U.S. PARALYMPIC SOCCER IN THE PRESS
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Penn Plays Soccer at World Paralympic Games

Oct 28, 2009

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KEENE, N.H. 10/27/09 - Just over 1,250 freshmen enrolled at Keene State College this fall. Many of these students brought to campus a special athletic talent that provides them the unique opportunity to play varsity sports.

Tyler Penn will never play soccer on the Keene State men's soccer team, but few will argue that the freshman from Manchester, N.H., doesn't possess the same drive and determination to excel in the sport. Born with cerebral palsy, a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination, Tyler subscribes to the theory that he can do anything he sets his mind on doing.

Penn is currently fulfilling one of his goals as a member of the U.S. Paralympic soccer team. He is spending two weeks playing at the World Paralympic Games in Amsterdam. He said it was hard staying focused prior to leaving for the games, but pronounced himself fit and ready to go. "You don't get a chance to represent your country too often, so hopefully I can make a contribution and make my team and family proud of me," he said.

Regardless of the outcome, Penn doesn't have to worry about pleasing his family: parents David and Donna, twin brother Kenny, and sister Elizabeth (a second-semester sophomore at Keene State).

"I'm just thrilled for him," said David, a career member of the armed forces, who has been deployed to Iraq twice. "He's just a great kid who doesn't take life for granted."

"Just to see the glow in his face when he wears the U.S. Paralympic soccer windbreaker is priceless," said Donna. "For us, it's an honor that he's representing the country, just like his father."

Tyler's ability to overcome adversity was evident right from the moment he was born. Three months premature, he wasn't expected to survive and was given last rites. "Everybody has to overcome an obstacle, and Tyler has certainly done that," said Donna. "He teaches me something every day. If there's a door shut, he will open it."

Enduring countless hours of physical and speech therapy, Tyler, at the age 13, underwent major surgery. He had a rod put his left hip, turning his torso and extending his hamstring and quad muscles. "Through it all, Tyler has always been Tyler. He has never thrown in the towel," said Donna. "He's always been smiling, determined, and focused."

"Tyler never feels sorry for himself because of his disability," said David. "He looks at it as a challenge."

Sports became an outlet for Tyler. If there was a game being played in the neighborhood, Tyler would jump right in. He also played recreational soccer in Manchester and tried out for the Memorial High School golf team. "I got cut, but it was a learning experience," said Penn. "I took what I learned from that and became a better soccer player."

Tyler and Kenny were both inseparable and highly competitive growing up. "I just tried to keep up with him," said Tyler. "We pushed each other, and it paid off in the long run."

Ironically, Tyler first heard about paralympic sports when he and his family were attending a "Last Comic Standing" show, and comedian Josh Blue, who was also born with CP, referenced the games in his routine. Returning home, Tyler hit the web to investigate and take his best shot at earning a tryout.

A surprised Penn got a call from paralympic coach Jay Hoffman, who later sent out a representative to take a look at him playing in one of his recreational games. They liked what they saw and invited him out to the Olympic training site in Chula Vista, Calif. Knowing that he would have to be in top form to make the squad, Tyler enlisted his recreation soccer coach Jay O'Halloran to get him ready. "Tyler doesn't back down from anybody," said O'Halloran. "He wanted me to pick it up a notch and push him like he was going to get pushed at the camp."

A midfielder noted for his stamina, Penn likes to be creative on the field. "When the opportunity to score is there, I'll take it," he said. "But if someone has a better chance, I try to get him the ball. In my eyes, an assist is just as important as a goal." After a series of tryouts and scrimmages, Penn earned a spot in the player pool and was eventually selected to be on the 12-man squad that traveled to Amsterdam for the World Paralympic Games.

One of just three members of the team attending college, Penn kept in shape at KSC by hitting the weight room and playing pick-up games. Penn frequently knocks on doors in his dorm inquiring if anyone wants to go out and play soccer. "I don't tell them anything about me. It's good training for me, because they are all able-bodied," he said.

David says he gets daily updates about the championships from Tyler. Although the team lost its opening round games to Russia and Scotland and moved into the consolation bracket, he says his son is enjoying his stay in Amsterdam.

Tyler is the second Keene State student to represent Keene State at the Paralympic Games. Sabra Hawkes, a track runner, has competed in numerous international events, including the Paralympics in 2008.

Like Hawkes, Penn hopes that the Paralympic World Championships is just his first kick in international play. He understands that it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and doesn't take anything for granted - whether he's on the international stage in Amsterdam or just kicking the ball around the fields at Keene State. "I consider myself lucky every time I step on the soccer field," he said. "People ask me How do you go about living a normal life?' They don't understand. I might walk a little bit funny, but I'm just like anybody else. We can do anything they can do, sometimes even better."


Dille earns spot on U.S. Paralympic soccer team

BY LEEANN MOORE - STAFF WRITER - AUGUST 22, 2009

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McCONNELSVILLE -- After two weeks of intense training in California, a Morgan High School graduate is now a member of the U.S. Paralympic soccer team.

Seth Dille, a 2006 graduate of Morgan High School, spent the first two weeks of August practicing with other paralympic hopefuls.

He only learned Monday that he'd been chosen to be part of the team.

"I think it's awesome and an honor to be part of the team, and above all, it's a blessing to be part of the team," Dille said. "And I want to thank God for this opportunity."

The U.S. paralympic team competes in international tournaments such as the Pan American Championships, the World Championships and the World Cup. Games are played in two 30-minute halves and are open to all male athletes with cerebral palsy, a brain injury or history of stroke.

Dille was born with cerebral palsy and speech, occupational and physical therapy has always been part of his life, but so has sports. He works out daily, running and lifting weights. In high school, he participated in soccer and track and field all four years. Today he participates in local athletic events and helps coach football, basketball, soccer and track at the high school.

The cerebral palsy affects Seth's right arm and right leg mostly, causing him to walk with a slight limp. However, when he sprints, his mom, Jody, said you can hardly tell he has any kind of disability.

His dad, Mike, was the first to find out, over the phone, that Seth had made the team.

"The whole thing is amazing," Mike said. "He's on the team of players. The coach said she could see his speed and knowledge of the game being a huge asset to them in the future."

Seth suffered a setback that he worried would cost him his chance of making the team. During the first practice, he suffered from dehydrationand heat exhaustion, which forced him to spend three days in a hospital and take one day off.

"Sunday when I got up and got ready for practice and went out to practice, I felt a little tired and weak. I told coach I think I'm getting dehydrated, then went back out on the field to play soccer and then at that point I had no energy, so after practice the trainers came to look at me and then I ended up in the hospital," Seth said. "I was getting kind of worried because I got heat exhaustion and dehydrated."

