The Pros met the Joes last Tuesday as the Oklahoma City Blazers took on the Oklahoma Blaze junior wheelchair basketball team for a competition benefiting the Blaze organization.
The annual match has been held between the two teams for almost a decade and activities include a silent auction to benefit the Blaze team and its members.
'Mighty' Marty Standish is no stranger to this game. This was the Blazers' star center's seventh time to participate in the match.
"I think it's a fun promotion, and it really gives back to the community," Standish said.
"As athletes, participating in something like this shows us how truly lucky we are to be able to do what we do."
The Blaze are members of the Greater Oklahoma Disabled Sports Association, which was organized in 1983 as a non-profit group. The GODSA's mission is to sponsor and promote recreational and competitive sports for youth who require the use of a wheelchair.
Dana Cutter, president of the GODSA Parent Association, stresses that no tax-supported or public school athletic programs exist for these young people. Cutter said the average basketball wheelchair costs approximately $3,000, and the kids tend to outgrow them quickly.
Margaret Kierl, one of the Blaze coaches, said that other than paying for them on their own, one of the only other options for these families is to apply for assistance through the Challenged Athlete Foundation.
"Even this can be tricky," Kierl said. "Because each family can only apply once every two years."
Blaze team members Colin Cutter and Adam Saldana each proved to be valuable commodities throughout the game. Both boys have played GODSA sports since age four, and now at age 16, the pair are well-seasoned athletes.
"I've always played basketball, tennis, and track and field," said Saldana, who is also a member of the Putnam City High School swim team.
"We have grown up around this, so it's just like the sports that anyone else would play," said Cutter, a sophomore at Piedmont High School. "It's just what we like and what we do," he said.
Both Cutter and Saldana have made fantastic qualifying times in various events at meets across the state and country. They have both competed in the Endeavor Games, held annually at the University of Central Oklahoma each summer.
"I get really frustrated when people ask me how I did at the Special Olympics; they don't seem to understand there is a difference between physically disabled sports and mentally disabled sports," Cutter said.
Saldana and Cutter are hoping to be invitational guests of the U.S. Paralympics Team as they compete in Beijing later this year at the Olympics.
At the beginning of Tuesday's game, the Blazers were energetic, although their tactics were unrefined. While the Blazers were just getting the hang of the wheelchairs, Blaze player Shad Isaac flew around the court like a pinball.
As the first half drew to a close, the Blaze's points started to add up. Isaac and his teammates continued to turn up the heat.
At one point, Blazers' wing DJ Jelitto tried for a shot, but is denied by Isaac, who took a spill in the collision. Isaac quickly rolled over and back onto his wheels without assistance, earning his team two foul shots.
Blazers' forward Erick Lizon took a dive seconds later - although not nearly as gracefully - with arms and legs flailing in all directions.
Going into the second half, the Blaze led 32 to 20 and showed no mercy to the Blazers, who by then had decided to add an extra man to the court. With another player on the hardwood, utter lawlessness ensued. Wheels spun as Blazer's defenseman Tyler Harder grabbed onto the back of Cutter's chair as he sped by with the ball.
As the final whistle blew, cheers erupted from the crowd and laughter from the players, but to no avail for the mischievous Blazers. The final score was 36 - 26 in favor of the Blaze.
Afterwards, members of both teams took a group photograph and the Blazers signed autographs.
"Some of us might take our ability for granted, but then we see these wonderful kids who can still have fun, and it makes you both thankful and happy," said Standish.
Be the first to comment on this article!