Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 27 February 2018

Paralyzed ex-UConn hoops player now a curling Paralympian

By PAT EATON-ROBB coach called to say a Ca-
NORFOLK, Conn. (AP) — nadian team was missing
Steve Emt was rolling him- a player and asked if Emt
self up a hill to a pie shop would be willing to drive
in Falmouth, Massachu- from his home in Connecti-
setts, when the coach of cut to fill in. He'd have to
a wheelchair curling team learn the game between
noticed the former UConn midnight and 4 a.m., after
basketball player. the curling tournament had
The shop's name was Pie ended for the day.
in the Sky. An interesting No problem. The math
coincidence, Emt thought, teacher fell in love with the
when Tony Colacchio ap- angles of the game, figur-
proached him and sug- ing out how hard to throw
gested that within a year the stone down the ice and
he could turn Emt into a how much curl was need-
Paralympic athlete in a ed to make a shot.
sport he'd never heard of. Colacchio said he was
It took a few years, but next immediately impressed
month, Emt will compete in by Emt's dedication. His
the Paralympic Games in star pupil now practices
South Korea as the vice skip about 20 hours a week, ei-
of the United States curling Former Connecticut basketball player Steve Emt practices his curling at the Norfolk Curling Club ther making the five-hour
team. in Norfolk, Conn., Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. round-trip drive to Cape
"The sport just bit me," he Associated Press Cod or two hours to clubs
said. "With everything that in Norfolk, Connecticut or
has happened to me in life, Ollie from 1992 to 1994. What followed were surger- Emt to mentor a troubled Bridgeport. "The day they
I've learned to stop asking "Coach Calhoun stepped ies and months of rehab, teen. That gave him some put that USA jacket on
why. Everything happens right in as a father figure," learning to open a door direction. He wanted to him, he cried," Colacchio
for a reason." Emt said. "He became a by himself, put clothes on, work with kids; he wanted to said, choking up himself. "I
He was a student at the U.S. person I could talk to, a make toast. be an example. Emt even- still get emotional thinking
Military Academy in when person who demanded the "There were two days at tually went back to school, about it." Emt's team leaves
he lost his father, a man most out of me, showed me the beginning I couldn't became a math teacher this week. They will spend
he says was his best friend, what it was to never give get out of bed. I hit bottom. and for 20 years, a high some time in Japan prac-
mentor and coach. His up, to give 100 percent ev- I was questioning a lot of school basketball coach. ticing before the games.
dad's death, he said, led to ery day." Emt said he need- things," he said. "I was 25. I He said he never had the The curling begins March
falling grades at West Point ed those values, instilled by could have played profes- desire to play wheelchair 10. Calhoun said he's con-
and a decision to come his dad and drilled home sional basketball in Europe. basketball. He has tried vinced Emt can help bring
home to Hebron, Connect- by Calhoun to help him sur- I could have played profes- several other adaptive home a medal.
icut, where he was a bas- vive what came next. sional soccer. All that was sports, even racing a hand "When things don't always
ketball and soccer star in A year removed from gone. I messed up. What cycle in the 2010 New York go your way, it takes more
high school. UConn, Emt lost his ability now?" Calhoun gave him marathon. than the average person to
Jim Calhoun said he to walk when he decided some advice. But then in July 2012 he overcome it," Calhoun said.
learned from his players to get into his truck after "I didn't want people telling went on vacation to Cape "Steve's always done that.
about this big, tough kid a night of watching bas- him how tough he had it," Cod, and decided to get So, I think he can help his
playing intramural games ketball and drinking with Calhoun said. "I told him, some pie. teammates, who have all
at UConn. Calhoun, who friends at a bar in East Hart- no, you're not going to play About a week after their been through similar things,
also had lost his father at ford. He drove off Inter- in the NBA, but you weren't meeting at the pie shop, realize, maybe when the
a young age, gave the state 84, flipped five times going to do that anyway. Colacchio convinced Emt times get tougher, 'Hey, we
6-foot-4, Emt him a chance into a bridge abutment So, why not put those good to come watch an interna- can do this.' You know how
to walk on to the Huskies. going about 80 mph. He things you do have, your tional tournament, called people ask, 'Who would
He played with the likes of broke most of his ribs and mind, your toughness, into a bonspiel, which was be- you want in your foxhole?
Ray Allen, Donyell Marshall his back, severing his spinal something positive." ing held on the cape. Dur- I would like to have Steve
and current coach Kevin cord. A while later a friend asked ing that tournament, the Emt in my foxhole."q

Record-setting Korda wins LPGA Thailand

CHONBURI, Thailand (AP) — by Amy Yang of South Ko- since winning in Malaysia in come back in this event has been playing amazing,
Florida's Jessica Korda set a rea in 2017. 2015. exactly where I started my along with a lot of other
tournament record to win "It's an incredible thing to Ranked No. 26, Korda had rookie year in 2011. I don't people. So that's what I did.
the LPGA Thailand at the be able to win again. I surgery on an overbite in think I could have asked for I just went after it," said No.
Siam Country Club Pattaya haven't won in two years. December and was play- a better win," she said. 4-ranked Thompson.
Old Course on Sunday. And who knows? It's so ing in her first tournament Thompson, who won here Moriya, the 2013 Rookie of
Korda held off Lexi Thomp- hard out here. These girls since November. in 2016, turned in a bogey the Year, almost caught up
son and local hope Moriya are so good. I mean, look "I just came with no expec- free round that included with Korda after nine holes
Jutanugarn for a four-stroke at the scoreboard. I had to tations after surgery. It's re- eight birdies to sign off with when she closed to within
win after a final-round 67 shoot 25 under just to win," ally hard for me to move. a 64 for a 21 under 267. two shots, but her chal-
for an overall total of 25 un- said Korda after claiming All this stuff is just still re- "I had to just fire at every- lenge faded and she failed
der 263, smashing the pre- her fifth LPGA win. ally hard, but I'm really, re- thing today and make a lot to become the first Thai win-
vious mark of 22 under set It was Korda's first trophy ally happy that I chose to of birdies because Jessica ner of the tournament.q