St. John's University Athletics
Third-Annual Dribble for the Cure: Quotes
9/28/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sept. 28, 2013
PCRF Associate Director of Development Rosanna Capalbo
Opening Statement:
"I'm a little overwhelmed by the amount of support as I continue to see this event grow year after year. This is an event that started at UCLA about seven years ago and Coach Lavin asked that we start it here at St. John's. We have a whole team of people that worked on this throughout the year. Thank you to St. John's and the men's and women's basketball teams, the coaches, Coach Lavin, Coach Tartemella, Mark Fratto and your entire team, Kathy Meehan, the list goes on. You are wonderful to work with and we are proud to work with you. I would like to thank coach Mike Woodson for coming out. It was a bit of a surprise to have you speak and we are proud to have you here with us. Your donations, contributions, and participation are giving hope to those in need. I got involved in pediatric cancer because my brother is a survivor of the disease. I'm sure that almost everyone in this audience has been touched in some way by cancer. What you need to know is that your dollars are going toward some of the best research that exists in the world. The Pediatric Cancer Foundation Laboratory is run by world-renowned pediatric oncology researcher, Mitchell Cairo, who could not be here today because he is speaking in Hong Kong at a conference. Please know your money is going toward the right research that is leading the way towards a cure for over 30 years. Over that time, we have seen survival rates go from 20% 30 years ago, to over 80%. That is because of your research dollars. I also have come to know that we have multiple children here today that are survivors and are trying their best to win their battles. I think about the children who have lost their battle daily and I can assure you that is our motivation. As you are walking today, please hold them in your hearts."
Head Coach Steve Lavin
Opening Statement:
"For starters, I want to thank everyone that showed up today. All of the speakers that preceded me touched on the way cancer has affected all of our lives. My grandmother had pediatric cancer, my father had a long battle with cancer and passed February 10 of this year, I was diagnosed with cancer in August of 2010 and my niece lost her left eye due to cancer. So all of us will in some way have been or will be affected by this dreaded disease. I want to commend all of you for coming today because you have enlisted yourself in the fight against cancer and that is special. That is meaningful because raising awareness and raising dollars to come up with a cure someday means innocent babies who are born with cancer won't have it. Newborns who are diagnosed in the first couple months are now survivors. You can't make any more of a significant contribution than being here today. I'm so proud of our entire athletic program, our men's and women's basketball teams, former players who have showed up, Mike Woodson and his wife, the cheerleaders, the band, members of our faculty, our Athletic Director Chris Monasch and Associate Vice President for Athletics Kathy Meehan. This is a collective effort to fight cancer and that means a lot. You are setting a positive example for other people to follow and it's showing you care about people in need. These dollars are going to help serve the families and the victims of cancer right now on the front lines. I want to thank a few more people. John Farmer, one of our biggest contributors to the cause who played for Lou Carnesecca back in the day here at St. John's. The fact that Coach Carnesecca and Athletic Director Emeritus Jack Kaiser are here setting a powerful example in their eighties and representing St. John's in such a positive fashion is inspiring. I want to commend all of you for participating today and enlisting yourself in the fight against cancer. It's definitely special to beat an opponent like Villanova or a Notre Dame, but it's even more rewarding to see our players participate in an event like Dribble for the Cure. We want to compete in every game, but helping find a cure for cancer is even a more worthy cause than winning a basketball game. Thank you."
On his team's depth this season:
"The versatility is one of the strengths of this team which in the past has plagued us at times. Two years ago we had six scholarship players and nine walk-ons and now this season we have an experienced team, we have depth, we have shooters and we now have the ability to play different combinations, big or small. Our personnel will create problems for our opponents."
On the high expectations for the team this season:
"We're right in stride and we probably have higher expectations for ourselves than people outside the program have. For us it's about the next step. It's about making the NCAA Tournament and winning the BIG EAST Conference Tournament, it's why we all came here. It's always the same goals every year but this year we're in position to do something special and that's what we're working towards every day."
New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson
On how he became part of Dribble for the Cure and what it means to him:
"It's an honor to be here. I haven't been in this neighborhood since 1980 when I was drafted by the Knicks and I lived right around the corner from St. John's along with a very good friend of mine named Reggie Carter who played here some years ago. I'm also here with my wife Terry and my assistant coach Jim Todd is here as well but I just wanted to say it's an honor to be here supporting such a wonderful cause. Rosanna and I met at dinner the other in White Plains, N.Y. and asked me to speak at this event which I was honored to do. I had a sister who died of cancer many years ago so I'm a big supporter of fighting cancer and finding a cure. Thank you all for coming out, support the Knicks this year and good luck St. John's."
