The 99.9 The Fan Bridge II Sports Wheelchair Basketball Team for 2018: (l to r): Sports Shop’s Kevin “K-Mac” McClendon, 99.9 The Fan’s Joe Ovies, Sports Shop’s Erroll Reese, 99.9 The Fan’s Jonathan Rand, NBA/Duke Star Gene Banks, NBC/UNC Star Phil Ford & 99.9 The Fan’s Michael Shelton.
99.9 The Fan fielded a team for the 7th Annual August Madness Wheelchair Basketball Fundraiser. A Fan trio joined forces with Duke/NBA great Gene Banks to compete on Monday, August 27, 2018.
The Sports Shop Co-Host & Executive Producer Kevin K-Mac is a Board Member for Bridge II Sports, the presenter of the tournament. He and his on-air partner, fellow Sports Shop Co-Host & Executive Producer Erroll Reese, pitch in each year to support the event.
“This event is always a highlight for us to be involved,” said Reese. “We were involved in the recruiting of the celebrities and hosting the Draft at the Durham Bull Baseball Park. I always say that service is the debt we pay for living. Creating awareness with people with disabilities and recognizing the potential in them is tantamount including sports.”
The tournament is a “one-of-a-kind fundraiser where everybody learns and plays basketball in a wheelchair” and takes place on the floor of the PNC Arena.
“As a Board Member for Bridge II Sports, showing support for adapted sports at the 7th Annual Bridge II Sports August Madness Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Fundraiser is one of the most rewarding events we take part in every year,” said McClendon. “Since 2011, August Madness has been a marquee event in the Triangle introducing hundreds of everyday people from corporations, community organizations, and universities to the life-changing power of disability sport and the abilities of people with disabilities.”
The duo also tapped 99.9 The Fan Sports Talk Host Joe Ovies for their team.
“We found out how difficult wheelchair basketball is and how skillful those athletes are,” said Reese.
The Fan team lost the opening game, as well as several others, but it did not dampen their excitement for the day.
“Although our team didn’t win the tournament, ‘Again’, we had a tremendous opportunity to build relationships with a number of people on other teams, Glaxo Smith Kline, Ft. Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Durham Police Department and others,” said McClendon.
Thanks to 99.9 The Fan’s Justina Duffin for this capcom photo.
