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Chicago Bears rookie linebacker J.T. Thomas was recently drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft after an impressive career at West Virginia. While he’s yet to practice with his new teammates due to the lockout, Thomas is already making a name for himself in the NFL community after making one dream come true for one eighth-grade student from West Virginia.
On Sunday, NFL.com Senior Writer Steve Wyche reported how Thomas made 14-year-old Joselyn Levell’s dream come true last Friday by taking her to prom. Levell suffers from spina bifada–which means her spine doesn’t properly develop–and was in need of a date after numerous boys declined her invitation to the school’s big dance. After hearing Joselyn’s story through the school’s bus driver, Thomas thought it would be meaningful to take her to the prom himself.
From Wyche’s article:
Thomas’ brother Jared, 7, has autism and rides the same bus as Levell. Knowing she was a Bears fan, bus driver Jake Tennant planned to introduce Jared’s older brother to Joslyn. Nearly three weeks ago, J.T. was invited on the bus when kids were being dropped home.
What timing. As he went to meet a Bears fan in his hometown, Joslyn explained to him that she’d had a rough week because all of the boys she asked to the dance declined. Thomas melted.
“I hugged her and signed a few things and we talked for awhile and she cried a bit,” Thomas recounted. “I gave her a hug and told her everything would work itself out.”
... Despite being a sixth-round pick, Bears fans will certainly be rooting for Thomas to make a roster spot once training camp rolls around–assuming the lockout comes to an end by then.
On Sunday, NFL.com Senior Writer Steve Wyche reported how Thomas made 14-year-old Joselyn Levell’s dream come true last Friday by taking her to prom. Levell suffers from spina bifada–which means her spine doesn’t properly develop–and was in need of a date after numerous boys declined her invitation to the school’s big dance. After hearing Joselyn’s story through the school’s bus driver, Thomas thought it would be meaningful to take her to the prom himself.
From Wyche’s article:
Thomas’ brother Jared, 7, has autism and rides the same bus as Levell. Knowing she was a Bears fan, bus driver Jake Tennant planned to introduce Jared’s older brother to Joslyn. Nearly three weeks ago, J.T. was invited on the bus when kids were being dropped home.
What timing. As he went to meet a Bears fan in his hometown, Joslyn explained to him that she’d had a rough week because all of the boys she asked to the dance declined. Thomas melted.
“I hugged her and signed a few things and we talked for awhile and she cried a bit,” Thomas recounted. “I gave her a hug and told her everything would work itself out.”
... Despite being a sixth-round pick, Bears fans will certainly be rooting for Thomas to make a roster spot once training camp rolls around–assuming the lockout comes to an end by then.
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Here's another one...
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia baseball player Johnathan Taylor, who was partially paralyzed after breaking his neck during a collision in a game against Florida State on March 6, was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 33rd round of the amateur baseball draft on Wednesday.
"He's a great kid and he's going through a terrible time in his life and we thought this would be something to uplift him," Kip Fagg, the Rangers' director of amateur scouting, told ESPNDallas.com's Richard Durrett. "I've seen the kid play since high school, he was a great player at Georgia."
Taylor, who is completing rehab at the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta, is paralyzed from the waist down but showing signs of improvement. He was released to the rehab facility's day program last month.
"This was truly a classy move and a great gesture on the part of the Texas Rangers organization," Georgia coach David Perno said in a statement released by the school. "J.T. is definitely a player worthy of getting drafted. He's been a big part of our program, and we are all very excited for him. When I talked to him after he got the call, he was in the middle of his rehabilitation work, laughing and having a good time and was thrilled to be drafted."
On Monday night, the Rangers selected Georgia outfielder Zach Cone with the 37th pick overall. Cone is one of Taylor's closest friends and was the player who collided with him in the outfield.
"We talk about being a franchise about family and we care about everyone in this organization, including the kids we draft," Fagg said. "Zach is family and we felt like Johnathan was a good person and someone we wanted to help."
Taylor's family is "very proud of him," his mother said in the statement.
"It's just amazing, and when he got the call, his face lit up, and we were all very excited. It was awesome news," Tandra Taylor said in the statement.
Taylor wasn't immediately available for comment.
"Just knowing the relationship J.T. and Zach have, I'm just glad it was the Rangers," Perno told ESPN.com. "J.T. is a guy that definitely was a prospect going into this season and was a guy you had to watch. He was a .320 hitter and could run. Anyone who ever saw J.T. play knows that if he didn't have this tragic accident, he was going to play pro ball at some point."
Taylor, a junior from Acworth, Ga., injured the C-5 and C-6 vertebrae in his neck. He underwent neck surgery the next day at St. Mary's Hospital in Athens to stabilize his spine and was transferred to Shepherd Center on March 11.
It was the second time in three years a Georgia baseball player has been paralyzed. In October 2009, freshman second baseman Chance Veazey broke his neck when his scooter was hit by a car near campus. Veazey currently works as a student assistant on Georgia's baseball team.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia baseball player Johnathan Taylor, who was partially paralyzed after breaking his neck during a collision in a game against Florida State on March 6, was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 33rd round of the amateur baseball draft on Wednesday.
"He's a great kid and he's going through a terrible time in his life and we thought this would be something to uplift him," Kip Fagg, the Rangers' director of amateur scouting, told ESPNDallas.com's Richard Durrett. "I've seen the kid play since high school, he was a great player at Georgia."
Taylor, who is completing rehab at the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta, is paralyzed from the waist down but showing signs of improvement. He was released to the rehab facility's day program last month.
"This was truly a classy move and a great gesture on the part of the Texas Rangers organization," Georgia coach David Perno said in a statement released by the school. "J.T. is definitely a player worthy of getting drafted. He's been a big part of our program, and we are all very excited for him. When I talked to him after he got the call, he was in the middle of his rehabilitation work, laughing and having a good time and was thrilled to be drafted."
On Monday night, the Rangers selected Georgia outfielder Zach Cone with the 37th pick overall. Cone is one of Taylor's closest friends and was the player who collided with him in the outfield.
"We talk about being a franchise about family and we care about everyone in this organization, including the kids we draft," Fagg said. "Zach is family and we felt like Johnathan was a good person and someone we wanted to help."
Taylor's family is "very proud of him," his mother said in the statement.
"It's just amazing, and when he got the call, his face lit up, and we were all very excited. It was awesome news," Tandra Taylor said in the statement.
Taylor wasn't immediately available for comment.
"Just knowing the relationship J.T. and Zach have, I'm just glad it was the Rangers," Perno told ESPN.com. "J.T. is a guy that definitely was a prospect going into this season and was a guy you had to watch. He was a .320 hitter and could run. Anyone who ever saw J.T. play knows that if he didn't have this tragic accident, he was going to play pro ball at some point."
Taylor, a junior from Acworth, Ga., injured the C-5 and C-6 vertebrae in his neck. He underwent neck surgery the next day at St. Mary's Hospital in Athens to stabilize his spine and was transferred to Shepherd Center on March 11.
It was the second time in three years a Georgia baseball player has been paralyzed. In October 2009, freshman second baseman Chance Veazey broke his neck when his scooter was hit by a car near campus. Veazey currently works as a student assistant on Georgia's baseball team.
I have issues with some of the previous ownership of the Rangers 
but coach Perno is right: that's a classy move.
but coach Perno is right: that's a classy move.
I have issues with some of the previous ownership of the Rangers
who doesn't [>o][>o][>o]
who doesn't [>o][>o][>o]
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