Athletic Director Emeritus Jack Kaiser
On why he wanted to be a part of today:
"I love children. It really hurts to know that there's something going on that hurts them. Cancer is pretty tough to contain no matter where you are or who you are. It hurts to know it is affecting children."
On seeing the men's and women's basketball team come out today to support the cause:
"It is absolutely sensational. We try to have our teams do charitable things and compassionate things. This is both. To see the coaches and players of the team involved is a wonderful thing."
Junior guard/forward Max Hooper:
On taking part in Dribble for the Cure:
"This is my second Dribble for the Cure. It's a great event. We don't realize sometimes the type of impact we have on other people and the way people look up to us. It's a great experience to hang out and shoot some baskets with the kids. Sometimes you get caught up in the grind of day-to-day basketball so this event really makes you open your eyes to the real world and understand that people wake up every morning and have to deal with this disease in their life. It's great to brighten their day and hopefully raise a lot of money and awareness, while also spurring some interest in our program before we start this exciting season."
On the addition of freshman guard Rysheed Jordan:
"Rysheed is a game-changer for me because of the way he can get in the lane and make plays for myself and others. The sky is the limit for Rysheed, as well as the impact he can have on our team."
Sophomore forward JaKarr Sampson
On what "Dribble for the Cure" means to the Red Storm:
"This event means a lot us. It means a lot to St. John's University, the basketball team and all the teams on campus, especially because of what coach Lavin has been through. He always talks to us about the struggles he's gone through and he passes it down to us that we should always serve our community and give back as much as we can. Kids look up to us as role models so we should always give back."
On the new additions to this year's squad:
"We have a lot more new guys at key positions than we had last year. Some of the players like Max and Orlando that are coming in this year sat out last season and they are going to play a big role. This year might the year."
Junior guard/forward Sir'Dominic Pointer
On Dribble for the Cure:
"Each year I get a better understanding and appreciation for this event, especially having a coach that had cancer and an uncle that passed away from it. Each year I get a better perspective of it. To give back to the kids and community is great. I'm not from around here but this is my new home so I like to give back to the neighborhood and raise money for the cure."
On interacting with fellow students and fans at the event:
"It's definitely a great day to relax and show the fans another side of us, to let them know that we're not just basketball players. We're all a family and this is our neighborhood and we're going to take care of it."
On what aspect of his game he has been working on most this summer:
"Making open shots. That's my goal. I want to hit three-point shots when I'm open and be a threat out there on offense. Everyone knows I'm a good defender but I want to be a threat on the offensive end too."
Redshirt senior guard Eugeneia McPherson
On building team chemistry:
"Besides seeing each other and practicing together every day, it's great to do something with community and the university that's so positive. It really brings us together as a team."
On being an inspiration to the kids:
"To put a smile on the kids' faces, I know they look up to us and it's nice to have that role in someone's life. Just to forget about basketball and school to focus on pediatric cancer is what's important. I'm glad to be a part of Dribble for the Cure to support the kids who have this terrible disease."
Sophomore guard Ashley Perez
On being a part of Dribble for the Cure:
"Dribble for the Cure is a great event for our team to join our community in the fight against cancer. This is the second year that I've been at this event and it continues to be a fun way to raise funds and awareness."
On community service as a team building activity:
"Community service is a great team building experience, because we're all here together working towards the same goal. Today we're getting together for something other than basketball and it gives us a chance to build team chemistry."
Senior guard Briana Brown
On giving back to the community:
"It's important for all of us, not just the women's basketball team. We're all out here to serve our community at Dribble for the Cure. It's a great event to raise funds towards a cure for pediatric cancer."
On what Dribble for the Cure means to her:
"My grandmother has breast cancer so this means a lot to me on a personal level. Most people know someone that has cancer so this is a good opportunity for all of us to come out and serve. It's my last go-around as a senior, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to come out and serve the community."
Sophomore guard Aliyyah Handford:
On the importance of Dribble for the Cure:
"Today gives us a chance to join the fight against cancer. It's a good team-building event and it gives us a chance to give back to the community at the same time."
