Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 61
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
(800) 654-4262

© 2024 Alabama Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Best Series--Alabama Public Radio "Adapted Athletics: The Rolling Tide"

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL/ INGOLD FEATURE

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IS KNOWN FOR ITS CHAMPIONSHIP ATHLETIC TEAMS. FOOTBALL, GYMNASTICS, SOFTBALL AND SO ON. BUT THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP OF ATHLETES ON CAMPUS WHO ARE ALSO CHAMPIONS, ALTHOUGH THEY DON’T DRAW CROWDS LIKE COACH NICK SABAN AND THE CRIMSON TIDE. ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO’S STAN INGOLD HAS MORE ON THE ROLLING TIDE. IT’S UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA’S ADAPTED ATHLETICS PROGRAM…

(SOUNDS FROM STANDUP BASKETBALL)

A PICK-UP BASKETBALL GAME IS UNDERWAY AT THE RECREATION CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN TUSCALOOSA. THERE ARE THREE COURTS AVAILABLE. TWO COURTS OVER ANOTHER GROUP OF EQUALLY MOTIVATED PLAYERS IS HARD AT PRACTICE.

(FX UP)

THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS THE SQUEAK OF TENNIS SHOES ON THE HARDTOP. THE FAR COURT IS NEARLY SILENT. THAT’S BECAUSE THESE PLAYERS GLIDE SILENTLY ON WHEELS. IT’S THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL.

(FX UP)

WHAT THESE PLAYERS LACK IN SQUEAK, THEY MAKE UP FOR IN OTHER WAYS. FX UP “I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE AGGRESSION, IT’S A NON-CONTACT SPORT BUT WE SMASH INTO EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME AND WE’RE ALWAYS HITTING THE DECK AND IT’S A LOT OF FUN.” COBI CRISPIN IS FROM AUSTRALIA. SHE PLAYS FOR ALABAMA’S WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAM. “I OFTEN GET FOULED OUT BECAUSE I’M A BIT AGGRESSIVE, BUT IT’S JUST ME BEING PASSIONATE.”(12COBI)

AND WHEN THESE WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES TAKE TO THE COURT, REFEREE MAURICE SANDERS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. HE SAYS THERE IS A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONTACT IN THIS SPORT VERSUS STAND UP BASKETBALL WHERE THE PLAYERS RUN AROUND… “A LOT OF CONTACT IN WHEELCHAIR YOU LET IT GO, BUT ABLE BODIED PEOPLE YOU STOP IT. SO YOU’VE GOT TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE BEING GAINED OR LOST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS A FOUL OR NOT.”(13SEC)(13REF) `

FX …

AND U-A’S PROGRAM HAS A FAR REACH, MANY OF THE PLAYERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO PLAY THEIR COLLEGE BALL HERE. COBI CRISPIN SAYS COLLEGE ATHLETICS AREN’T AS EMPHASIZED OVERSEAS AS THEY ARE IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT INCLUDES HER NATIVE AUSTRALIA… “IT’S A REAL HONOR TO PLAY AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL. IT’S A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE JUST BECAUSE WE DON’T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING LIKE IT IN THE REST OF THE WORLD. THERE IS A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE IN EUROPE AND IT’S PRETTY COMPETITIVE BUT TO MIX AN EDUCATION WITH A SPORT YOU PLAY IT’S PRETTY UNIQUE AND SOMETHING WE DON’T GET IN AUSTRALIA AT THE LEVEL YOU GUYS DO HERE SO I’M PRETTY LUCKY.”(17SEC)(COBI1)

WHEN SHE’S NOT PLAYING FOR THE CRIMSON TIDE, CRISPIN IS ONE OF MANY FOREIGN PLAYERS ON THE ROLLING TIDE WHO ALSO PLAYS FOR THEIR NATIONAL TEAMS BACK HOME. SHE’S ALSO ONE OF SEVERAL PARALYMPIANS COMPETING ON THE WORLD STAGE…

“I’VE BEEN TO TWO PARALYMPIC GAMES, BEIJING AND LONDON IN 2012. WE GOT A BRONZE MEDAL IN BEIJING AND A SILVER MEDAL IN LONDON, BUT IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE AND I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER, AND HOPEFULLY WE’LL WIN THE WHOLE SET IN RIO AND BRING HOME THE GOLD.”(15SEC)(COBI2)

MORE FX (MAYBE FROM THE TIDE/ORLANDO MAGIC GAME)

