Speaking
of Sports 

by
Bernie Fratto

 
It's all part of
the journey

September 22, 2011

Sgt. Scott Moore of the US Marine Corps picked up the phone and called the uber-popular actress Mila Kunis. He asked her to accompany him to the Marine Corps Ball in November. It was a longshot, but she said yes. As the date of the ceremony approaches, word has it that neither one can wait.

This isn't the first time an event of this nature has taken place. Back in 1996 Brian Griese, the QB for the Michigan Wolverines at the time, visited Mott Children's Hospital and befriended a young lady named Jayne Uber. Ms. Uber, 16-years old at the time was paralyzed from the neck down as the result of a fall from a horse.

A year later, she asked Griese, then 22-years old, if he would accompany her to the Senior Prom at Pinckney High School. At first Brian Griese politely declined because he was afraid he would look too old and conspicuous resulting in Uber's potential embarrassment.

Then at the urging of his teammates, Griese changed his mind. They told him that if he went through with it, Uber would never forget that evening, thus making it a noble and kind gesture while providing the young lady a lifetime memory.

Griese agreed.

Years later at a Michigan homecoming game, Griese talked openly about that night. Time had passed and he reflected upon the fact that he'd underrated his ability to do something nice for someone that had basically been a total stranger at one point.

Friday, October 7th, the Novi Wildcats will take on Northville in what should be a classic football game. It will also be homecoming weekend. I can't wait, because I'm coming into town and I will definitely be at that game. I don't know of any inspirational homecoming dance stories, but I do believe Novi will be going for win number five that evening.

I also know that I'm going to catch up with people I believe that have had a great impact on the lives of the young citizens of Novi. People like Coach Dave Ray. Coach Ray's selfless time commitments to the city and their youth have been consistent over 15-years, and they continue today.

Even though his sons Jake and Doug, former Wildcat stars, are now grown men and have been gone from the program for almost ten years, Ray continues to donate his time while fostering a positive impact on the Football Wildcats. The focus is on repeating good habits while they are on the field and in their personal lives as well. Hopefully, these young men will take the great lessons they are learning, and pay them forward when they are grown men of their own.

Homecoming is more than just a football game. It's a celebration of people, places and events that have shaped lives while connecting past and future generations for the greater good. Its significance is timeless, and in a great community like Novi, it's symbolism is special.

Even though Brian Griese now lives in Colorado, he still attends homecoming functions at Michigan and you have to wonder if his experience with Jayne Uber at her HS homecoming influenced his decision to become the Founder and Director of Judi's House in Denver. Judi's House is a children's grief support center.

Today Griese is 36-years old, and he was recently approached by Sports Illustrated. They asked him if he would comment on that certain evening that had taken place many moons before.

Griese told the reporter that after the dance was over, he made sure he circled back to his teammates, the same ones who'd insisted that Jayne Uber would never forget that occasion and Griese's magnanimous gesture.

"Neither will I," Griese said.

(c) 2011 Novi Information Network
www.novi.org