After he was given a clean bill of health and the OK to hit the field again, he took one day off to recover from his hospital stay. When he returned to practice, he was rested and had regained strength. He made several goals at a scrimmage two days after his release.

On the plane ride home, by coincidence, he was seated among players of the major league soccer team FC Dallas. The team was flying in for its Aug. 15 game against the Columbus Crew.

Mike said Seth learned what he needs to improve while at training, and will continue to train at home.

"I just couldn't be any more proud of Seth for this accomplishment," said Mick Amicone, owner of The Fieldhouse. "I think Seth has got to be Zanesville, Muskingum County's first true olympian and it's just an absolute testament to what Seth has done since he first stepped on the soccer field many years ago."

Since 2005, Dille's junior year of high school, The Fieldhouse has awarded one recipient a year with the Seth Dille Courage in Athletics Award.

leemoore@nncogannett.com

740-450-6758


Paralympic Team Concludes Championship Training Camp

By: ussoccer.com
August 21, 2009

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CHULA VISTA, Calif. (Aug. 21, 2009)  The U.S. Paralympic National Soccer Team concluded resident training camp this month at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., in preparation for the Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association (CPISRA) International Football 7-a-side Championships to be held Oct. 20 through Nov. 1, 2009, in Arnhem, Netherlands. The team has been representing the U.S. on the soccer field for 25 years, and has participated in the Paralympics in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, before missing out on the Beijing games in 2008. They are now focused on getting back to the Paralympics in London 2012 and the tournament in Holland is an important step toward that goal. The team is led by head coach Jay Hoffman, whose credentials include being the former head coach of the Boston Breakers of the now defunct WUSA, and an assistant coach for the 1999 FIFA Women s World Cup champion U.S. Women s National Team.

Since taking the helm in 2003, Hoffman and his staff have remained busy. All of the technical and tactical instruction, team promotion, player scouting and recruitment duties are covered by a three-person staff: Hoffman, assistant coach Mike Haas, and team manager Dana Schoenwetter. All three have full-time jobs which they juggle on top of their Paralympic team commitments.

It has been all of that and more and will continue to be so until we can compete in the medal rounds on a consistent basis,  said Hoffman. We are always seeking ways to increase the awareness of the program, to anyone who will listen, which will hopefully result in the identification of more players and the development of an infrastructure that will serve us well into the future. 

Although the team is mostly unknown, there are a few recognizable names. Have you heard of basketball phenom Tyler Hansbrough? Tyler s older brother Greg participated in a recent training camp. How about comedian Josh Blue? He was the Season 4 winner of NBC's Last Comic Standing  and has earned over 20 international caps with the team.

Blue joined in 2003. There was a girl on the paralympic swim team and she saw me playing soccer,  said Josh. She said, you know there s a team for you right? You re really good!  So I emailed her contact and wrote I m Josh Blue, I m 22, and I m a damn good soccer player.  The guy wrote back That's great Josh, we re always looking for damn good soccer players!  I ve been a member ever since. 

But there are other players, lesser-known, whose stories are equally compelling. Like Joe Chavez, a student at Chula Vista s Southwestern Community College, who became the youngest on-campus club president, for students with disabilities, and represented his group in front of the California State Senate a few months ago. Jason Slemons, a Seattle-based computer specialist with a bachelor s degree, two masters degrees, and a Ph.D. in mathematics. Josh McKinney, the team s captain, has scored 50 goals in more than 70 international caps since 1995. Finally, there s Long Beach s Marthell Vazquez, who, despite a 10th place U.S. finish at the 2007 CPISRA International Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was named MVP of the tournament.

In addition to Chavez and Vasquez, there are two other southern California locals in the 25-member player pool: Chris Ahrens, a Scripps Ranch Adapted Physical Education (APE) teacher who recently relocated from New York to be closer to the training camps, and Moises Morales, a South Bay student and youth soccer coach who is one of five soccer-playing siblings.

People are surprised to learn this team has been around for over 25 years  which means it was conceived before 80 percent of its players.

In 1984, the same time the U.S. team was emerging on the scene, soccer debuted as a Paralympic sport. The Americans, however, did not first qualify for the event until the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The Paralympic Games itself are widely misunderstood. Often mistaken for the Special Olympics, the athletes struggle to showcase their skills while fighting societal stigmas.

Paralympic soccer differs from the traditional 11-a-side game. The game is played with seven players (six field players and a goalkeeper) in two 30-minute halves on a smaller field. The offside rule has been eliminated and under-arm throw-ins are permitted for participants unable to perform conventional overhead throw-ins.

To be eligible, players must be ambulatory and have a physical challenge from a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) or from having suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Players are classified (classes 5 through 8) according to the severity of their disability and the laws of the game restrict the number of each class allowed on the field at any given time.

Not only are we looking for the best players, we have to take their classification into consideration as well when we pick a roster,  said Schoenwetter. However, the larger our player pool grows, the easier that becomes. 

Despite the differences in the game, the players are motivated by the same things: a love of the game, a desire to win, and a chance to represent their country. But, they also have a unique opportunity  a self-imposed directive  to help people understand what the word disability  means, and what it doesn t mean.

"Playing on this team has given me opportunities that I dreamed about when I was younger  playing for a national team, and helping kids with similar disabilities." says McKinney. I can do anything if I work hard at it. 

That sentiment permeates the attitudes of these players. They all insist they are not disabled.

I can do anything you can do, I just might have to go about doing it differently.  said Ahrens. I have no regrets about having cerebral palsy because ultimately it has made me a better person. 

Overcoming obstacles only adds to an athlete s fighting spirit. Chavez underwent numerous corrective surgical procedures to help improve his mobility. He has now played as both forward and goalkeeper.

I have had multiple knee operations.  said Chavez. I ve been able to overcome re-learning how to walk at least five times through physical therapy. 

Playing for the U.S. has also helped Chavez away from the field. Being on this team has given me hope and faith. I m able to speak up for myself louder and stronger. I m very proud of myself for not giving up which has led me to represent the USA. 

With the Paralympic Games every four years, the team is always looking to deepen its player pool.

Although the team welcomes new talent, Blue puts it all into perspective. Try as hard as you can, unless you re trying for my position. 

For more information about eligibility and the classification of athletes, visit usparalympics.org.


Paralympian guards his goal
ABLE Club president doubles as goalie for United States men's national soccer team

By: Stacelyn Labio and Almendra Carpizo
The Southwestern College Sun newspaper
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Sports

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Good things do not necessarily come to those who wait. Instead of waiting around Southwestern College student Joe Chavez worked hard and stayed positive to reach his dream of becoming a member of the U.S. Men's Paralympic National Soccer Team.