PLAYERS IN WHEELCHAIRS BATTLE FOR A REBOUND AS WHEELS STRIKE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER LIKE CHARIOTS RACES IN THE MOVIE BEN HUR. THE ADAPTED ATHLETICS PROGRAM AT U-A BEGAN ELEVEN YEARS AGO WHEN CURRENT A-A DIRECTOR BRENT HARDIN MADE HIS WAY TO TUSCALOOSA. HE SAYS HE HAD SUPPORT EARLY ON…

“SOMETIMES THINGS ARE JUST MEANT TO BE AND THEY JUST WORK OUT, I KNOW THAT MIGHT SOUND KINDA CORNY OR CHEESY BUT I REALLY BELIEVE IN THAT. WHEN WE STARTED THE PROGRAM IN 2003 I CAME HERE WITH MY WIFE AND WE WENT TO FACULTY ORIENTATION AND THAT IS WHERE WE MET DR. WITT, IT WAS HIS FIRST YEAR TOO.”(15SEC)(HARDIN2)

HARDIN SAYS WITT HAD SOME EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH THIS TYPE OF SPORT BEFORE… “HE HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO WHEELCHAIR ATHLETICS AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS/ARLINGTON BEFORE HE CAME HERE AND HE JUST GOT IT RIGHT AWAY AND HE WANTED TO SUPPORT US RIGHT AWAY. WE DIDN’T HAVE ANYTHING BUT AN IDEA BUT HE GOT BEHIND IT AND REALLY SAW IT AS A BRIGHT LIGHT FOR THE UNIVERSITY.”(15SEC)(HARDIN3)

HE SAYS EVEN AFTER WITT MOVED ON TO BECOME CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SYSTEM, HE STILL HAS SUPPORT FROM THE HIGHER UPS… “DR. BONNER HAS BEEN ON BOARD SINCE DAY ONE, SHE WAS THE PROVOST AT THAT TIME, I MET WITH HER WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK I WAS HERE. THEY’VE JUST BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE. IT JUST WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THEM, IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT DR. WITT AND DR. BONNER’S CONTINUED SUPPORT, BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE THE BEST IDEAS IN THE WORLD, BUT THEY’VE OPENED SO MANY DOORS FOR US.”(17SEC)(HARDIN4)

(CHAIRS CRASHING TOGETHER)

BO HEDGES PLAYS FOR THE MEN’S TEAM AT U-A. HE SAYS THE SPORT OF WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL IS GREAT WAY FOR SOMEONE NEW TO A CHAIR TO BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR NEW SETTING… “JUST HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE OF BEING OUT THEIR PUSHING AROUND AND BEING COMFORTABLE IN THE CHAIR HELPS YOUR OVERALL PERCEPTION OF DISABILITY AND THE CAPABILITIES OF SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR SO IT WILL MAKE YOU MORE COMFORTABLE WITHIN THAT.”(14SEC)(BO1)

HEDGES SAYS IT CAN ALSO BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT NEED TO USE A CHAIR… “IN CANADA AND OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD WE HAVE ABLE BODIED PARTICIPATION AND SO FRIENDS AND FAMILY COME OUT AND TRY IT AND WE TAKE IT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND HAVE DEMONSTRATIONS WHERE THEY GET TO TRY AS WELL. THAT ADDS TO THE WHOLE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DISABILITY.”(16SEC)(BO2)

SOME OF THE PLAYERS ON ALABAMA’S TEAMS HAVE PLAYED BOTH STAND-UP AND WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL. KAROLINA LINGYTE HAS ONLY BEEN INVOLVED IN WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL FOR FIVE YEARS. SHE SAYS THE TRANSITION WAS DIFFICULT AT FIRST… “IT IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE EVERYTHING YOU DO IS WITH YOUR HANDS PLUS YOU CAN STOP PEOPLE FROM GETTING TO A DIFFERENT PLACE WHERE YOU CAN’T DO THAT IN STANDUP BASKETBALL BECAUSE THEY CAN MOVE AROUND YOU AND WITH A CHAIR, IT’S A BIGGER SPACE AND IT’S EASIER TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE PLACE YOU WANT THEM TO BE.”(16SEC)(KAROLINA2)

AND IT WAS THE MECHANICS THAT TOOK THE MOST GETTING USED TO… “YOU GET INTO SOMETHING NEWS WHERE YOU DON’T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TO DO THINGS, HOW THINGS WORK, HOW IT MOVES, HOW THE CHAIR MOVES, HOW EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT, IT WAS TOUGH GETTING OVER THAT FIRST BUMP.”(15SEC)(KAROLINA1) PLAYERS ARE GIVEN A RANKING BASED ON THEIR PHYSICAL ABILITIES FROM ONE-POINT-OH TO FOUR-POINT-FIVE. AND TO KEEP THINGS FAIR, TEAMS ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO HAVE PLAYERS WITH RANKINGS TOTALING TWELVE POINTS ON THE COURT AT A TIME.

