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Gerald Wallace was a big hit at the Holiday Party
for Kids. |
By Grant Wieman
bobcats.com
December 23, 2009
The Bobcats got into the spirit of the season on December 18 by hosting their annual Bobcats Holiday Party for Kids. Rufus, the Lady Cats and nearly all of the players arrived at the Extravaganza Depot to help out at the event.
"This is a great opportunity to come out, interact with some kids, and have fun," said Gerald Wallace. "It’s great for the kids, and it’s great for us."
Wallace got a laugh from all of the kids when he pulled a prank on Tyson Chandler. He said the players had even more fun at the event than the kids. Here’s what happened, by the numbers:
150+: Number of toys donated to the Salvation Army Women’s and Children’s Center. The entry fee to the party was a brand new, unwrapped toy.
11: The number of Bobcats players that attended the event. Wallace and co-captain Raymond Felton got the loudest cheers, and were followed in by DJ Augustin, Stephen Graham, Flip Murray, Acie Law, DeSagana Diop, Chandler, Boris Diaw and rookies Gerald Henderson and Derrick Brown.
300: Balloons used to create balloon animals, hats, and swords for the kids. There was also a face painter.
50: Pizza’s ordered for the kids to eat before the Bobcats arrival.
8: Questions answered by the Bobcats during the event’s Q&A session. (Boris likes America, France and Senegal equally. Flip Murray’s favorite flavor of ice cream is cookies and cream. Derrick Brown is the team’s best dancer.)
7: Games set up at the event, including basketball shooting, air hockey, foosball and miniature golf.
2: Bobcats rookies at the event who kicked things off by showing their dance moves. DJ Flamingo played "The Cupid Shuffle," while Brown and Henderson shimmied with a few of the kids at center stage.
2: Cookies decorated and eaten by Stephen Graham. "The cookies are really good," Graham said. "I had a chance to make a Christmas tree and a Santa Claus. I ate them both." The Bobcats each sat down with a table of kids to decorate cookies, sign autographs and joke around.
1: Rufus Lynx. The players gave high-fives to the kids on their way in, but most were able to remain in their seats. When Rufus was announced, he was ambushed by cheers and hugs.
Wallace, along with the other Bobcats, left relishing the experience.
"Everybody was a kid at one time and they all need somebody that they can look up to," he said. "It’s great that they look up to us, and it’s great that we can come out here and put a smile on their face."
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