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Pennsylvania Boy To Deliver Super Bowl Game Ball

Photo courtesy of DEANNE MARGOLIS

Fitness became a bigger part of 13-year-old Sam Kimmel's life in 2007 when doctors told him he has asthma.

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By BAIRD HELGESON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 19, 2009

Updated: 01/19/2009 04:12 pm

TAMPA - If you look closely, you'll see a wispy teenager running a ball to the officials between the coin toss and the kickoff at Super Bowl XLIII.

It will be the moment of a lifetime - so far, anyway - for 13-year-old Sam Kimmel.

The National Football League selected the Homer City, Pa., native as winner of this year's Play 60 Super Kid contest, which encourages children to stay active. He will deliver the game ball in front of 70,000 fans and millions of television viewers.

Fitness became a bigger part of Kimmel's life in 2007 when doctors told him he has asthma. Kimmel also has an ailment known as funnel chest, a depression in his breastbone that can hinder breathing.

Kimmel learned he won after being summoned to the principal's office.

"I was like, 'Oh, God, what did I do?" he said in an interview.

Kimmel picked up the phone and his mother told him the news.

"Immediately, my eyes watered up," Kimmel said. "I almost passed out in the chairs behind me."

He thought the experience couldn't get any sweeter until he and the rest of the nation learned Sunday his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Arizona Cardinals.

"I am freaking out," said Kimmel, who aspires to be a sportscaster.

Kimmel and his family will fly to Tampa on Jan. 27, and he will be featured during Kids' Day at the NFL Experience, the league's interactive theme park next to Raymond James Stadium.

He will also attend the pregame rehearsal and meet the referees. Details are still being arranged, but Kimmel said he believes he can remain on the field during the game.

Kimmel was among 20,000 fans who entered the contest online at NFLRush.com, the NFL's Web site for kids. He was selected by a panel of NFL players including Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Santana Moss of the Washington Redskins.

"I enjoyed Sam's entry because he is a testament to the fact that all things can be overcome in life," Moss said. "We must not allow obstacles to get in the way of our dreams, and Sam is doing just that, by not allowing asthma to get in the way of a normal life."

The contest required entrants to pledge to be active for 60 minutes a day and answer two questions about the importance of health and fitness.

Kimmel figured he already worked out 40 minutes a day in gym class so he could easily add another 20 minutes playing sports or snowboarding in the winter.

In his essay, Kimmel said he was inspired by Jerome Bettis, the Steelers running back who retired after winning the Super Bowl in 2006.

"He was told that he had asthma when he was 14." Kimmel said. "Now his old playing days with asthma inspire me to work harder."

Kimmel also will be featured on special boxes of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal as part of the "Earn Your Stripes" program, which encourages kids to eat right.

His mother, Ruth, said she can't remember much after the call from the NFL confirming Sam's selection.

"I didn't hear anything after they said we won three tickets," she said. "This is something I'd never be able to give him, so it's a real blessing. And it's been a real dream come true for him."

Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668.

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