Joined: Jun 19, 2002 Posts: 153 Location: St. Louis
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2002 6:48 am Post subject: Have yall read this
I was reading this little article @ Philly.com and it almost had me in tears so I thought I'd share it with the rest of you
Iverson, Sixers treat some special fans
Ryan McGrath thinks, breathes and talks Allen Iverson.
The skinny, blond 12-year-old from Miami wears a Sixers uniform, his hair in braids, a diamond stud in his left ear - he even has a bandage on his left arm.
"It's like I'm the white Answer," he said.
A couple of years ago, Ryan, who has been HIV-positive since birth, asked to meet his idol. His family then talked with the Make a Wish Foundation, which grants wishes of terminally ill children.
Last night it all came true.
Ryan and three other kids (naturally more than one kid wanted to meet A.I. above all else) watched the team practice, attended the New Orleans Hornets game at the First Union Center as honored guests, and met with Iverson in the locker room before their 108-87 win.
"He said I looked just like him," said Ryan, beaming.
Apparently Iverson was so touched by the devoted fan that he hung a picture of Ryan in his locker.
"[Iverson] has heart," said Ryan's mother Pamela McGrath, 47. "And one thing Ryan has is heart."
Ryan, along with Melvin McCray, 13; Allen Whigham, 15; and Ariel Alvin, 9, went out on the court when the team was introduced.
Dressed in Sixers gear from top to bottom, they all looked like mini team members at the end of the line, high-fiving the starters like pros.
"It was like I was in the game," Ryan said.
The boys practically floated off court. Then they watched the game from box seats with their families, munching hot dogs and cheering fervently.
Still, they said, meeting Iverson was the best part of the day. Even if it was brief.
"I've never talked to someone famous before," said Allen, from Bainbridge, Ga., who suffers from cystic fibrosis.
And Melvin, from St. Louis, said, "He said he liked my shoes, because I've got his shoes on."
"Even if he hadn't said a word, he'd be happy," said Melvin's mother, Nicole McCray, 30.
Melvin has had five open-heart surgeries for a congenital heart defect.
The youngest among them, Ariel - who is from Plainview, N.J., and has leukemia - seemed too overcome to speak.
His father, Henry, said, "I've met a lot of celebrities in my time, but for him it was special."
During that private meeting, Ryan presented Iverson with a plaque that read: "Any time, any place, anywhere, I've got your back. Peace."
He said he wanted to show Iverson how he felt.
"I don't think many people have done that for him," said Pamela McGrath. "He's probably used to giving, not getting."
Ryan also said he made another special request.
"I asked him if I could play him one-on-one," he said. "He said not today, but he will."
And Iverson had better get ready.
"I'm going to hold him to that," Ryan said.
It didn't say he said nothing but that was so touching to me. Aughhh
Joined: Feb 14, 2002 Posts: 355 Location: BX AND BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2002 9:19 am Post subject: Have yall read this
that had me almost in tears... its nice that ai showed that can be sweet to his fans ... cause as we all know there have been many of fans that have said that ai was really stink and nasty to them... either or ai is very sweet ans humble at heart and i love him as a person he so sweet
Joined: Aug 12, 2002 Posts: 300 Location: Michigan
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2002 7:12 pm Post subject: Have yall read this
I think that that was too sweet and I always thought that even though some people said that when they met him that he was rude, I think that he's a nice person when you get to know him.
