By Malinda Murray
bobcats.com

January 22, 2008

With the weather outside cold and dreary, Bobcats guard Jeff McInnis, forward Jermareo Davidson and mascot Rufus Lynx, headed to Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital on Tuesday on a mission – to brighten the day of those kids staying at the hospital.

“We just came to put a smile on some kids’ faces,” said Davidson. “Hopefully we were able to that.”

To accomplish their mission, the players and Rufus took to the halls of the hospital armed with a cart full of Bobcats goodies. Making their way from room to room, the Bobcats players and Rufus stopped by to spend a few minutes with each child. They joked, laughed, signed autographs and gave each child a Bobcats pennant, t-shirt and stickers.

In one room, a young boy named Antonio was excited to see the players because as he put it, “I like basketball.”

In another room just down the hallway, a boy named Dwight was thrilled when the Bobcats players walked into his room. He had been scheduled to attend a Bobcats game, but had been unable to make it, so being able to meet the players in person made his day.

The Bobcats seemed to have accomplished their mission, as in every other room they visited, the reception was the same. The kids’ eyes would light up and smiles would spread across their faces when the players and Rufus entered through the doorway.

The Bobcats players realize what an impact just a simple visit like this can have.

“I think it’s important to those kids and families,” said McInnis. “I think it means a lot. They see us on the court as basketball players, but to actually be around us as people I think it shows a lot. It shows that we are humans first and then basketball players second.”

“We just wanted to come in and try to uplift them,” he added. “Basketball is a game and life is more important than a basketball game.”

They also know how important it is to give back.

“For Rufus, Jermareo and myself to come, it just shows our dedication (to giving back),” said McInnis. “We just left practice and then came here. There are enough hours in the day to help other people.”