Players, patients benefit from visit
By Chris Kennedy, The Rebublican
SPRINGFIELD - An undefeated team with playing basketball and
winning a national championship on its mind was mesmerized
yesterday morning by a 16-month-old named Jonathan as well as a
couple other new friends they made.
The Bentley College men's basketball team, which plays the
University of North Alabama in a Division II national quarterfinal
tonight at the MassMutual Center, took a tour of the Springfield
Shriners Hospital before signing autographs and handing out
T-shirts to several patients.
The visit to the facility, which is staffed and equipped to handle
pediatric orthopedic conditions and disorders, was part of the
community outreach portion of Elite Eight week.
Senior guard Yusuf Abdul-Ali of Springfield knew of the hospital,
but yesterday marked his first visit.
"I never knew they did all this for the kids," he said. "I like
this. If I ever volunteered or something, I would definitely come
here. This is a great place."
Lee Freniere of the hospital's public relations staff gave the
tour, which included several video presentations as well as a
meet-and-greet with several youngsters. The players seemed to
impress their hosts, but not as much as they were impressed by
those they met.
"It's unbelievable just how much they are enjoying themselves even
though they are in a tough situation," junior guard Lew Finnegan
said. "It's a great to see this place.
"It's impressive to see the type of work they are doing. Just
watching how they helped a girl (with cerebral palsy) go from
walking so awkwardly to walking normally. It was definitely
inspiring."
Abdul-Ali said the visit made him feel grateful to be able to play
basketball and also humbled him by what others endure.
"It makes you just think about things," he said. "You see them with
how hard it is, yet they are smiling and everything. It's just a
great thing."
Bentley coach Jay Lawson said he thought the trip provided a
certain perspective, one that he felt his team appreciated.
"We want to win a game (tonight)," he said, "but I think this also
reminds you how lucky you are to be able to play sports. I felt
like these (Bentley) guys are a great group. They are great around
kids, and it's very impressive the work that gets done here."