After competing in a half-mile wheelchair marathon in 2005, 15-year-old Chavez was invited to a clinic by the team's head coach, Jay Hoffman.

"If it wasn't for that clinic I wouldn't have made it here," said Chavez.

Having to learn how to walk five times has not deterred him from chasing his dream of competing in the Paralympic Games and winning the gold.

Chavez was born with Cerebral Palsy and a club foot. He grew up wearing an ankle brace.

He endured five corrective surgeries and each time he had to relearn how to walk. Chavez took only six weeks to walk after his last surgery, but after his first surgery it took him just under a year.

Having to learn how to walk over and over again has made it easier, he said, and each time the recovery is quicker.

Despite the many challenges Chavez faces, he remains positive.

"That's what makes my journey amazing," he said. "I'm not the kind of person to give up. I'll never give up."

Soccer became a love when he was seven and has only grown since. He earned the nickname "The Speeding Bullet" by his coach and teammates at the Boys and Girls Club.

After his experience at the clinic, Chavez tried out for the Paralympic team in 2006 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Ca. He was among the 18 that made the team.

Chavez is currently training as goalie, but he used to play forward. He said he likes playing goalie because of his physical limitations.

"I think I'm one of the smallest goalies (at 5 feet 1 inch), but I'm fast," said Chavez.

Team manager Dana Shoenwetter agreed.

"He is extremely hard working," she said. "He's come a long way."

SWC classmates have benefited from his experiences, too. Chavez is president of the Abilities Beyond Limitation through Education Club (ABLE). Club adviser Robert Valerio introduced the program to Chavez when he was still attending Bonita Vista High School.

"Ever since I met (Valerio) we had a bond like no other," he said.

Chavez began taking classes at SWC as a BVH junior. He began his first full semester at SWC last fall and was elected ABLE president.

It was a huge step for Chavez, but he said he was discontent with the club.

"I want to help and provide them with information that will suit their needs." said Chavez.

Chavez said he seeks to better the lives of others who share his disabilities.

His mother Vicki Chavez is his motivation.

"She told me I'm her hero, and how often does a parent tell their son or daughter that they are their hero?" asked Chavez. "If it weren't for her none of this would be there. I dedicate most of my life to her."

Chavez also looks up to 21-year-old teammate Marthelle Vasquez, who plays forward on the soccer team and gives him tips to work on. Vasquez is a starter who has already traveled to Holland and Brazil in competition.

"He's a hard worker and he likes to strive for the best," said Vasquez. "He's a cool guy and a good teammate."

Chavez has played one international game against Canada at the Arco Olympic Training Center, but has yet to travel with the team. He said he plans on transferring to UC Berkeley and major in physical education. He said he wants to help others who have struggled through similar obstacles to overcome.

"I want to be an athletic trainer and personal therapist," said Chavez. "I would like to help individuals with disabilities because I have a disability and I know what it is like."

Just like the country music he likes to sing, Chavez said he wants his life to have meaning and be motivating. He said he wants to be somebody and inspire everyone around him, for people to look up to him and see he is headed in the right direction.

"Who knows how far this journey will take me?" he said.


Cerebral palsy is no joke, yet Josh Blue keeps fans laughing
Ashten Haswell
KENTnewsNET
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: News

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While performing on college campuses, comedian Josh Blue said he gets asked the same question at least once: "I want to know what you're on."

"You want my seizure medication? That will be $7," Blue joked.

More than 700 people packed the Student Center Ballroom last night for an appearance by Blue, a comedian with cerebral palsy.

Blue came to Kent State to perform as part of this year's disAbility Awareness Month celebrations.

Blue was the winner of the fourth season of NBC's "Last Comic Standing" in 2006 and has turned his disability into the force behind his comedy routines.

"I told my wife when she was pregnant that she should have twins, so I could have a practice baby," Blue said.

Blue also plays on the U.S. Paralympic soccer team and is sponsored by Nike. Blue said he had to decide between Nike and Adidas.

"The deciding factor was because of, well, this (pointing to his arm) -- I was born with a swoosh."

With the election being only a week away, Blue also joked about the candidates.

"When John McCain goes out into the sun, he's translucent," Blue said. "He scares the shit out of the secret service guys."

Halfway through his performance, Blue held a question and answer session. When a member of the audience asked what he would name Sarah Palin's next baby, Blue responded by saying "I wouldn't let her have one. I'd tell her to take care of the litter she already has."

No matter the question, Blue made sure his response was funny. Blue said the best part of being a comedian is that it's fun.

"Have you ever heard that laughter is the best medicine?" he asked the crowd, "Well, then shouldn't I be better by now?"

People of all ages came out to see Blue perform; Some even drove for more than an hour. Jennifer Jackson, who is attending Kent State for her doctorate in special education, made the trip with some co-workers to see the show.

"As part of my rehab-rehabilitation class we had to choose an event to attend as part of disAbility month," Jackson said.

Others wanted to see Blue because of the cost.

"Its free," said Abbie Morneault, freshman integrated math major. "I also had seen him on Last Comic Standing and was looking forward to him coming here."

Members of Student Accessibility Services were pleased with the turnout at last night's event.

"Tonight was amazingly successful," Mollie Miller, adaptive technology coordinator for Student Accessibility Services, said "I also think this year's disAbility Awareness Month was really on par with our goals and that it went fabulously. We're not sure how we will ever top this one."

Contact student affairs reporter Ashten Haswell at ahaswell@kent.edu.


Paralympic Team Visits San Diego
By: Erin Murphy
COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN
Posted: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:23 am

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Goalie Keith Johnson showcased his skills for the Men's U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team by shutting out the Chula Vista Rangers BU-14 White, 4-0, in a friendly scrimmage on Saturday. The Rangers BU-14 previously suffered an 8-5 loss to the U.S. Paralympic team in another scrimmage earlier in the week. The games were two of eight that the U.S. played against Rangers teams as part of the U.S.'s training camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.

"The kids had a blast playing," Rangers BU-14 coach Jesus Acevedo said. Their keeper barely let us score. He an did an amazing job."

Although the U.S. team didn t qualify for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, coach Jay Hoffman is using this time to train his players and see where some of the younger players will fit on the team. Players from all over the country, ages 14-29, traveled to Chula Vista to participate in the camp, including Marthell Vazquez, the 2007 Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association (CPISRA) World Championships MVP.

"It was fun and a learning experience," Rangers player Vincent Acevedo said. After a few minutes of playing it was just two teams playing soccer. They were very good and we know why they are the U.S. team."

