The former Wisconsin Badgers star would rather be in a Utah Jazz uniform and plying his trade as an NBA point guard, but the lockout has changed his usual November schedule.

So on Saturday morning Harris was making the most of his time away from the game while handing out turkeys at the MLK Heritage Health Center on Milwaukee’s north side.

The turkeys were given to 100 local families selected by health center officials.

Harris spoke about the lockout, and his frustration was clear.

“Obviously it’s unfamiliar territory,” Harris said of the impasse between players and owners on a new collective bargaining agreement. “This time of year, you’re used to being plugged into the season.

“I think there’s still time. You look at the last labor issue (in 1998-’99) and it went to late January. We still have hope and we can still salvage most of the season, even going into Christmas.”

There may be a last-ditch push to get the season started by Christmas, but that would take quick action by the NBA’s legal representatives and attorneys for the players. Last week the players union disbanded and two antitrust suits were filed by the players against the league.

Some contact between the sides would have to happen soon to even have a chance of starting a season by Christmas.

Harris has a home in Dallas and has been working out on his own there, trying to stay in shape and be ready if an agreement is reached.

He was traded to Utah last season in the mega-deal that sent veteran point guard Deron Williams from the Jazz to the New Jersey Nets.

“The people I’m being traded for are great players, and I’ve had to replace some pretty stellar players,” said Harris, who started his career with the Dallas Mavericks and was on their NBA Finals team in 2006.

“I got to Dallas and had to replace Steve Nash and got to New Jersey and had to replace Jason Kidd. I got to Utah (and had to replace Williams). It speaks highly because I’m getting moved around for these type of players.”

Williams is playing for Besiktas in Turkey during the lockout, one of a number of players to go overseas. But Harris said he isn’t thinking about that option now, in part due to the birth of his daughter, Charli, just eight weeks old.

“It would have to be a perfect situation,” Harris said. “I’ve talked to my fiancé (Meghan) about it.

“I’m in a contract year next year. It affects us directly going into the new CBA. You want to stay informed and you want to stay a part of it (the labor talks).”

Harris said his team representative, Jazz guard Raja Bell, has done a very good job of keeping him informed and the two have had several long phone conversations.

“When you look at the structure of the deal, I don’t think anybody was happy with it, on our side,” Harris said. “Would you like it to go to a (full membership) vote?

“It’s hard to say. You’ve got to trust the guys that we put in power to do the right thing. You have to have a vote of confidence in them.”

Harris headed up to Madison to watch Wisconsin play Wofford on Saturday night, and a few weeks ago he took part in a Badgers practice.

“I was telling coach, ‘The scout team is rough,’ ” Harris said of his conversation with Badgers coach Bo Ryan. “It was fun being back on the court, being back in the Kohl Center and seeing some of the coaches again.”

Harris made several stops Saturday to distribute turkeys and said his foundation would donate 700 turkeys in Milwaukee this weekend, with the help of sponsor Walmart.

Molina Healthcare added dinner fixings for the families at the MLK Heritage Health Center, and some of the kids – and adults – had their photos taken with Harris.

“This and the toy drive we do, I (usually) don’t get to see a lot of the results,” Harris said. “With us being off, I thought I would take the opportunity.

“I’ll have Thanksgiving here. I can eat a little bit more.”

The event will launch the third annual “Passport to Fitness,” the NETS’ program that encourages youngsters to participate in fun fitness and nutrition activities. This marks Harris’ third year leading the program.

Through April 2010, these 30 youngsters in the program, ranging in age from 10 to 17, will participate in different activities such as indoor rock climbing, karate, ice skating, and horseback riding as they learn various approaches on how to stay fit and healthy.

Participants in the program will receive a passport that will be stamped after each activity.

The AHRC New York City Foundation supports programs enabling children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead richer, more productive lives.

For tickets and information on the Munson Awards Dinner contact 212-249-6188.

“Devin Harris embodies the spirit of the Thurman Munson Award.  He is admired by teammates, coaches and fans for his determination on the court and his important contributions to the community.  The AHRC New York City Foundation looks forward to presenting Devin with a ‘Thurman’ Award on February 1 and deeply appreciates his participation in an event that will benefit children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” –  Michael N. Rosen, chairman of the AHRC New York City Foundation and a partner in the law firm Bryan Cave.

“Congratulations to Devin Harris on becoming an honoree of the Thurman Munson Award,” said Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov.  “Devin is an example to others as to the true meaning of sportsmanship both on and off the court.  I commend him for his efforts in the community and wish him continued success with his ’34 Ways to Assist Foundation’.”

