Thu Apr 21, 2005 12:39 am
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Player’s style wows boy, family
By SHERRI CONER
Daily Journal staff writer
sconer@thejournalnet.com
April 20, 2005
Tricia Milto thought Reggie Miller might show up for the Make-A-Wish moment wearing a practice jersey.
She thought Miller would shoot a few hoops, smile at her son, Nathan, and call it a day.
But Miller surprised Tricia, her husband, Phil, and Nathan, 10, who suffers from Batten disease, a rare, genetic and terminal condition.
When Miller strutted onto the basketball court at Conseco Fieldhouse that afternoon in March 2003, he was outfitted to play some serious basketball: Wrist bands, team shoes and everything in between.
“(It was) as if it was a real Pacer game,” Milto said with a smile from the family’s White River Township home. “He came out, totally dressed to the hilt. Reggie was ready to play.
“He was totally into it.”
Working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to make Nathan’s wish complete, Phil Milto created a script for a fictional game.
Pacers radio announcers Mark Boyle and Bobbly “Slick” Leonard and Pacers television play-by-play announcer Al Alberts announced the entire event in a recorded script, which included Nathan Milto and Miller playing together for the Pacers against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Dressed in his favorite Pacers jersey, Nathan was pushed onto the basketball court in his wheelchair. With the recorded action booming through the speakers, Phil Milto maneuvered Nathan’s chair around the court.
A little boy’s imagination was in full swing that day.
Nathan Milto and his favorite Pacers player battled the Bulls in the final game of the playoffs.
Family and friends cheered from the sidelines.
“Reggie was chanting, ‘Nathan, you can do it. I know you can,’” Tricia Milto said.
The Pacers won the championship against the Chicago Bulls, according to Phil Milto’s script.
Miller then bent down to thank Nathan for helping him win the ring.
“Reggie was jumping up and down and celebrating like he actually had won the game,” Tricia Milto said.
Tricia Milto then reached for the Pacer jersey, autographed by Miller for Nathan.
“Reggie signed Nathan’s jersey, ‘To Nathan, thanks for the ring,’” she said. “Reggie may have never won a championship ring. But he is certainly our champion. He is such a stand-up guy.
“And he helped create a memory for a family that will never be forgotten.”
Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:06 am
Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:53 am
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Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:46 am
Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:59 am
Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:30 pm
Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:55 pm
Jae wrote:Good work butsome of that was kinda corny. Awell, it's corn for a good cause
Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:33 am
Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:59 am
Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:38 am
I can't believe they gave him a limited edition Bentley that cost $250,000 after that ceremony.
Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:50 am
Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:43 am
SbHzMaFiA wrote:I can't believe they gave him a limited edition Bentley that cost $250,000 after that ceremony.
Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:14 am
Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:08 am
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Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:31 am
Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:31 pm
IndyPacers67 wrote:How could you possibly say Reggie isnt an 90s guy? He made all of his marks on the NBA in the 90s.
j.23 wrote:aside from kevin willis, who is left from the 80's draft class?