(SOUNDS FROM THE COURT)

BOTH THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA HAVE WON NATIONAL TITLES, AND BOTH WILL BE PLAYING IN THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE TOURNAMENT THIS WEEK. JOIN US TOMORROW AS WE CONTINUE TO TAKE A LOOK AT U-A’S WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES AND HOW ONE METHOD THEY USE TO STAY IN SHAPE, ONE PUNCH AT A TIME…

WHEELCHAIR BOXING

THIS WEEK, TWO UNIQUE SPORTS TEAMS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA ARE VYING FOR A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. THEY’RE THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAMS, BETTER KNOWN AS THE ROLLING TIDE. THE UNIVERSITY HAS A NUMBER OF SPORTS FOR DISABLED ATHLETES AND BETWEEN GAMES, THESE PLAYERS HAVE TO STAY IN SHAPE. THAT’S LEADING TO A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES AND A MAN KNOWN IN THE WORLD OF BOXING AS “THE BRONZE BOMBER.”

FX UP

WHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL PLAYERS HIT THE COURT, THEY HAVE TO DRIBBLE AND PASS THE BALL TO SCORE POINTS. THIS INCLUDES ROLLING THEIR CHAIRS UP AND DOWN THE COURT AND TURNING ON A DIME. THE SPORT TAKES UPPER BODY STRENGTH AND THAT MEANS CONDITIONING.

PUNCHING  BAG FX UP

THIS IS WHERE SKYY BOXING COMES INTO PLAY. THE SMALL GYM IN NORTHPORT HAS A BOXING RING IN THE MIDDLE AND THE WALLS ARE COVERED WITH POSTERS FROM BIG MATCHES. HERE WE FIND KAROLINA LINGYTE FROM THE U-A’S WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAM. WHILE WORKING OUT ON A HEAVY BAG, SHE SAYS IT IS NOT ONLY A GREAT WAY TO STAY IN SHAPE, BUT THE GYM’S ATMOSPHERE HELPS HER AS WELL... “THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN HERE, THE COACHES AND ATHLETES WHO ARE SELF-MOTIVATED, AND THAT’S WHAT I THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT THING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IS TO BE SELF-MOTIVATED AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE ARE HERE FOR THEMSELVES AND TO GET BETTER.”

LINGYTE ISN’T ALONE; CINDY OUELLET IS ONE OF KAROLINA’S TEAMMATES ON THE BASKETBALL COURT. THE CANADIAN STUDENT SAYS BOXING IS A GREAT FORM OF CROSS TRAINING FOR WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES. “INTERVAL TRAINING IS SO GOOD, ESPECIALLY FOR WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES BECAUSE IT’S GREAT FOR BURNING CALORIES AND GETTING A GOOD SWEAT ON.” SHE SAYS THERE IS ANOTHER REASON… “I LOVE BOXING BECAUSE IT’S REALLY AGGRESSIVE AND I GET TO PUNCH AND GET MY ANGRINESS OUT A BIT.”

SHE IS ALSO A FAN OF THE ATMOSPHERE AT SKYY BOXING, BUT FOR A DIFFERENT REASON… “YOU GET CHILDREN, YOU GET PEOPLE LIKE DEONTAY, SO YOU REALLY GET EVERYTHING, YOU GET SORORITY GIRLS, YOU GET BASEBALL PLAYERS, I JUST LIKE IT BECAUSE EVERYONE IS INCLUDED, IT’S LIKE A MINI-HOME AND EVERYONE IS A BIG FAMILY.” OUELLET SAYS, “EVERYONE IS GOING AROUND THE RING PUNCHING EACH OTHER BUT THERE IS NO HARD FEELINGS AFTER, IT’S JUST TRAINING.”