“Devin has been a leader for the Nets since he arrived in New Jersey,” said Nets General Manager Billy King.  “His performance as a basketball player has earned him All-Star recognition, but his work in the community has been just as exemplary.  The Munson award is a tremendous honor, and Devin is certainly well-deserving of the recognition.”

Harris, a 2009 NBA All-Star guard, will be cited for his on-court excellence and community service. The 27-year-old Wisconsin product recently announced his and the Nets donation to the “Eric LeGrand Believe Fund” in an effort to raise funds and awareness of the injured Rutgers football player’s injury, through Devin’s “34 Ways to Assist Foundation.”

The entire “Class of 2011” Munson recipients will be announced in full at a later date.

Diana Munson, Thurman’s widow, will attend the gala, and has been involved in the benefit since its inception, raising nearly $10 million to assist children and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The funds benefit AHRC New York City, one of the largest organizations of its kind, serving 11,000 children and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and other disabilities.

Previous basketball standouts to receive “Thurmans” are Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Dave DeBusschere, Patrick Ewing and Jason Kidd. The “Who’s Who” list  who have accepted Munson Awards during its three-decade history includes Yogi Berra, Tom Seaver, Mohammed Ali, Willie Mays, and Mariano Rivera, just to name a few.

So using your influence in ways that could benefit the public good is … what? An obligation, perhaps?

“I wouldn’t call it an obligation,” the Nets captain said. “No, it’s something you should feel you want to do — otherwise, you’re just doing it for the wrong reason. Because when you want to do something, you pour your heart into it.

“But not everyone is obligated — it doesn’t work that way. It might not be how you were raised, or how your DNA is configured. And that’s fine. That’s your prerogative. I just can’t be that way.”

He’s been in Jersey for only 33 months, and we all know him pretty well by now. That remark above is basically what Harris is about, which is what makes him different from some public figures. We all like sports, yet too often we feel let down by the sportsman.

Harris is the kind of kid who restores your faith. He not only likes people, there is a palpable humanity about him.

Some find it easier to see his talent. When the Nets showed a rare poise and confidence in those wins over Detroit and Sacramento last week, yes, we saw his greatness again. But we always thought it was easier to see his goodness — at least Diana Munson agrees with that part.

You know Diana as Thurman Munson’s widow, a woman of uncommon grace who has carried on her husband’s legacy with the AHRC-New York City — the Association for the Help of Retarded Children, a monolithic organization (albeit with a non-politically correct name) that has raised nearly $10 million for children and adults with developmental disabilities since the Yankees catcher made it his passion in the late ’70s.

Harris has never worked directly with the AHRC, but Diana took one look at his résumé and the work of his 34 Ways To Assist Foundation and decided that he is worthy of the Thurman Munson Award on Feb. 1.

“My foundation has worked with sick kids and (Make A) Wish kids more than the developmentally challenged,” Harris admits, “but I’m blown away by this honor.”

A pause — long enough for his grin to max out: “Have you seen the list of the recipients?” he asked.

Actually, yes. It’s the kind of roster in which surnames are optional: Willis, Clyde, Ali, Yogi, Mariano, et al.

“Many of the athletes that I’ve met at the dinner, it seems like the bigger they are, the more they want to give back — and they often do it quietly,” Diana explained Monday in an e-mail: “I have so much respect for that. If you are giving back for the right reasons, it speaks volumes what kind of a man you are. And that’s the reason I am looking forward to meeting Devin Harris.”

The list of his foundation’s deeds is too lengthy to annotate here, but Harris can remember its genesis. He was in seventh grade when his best friend, Andrew Cook, was diagnosed with cancer, so the Make-A-Wish Foundation sent him to meet Scottie Pippen at the All-Star Game.

“He missed the year because of chemo treatments, but when he got back from that All-Star Game, it gave him an outlook that changed everything,” Harris recalled. “He went on to Pepperdine, and today he’s a financial adviser in San Diego and the smartest guy I know.”

The lesson of that transformative experience was something Harris never forgot. From that moment forward, he understood the impact an athlete could have on kids — not just those born fit and fortunate, but all kids.

And in an age when we are forced to think that compassion is not the business of governments — whose weird ethic prioritizes bailouts and wars over hunger and education — Harris seeks to help those who are most vulnerable.

Indeed, it was telling that the first responders to Eric LeGrand was Harris and the Nets organization, who presented Rutgers with a $75,000 check for Eric on opening night last week.