Soccer was introduced into the Paralympic games in 1984. All of the players on the team have been affected by cerebral palsy (CP), stoke or traumatic brain injury. While each player suffers from a neurological disorder, team manger Dana Schoenwetter said they have no cognitive or intellectual disability. Paralympic soccer is played seven-a-side during two 30-minute halves on a 75x55 meter field with a 5x2 meter goal. The sport follows the FIFA rules for seven-a-side but has a few exceptions, like no off-sides rule and and underarm throw-ins if players are physically unable to a throw-in according to FIFA rules.

"It was a great experience and a valuable lesson for not only myself, but the players and parents," Jesus Acevedo said.


Josh Blue: The Comedian Who Rolls Like a Rock Star!
Written by admin2
Irked Magazine
March 22nd, 2008

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Josh Blue is a breath of fresh air, and a rapidly up-and-coming star in the vast world of stand-up comedy. Born with Cerebral Palsy, he uses a rare combination of comedic timing and stage presence to help crowds laugh at their own stereotypes and misconceptions about people with disabilities. Since winning Season 4 of NBC's Last Comic Standing, Josh has emerged as one of the hottest comedians in North America, performing to wildly appreciative sold-out crowds on a non-stop coast-to-coast tour.

He is unbelievably hilarious. And extremely talented. And we're HUGE fans of his work.

Since winning Season 4 of NBC's Last Comic Standing, Josh Blue has emerged as one of the hottest comedians in North America, performing to wildly appreciative sold-out crowds on a non-stop coast-to-coast tour.

Josh has been a fast-rising star since first appearing on Comedy Central's Mind of Mencia, before gaining the attention and endearment of the country as a favorite and eventual overall winner of the popular television show Last Comic Standing.

Josh is a diverse and triumphant individual hilarious stand-up comedian, stand-out guest star on television, talented painter and visual artist, and stellar U.S. Paralympic Soccer player refusing to bow to any of the challenges that come from living with Cerebral Palsy. Blue jokes, "I realize that people are going to stare so I want to give them something to stare at."

Josh uses his incredible sense of humor and likeability to defy stereotypes and encourage others to overcome their preconceived notions about people who are considered "disabled." His unique brand of "reverse teasing" affords him the great joy of "humbling condescending people."

Josh's stand-out performances at the 2004 Las Vegas Comedy Festival earned him $10,000 as Grand Prize Winner of the Royal Flush Comedy Competition. In 2006 Josh became the first stand-up comedian to perform on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, an incredible honor, especially considering what a fan he is. He also received a "Relly Award" for Best Winning Reality Show Guest on Live with Regis and Kelly. From comedy clubs and theatre engagements to college campuses and corporate events, wherever he takes the stage Josh elicits an overwhelming crowd response. His uncanny ability to improvise with any audience coupled with comedic timing rarely found in a performer of his age has enabled him to rapidly develop a loyal fan base that's spreading across the globe.

His rise is perhaps best described by a club owner following a recent show when he exclaimed: "Josh is rolling like a ROCK STAR!"


Tough love bonds Hansbrough brothers
By DREW SCHMENNER
COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN
March 20, 2008 | 11:46 p.m. CDT

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COLUMBIA — Tyler Hansbrough will turn into his madcap alter ego for No. 1 North Carolina tonight in its NCAA Tournament opener.

"Psycho T" will trample the court, rampage down the lane and swarm loose balls.

Who would dare stand up to the 6-foot-9, 250-pound likely national player of the year?

His older brother, Greg, a student at Columbia College.

"Still today when I go home, Greg's trying to roughhouse me," said Tyler Hansbrough, the UNC star. "But the tables have turned for him."

Their little brother, Ben, just watches them fight. "Greg will be the first one to pull a punch," said Ben Hansbrough, a starting sophomore guard for Mississippi State. "Now after he throws that punch, it's not too pretty. But he'll still fight. He may be in a headlock and get beat every half a second, but he's still trying to fight."

That relentless attitude has carried Greg Hansbrough, 24, since a malignant brain tumor threatened his life 17 years ago. Although the surgery was successful, doctors thought he might never walk again.

But with love and resolve driving him, he has gone farther than anyone thought possible. And inspired witnesses — his younger brothers — are following his persistent path.

Sports were effortless for Greg Hansbrough when he was a young boy running around Poplar Bluff, 150 miles south of St. Louis. Layups dropped through the net from his left or right hand. With his long, spider-like legs, he won races by yards and the long jump by feet at track meets.

Those left-handed layups started to clang off the rim when he was 7. One night at dinner he couldn't use his fork with his left hand. His father, Gene Hansbrough, was concerned. He was an orthopedic surgeon and took his son to the hospital to get a CT scan. The results were shocking.

"I saw this big tumor in his head. It was very devastating," his father said.

They rushed to a hospital in St. Louis the following day. The doctor's prognosis was dire: The tumor is in an inoperable part of the brain. Enjoy him while he's here. It's only a matter of time  six months to a year.

His father could not accept that. He tracked down and phoned neurosurgeons across the country while his son came home from school and collapsed on his bed, complaining about the unbearable pain in his head. After making calls for two weeks, he realized his options were limited. Two neurosurgeons could help him  Dr. Patrick Kelly at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and a doctor in Russia.

Gene Hansbrough got in touch with Kelly, who looked at his son's records. The doctor thought his new technique could extract the tumor. But since it was located perilously close to the brain's on-off switch  the reticular activating system  it would be a delicate, potentially fatal operation.

The condition didn't seem so serious to Greg Hansbrough, however. He thought it was just a prolonged case of the flu. But that perception changed moments before he was wheeled into surgery. Peering up from his gurney, he saw his parents crying in each other's arms. They paced around, waiting for the news, while doctors operated for more than five hours.

The surgery was successful. But when Greg Hansbrough woke up, he could only hop on his right foot. The doctors weren't optimistic about his recovery.

He might be able to walk again, they said. But he wouldn't be able to ride a bicycle, play contact sports or run. His left side was too weak and clumsy.

It took Greg Hansbrough only about one month to learn how to walk again. But the rehabilitation did not pain him the most. He wanted to return home and play with his beloved brothers, Tyler and Ben. They sent him a picture while he was stuck by himself in Minnesota. "When I saw it, I just started crying because I missed them so bad," he said.

After one month, Greg Hansbrough returned home. He continued to work hard to regain control of his body's left side. He lifted weights and threw medicine balls in the basement. He got black eyes and a few broken arms. He got a bicycle, went to a baseball field with his father and strapped on a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. He fell often but soon he was able to smile and say, "Look, Father, I'm riding a bike."

More medical work was necessary for him after the initial operation. But after getting a shunt in his head, he was playing Tyler Hansbrough one-on-one. "My head was all bandaged up and really tender, but I beat his ass," he said.