THE "DEONTAY" CINDY MENTIONED IS TUSCALOOSA NATIVE AND WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER DEONTAY WILDER. HE TOOK THE BRONZE MEDAL FOR BOXING DURING THE 2008 OLYMPICS IN BEIJING. WILDER TRAINS AT SKYY BOXING AND OFFERS HIS ADVICE TO THOSE WHO WORK OUT THERE… “I WORK WITH ALL ATHLETES, WHETHER THEY’RE WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES, WHETHER THEY’RE KIDS, WHETHER THEY’RE DEAF IMPAIRED, I WORK WITH ALL OF THEM, THIS IS MY LOVE.”

THAT HELP GOES BOTH WAYS; KAROLINA LINGYTE IS CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. SHE LOST A LEG, BUT HER UPPER BODY STRENGTH IS FORMIDABLE. WILDER SAYS SHE USES HIM AS A PUNCHING BAG TO HELP HIM TRAIN FOR HIS UPCOMING FIGHTS.

“WHAT I DO IS, I SIT THERE, AND LET HER USE HER TECHNIQUE, TO WAIL INTO ME EVERY TIME. I PUSH BUTTONS, I LIKE TO PUSH BUTTON AND LET HER KNOW IT’S NOT GETTING TO ME, I MAY DANCE AROUND, MAKE A LITTLE MOVE, BUT YOU KNOW, AT TIMES IT DOES STING, BUT I GOT TO KEEP GOING.”

ALL OF THIS TRAINING IS UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF JAY DEAS. HE’S THE OWNER AND HEAD TRAINER AT SKYY BOXING. HE SAYS THE PLAYERS WORKING OUT AT HIS GYM WAS A COLLABORATION WITH THEIR BASKETBALL COACH…

“THEIR COACH CAME TO ME AND THEY WANTED TO GET AN ALTERNATIVE WORKOUT FOR THE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND CAME UP WITH SOMETHING BENEFICIAL TO THEM AND THEY CAME IN AND, THEY GET AFTER IT.” DEAS SAYS THEY DID NOT HAVE TO CHANGE MUCH FROM THE TYPICAL WORKOUT…

“WE DO ALL THE SAME THINGS WE DO WITH THE REGULAR PROFESSIONAL BOXERS OR GOLDEN GLOVE BOXERS, JUST WITHOUT SOME OF THE THINGS LIKE JUMP ROPE, THINGS THEY OBVIOUSLY CAN’T DO BUT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY DO.” HE ADDS THE MINDSET DEVELOPED FROM BOXING IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE PHYSICAL TRAINING FOR THE BASKETBALL PLAYERS… “IT IS NOT AN EASY WORKOUT, IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF YOU. YOU HAVE TO FOCUS, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE TIRED, YOU’VE GOT TO PUT YOUR PUNCHES IN THE RIGHT PLACE,” SAYS DEAS, “SAME WAY WITH BASKETBALL, I’M SURE IF YOU’RE IN THAT CHAIR THE WHOLE GAME, AT THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF THE GAME, IT’S TOUGH TO MAKE THOSE SHOTS IF YOU’RE NOT MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY TOUGH AND PREPARED. PLUS, IT’S ALSO A GREAT STRESS RELIEF FOR THEM.”

THIS BRINGS UP THE QUESTION OF WHETHER WHEELCHAIR BOXING MIGHT JOIN BASKETBALL, ROWING, GOLF AND EVEN TENNIS AS A SPORT WHERE DISABLED ATHLETES CAN JOIN IN AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL OR THE PARALYMPICS. CINDY OUELLET SAYS IT’S A LONGSHOT, BUT POSSIBLE… “IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE WHILE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY FOR ABLE BODIED THERE AREN’T THAT MANY BOXERS, ESPECIALLY FEMALE ATHLETES, SO IT MAY TAKE A WHILE AND SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE IT, MAYBE IT’S GOING TO BE ME AND KAROLINA, WE GOT A GOOD START HERE.”

SPEAKING OF THE PARALYMPICS, THERE ARE ONLY FIVE TRAINING CENTERS FOR DISABLED ATHLETES WHO WANT TO GO FOR THE GOLD. ONE IS IN BIRMINGHAM, AND APR'S PAT DUGGINS WILL TAKE US THERE TOMORROW. ?

