2K Classic Honors Wounded Warriors at Madison Square Garden
The 2K Classic didn’t just kick the 2014 college basketball season into full regular-season gear. The eight-team tournament also benefitted a reputable non-profit organization in Wounded Warriors Project, which provides aid to injured veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The focus at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 20 was on the second of two games in which the relatively local Syracuse Orange dropped an upset to the California Golden Bears, 73–59. But the night also paid homage to soldiers who have returned to the United States but are still battling physical, emotional and psychological problems.
Ali Simpson (pictured at center above), has been a Syracuse fan for over 10 years, a large part of his 19-year service as a military police officer. While stationed in Iraq in the summer of 2012, Simpson, 40, was wounded after an improvised explosive device hit his Humvee.
Seven surgeries later, Simpson was honored at half-court prior by his beloved Orange filling the bench behind him.
“[Wounded Warriors] gets us engaged with other people,” said Simpson, who was joined by his girlfriend, Dionne.
International travel became “like crossing the street” for Simpson during his service. He left Iraq for Germany for three years, as well as Italy and New Jersey’s now-former Fort Dix for two years each. Since his retirement from the service last year, Simpson has been living in his native Paterson, N.J., and returned to the Garden for the third annual tournament benefitting Wounded Warriors.
The Texas Longhorns, who defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 71–57 in the first match, wore black socks with a white imprint of the Wounded Warriors logo, which pictures one soldier carrying a fellow injured fighter over his shoulder.
“The goal of the project is to go from the one being carried to the one carrying others,” said Danny Rodriguez, the outreach coordinator for Wounded Warriors. “There is lots of noise and lots of people, so we want to make sure we are there for them in case of PTSD-related triggers.”
Rodriguez, who himself served in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2002, said that four of the eight teams each had a Warrior who traveled with the squad during the tournament. They served as honorary captains.
“They interact and give pep talks in the locker rooms,” Rodriguez said.
Lindsey Kronforst, who works for Wounded Warriors as a fundraiser, estimated that 180 veterans, friends and family members attended the first of two nights of the championship round at the Garden.
“It’s the only time we’re on ESPN,” Kronforst said.
Simpson, whose girlfriend was equipped with enough of his pain medication so that he could stay for the Syracuse game, said that he appreciates the opportunity to watch sports in person again.
“Before, when you watched the Super Bowl [overseas], it was already over,” he said.
Simpson added that he collects memorabilia from each of the events benefitting the organization he cares about so deeply.
“I’ve got about seven [Warriors] foam fingers,” he said.
