- June 7th, 2009, 12:57 pm
#262000
Italy, California, Texas, France. Last week he even heard from the father of a newborn from New York City, whose child has only one hand.
It’s the same condition suffered by Laue.
“He and his wife had their kid three weeks ago,” Laue said. “He said this was the first time since his baby was born that he’s been happy, because he heard my story and realizes his kid could do anything.”
Laue paused.
“It’s almost overwhelming,” he said, “to have this kind of effect on so many people.”
Although he’s yet to play a game, Laue recently became one of the most inspirational stories in college basketball when he signed a national letter of intent with Manhattan College.
Laue has dealt with the condition since birth, when his left arm was wedged between the umbilical cord and his head. While the situation kept the circulation to Laue’s brain from being cut off, it also stopped the blood flow in his arm, which stunted its growth.
Laue, now 6-foot-11, refuses to let his disability affect him – especially when it comes to basketball.
Just ask touted Kansas signee Thomas Robinson, whose prep school team lost to Laue’s squad last season.
“He’s big and he’s strong and he plays with heart,” Robinson said. “He had a great game against us. To me he’s legit – even with one hand.”
On offense, Laue – who is missing most of his left forearm – keeps the ball away from defenders by waving it over his head like a water polo player. He scores most of his points on hook shots and put-backs.
When the 232-pound Laue is on defense, he checks the man he’s guarding by sticking his left arm into the player’s back.
“It only takes one hand to block a shot, and he’s as good at it as anyone,” said Fletcher Arritt, who coached Laue at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. “The kid is a monster. If he had two hands he’d be at Kentucky or North Carolina right now, and we wouldn’t even be talking.”
Instead Laue is headed to Manhattan, where he’s simply thankful to be getting a chance.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... &type=lgns
It’s the same condition suffered by Laue.
“He and his wife had their kid three weeks ago,” Laue said. “He said this was the first time since his baby was born that he’s been happy, because he heard my story and realizes his kid could do anything.”
Laue paused.
“It’s almost overwhelming,” he said, “to have this kind of effect on so many people.”
Although he’s yet to play a game, Laue recently became one of the most inspirational stories in college basketball when he signed a national letter of intent with Manhattan College.
Laue has dealt with the condition since birth, when his left arm was wedged between the umbilical cord and his head. While the situation kept the circulation to Laue’s brain from being cut off, it also stopped the blood flow in his arm, which stunted its growth.
Laue, now 6-foot-11, refuses to let his disability affect him – especially when it comes to basketball.
Just ask touted Kansas signee Thomas Robinson, whose prep school team lost to Laue’s squad last season.
“He’s big and he’s strong and he plays with heart,” Robinson said. “He had a great game against us. To me he’s legit – even with one hand.”
On offense, Laue – who is missing most of his left forearm – keeps the ball away from defenders by waving it over his head like a water polo player. He scores most of his points on hook shots and put-backs.
When the 232-pound Laue is on defense, he checks the man he’s guarding by sticking his left arm into the player’s back.
“It only takes one hand to block a shot, and he’s as good at it as anyone,” said Fletcher Arritt, who coached Laue at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. “The kid is a monster. If he had two hands he’d be at Kentucky or North Carolina right now, and we wouldn’t even be talking.”
Instead Laue is headed to Manhattan, where he’s simply thankful to be getting a chance.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... &type=lgns
From Bill Simmons:
See " The Sneeze" time stamp - 7:45
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/090903
See " The Sneeze" time stamp - 7:45
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/090903
- By LUOrange
- By ballah09