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY/PAT

MARCH 7, 2014

ALL WEEK LONG HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO, WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ADAPTED ATHLETICS. THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IS HOME TO WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL, TENNIS, AND GOLF AMONG OTHER SPORTS. HOWEVER, THIS IS THE AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL. DISABLED ATHLETES WILL SOON HEAD TO BIRMINGHAM TO GET READY FOR THE PARALYMPICS IN RIO DE JENEIRO IN 2016. ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO’S PAT DUGGINS HAS MORE ON THE SPOT WHERE THEY’LL TRAIN, AND ONE UNIQUE SPORT THAT’S BEING FEATURED…

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL FX FADE UP

HERE AT THE RECREATION CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, THE CRIMSON TIDE’S MEN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAM IS PLAYING THE ORLANDO MAGIC FROM FLORIDA. LIKE CONVENTIONAL BASKETBALL, THERE’S DRIBBLING, PASSING, AND THE OCASSIONAL FOUL—ALL OF PLAYED FROM WHEELCHAIRS. AND, THERE ARE FANS TOO, TO CHEER THE TEAM ON INCLUDING JAVALLA HARDY OF TUSCALOOSA…

“ACTUALLY, WE WENT TO THE MOVIE THEATER LAST MONDAY NIGHT, AND THERE WERE SIX OF THE PLAYERS THAT WERE THERE AT THE THEATER, AND THEY WERE AS NICE AS THEY COULD BE, SO WE THOUGHT WE’D COMEOUT AND SUPPORT THEM.”

FANS OF ANOTHER SPORT FOR DISABLED ATHLETES SAY THAT’S ALL WELL AND GOOD…THEY PREFER SOMETHING A LITTLE ROUGHER… FX- SMASH BANG OF WHEELCHAIR RUGBY PLAYERS WELCOME TO WHEELCHAIR RUGBY…

“I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE I’VE COME INTO THE GYM… BRYAN KIRKLAND IS A CHAMPION WHEELCHAIR RUGBY PLAYER… “AND THEY’RE WALKING BY TO GO TO THE BLEACHERS AND SOMEBODY HITS…” FX SMASH! “AND, I SEE EM ABOUT COME OUT OF THEIR SHOES, AND THEY GO ‘OH, MY GOD!’ “

KIRKLAND IS ALSO A PARALYMPIAN. HE AND TEAM USA BROUGHT BACK GOLD AND BRONZE MEDALS FOR WHEELCHAIR RUGBY AT THE PARALYMPIC GAMES IN ATHENS, SYDNEY, AND BEIJING. ONE OF HIS TEAMMATES WAS BOB LUJANO…

“ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOVE THE SPINAL CORD INJURY PEOPLE TO TELL THEM IS ‘WHAT’S THE WORST THINGS THAT’S GONNA HAPPEN? I’M GONNA BREAK OUR NECKS AGAIN?’

“ FX-- SLAM BANG…

LUJANO AND KIRKLAND’S TEAM IS CALLED THE LAKESHORE DEMOLITION. TEAM COACH MITCH WATKINS EXPLAINS HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED… “I WOULD SAY IT’S A LITTLE OF A COMBINATION BETWEEN FOOTBALL, RUGBY, AND HOCKEY, AND A LITTLE BIT OF BASKETBALL. YOU GOT RULES FROM ALL SPORTS, BECAUSE YOU PLAY ON A BASKETBALL COURT, BUT YOU CAN ALSO GET A PENALTY WHERE YOU CAN SERVE TIME IN THE BOX.” LUJANO AND KIRKLAND BOTH PLAY FROM WHEELCHAIRS. LUJANO IS A QUADRUPLE AMPUTEE. HE LOST HIS FOREARMS AND LEGS TO A BLOOD DISEASE WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER. BRYAN KIRKLAND INJURED HIS NECK COMPETING MOTOCROSS. BUT DON’T CALL HIM DISABLED… “PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO TIE MY SHOES FOR ME OR PUT MY CLOTHES OR TIE MY SHOES FOR ME, I’M DOING IT. AND I DID IT.“

THAT PHILOSOPHY ISN’T UNIQUE WHERE KIRKLAND, LUJANO, AND HUNDREDS OF DISABLED ATHLETES COME TO TRAIN… FX GAME PREP FADE UP THIS IS THE LAKESHORE FOUNDATION, NESTLED IN A WOODED AREA NEXT TO SAMFORD UNIVERSITY IN BIRMINGHAM. PARALYMPIANS, DISABLED MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY AND EVEN CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES COME HERE FOR EXERCISE OR TO TRAIN FOR COMPETITION. AND THE ONE THING PATIENTS DON’T HEAR IS THE PHRASE…YOU CAN’T DO THIS…