Greg Hansbrough took every opportunity to beat up his younger brothers. One day, Tyler Hansbrough could take the bruising no longer. "Greg, stop hitting me. Stop," he said.

"Why?" his older brother asked.

"Because my teacher thinks I'm suffering from child abuse," he replied.

"So I just blasted him again," Greg Hansbrough now recalls.

The brothers wrestled and boxed and shot paintball and BB guns in the woods. They battled while playing basketball in the backyard.

But some pain arose when Greg Hansbrough was in junior high. Students teased him because he still had trouble performing fine motor skills with his left arm. He cried when he came home. His father set up a punching bag in the basement. "When you feel bad, you go down and punch that bag really hard, really hard, until you don't feel so bad anymore," he told his son. Once Greg Hansbrough started to grow into his 6-foot-5 frame, he made sure the ridicule stopped and laid out one of the bullies.

Continuing to defy all the doctors' proclamations, Greg Hansbrough joined the high school basketball team. But he admits he was "roly-poly" when he was a sophomore and needed to get in shape. So he decided to run.

Gene Hansbrough was surprised. He thought his son would last only two or three weeks on the cross-country team. He was running alongside boys who weren't as big as one of his legs, his father joked.

Greg Hansbrough dreaded the pain and constant soreness. But during the last meet of the season, the hatred vanished. "I took pride in knowing that what I was doing was really hard and tough," he said. That spring, he joined the track and field team.

The giant runner was an inspiration at Poplar Bluff High School. Whenever Greg Hansbrough checked into basketball games, the fans stood for an ovation. When he sank one of his right-handed hook shots, they rose again.

Greg Hansbrough had already surpassed doctors' hopes, but he was determined to reach another remarkable goal. After finishing his first track season, he asked himself, "Why can't I complete a marathon?"

Hansbrough discovered his passion after completing his first marathon in St. Louis in 2003. He didn't stop, logging more than 150 long-distance miles by finishing two more marathons and six half-marathons.

He's planning to make a career out of the distances he has covered. He is studying at Columbia College to be a physical education teacher and track and field coach. He already has experience after spending three years as a student assistant for the University of Missouri track and field team. "They helped make me who I am today," he said.

But Greg Hansbrough has also influenced others, especially his brothers. They watched him struggle daily to overcome his physical limitations and fight back when they feebly tried to beat him up. Once when Tyler Hansbrough hit his older brother in the leg with a broomstick, Greg Hansbrough retaliated by throwing a bat. When Tyler Hansbrough broke a chair over his older brother's leg, Greg Hansbrough destroyed the rest of chair over his younger brother's leg.

That toughness hasn't worn off. Tyler Hansbrough displayed it during his famous altercation against Duke last season. His nose started to gush blood after Gerald Henderson's vicious elbow. The incident incensed his older brother. "I wanted to go punch Gerald in the face right then," Greg Hansbrough said.

When he saw his younger brother in the locker room after the game 10 minutes later, Tyler Hansbrough greeted him by saying, "Dude, did you see me go after him?"

The UNC star has dedicated his career to his older brother. He wears No. 50 in honor of Greg Hansbrough, who had that number in high school.

When "Psycho T" takes the floor for the Tar Heels, he realizes the relative importance of putting a ball through a hoop.

"He comes back and does all these things to prove everybody wrong," Tyler Hansbrough said. "It just kind of puts in perspective what I do. I'm just trying to win a basketball game."


Soccer notebook: Curiosity blooms into paralympic career
Victorian Village resident has been starting defender
BY SHAWN MITCHELL
The Columbus Dispatch
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:33 AM

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When Louis Garrett heard about the United States' fledgling paralympic soccer program, his interest piqued.

Garrett, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 1, had a knack for the game, becoming an all-state high school defender in his native Tennessee before playing at Division III Millsaps (Miss.) College.

So when Garrett, 40, contacted team officials to see when and where he could watch them play last year, the response was surprising.

"I assumed I would be too old, but they invited me to a training camp," the computer programmer and Victorian Village resident said.

He tried out in June 2006. He has been one of the team's starting defenders in every game since, including the United States' fourth-place finish last week at the Para-Pan Am Games in Brazil.

"It was disappointing," said Garrett, whose cerebral palsy affects his left side and has caused his left leg and arm to be shorter than his right. "We were really looking forward to coming away with the bronze medal."

Paralympic soccer is open to players affected by cerebral palsy, brain injuries or stroke. It is a seven-on-seven game played on a down-sized field. There is no offside rule, but other modifications are minimal.

The United States began competing in paralympic soccer at the 1992 Paralympics in Spain. What was once a grassroots program was recently taken over by the U.S. Soccer Federation, which allows the program to use its facilities for training camps. The team, which includes comedian Josh Blue, now plays in several national-team tournaments every year.

Garrett won't have long to dwell on the Pan Am loss. The United States will compete in the world championships in November. The top eight teams will qualify for the 2008 Paralympics in China.

"The competition level is really just as high as Division III soccer," Garrett said. "It really doesn't seem that special. It's just a bunch of soccer players that have cerebral palsy rather than a bunch of cerebral palsy patients trying to play soccer."

Comedian Josh Blue's big homecoming
Denver comic right at home with being a star

Denver Post
By John Wenzel
POSTED: 07/06/2007 08:41:41 AM MDT

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As any comedian will tell you, every late-night TV appearance and media mention represents thousands of hours of toil, often playing to small, hostile crowds in dank bars and strip-mall clubs.

Sitcom deals? National tours? Right. Most working comedians are lucky to get steady gigs, let alone acclaim.

Still, every once in a while the talent and crowd-appeal align to skyrocket one comedian past the rest, capturing imaginations by subverting and stretching them like taffy.

"It's funny what funny is, because everyone's style is so different," said Denver-based comedian Josh Blue. "But if you don't put forth the effort, you're not going to get anything back."

As someone barely in the minor leagues a few years ago, Blue appreciates how it feels to be at the top of his game. Literally.

The winner of last year's "Last Comic Standing" on NBC is also a globe-trotting soccer player and successful visual artist. His homecoming shows at Red Rocks on Monday and the Paramount Theatre on July 13 are the culmination of years of work, but the last two have seen his star rise exponentially.

Thanks to his "Last Comic" win, which saw Blue soundly trounce 11 other contestants, he's one of the country's hottest young comics, gathering widespread accolades and regularly selling out shows.

"My goal was always to sell out theaters," Blue admitted. "When it happens you never expect it to be like it is, but you know it feels right."

There's one thing people immediately notice about the 28-year-old Blue, and that is his cerebral palsy. It causes his right arm to curl unnaturally and his speech to slightly slur. Much of his act revolves around his disability, and he immediately uses it to disarm audiences.

