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Marcus Smart has a job that often requires him to take charges from players 4 inches taller and 40 pounds heavier. After his Celtics played six games in nine nights, he was tired and sore.But as he finished his shooting drills, he got himself in the right mood for a charity event he was hosting at the teams practice facility for Childrens Hospital patients and their families.The plan: a video game extravaganza for the patients, who arrived with delight to find Xbox and PlayStation consoles set up around the court. Soon Smart was feeding off the energy of the beaming kids, while the children reveled in a fun NBA respite from the needles, chemotherapy and drudgery of being chronically ill. For a few hours at least, things were a little fun.The afternoon was winding down, and Smart was satisfied his days work was complete -- until, while everyone was packing up, he was approached by the brother of a patient named Damone.Damone, the worlds biggest 16-year-old Marcus Smart fan, was hospitalized with lymphoma and was devastated he was missing this day because he was too ill to leave the hospital.Smart looked at his watch. It had been a long day, but what was one more hour? He drove to Childrens to meet Damone, who, his family explained, had been listless and despondent and hadnt left his bed for weeks. Damone had undergone a bone marrow transplant, and his prognosis was dire. He had lost hope, addressing his family in monosyllabic tones.He was really struggling, really depressed, Smart says. He wouldnt talk to anyone.But when Smart strode into his room, Damone came alive. For the first time in weeks, he sat up. He recited Smarts high school statistics from Flower Mound, Texas, and even rattled off the names and ages of Smarts brothers.One of those brothers, Todd Westbrook, a former all-district player from Lancaster, Texas, was diagnosed with cancer at age 15. He battled his illness for nearly two decades and died at the age of 33, leaving behind a heartbroken younger sibling. Smart says Todds resilience has remained a driving force in his own quest to become an NBA star.Maybe the death of Smarts own brother from cancer is what moved him to reach out to Damone. Maybe thats why the two of them were able to talk so easily and so frankly.I dont know how to describe it, Smart says. You know when you have a special connection with someone that you cant explain? This little guy did it for me.Smart visited with Damone for nearly half an hour. He chatted with him about basketball and about his illness. They talked about Todd Westbrook and his courage in facing his disease. Damone hung on every word.It was the first time the doctors and his parents had seen any positive reaction from him in a long time, Smart says.The following day, on Friday, Jan. 22, Smart and the Celtics played host to the Chicago Bulls. He arranged to have pizza sent to Damones hospital room while he watched the game with his parents. Smart wrote Damones name on his shoes and dedicated the game to him, which the Celtics won 110-101.After the game, Smart motioned to Heather Walker, senior director of public relations of the Celtics, and gave her his sneakers.Make sure Damone gets them, he told her.Walker called Childrens Hospital the next morning to arrange for the shoes to be delivered. What she discovered took her breath away: sometime during the night, after the pizza party and the Celtics victory, Damone had passed away.The news left Smart sobbing like a small child. Nearly a year later, the mention of Damones name still leaves him fighting back tears.I think about him a lot, Smart says. I wish I could have done more.Damones death has left Smart more resolute about understanding pediatric cancer and its unique challenges. The physicians at Childrens allowed him to visit their stem cell research center, where Smart learned neurologists have developed a low-cost test to detect tumors, a welcome alternative to the pricey CT scans that are often difficult for families to afford. Smart was fascinated to discover there is a 3-D model of the brain that physicians practice on before they actually operate on their young patients.None of it can bring back his brother Todd or his pal Damone, but there will be more kids just like them, and Smart promises to be there for them.The one thing I do take out of it, is for that one night, I could make Damone laugh and smile, Smart says. I think thats all he wanted -- to have one more kid moment. I thank God I had the chance to give him that.Cheap NHL Jerseys From China . LOUIS -- St. Buy NHL Jerseys 2020 .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. https://www.nhljerseys2020.com/ . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. NHL Jerseys China . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Adidas NHL Jerseys 2020 . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position.SAN ANTONIO -- Former Spurs forward Tim Duncan made an appearance at the teams training camp workout Wednesday, just two days after coach Gregg Popovich joked he would fine the future Hall of Famer $2,500 for each day he was absent.But even with Duncans surprise appearance, his role within the organization remains a work in progress.When I got done arguing with him about why hes been fined for not showing up the last few days, we got that out of the way first. Most people under contract are required to show up for their jobs, Popovich said jokingly. He said he didnt have a contract. But I told him I thought we had a verbal contract, and I thought that was just as good as written. Were having a tough time right now, the two of us, trying to get him straight. Hes always been tough to manage, especially so now that hes retired.One of the cornerstones of San Antonios five NBA championships, Duncan announced his retirement in July after 19 seasons with the team. He served as a spectator as the club scrimmaged Wednesday and could be seen conversing with former teammates as they took part in an after-practice shootaround.Popovich mentioned Monday that Duncan would remain involved with the team and joked that he would be the coach of whatever he feels like. Popovich said there is no room for Duncan on the bench during game situations and joked that hes too smart for that anyway.The coach was unsure whether Duncan would take part in some road trips, saying the organization just want[s] to let it kind of morph into its own sort of thing.Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said the plan is to let Duncans role evolve. Duncan lives fairly close to the teams practice facilities, and his car customization business, BlackJack Speed Shop, is less than five minutes from the clubs practice site.ddddddddddddLike Popovich, Buford said Duncans role will be whatever he decides it to be. But first the club would like Duncan to adjust to life after basketball, while finding the niche in which hes most comfortable.I think hes learning about life after playing, Buford said. And he can impact us in so many ways. I think we need to sit back and get a better understanding of how he feels like he wants to fit in and what works for his family. Then well figure it out from there. But the gym feels better when hes in it.New acquisition Dewayne Dedmon agreed.Oh, definitely, Dedmon said. He was one of the best to ever do it. So its always a plus when he comes around.Dedmon said he has already received some coaching tips from Duncan, who told the new Spurs center that I need to talk more, communicate more on defense. Ill be doing that next time. He says a couple of words to you, lets you know what you need to do.Given the fact the Spurs brought in 12 new players among the 20 on the roster, several of the new acquisitions plan to absorb as much information as possible about the clubs culture from Duncan, who played a significant role in creating it.He has as much knowledge about being in the NBA as anybody who has ever played the game, said David Lee, an 11-year veteran and two-time All-Star who joined the Spurs in August after spending the 2015-16 season with the Dallas Mavericks. He has a great feel for the game, perhaps the best of all time. Thats someone Im definitely going to listen to whenever he has something to say. ' ' '