(from the Trail Blazers site)
The Trail Blazers tipped-off the 2010 Season of Giving with a visit to the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) Tuesday, December 6. Trail Blazers Rudy Fernandez, Patty Mills and Sean Marks hosted a basketball clinic for some 60 plus Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) youth. Rudy, Patty and Sean, who were joined by Trail Blazers assistant coach Kaleb Canales and video coordinator John Ross, worked with kids on various parts of the game, teaching ball handling, shooting, and passing skills. After a quick water break, Coach Canales split the kids into teams, gave Rudy, Patty, Sean and John Ross coaching duties and teams and let them play ball.
And did they ever play ball!?! The kids varied in ages from 7-17. The youngest group went first. Despite the expert instruction, the youngest players had a hard time scoring baskets. After several trips up and down the floor, a young hoopster scored, giving the team coached by Rudy and Patty the victory. The next game featured 10-13 year olds, boys and girls. This time, the team coached by Sean Marks and John Ross came out on top. That made the last game, which featured the clinic’s oldest players, the decider on who were better coaches, Rudy and Patty or Sean and John. The drama was nearly overwhelming. Basket after basket after basket led some in the crowd to wonder about adding a station to teach defense next time, although no one was complaining. Ultimately, Coach Canales ended the contest, declaring the game a draw. He then suggested that Rudy, Patty, and Sean should stick to playing. Our players had a great time, and the kids enjoyed the day even more.
After the games were over, Rudy, Patty and Sean handed out NBA Cares pencil pouches and basketballs to the kids from clinic as well as some great cookies and cookie decorating kits from Beaverton Bakery. All in all, it was an epic event.
IRCO, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting immigrants and refugees to become self-sufficient members of society, works with people from all over the world. It was among the seven inaugural make it better foundation’s grant recipients earlier this season. The clinic came about as a way for the Trail Blazers to introduce our game to kids who did not play basketball in their native countries.
For more great pictures from the day, click here!!
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Blazers Visit IRCO Kids!