"I had a crazy day today, man," he said on one "Last Comic" episode. "I went to hail a taxi and I caught a pigeon. (pause) I didn't even know I had it until I was in the cab. I was like, 'Oh no, I'm turning into a magician.' (pause) I hate magicians!" Blue began using comedy as a child in order defuse awkwardness. Born in the west-central African republic of Cameroon and raised in St. Paul, Minn., he endured his share of ridicule. Other kids would mock him, but he'd serve it right back.

The idea to try stand-up popped into his head as a sophomore at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., a school that also birthed "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening and comic-strip artist Lynda Barry. Blue was studying theater, creative writing and visual arts but one night decided to try an open-mic event at the campus housing center.

Although he began drawing exponentially more people (25 one week, 75 the next), he walked away from stand-up until a senior-year theater project rekindled his interest.

That lasted another few months as he played local coffeehouses and clubs, but he quit again when he graduated and moved to Denver, working as an Easter Seals counselor and with developmentally disabled adults.

LIGHTING THE FUSE

After six months Blue felt a burning need to return to stand-up. It was slow at first - winning $25 here and there at comedy competitions, opening for touring comedians.

"It's a hard road to hoe, doing one-nighters," he said. "I remember doing VFWs in Madison, Wisconsin. Those were pretty rough shows. Those guys don't laugh at (expletive). I'm like, 'I've got cerebral palsy,' and they're like, 'Yeah? My leg's blown off."'

Eventually Blue took a stab at open-mic nights at Comedy Works - the best possible thing he could have done. Comedy Works owner Wende Curtis, a nationally respected player on the scene, took a liking to Blue. A buzz developed about his confident stage presence and self-deprecating jokes.

"Josh walked into my office in 2003 with a videotape and said, 'I just wanted to make sure you're aware of who I am,"' said Mike Raftery, director of operations for Comedy Works Entertainment. "He only had 20 minutes of material, but I kept a close eye on him until he'd developed to the point where he could do a whole set."

Raftery booked Blue at shows around the state, including corporate events and colleges, where he regularly killed. In 2004, Blue started headlining Comedy Works. That same year he earned $10,000 at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival as Grand Prize Winner of the Royal Flush Comedy Competition.

The next year he earned rave reviews and more credibility on the college-tour circuit. In 2006 he toured 3,000-seat clubs with Carlos Mencia, host of Comedy Central's wildly popular "Mind of Mencia." He also made appearances on that show, giving him a national TV profile. He played the prestigious U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, one of the few Denver comics ever to make it there.

Then "Last Comic Standing" happened.

CAPTURING AUDIENCES

Blue riveted audiences on the fourth season of the NBC reality series, usually garnering standing ovations after each brief set. The show also portrayed his personal life, which included traveling to Athens in 2004 as part of the U.S. Paralympics soccer team.

"I don't think there's any limit to Josh's upside in this business because any time he's put on camera he just shines," said Raftery, his manager. "I can't think of a better show for Josh to have been a part of because not only did it showcase his stand-up, but his personality."

The offers and auditions began pouring in after Blue's win. He's since been touring to mostly sold-out crowds across North America. He recently performed as the first-ever stand-up on the "Ellen DeGenres Show" and won Best Reality TV Guest of the Year on "Live with Regis and Kelly," beating out guests from "American Idol" and "Survivor."

He is discussing a half-hour special with Comedy Central and has shows booked as far out as April 2008.

"It's weird to see how people come out of the woodwork now," Blue said. "People are writing me from high school saying, 'Remember that time when we passed in the hallway?' But they never gave me the time of day. I have more relatives than I knew. I'm like, 'Where are my Chrismas presents from the last 28 years?"'

MORE THAN DISABILITY

Addressing and shattering stereotypes is one of Blue's biggest strengths, but not all of his jokes concern his cerebral palsy.

"I just heard about a guy in Florida who got attacked by an alligator (while) trying to save his girlfriend's dog," he said on "Last Comic." "I wouldn't even wrestle an alligator to save my girlfriend. That's a dinosaur. Teeth beat boobs every time."

His passion for soccer and visual arts keep him constantly busy. In addition to showing and selling paintings, Blue splits his time between stand-up and the U.S. Paralympic soccer team.

"I can't think of two more different avenues to go down," he said. "One person stays up late and tells jokes in a bar, and the other person has to get up at 6 in the morning and jog."

Blue will travel to the ParaPan Games in August and the world championships in November, both in Brazil. He also has visited Argentina and Chile as part of the U.S. Paralympic soccer team.

"It's a tricky balance with all the things he has going on, and as important as all of them are to him," said Raftery.

If Blue had to choose, though, he would pick comedy.

"I'm a much better comedian than I am a soccer player," he said. "I reach more people, and it's ultimately easier on the body. Although maybe not the liver."

Staff writer John Wenzel can be reached at 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com.


Josh Blue
Colorado Company Magazine
By John Wenzel
January/February 2007

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Since winning the latest season of Last Comic Standing, and ultimately scoring himself a half-hour stand-up show on Bravo and a development deal with NBC, Josh Blue has rarely stopped moving.

Website: www.joshblue.com

Influences: Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle

TV Shows: Mind of Mencia, Last Comic Standing 4, Ellen DeGeneres Show, Regis & Kelly Live, Kathy Griffin  My Life on the D-list, Cold Pizza.

Albums: CD-Good Josh  Bad Arm

"The thing is, it's all I've ever known, you know? Cerebral palsy. If I didn't have palsy, I'd just be some other geeky white guy," he says. "Now at least I have something to talk about."

In an interview with Punchline Magazine, Blue says his own stand-up style is self-deprecating. "Some of my friends call it 'reverse teasing' because I make fun of myself," he explains. "I make fun of you by making fun of myself by making fun of you if that makes any sense at all." Though he started hitting the country's stages in earnest in 1999, Blue first did stand-up as a sophomore at Evergreen State College, a liberal arts school in Washington. He used the confidence he gained from those informal shows to start at open mics. During his last year of school, he was doing time every week at a local coffee shop.

It's been an upward climb ever since. Two years before he beat out 11 other contestants on Last Comic Standing, Blue won the Bass Ale New Talent Contest as well as $10,000 for being tops at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival's Royal Flush Comedy Competition. He's also just released his first live concert film 7 More Days in the Tank! and is already booked to headline clubs across the country well into the summer of 2007.

Wise beyond his years and continually active, Blue has never let his disability ground him from doing much of anything — even off the comedy stage. He's an avid soccer player and in fact went to Athens, Greece to play as a member of the 2004 US Paralympic soccer team. He's also been known to play the occasional slide guitar for Denver band Zebra Junction as well as being an enthusiastic painter and sculptor.

