Dragons delight kids at St. Mary’s

The three arena football players from the New York Dragons towered above the kids at St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children in Bayside, but none of the excited children seemed intimidated.
Instead, one ran circles around the giant athletes and another whipped up a half-dozen end zone dances.
“I already made friends of them,” beamed 15-year-old Jorge Mora, who is in a wheelchair. “They are good, no not good, excellent.”
On Monday, May 7, Dragons defensive back Billy Parker, defensive lineman Paul White, and offensive lineman Joe Laudano visited the children at St. Mary’s for the first time, autographed footballs, and posed for pictures with about 20 patients.
However, the football stars had already met 18-year-old Jay from the Bronx, who had gone to a Dragons game and met the players.
“We won that time,” Laudano joked, teasing Yankees fan Jay Steven with a Red Sox cap.
St. Mary’s President and CEO Dr. Burton Grebin presented the players with a commendation from the hospital - an image of four hands linked together, and the players promised to visit again.
Mora said that he wanted to watch the Dragons came on TV, if only he knew what channel they were televised.
“They are humungous,” he said. “I like the tackles, the touchdowns, and the kickoff.”