“You deal with kids today and realize how it’s pretty much the luck of the draw — having the right parents, who give you the discipline and support when you need it,” Harris said. “So sure, I was lucky. And I was raised to think in terms of helping those who aren’t so lucky.”

But as long as the point guard is in New Jersey – and as long as he remains the longest-tenured player on a young and inexperienced Nets squad – Harris wants to give back to the community that helped him become an All-Star.

Harris and the Nets worked together to raise and donate $75,000 for Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, a Colonia, N.J., product who was paralyzed below the neck while making a tackle Oct. 16 against Army.

“Him being from New Jersey and staying home and playing, I think it’s important for us to take care of our community,” Harris said. “It’s an unfortunate thing so we want to do what we can to help him out of this tough situation.”

Various Nets players and staff members contributed money to the “LeGrand Believe Fund,” which is set up to help the family with medical costs from the spinal cord injury.

The Nets donated the money through Harris’ charity organization, “34 Ways to Assist.”

“We could think of no greater cause to get involved with than the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Eric,” Nets GM Billy King said.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said after Saturday’s 41-21 loss to Pittsburgh that LeGrand’s condition has not changed. LeGrand was able to watch the game from his hospital room at the Hackensack Medical Center.

MURPHY ON THE MEND
Troy Murphy participated in half of Monday’s practice, but needs about three full sessions before he’s ready to play in a game, Avery Johnson said.

Murphy strained his back during practice more than two weeks ago – which followed a strained groin he suffered in the offseason – and he sat out the entire preseason. The power forward, who took a cortisone shot in his back last week, said there was no pain and he was ready to play.

The coach, however, would not provide a definitive timetable.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2010/10/26/2010-10-26_devin_gets_assist_for_legrand.html?r=sports#ixzz13he4LOxA

Back SportsPage.com sat down with Devin Harris of the New Jersey Nets to discuss his charitable endeavors.   The ex-Wisconsin Badger was the #5 draft pick of the Washington Wizards in 2004 and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks. In 2008, he was traded to New Jersey for future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd.  Harris has been active in the community in both places as well as in Wisconsin, his home state.  Harris spoke openly with Alexis O’Shea about the upcoming projects and goals of his 34 Ways to Assist Foundation.

Q: Can you tell us about the 34 Ways to Assist Foundation?

A: When I initially entered the NBA, I was lucky enough to join a great organization in Dallas.  I saw the Mavericks running camps and other events and wanted to contribute as well.  Now in New Jersey, I can use the experiences from both Dallas and my childhood to try and make a difference.

You have to focus on making an impact. The first program we became involved with was the Make a Wish Foundation.  While we didn’t have a direct contact, I saw the impact the foundation had on one of my childhood friends who had been diagnosed with cancer.  I liked the idea of helping children’s wishes to come true, especially while they are going through such a tough transition in their life.

The second program is the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. We didn’t have a direct connection, but I had a mentor growing up who played basketball in our area and went to my high school. He had already gone through many of the things I was trying to figure out. He was a mentor through both college and going to the NBA. I saw the direct correlation to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. I started working directly with these foundations and have remained as active as my schedule would allow.

Q: Why did you use kids as the centerpiece of your foundation?

A: Kids are an important part of our future. You see so many kids falter because they don’t have any  direction or a stable environment. I saw this first hand and wanted to be involved whether in Milwaukee, Dallas or New Jersey.  We want to provide an environment where kids can feel safe. It’s not only about basketball. These clinics have a dual purpose, to raise money for charity as well as to educate kids on a variety of topics.

Q: Do you have a staff that works with you on these projects?

A: Yes, we have a staff that works with us. We run an AAU camp out of Milwaukee. It’s a clinic adapted from camps which I attended when I was younger. At most of these camps, the expectation is that you will only play basketball.  With our camp, we spend a lot of time on education.  We started preparing the children for college and have them work on educational projects often beyond what is offered in city schools.  The goal is for the kids to have fun with these projects since nobody really wants to spend the summer in school.  In addition, the campers participate in other sports such as golf and  track.

Q: Who is the camp geared towards?

A: The camp is for low risk kids who can’t afford to go the basketball camps in the area. We run a separate camp for challenged children in Madison.

Q: Do you remember any particular event that made you want to start giving back into the community?

A: It started in elementary school with an event called high interest day.  People from different fields would discuss their jobs with kids.  I appreciated it then and went back as a high school student.    I connected and communicated well with the kids because I am just a big kid at heart.  I was able to relate to the challenges that they were going through. They see me as someone who is successful and want to know how to find that path.

Q: Do you think your talent that you have on the court matches your amount of passion you give back to kids?