“YOU DON’T HEAR THAT AROUND HERE, THAT’S FOR SURE…” THAT’S JEFF UNDERWOOD. HE’S PRESDIENT AND CEO OF LAKESHORE. HE SAYS DISABLED PATIENTS USUALLY AREN’T THE PROBLEM—IT’S THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM… “THEY JUST DON’T WANT THESE FOLKS TO GET HURT, AGAIN. THEY TEND TO DO EVERYTHING FOR THEM, TAKE CARE OF THEM. THEY SAY ‘LET ME DO THAT FOR YOU, I’LL TAKE CARE OF YOU, DON’T DO THAT, YOU MIGHT HURT YOURSELF…”

THE LAKESHORE FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT GROUP THAT TAKES IN FOUR THOUSAND OF PEOPLE YEAR—TWENTY PERCENT OF WHICH COMPETE FOR MEDALS OR CHAMPIONSHIPS. IT’S ALSO ONE OF ONLY FIVE PARALYMPIC TRAINING SITES IN THE NATION. UNDERWOOD SAYS THAT TOOK WORK, MAINLY BECAUSE OF POLITICS WITH THE OLYMPICS COMMITTEE. “EVERYTIME WE STARTED GETTING TRACTION WITH THE LEADERSHIP, THERE WAS SOME CONTROVERSY, SOME KIND OF SCANDAL, SOME REASON KEY LEADERS LEFT AND WE’D HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.” THE 1996 GAMES IN ATLANTA WAS THE FIRST TO FEATURE WHEELCHAIR RUGBY.

THAT LED TO FUTURE GAMES IN ATHENS, LONDON, AND HERE IN BEIJNG… BEIJING FX FADE UP SINCE THEN, BOTH BRYAN KIRKLAND AND BOB LUJANO HAVE HUNG UP THEIR MEDALS AND THEIR PARALYMPIC CAREERS. BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THEY’RE ON THE SIDELINES…

ROLL CALL…

THE DEMOLITION IS THE CLUB TEAM FOR WHEELCHAIR RUGBY AT LAKESHORE. THE WHEELCHAIRS FOR RUGBY ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE FOR BASKETBALL. MOST NOTABLY, THE WHEELS ARE ANGLED IN, AND THERE’S NO BACK REST. OH, AND, THERE’S ONE MORE THING. RUGBY WHEELCHAIRS ARE COVERED WITH ARMOR. AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF DENTS FROM THE BANGING THAT GOES ON. WE CAUGHT UP WITH BOB LUJANO AS HE STRAPPED HIMSELF IN FOR GAME… “UH YEAH, THERE ARE SIDEGUARDS TO PROTECT THE SPOKES WHEN WE SLAM INTO EACH OTHER. SOME HAVE A RAM ROD IN THE FRONT TO HIT OTHER CHAIRS.”

FX GAME FX FADE UP –SLAM!

BRYAN KIRKLAND AND LAKESHORE DEMOLITION WON FIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, ALONG WITH HIS PARALYMPIC MEDALS. KIRKLAND ALSO BECAME THE FIRST ADAPTED ATHLETE IN THE ALABAMA SPORTS HALL OF FAME.KIRKLAND ADMITS SOMEDAY HE NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN… “I BASICALLY ACCOMPLISHED EVERYTHING…ALL MY GOALS, MY DREAMS. I WANTED TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP...CHECK. I WANTED TO WIN A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP…CHECK. I WANTED TO WIN PARALYMPIC GOLD…CHECK.” BUT, HE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME AT LAKESHORE—AND THAT WILL INCLUDE OFFERING ADVICE TO THE NEXT ROUND OF PARALYMPIANS WHO WILL FIGHT FOR A SPOT ON TEAM USA FOR THE RIO GAMES IN 2016. AND SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER DISABLED ATHLETES… TOMORROW, A LITTLE PIECE OF SOCHI RUSSIA COMES TO BIRMINGHAM. THE WINTER PARALYMPIC GAMES ARE STARTING UP, AND FANS WILL GATHER TO WATCH, AND CHEER, AND DREAM OF THE UPCOMING SUMMER GAMES IN RIO. PAT DUGGINS, APR NEWS IN BIRMINGHAM…

News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.