Denverite and Last Comic Standing 4 winner Josh Blue claims "Comedy is my life and I love to make people laugh." Jokes aside, this sudden overnight television sensation and seasoned stand-up comedian is a deeply philosophical man who reveals, "I'm never vulgar or over the top. I make fun of myself," and audiences go wild for his humor. America elected him the Last Comic Standing by calling in votes on an 800 number that was displayed at the bottom of their TV screens, and Josh assured them "the 800 number is not for a telethon, it's so you can vote for me."

Josh isn't abashed to point a finger, or in his case his 'bad arm' at himself or his Cerebral Palsy, which seems to be, if anything, a slight inconvenience more than a debilitating disability. In the matrix of his humor, Josh is teaching valuable life lessons through the venue of parody.

Born to Jacque and Walter Blue in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon Africa, Josh is the youngest of five siblings. "My brothers and sisters had a very dry sense of humor," claims Josh of his family, all of whom are well traveled and fluent in three languages. "We'd play tricks on each other and if someone picked on you then you had to pick back on them or make fun of yourself." Sibling antics crafted the art of stand-up comedy early in Josh's life with a profound platform that "comedy is making fun of yourself." Josh claims Cerebral Palsy is "a touchy subject, but through humor I can help people learn by making them laugh."

For example, Josh jokes, "I can get away with anything I want to because I have a disability. Who's going to admit they kicked the crap out of a cripple? That's cruel. With my luck, however, I'd find someone who'd hit me and I'd be cured ... and there'd go my gig." If you did fight Josh, the self-professed spastic warns, "I have a palsy-punch. You don't know when or where it's coming from, and neither do I."

Being inspired by Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby and Chris Rock, the latter being his 'top favorite,' Josh indicates, "They re all black men," and reveals a story from his high school days. "I was friends with everyone, but I obviously stood out, and kids made fun of me. I noticed that cool kids hung out together, as did the freaks and the jocks. It was the black girls that befriended me, and we ate at the same lunch table. They like me and called me 'crazy.' They taught me how to laugh and how to swear, and no one messed with me because they were my friends."

Known as the class clown won Josh friends, but his quick wit didn't win him a spot on the junior high soccer team, a sport near and dear to his heart, spawned when he lived in South Africa. "I was cut from the junior high soccer team, which hurt my feelings," confesses Josh. "No one should be prevented from playing any sport when they're in junior high much less cut from the team." Jacque and Walter's son learned parental lessons well in perseverance and determination. "I didn't try playing soccer again until I was in college. Some friends and I formed an intramural team. We practiced every Friday night and played competitively on Saturdays. We didn't win many games, but it sure was fun."

Beneath the blond mop of hair and striking blue eyes stands a man that's breaking down stereotypes above and beyond the stand-up comedy circuit. Defeat makes Josh more determined to succeed. He holds the position of striker (similar to a forward and often referred to as a soccer team's primary scoring threat) on the U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team. In September 2004 Josh and his team competed at the Paralympic Games held in Athens, Greece, which is the world's second largest sporting event. Over 4,000 athletes from 130 different countries compete in the Paralympic Games two weeks following the Olympic Summer Games.

The opportunity arose for Josh to try his hand at standup comedy while he attended Evergreen State College where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing in 2001. His comedic style and delivery might take audiences by surprise, or they re confounded by the fact that this stand-up genius has Cerebral Palsy. Laughter is a global language, and when Josh quips, "The drunk tank stopped to pick me up the other day, and when I tried to tell them I wasn't drunk I have Cerebral Palsy, they said, 'that's a big word for a drunk.' Three days later they still had me in the tank trying to figure out what I'd been drinking." The audience rolls in gales of laughter when Josh mocks impishly, "You're all going to go to hell for laughing at me."

Josh hired Mike Raftery to manage him several years ago and shares, "I tried out for Last Comic Standing two years ago and didn't make the first cut. Mike encouraged me to try again this year and I'm glad I did," confesses Josh, who claims to be "completely overwhelmed that I won. I was in it to win, but when I did it was unbelievable."

After recently performing before a sold out crowd in Houston, Josh was walking in downtown Houston when a homeless man approached him with an outstretched hand. "He recognized me and wanted to give me $1.00. It took me by surprise. Another time my girlfriend and I were in a terrible car accident. The car was filling up with smoke, and I was trying to pull my girlfriend out of the wreckage when the police arrived. I was shocked when they recognized me and said, 'Look, it's the last comic standing.' These experiences showed me that if I ever run out of material, all I have to do is go outside and routines walk into my life."

Of his new found fame, Josh confesses, "I'd like to believe I'm still levelheaded and none of this has effected me, however, everything is so different. Everyone wants my autograph or picture and a typical day for me is getting on an airplane and flying all over the country to do shows or interviews. I just want to be treated like a regular person."

There's nothing regular about Josh, who's currently writing his autobiography finds time to put paintbrush to canvas to create incredible art when he's not on stage or the soccer field. He's looking forward to "working as much as I can and one day [hopefully] having my own sitcom."

To those with disabilities he advises, "Set your goals high and set out to experience life, but don't try comedy, I have that area covered." To the rest of the world, this humble and modest man with the spastic body, quick wit and abundant talent is teaching us to reach for the stars and find joy and laughter along the way.


Playing the field
By Blythe Lawrence
The Daily of the University of Washington
January 14, 2003

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Mike Peters leads a double life. He works in the communication department teaching courses on research methods. In detailing his job, he describes lecturing on argumentation and persuasion, and talks of the judgments and attributions people make about one another. But he's the first to admit that attributions about people can be wrong.

After all, most people would not guess that their lecturer is the captain of the U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team.

Living with cerebral palsy

As a child, Peters was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a brain injury sustained shortly after birth when a lack of oxygen damages brain function, resulting in varying degrees of coordination and speech problems.

Peters is a hemapalegic -- his injury affects the right side of his body and the left side of his brain. Compared to many, his case is somewhat mild.

"The effect has been much more historical than present," he said.

Peters is thankful that all he had to deal with growing up was the occasional person who would ask why his right leg was notably smaller than his left. He rolled up the leg of his track pants to display a muscular but small right calf. Compared with his left leg, one might guess the right leg had been in a cast for several months, depleting it of muscle mass and tissue.

"Yeah, people have told me that," he said nonchalantly.

Living with cerebral palsy doesn't affect Peters' everyday habits, but he did say he has to be "creative" when it comes to tasks like typing. He would also like to be able to play an instrument, he said, but the necessary coordination in his hands simply isn't there.

