TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Something Special

Michael Spooneybarger/Staff

Sam Piazza watches Gaither High School varsity basketball team during their game against Wharton High School Wednesday, January 30, 2008.

ADVERTISEMENT

By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 5, 2008

Updated: 02/05/2008 12:12 am

TAMPA - Sam Piazza placed his arm around Gaither High senior guard Eddie Munoz and smiled.

"He's like my brother," Piazza said.

Munoz smiled back.

Nick Altieri, sitting on the other side of Munoz, gave him a pat on the back.

"He's a good guy," Altieri said.

Munoz smiled again.

"They inspire me to do more on the basketball court," Munoz said. "They're funny kids. They're really like a part of the team."

Piazza, a sophomore, and Altieri, a junior, are the ball boys for the Gaither boys basketball team. The past two seasons, Piazza and Altieri have sat on the Gaither bench, fetching water and towels for the players, cheering on every play. After every game, they stand in line with the Gaither players to shake hands with the opponent.

Both were born with Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra chromosome. The condition affects a person's physical growth and cognitive abilities. Since joining the team, however, their appearance doesn't matter. Nor their learning ability. All that mattered was friendship, teamwork and winning.

Gaither plays Mitchell in the Class 6A-District 7 quarterfinals on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Sickles.

In 2006, Gaither basketball coach Dwayne Olinger, also the school's P.E. teacher, offered Piazza a position on the team as team manager.

"I said to him, 'Why don't you help us out at the games and get you involved,'" said Olinger, now in his eighth season as head coach. "Then Sam told me about Nick because they were friends."

After hearing the news, the best friends were ecstatic.

"I was really excited to be a part of the team," Piazza said.

"Olinger is a great guy," Altieri said. "I appreciate what he does for me."

It meant just as much to their parents.

"It's a way of being socially accepted," said Nick's mother, Doreen. "He loves the responsibility of taking care of the boys."

"Not often do you have people like that who are willing to open their program up," said Nick's father, Ray. "These coaches have a lot to deal with. It really shows what kind of guy he is."

Nick and Sam are enrolled in the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) department at Gaither and both take community-based training classes in which they work a few hours each week at a Publix grocery store. Altieri works in the deli while Piazza is a bagger. Off campus, they're like two peas in a pod.

"They have to be separated at times," Doreen said. "My car knows the way to Sam's house. We carpool everyday. They play basketball and they go to the movies."

The best friends also study karate and are active in other sports, such as baseball and swimming. Altieri is a three-time state gold medalist in the Florida Special Olympic Aquatic Championships. They met shortly before the 2006 school season when their parents introduced them.

"His mother was my swim teacher," Altieri said. "We got along very good. We're like brothers now."

After high school, Altieri's parents are considering enrolling Nick in the S.T.A.G.E.S (Successful Transition After Graduation for Exceptional Students) program at the University of South Florida while the Piazzas have considered enrolling Sam in a similar program offered by St. Joseph's Children's Hospital. Nick said he would like to pursue a career in sports management.

Having Nick and Sam on the team has been a learning experience for all involved.

"I think it gives other kids a perspective that just because they are different, they are capable," said Sam's mother, Ruth. "It's going to make the other kids more accepting as adults. It starts in an environment like this."

"They're always happy," said senior guard and star player Kornilous Donnell, who leads the Cowboys (8-13) with 21.7 points per game. "They're just like one of my friends. They're no different."

The last two years, Olinger has introduced Nick and Sam as part of the team during the winter sports prep rally. He swears he treats them no different than the players on the team, correcting them when they make a mistake and giving a soft pat on the back when they are successful.

"They are some of the happiest people I've been around," Olinger said. "They pick me up. We take things for granted they never take for granted."

Before this season, Piazza asked Olinger if he could try out for the junior varsity team. Olinger didn't have the heart to destroy his dream, so he gave him a private tryout. Piazza gave it his all.

"I got cut and I cried," Piazza said. "Its just high school. ... It's just a part of life."

"I appreciate the coach giving him a chance to try out," said Sam's father, John. "I think it was one of the life lessons you learn, that just because you try out, you don't always make the team. He's always had a great outlook about himself and what he can accomplish. It's always good to have goals that are farther out than you can reach."

For Nick and Sam, just being able to support the team brings joy to their lives.

"I ask Jesus to give us a miracle each game," Piazza said. "I want the Cowboys to have the best game of their lives."

"We put something special in their hearts after a game," Altieri said. "When me and Sam smile, it's something special."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT