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Wake-Up Call: Ex-Buc Nece still spreading word of charity

Tribune file photo

Ryan Nece (center, with father Ronnie Lott, left, and Marcus Allen) is still promoting charity in Tampa.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 11, 2009

Updated: 06/11/2009 10:54 am

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

There were about 60 Tampa Bay area business and community leaders invited Tuesday night to a Ryan Nece Foundation function at Mise En Place, a Tampa restaurant. It seemed like routine stuff - cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, networking, Nece saying thanks for the support, the requisite contributions to the foundation and everyone speeding back to their normal lives.

Then Nece called for everyone's attention.

"Tonight, I want to do something a little different," said Nece, the former Bucs linebacker who played last season with the Detroit Lions.

Slowly, everyone forgot about their normal lives. Suddenly, they imagined some possibilities.

Each person was handed an envelope - with a "Power of Giving" logo.

Inside was $55.

Nece, who wore No. 55 last season with the Lions, had instructions. Use the money for someone who needs help, he said. Try to make the cash multiply. Be creative. Get others involved.

Nece, who donated $4,000 of his money for the project, is essentially unemployed. He was released by the Lions in the offseason and hopes to find a new team, but there are no offers yet.

In the meantime, just like his foundation that recognizes young Good Samaritans, he's doing something that could prove much more powerful.

A few months ago, Nece was moved by a sermon he heard in church. It was about the modern world of strangers who should be getting to know their neighbors. Even more, the pastor said, we should always support our neighbors, especially in times of need.

Nece instantly remembered one of his favorite movies - "Pay It Forward" - about a 12-year-old schoolboy (played by Haley Joel Osment) who is given an idealistic assignment by his social studies teacher: Find a way to change the world through a direct action.

The boy initiates a plan to help three people with a good deed. They must in turn do good deeds for three people of their own, a pyramid of kindness that continues to pay it forward.

"It's such a simple concept," Nece said. "Yet, how often do we do something like that?

"We're all so caught up in our lives. And these days, with the economy, we're all bombarded by such negativity. We're all in tough times.

"The idea is to step away from your own life, do something for others and watch it grow. Imagine how you can help someone else. I was a little nervous about it because all of these people have supported the foundation, but nobody really knew why they were invited to this. Truthfully, I can't believe the response. The juices were really flowing. People were thinking. They were lingering, not wanting to leave. It's exciting."

Nece wants everyone, once they have an idea about how to use the $55, to write a blog on his Web site (www.ryannece.com).

Before leaving Tuesday night, one man said he was going to spend his $55 on postage stamps. He would then write friends and acquaintances, imploring them to help others with a financial donation.

Someone plans to purchase food for a homeless shelter.

One person is motivated to help a struggling student with college tuition - while inspiring everyone she knows to do the same.

Another person, affiliated with an automobile dealership, will give a $55 bonus to everyone who takes delivery of a car, along with Nece's instructions to help others.

Nece has been a philanthropist since arriving in Tampa as an undrafted free-agent from UCLA in 2002. He was on Tampa Bay's Super Bowl XXXVII champion team, but suffered a season-ending injury in October. After that, he became a fixture at outside linebacker and on special teams.

"So many people have helped me in my career, and I've always felt compelled to give back," said Nece, 30.

He thought the Lions would represent a new beginning last season. Instead, he endured Detroit's 0-16 nightmare.

"I think it's harder to go 0-16 than to do what the Patriots did and go 16-0," Nece said. "It's frustrating when you're part of winning a Super Bowl, then you're on a team that can't win one game.

"People told me, 'Man, after playing in Tampa, it must have seemed cold outside in Detroit.' Well, it was cold outside and it was cold inside. I can't wait to sign with another team, but there's only so much you can control. I can't worry about it because you're at the mercy of other coaches and general managers. No matter what, Tampa is still going to be my home because this town has done so much for me."

And Nece, in turn, has done plenty for this town.

That was clear on Tuesday night, when Tampa's movers and shakers were moved to action. Who knows where it might lead?

"This is what happens when you give," Nece said. "There's nothing that compares to the feeling you get."

Schuster receives national honor

Mitchell High School left-handed pitcher Patrick Schuster was Florida's representative on the National High School Coaches Association Athlete of the Year team, which included a total of 20 boys and girls sports. Four athletes were from Texas, while 16 other states had one athlete each.

