bigbadwolf Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 I found this on USA Today. `It's yours, little man': Seahawk Matt Hasselbeck puts the cherry on top of a young cancer survivor's Make-A-Wish experience April 04, 2006 SEATTLE -- Sometimes, wishes do come true. And, sometimes, they turn out to be a whole lot better than anyone could imagine. Eight-year-old Jeffery Baker, a third-grader at Bellevue's Cherry Crest Elementary School, knew when he came to Safeco Field on Monday for the Seattle Mariners' season opener that he would run the bases and yell ``Play ball!'' to officially open the 2006 season, courtesy of the Mariners and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. But what Jeffery wanted more than anything was to meet his favorite Mariner, center fielder Jeremy Reed. And when Jeffery got to home plate after his run, Reed and pitcher Joel Pineiro greeted him with high-fives and hugs. That, as it turned out, was just the first surprise for Jeffery, because if meeting Reed was cool, meeting Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was even better. As Hasselbeck was introduced along with a handful of Seahawks teammates before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, he stopped to shake hands with Jeffery. He then removed his black leather coat with a Super Bowl XL logo emblazoned on it, and asked the youngster to hang on to it until he was finished. When Jeffery tried to give the coat back as the Seahawks left the field, Hasselbeck shook his head and said, ``It's yours, little man.'' Turns out, Hasselbeck had read about Jeffery's battle with cancer and his wish to meet Reed in the Journal during the weekend, and he'd decided to make the young man's day a little more special by giving him a special souvenir. ``What a neat kid,'' Hasselbeck told reporters. Asked why he gave Jeffery the coat, he replied, ``It wasn't going to fit (Richie) Sexson (the Mariners' 6-foot-8 first baseman),'' though he acknowledged it will be a while before Jeffery grows into it. Jeffery was diagnosed in October with Hodgkin's lymphoma, but after four surgeries and four months of chemotherapy, his cancer is in remission. During one of Jeffery's visits to Children's Hospital, an oncologist suggested to his parents that Jeffery be enrolled in the Make-A-Wish program. They agreed, and Jeffery wrote in a letter that his wish was to meet Reed. The letter prompted Make-A-Wish officials to select Jeffery, in what has become an annual tradition at Safeco Field, to run the bases on opening day. Dressed in an official Mariners uniform with his name and No. 13 on his back, Jeffery was an opening-day celebrity, giving interviews to both television and radio reporters. He then set off on his ceremonial run, hustling around the infield to the theme music from the movie ``Forrest Gump,'' waving to the cheering crowd each time he stepped on a base. When he got to home plate, Reed and Pineiro were waiting for him. It was difficult to determine just who had the bigger grin, Jeffery or Reed. Reed, who said last week that he was touched by the letter Jeffery wrote to him, said he was glad to finally meet Jeffery: ``It was a special moment, and I was glad he was able to do it. He deserved it. But he didn't know what to say (when he got to home plate).'' Though the young fan and his favorite player exchanged words during their meeting, Jeffery was so stunned by the moment that he later couldn't remember what Reed told him. Asked if he thought Reed was happy to see him, Jeffery said, ``I think so.'' Asked if he was glad to finally meet Reed, he replied, ``Yeah!'' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheezhed Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 that's what it's all about.............it's a game.........for the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 It's nice to see a story about an athlete doing something right for a change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hat Trick Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 Very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake_the_builder Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 My hat goes off for Hass, giving up his OWN time for a kid, KUDOS!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 There's a lot more of this than we see. It's just that the morans, thugs and egomaniacs hog the spotlight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 There's a lot more of this than we see. It's just that the morans, thugs and egomaniacs hog the spotlight. 1405786[/snapback] That's right. And the ones complaining the loudest get more press than real people helping their communties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyalboyd Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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