Camp lets disabled kids swing for fences at Fenway Park

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Saturday, July 19, 2008
By BRYAN ROY

[The back story: One of the most emotional stories I've had to cover, watching these disabled kids live their dream on the ballpark I also grew up dreaming about. It appeared on A1 of the Sunday Republican]

BOSTON – Chris E. Kindness dug his heels into the Fenway Park batter’s box he holds sacred, and awaited a pitch from Boston Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan.

The 12-year-old approached the plate having already earned the nickname, “Power House,” for hitting a ball so hard that the stitches unthreaded earlier this season.

Now he stood on the same soil as his powerful hero, David Ortiz, with hopes of clearing the Green Monster. His father, Christopher J. Kindness, could only stand in the shadows and absorb the atmosphere with a sense of awe.

“Unbelievable,” Christopher Kindness said. “I can’t believe coming through the tunnels, and I can feel the chills. Coming out and just feeling the stadium underneath your feet – it’s something you know you’ll never be able to do again the rest of your life.

“Words can’t describe it for us,” the dad added.

Chris Kindness may never be featured in Sports Illustrated for his baseball career, but for one special summer afternoon, the Chicopee boy lived a front-cover dream by taking part in the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camp. The afternoon camp on July 12 gave Chris and 14 other Western Massachusetts kids with disabilities, along with their families, a chance to swing for a home run in on-field batting practice, too. None of the balls cleared the fence, but just being there brought together a Major League Baseball dream.

The Sunshine Challenger Eagles, of Chicopee, a team composed of children with physical and developmental disabilities, was one of seven teams selected from across New England to participate. The CVS Caremark All Kids Baseball Camps focus on helping children with disabilities to learn, play and succeed in life.

“One of our kids just came up to me, and he said, ‘Thank you so much for the best surprise of my life,’” said Eagles coach Kathy A. Dupuis, of Chicopee. “(Billy M. Bredenbeck) is one that doesn’t normally like surprises. They’re still in a state of shock, but they’re just still very excited.”

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Bayless focused on new business world

Bryan Roy's experience in Reporting | Be the First to Comment

By: Bryan Roy
Issue date: 7/2/08 Section: Sports

[The back story: The drive to New York City began at 7 a.m. I returned to Springfield, Mass., at 2 a.m. It was worth it.]

NEW YORK – Jerryd Bayless always handled basketball at Arizona with an all-business approach, focused on ultimately reaching the professional level.

Formal wear became Bayless’ signature pregame attire during his one-year tenure in Tucson, consistently dressing to maintain the professional affect – even off the court as a college athlete with a dream.

But although Bayless captured that goals on June 26 – he was selected as a lottery pick in the guard-heavy 2008 NBA Draft – the former one-and-done UA guard still has unfinished business.

“When (Bayless) steps on the court, it’s all about business,” said UA forward Jordan Hill. “I know he’s ready for the NBA. He’s gonna go out there and handle his business.”

The Phoenix native landed in Portland after originally earning the 11th overall selection in Madison Square Garden. Bayless, sent to Portland as part of a five-player deal, spent the months prior as a unanimous top-five pick in mock drafts.

Not until days before the draft did speculation begin around his slipping stock, potentially dropping outside the top-10 to compensate the rising interest in former UCLA guard Russell Westbrook, who was selected fourth overall.

With his drop to 11th, Bayless became re-motivated to prove wrong those 10 teams that passed him up.

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