Schuster (8-1, 0.93 ERA) received national attention when he set a Florida record with four consecutive no-hitters. Schuster, who signed baseball scholarship with the University of Florida, was a 13th-round selection of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Span out of the lineup

Minnesota Twins outfielder and leadoff batter Denard Span (Tampa Catholic) left Tuesday night's game at Oakland in the third inning after experiencing dizziness for the second time in a month. He returned to Minnesota on Wednesday to see a specialist and hopes to rejoin the team in Chicago for a three-game series with the Cubs beginning on Friday.

"I feel like I can't focus or concentrate when I'm hitting," Span told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "My last at-bat [second-inning strikeout], I didn't even see the ball.

"I've thought about different things it could be, but I don't know. I don't think it's anxiety. I'm not sure if it has something to do with me getting Lasik eye surgery [after the 2007 season] on one side and not on the other. There's a lot of things I'm thinking about, so hopefully we'll find out. I've never felt this way playing baseball, I know that."

Fairel firing blanks

Left-handed pitcher Matt Fairel (Winter Haven), who plays for the Class A Dayton Dragons in the Cincinnati Reds' organization, has not allowed a run in 18 consecutive innings over his last three starts. Fairel (4-2, 2.20 ERA, 62 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings) was selected for the Midwest League All-Star Game on June 23 in Clinton, Iowa.

Otero gets 12th save

Former University of South Florida pitcher Dan Otero (0-1, 0.83 ERA), now with the Double-A Connecticut Defenders in the San Francisco Giants' organization, had a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday night during a 3-2 victory against Bowie. Otero's 12 saves are third in the Eastern League.

More NCAA basketball headed to Tampa?

Whether it's opening-round games or regionals, expect more NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament games for Tampa in 2011, 2012 or 2013. The Tampa Bay Sports Commission the University of South Florida (host institution) submitted bids to the NCAA and a decision is expected in September.

"We'd be ecstatic if we receive any event in any year," said Rob Higgins, the Sports Commission executive director.

The year 2012 would seem problematic because the St. Pete Times Forum already has secured the Frozen Four college hockey tournament for that April. Higgins said the turnaround could be managed, if necessary.

Truth is, the NCAA has raved about Tampa's management of basketball events. In 2008, it hosted one of the most unforgettable opening days in NCAA Tournament history (four games, four upsets, including Western Kentucky's overtime buzzer-beater against Drake), then pulled off the Women's Final Four just two weeks later.

The Women's Final Four already has secured a return to Tampa in 2015.

By September, expect news on the return of the men's tournament, too.

Remembering Newk

If you're a regular fan of the Lightning, no doubt you did some time at Newk's Cafe, once adjacent to the Forum. And odds are, you encountered the owner, Jack Newkirk, always visiting tables, calling you by your name, making sure you were having a nice time.

Newkirk, who battled a blood disorder (amyloidosis) for four years, died on June 3. He was 62.

Newkirk opened Newk's in 1996, when the Lightning moved to the Forum. He sold it during his illness.

He was an elite athlete, a Jefferson High School basketball player known for his vertical leap. "Jumpin' Jack" Newkirk, they called him. The Dragons were coached by Dana Kirk, who would later take Memphis State to the 1985 Final Four. Newkirk earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Florida.

His daughters were standout volleyball players at Tampa Prep - Janel earned a scholarship to Auburn and Christi went to Stetson.

Newkirk said he wanted a party, not a funeral. Sure enough, friends and family gathered Wednesday night to celebrate his life.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to fraternal twins Joey and Stephen Graham, the former Brandon High School basketball players who helped Oklahoma State to the 2004 Final Four and are now in the NBA. Joey just completed his fourth season with the Toronto Raptors (career averages of 6.4 points and 3.1 rebounds), who selected him as a first-round draft choice in 2005. Stephen averaged 5.4 points this season with the Indiana Pacers. Today, the Graham twins turn 27.

The Answer Man

Here's the answer to Wednesday's trivia question:

Four former Plant High School baseball players have made the major leagues: third baseman Wade Boggs (debuted with Red Sox on April 10, 1982); catcher John Ramos (debuted with Yankees on Sept. 18, 1991); catcher Marc Ronan (debuted with Cardinals on Sept. 21, 1993); and relief pitcher John Hudek (debuted with Astros on April 23, 1994).

Thursday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Which member of the Orlando Magic was once part of a championship team in the NBA Finals?

Check for the answer in Friday's Wake-Up Call.

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