Soccer and cerebral palsy

Despite those limitations, cerebral palsy did not stop Peters from playing soccer from a very young age, and being a player on competitive teams throughout junior high and high school. His condition didn't affect him to the extent that he was considered an impaired athlete, but when he enrolled at the University of Portland, he knew there would not be a place for him on the college soccer team.

"I went to college at the time when the University of Portland was a Final Four team," he said. "Casey Keller, a World Cup goalie, played for that team -- high-caliber athlete. And I don't have that kind of ability. I'd been mainstreamed growing up. I wasn't aware of the opportunities."

Another chance

It was nearly 10 years before Peters became aware of those opportunities. In the meantime, he completed his degree at the University of Portland and went to graduate school. In 1995, while doing research for a paper on medical anthropology, he came across a Web site that talked about the Paralympics.

"I saw they had different types of events for disabilities, so I went to see what they did for Paralympic soccer," he remembered.

Because of the similar manifestations of the conditions, Paralympic soccer is open to players with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke.

Peters sent a friendly e-mail encouraging the members of the team to play well in the Paralympics in Atlanta, happening to mention that he had cerebral palsy and had played soccer his whole life. He was surprised to get an e-mail back saying that the team roster had not yet been finalized and asking him to send a video of his playing, with the possibility of being invited to the training camp that served as the Paralympic team's trials.

Seven years later, he is still a midfielder on the team, and plans to continue playing through the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.

Opportunities to make a difference

"Being involved [in Paralympic soccer] has opened some wonderful doors for me," said Peters, who stays in shape by playing soccer with Seattle's metro league and attending training camps with the U.S. team prior to big tournaments.

In addition to being a member of the team that was minutes away from the bronze medal at the Paralympics in 1996, Peters' position on the team has allowed him to serve on the Athletes Advisory Council of the U.S. Olympic Committee as a representative for Paralympic sports.

The council is made up of people who have been Olympians in the past or are currently training as Olympic athletes.

"There are some pretty impressive people on that council," said Peters, who has rubbed elbows with household athlete names during meetings.

He has also been able to use his position to advocate for programs for disabled athletes.

"We don't currently have a well-developed Paralympic Development Program, specifically with soccer," he commented. "It can be kind of frustrating; you feel like there's a ceiling on your potential."

Peters suggests looking into the Paralympic sports program for any disabled athlete, whether the disability is mental, physical or a combination of the two. He knows the importance of getting the word out.

"I would have loved to be on this team when I was in my 20s," he said in a moment of wistfulness.

Peters has undergone the disappointments that every elite athlete faces. In 2000, he and the U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team missed a berth to the Sydney Paralympic Games by one place.

Despite this, he knows he is lucky to have been able to turn his weakness into a strength.

"I realized cerebral palsy has offered me a number of things," he said, "certain sensitivities to other people, social situations, which has been good for me in many ways."

Disabled Soccer Stars Reach Out to Help Kids
By C. Woodrow Irvin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 19, 2002; Page LZ03

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Josh McKinney was 5 when he was bitten by the soccer bug. It was his mother's idea to enroll him in a program at a local recreation center.

"She thought it would be good for me," said McKinney, now 23.

But he said his mother did not expect him to become an all-star soccer player, especially considering that Josh McKinney has cerebral palsy.

McKinney is the starting center midfielder for the U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team, which is made up of physically disabled athletes. The Paralympics are Olympic-style international games that run at parallel times and locations with the regular Olympic Games.

Capping a 10-week internship with the Fairfax County Park Authority, McKinney has led clinics the last two weekends for Washington area youths with physical disabilities and traumatic brain injuries at the Lee District RECenter in the Alexandria area of the county. McKinney said he would like to help Fairfax establish an adaptive disabled soccer program, especially because of the sport's popularity here.

County park officials touted McKinney for connecting with a group of children who often do not have a chance to compete with other disabled athletes at the same skill level. He plans to continue the clinics as long as funds are available.

"I think he has been doing an inspiring job," said Jean White, director of the Fairfax County Park Foundation, which funded McKinney's internship with a $4,000 grant.

Brad Levergood, 10, of Ashburn attended McKinney's clinic. He also has cerebral palsy, a chronic condition that affects body and/or limb movement, notably speed and agility. While taking a quick water break from ballhandling and passing drills, he said, "You can come here and if you have a disability, you can feel good about yourself."

Brad, who plays in a mainstream soccer program in Loudoun County, said he has been a great fan of the U.S. Paralympic Team. McKinney's clinic marked the third time he has had a chance to work with team members in various locations. Seeing successful athletes with disabilities is a strong motivation, Brad said.

"I want to do this to give the kids the same opportunities that I had," McKinney said, referring to coaches he had while growing up in West Virginia. He has been living in the District during the internship.

Those coaches, McKinney said, had the patience to give him extra time to master skills he needed to be competitive with other, able-bodied athletes.

Brad's father, Chuck Levergood, spoke proudly of the progress that his son has made with his soccer skills, level of confidence and range of motion. He noted that Brad, "a competitive guy," is also a super-brown belt at his tae kwon do school.

Jon McCullough, 37, of Washington is a traumatic brain injury survivor and McKinney's teammate. As chairman of the U.S. Soccer Federation's disability soccer committee, he has been conducting clinics nationwide and overseas for several years.

When McCullough heard that Fairfax County was seeking someone to help with an adaptive disabled soccer program, he said, he immediately thought of McKinney, who was studying parks and recreation at Concord College in Athens, W.Va. McCullough mentored to McKinney through the internship and assisted him at the Dec. 7 clinic.

"This was a perfect fit," McCullough said of the Park Authority's wants and McKinney's ambition to be an administrator of adaptive athletics through an established recreation program.

Comparing soccer with other sports, McCullough said, "It's much more physically challenging for a kid with a physical disability to play soccer. . . . This pushes those kids to the next level." McCullough went on to describe how the value of the soccer clinics goes beyond physical skills and overall fitness to the inspirational.

When children see elite athletes with disabilities, like himself and McKinney, he said, "You can see that in their eyes. All of a sudden something clicks, and they realize this is something they can achieve with a lot of work."

McCullough and McKinney related the story of Roman Grier, a struggling young disabled student from Atlanta.

"When he first came to a clinic, he was a small kid with cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs," McCullough said. "He looked like if the wind blew too much . . . [he would] fall down."

Inspired by the clinic, Grier spent two years building muscles. Today, he is a successful college student and starting goalkeeper for the U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team.

For information on upcoming Fairfax County Park Authority soccer clinics or classes for school-age children with physical disabilities, contact Josh McKinney at 703-324-8683.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company