Special Olympians hoop with Ags
Before Tuesday afternoon’s annual USU Special Olympics game, 24-year-old Richard Morgan pulled his black socks – Christmas socks with reindeer on them – up to the middle of his shins.
His purple shorts were just that, short a la John Stockton, and probably clashed with his yellow and blue tennis shoes, but Morgan didn’t seem to mind. He was just playing basketball and the heat was the only thing really bothering him.
“It was fun,” Morgan said of the game. “But it’s very hot outside.”
The Special Olympians combined with both Aggie men and women basketball players Tuesday and were divided into two squads – the Lakers and the Head Busters. The two teams faced off on a chalk-outlined court behind the Taggart Student Center.
Morgan’s mother, Marie Morgan, said she couldn’t be happier with the Aggie athletes or Special Olympics program.
“I think it’s so great that the Aggie players come,” she said. “And they’re so good to [the olympians]. They’re not rough. They’re not competitive. They help them. I just think it’s great.”
Olympian Chris Fox led the way for the Lakers with 14 points, including the game’s first eight. He also finished with five steals and four rebounds – unofficially.
Fox, like most of the other athletes who competed in Tuesday’s game, also participates in other programs the Special Olympics offers.
“I like [basketball],” Fox said, “but my favorite is soccer. In the spring our team won a silver medal [for soccer].”
In the fall, Morgan said he plays basketball, but he also competes in volleyball, soccer and snowshoeing. He could not, however, pick his favorite.
“I like all the sports I like to participate in,” Morgan said.
“He could be a politician,” his mother said of his response.
In his first year over the basketball game, director of the Special Olympics program Greg Morris said he was pleased with the event.
“This is probably the funnest thing we do all year round,” Morris said. “The athletes are just so involved and so ready to get out here every year. They love it. They love meeting the new players and I’m sure the campus loves meeting the new basketball players too.”
Athletes who played in Tuesday’s matchup included: David Pak, Tracee Kennington, Camille Brox, Marques Crane, Tai Wesley and Jaycee Carroll, who was pulled by teammates after missing his third dunk attempt of the afternoon.
“The rims are a little higher than they look,” Carroll said laughing. “It’s a lot of fun to get our here and just play around.”
Carroll said playing in the game was as much fun for the Utah State atheletes as it was for the Olympians and was glad he had the opportunity to participate.
“I think it means a lot,” Carroll said. “[The olympians] get to see us playing big games in big arenas. And here we are right with them. We get to play with them and put our arms around them. I think it’s just a good time.”
Morgan, who finished the game with six points, said he and other olympians are improving their game every week through Special Olympic practices.
The Lakers won 42-41 – unofficially.
-acf@cc.usu.edu