Kevin Ware Reunites With Teammates

Just 72 hours after undergoing major surgery to repair the gruesome compound fracture, Ware, a sophomore, was reunited with his teammates for the flight to the Final Four in Atlanta.

 

Ware, who suffered a gruesome broken leg on national TV last Sunday in the Midwest regional final in Indianapolis, has been touched by the outpouring of support, even receiving a phone call from First Lady Michelle Obama. He has also gotten calls and messages from NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Charles Barkley as well as the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

“I had no idea I would get this kind of attention,” he said. “I’m one of those guys who just likes to play basketball. But the injury opened up a lot of peoples’ eyes, and I really appreciate all the support. It really means a lot... I’ll be fine, but (we’ve) still got to win this championship.”Just 72 hours after undergoing major surgery to repair the gruesome compound fracture, Ware, a sophomore, was reunited with his teammates for the flight to the Final Four in Atlanta. He was aboard the bus when it arrived at the team hotel just after 10 p.m.

The Bronx product, who moved to Atlanta just before high school, donned the same travel clothes as the rest of his teammates and entered the hotel just after his teammates, pushed in a wheelchair to the team meal. His mother, Lisa Junior, also flew on the team flight and walked behind him.

Ware will sit on the bench — possibly right next to coach Rick Pitino — when the top-seeded Cardinals take on No. 9 Wichita State (30-8) Saturday night in a national semifinal.“I’ll put him next to me to give me a few suggestions. If he tells me to play Tim (Henderson) too many minutes I’ll back out,” Pitino quipped, referring to the Louisville junior who will get most of Ware’s minutes. Ware will do everything that his teammates do in preparation for the game, except practice and play.

What he will not do is to make a big speech to the team before the game. He thinks it will be enough “looking over and seeing me on the bench... We don’t need a lot of motivation. We’re in the Final Four,” he said in Louisville before the team departed.Added sophomore forward Chane Benahan, Ware’s closest friend on the team: “It feels great to have him (with us). He’s like a brother to all of us. We’re just happy he is here.”

 

Source: NY Daily News