Giants honor paralyzed players

Blake Hunt and Vinny Nollman had each been to only one NFL football game in their lives, but they paled in comparison to the Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants tilt that they both attended on Sunday, November 11.
The Giants laid out the red carpet for the two Queens teenagers who suffered serious spinal injuries eight days apart while playing football in September. They were given V.I.P. status.
Nollman and Hunt, each paralyzed below the waist at the present time, were brought onto the field an hour before kickoff. They watched the two teams take warm-ups and met several Giants, including wide receiver Plaxico Burress, tight end Jeremy Shockey, and backup quarterback Anthony Wright.
After the Cowboys’ 31-20 win, Hunt and Nollman were brought into the Giants locker room, given a tour by Wright and autographed footballs and calendars by Burress and fellow receiver Amani Toomer.
“It was a beautiful experience because both of these boys deserved to see this game,” Hunt’s father, Greg, said. “They really felt good about it. I’m glad I had the chance to be here with my son.”
Seated behind the home end zone, the two had a perfect view of the showdown for first place in the NFC East. They each listed their personal highlight as meeting Shockey, the All-Pro tight end. “That catch Jeremy Shockey made for a touchdown, I almost jumped out of my wheelchair,” said Hunt, a Flushing native.
Wright served as their host. A few weeks back, he met the two at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Center in Manhattan, and was so touched by their predicament he organized the event.
“I had a chance to make sure they had one good day,” Wright said. “I know they are going through some things with rehab and everything and it’s tough on them. I just wanted them to come out and do something that probably nobody can do on a normal day. It is ironic, because it was not such a good day for us, but it was still good for them. At the end of the day, the fact that they had a good day, it makes it feel like a win.”
“It’s something they can always remember when they get old,” he went on. “They can say they came to a Dallas Cowboys-Giants game and had a chance to go into the locker room and meet some of the greats.”
Their wide smiles told the story. Wearing Giants gear, the two kids had the time of their life, although the home team lost. “They treated us like kings, so it was pretty cool,” Hunt said.
“It was a great experience,” said Nollman, a Howard Beach native.
“It meant a lot,” his cousin, Jamie Sagranesi, said. “He was excited, I was excited.”
Hunt and Nollman each said they are progressing every day, seeing steady improvement. Sunday was certainly a boost.
“They had everything set up,” Hunt said. “All we had to do was get here.”