"

That's NOW, man! That's real NOW!"

 

[Mizzougrad96]

ESPN's July programming is always the network at its worst.

I must admit some of these get to me, but how can you trust it? Any athlete can look like the world's greatest guy when the cameras are following them around while they're spending the day with a sick kid.

 

[CR19]

ESPN's July programming is always the network at its worst.

I must admit some of these get to me, but how can you trust it? Any athlete can look like the world's greatest guy when the cameras are following them around while they're spending the day with a sick kid.

True. Just think of Ben Roethlisberger. He spent a day with a kid, and he seemed to be an excellent person. However, we all know what he's really like nowadays.

 

[mustangj17]

ESPN's July programming is always the network at its worst.

I must admit some of these get to me, but how can you trust it? Any athlete can look like the world's greatest guy when the cameras are following them around while they're spending the day with a sick kid.

True. Just think of Ben Roethlisberger. He spent a day with a kid, and he seemed to be an excellent person. However, we all know what he's really like nowadays.

That would be a great my wish:

"Hey little Jimmy, have you ever raped a girl in a bathroom?" Well let me sign this Pittsburgh Steelers condom for you and go do your thing. Afterward we will ride our motorcycles without helmets and head to the golf course to pee on trees."

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Early in my career I made the mistake of following an athlete to a charity/hospital visit. I was trying to do a feature on him and was trying to get some time with him away from the ballpark and I went with him to a hospital where he signed a bunch of baseballs for kids. I thought he was a little quick with them, but gave him the benefit of the doubt. After he left we were riding down the elevator and he looked at me and said, "Get me the **** out of here..."

For every Warrick Dunn, there are about 20 who do it only for the cameras.