Charity basketball game a success at Oakland
ROCHESTER, Mich. – All of the familiar sights and sounds were there at the Athletics Center O’rena on Thursday night. There was the smell of refreshments in the air, the buzz of a crowd of more than 1,500 excited fans in the seats and even a coach letting the officials know his opinion about a call. Yet, something was different.
On this Thursday it wasn’t Oakland coach Greg Kampe and the back-to-back Summit League Champion Oakland men’s basketball team that was on the court. This Thursday it was Ndamukong Suh of the Detroit Lions, who was playfully sparring with the officials at the 10th Annual DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan’s Celebrity Wheelchair Basketball Game.
Oakland partnered with Suh to bring the celebrity game to the O’rena in an effort to raise money and awareness for the DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan’s SportsAbility program. Suh was the celebrity coach of the Detroit Jam which played against the Motorcity Rollers, coached by former Detroit Pistons player John Long, in the celebrity pro-am wheelchair basketball game. The Motor City Rollers won by two points, but everyone enjoyed the event.
“This game raises awareness of how much people with disabilities are capable of,” said Oakland associate swimming and diving coach Shawn Kornoelje. “I think this game is great because it helps raise money for SportsAbility, but also it shows our athletes at Oakland how much other people have to overcome to do what they sometimes might take for granted.”
The SportsAbility program is designed to provide an opportunity for persons with disabilities to participate in competitive and recreational sporting activities. The program has a special focus on newly disabled people, to demonstrate opportunities beyond their injury.
The list of Detroit-area celebrities participating in the game, included: Koffey Brown (WGPR), Jeremy Beasley (WGPR), Rod Meloni (WDIV), Fantasee Blu (WDMK 105.9 Kiss-FM), Paigion (WHTD Hot 102.7), Angelo Henderson (WCHB AM 1200 News Talk), Ken Rogulski (WJR), Deena Centofanti (FOX 2), Cornelius Bundrage (IBF World Junior Middleweight Champion), Sharina Jones (Miss Wheelchair Michigan) Dr. Darrius (WJLB), Bushman (WJLB), Erin Nicole (WXYZ TV-7), Terry Foster (97.1), Mike Lodish (6-time Super Bowl Alum) and Jimmy King (Michigan’s Fab 5). Karen Newman also came to the event and sang the National Anthem, after participating as a player last year.
“It was a terrific evening in the O’rena last night!,” said Tracy Huth. “Our staff, coaches and student-athletes were honored to host an event that raises awareness, funds and opportunity within the metro-Detroit area.”
Prior to the celebrity game, there was an exhibition match played between the Oakland University coaching staff and doctors and staff at the DMC. Oakland Director of Athletics Tracy Huth led the OU team, which included head coaches and assistant coaches from several of the Oakland University teams. The game went to overtime and eventually finished in a tie.
“I thought the event was phenomenal,” said Kornoelje, “I was proud to be a part of Oakland University last night. I felt we shined as an event host in every facet. Everyone that I have spoken to enjoyed the event and they are already talking about next year. I know that the DMC Staff is especially looking forward to a rematch with the Oakland coaches.”
“The DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan has an amazing group of people dedicated to enhancing lives through all their efforts,” said Huth. “The 10th Annual Celebrity Wheelchair event was an opportunity for us to support their efforts with the SportsAbility program. I want to thank Cheryl Angelelli and Shawn Kornoelje for approaching us with this opportunity. It was a great night enjoyed by the participants, celebrities and fans.”
The total amount raised for the event was nearly $45,000 which will go towards funding the program at the DMC. For more information about the DMC Rehabilitiation Institute of Michigan’s SportsAbility program click here.
Category: Campus Clips, Colleges / Other, Oakland University