A: I think so. Everybody has a purpose and I am in a blessed enough position to help and give back to those less fortunate. This is not  hard work -  it comes quite natural to me.

Q: Where can they find more information about the camps and other events?

A: You can find the most current information on these events on my website, www.devin34harris.com. We also send out mailings. The camp is held in Milwaukee over a four day time period and features the previously mentioned activities.  While many sponsors of such camps will come for limited periods of time, I will be there from start to finish.

Q: Have you thought about expanding your foundation to other parts of the country?

A: We have, but Milwaukee is first and foremost since it’s both where I grew up and near where I went to college.   We are looking to expand more into New Jersey as well as Dallas, where I started my career and currently spend my offseason.

Q: What type of advice can you give kids who have been told that they can’t do something?

A: . You are going to have doubters throughout your life but if you use that doubt for motivation,   you can achieve greatness.  When both my high-school and college coaches stated their doubts, I used both for motivation.   Furthermore, when you finally reach those goals, it becomes even more satisfying.

Q: How was your relationship with your former college coach Bo Ryan?

A: He was great from day one.  Coach would use real life to help teach basketball, which I really admire.  He was great at relating basketball to the real world. An example of that is a story about how one of his old players used to chase around screens.  Later in life as a firefighter, he would use those skills to maneuver through a burning house.   I remember that story to this day.

For more information about Devin Harris’s 34 Ways to Assist Foundation, please visit www.devin34harris.com.

Sports Day is the fifth and final event of “Passport to Fitness,” the NETS’ program led by Harris that encourages youngsters to participate in fun fitness and nutrition activities. The first four events included a basketball/fitness clinic, and classes in karate, dance, and indoor rock climbing.

Sports Day activities will include long jump, three-legged race, basketball relay, tug of war, and a Frisbee throw.

Each event is attended by Harris and the same 30 kids, who range in age from eight to 16.  Through the program’s different activities, the youngsters learn various approaches on how to stay fit and healthy.

Participants in the program receive a passport that is stamped after each activity.

Media Invited to Cover

WHO: NETS star Devin Harris and 30 kids from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Morris, Bergen, and Passaic counties.

WHAT: Sports Day as part of the “Passport to Fitness” program.

WHEN: TOMORROW, Thursday, March 25, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: PNY Center, 390 Murray Hill Parkway, East Rutherford, NJ.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18% of 12-19 year olds are obese. This is especially significant given the myriad of social and medical problems associated with obesity, including heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, over 75% of adolescents in the United States do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. Clearly the messages about healthy diets are largely being ignored to the detriment of our society. In addition to this lack of interest in maintaining a healthy life style, there is also a decided apathy towards science. Indeed, in a recent speech by Ralph Cicerone, President of the National Academies of Sciences, entitled “How Healthy is Science in the United States?” Mr. Cicerone commented that science in general in this country is trailing behind that of others. “Sadly, our nation has fallen behind in work on scientific discovery in some fields, and the education of scientists at every level – from the youngest school children to our most advanced postdoctoral students – must be strengthened.” One cannot help but notice that the health of our children and the state of science is, in general, impaired.

Project CRYSTAL, developed by Hazel Holden, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin, Dan Toomey, Middle School Science Teacher at Edgewood School, and three of Holden’s graduate students, Nate Bruender, Amanda Carney, and Rachel Kubiak, was designed to address these two issues facing our nation at a “grass roots” level. Its mission is threefold in nature: (i) to instill a love for chemistry in middle school students by studying the main food elements: proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, (ii) to provide hands-on laboratory experience in an active, state-of-the-art research laboratory thus fostering interest in a future science career, and (iii) to make chemistry more accessible to “at-risk” students by outreach activities.

The curriculum aspect of Project Crystal is based around three modules presently being developed. The sixth grade module begins with basic concepts of matter, including a discussion of electrons, neutrons, protons, atoms, molecules, and chemical bonding. It culminates with a discussion of common sugars. The seventh grade module focuses on the main chemical concepts associated with fats including trans fats, saturated fats, unsaturated fats, and cholesterol. Finally, the eighth grade module concentrates on the chemistry and three-dimensional structures of proteins. By studying the biochemistry of sugars, fats, and proteins, the students will ultimately be able to make informed choices on what foods they eat.

The scientific mentoring aspect of Project CRYSTAL currently involves six young scientists from Edgewood School that spend three hours each week in the laboratory working with the graduate students. Research in the Holden laboratory centers around the enzymes required for the biosynthesis of unusual sugars that are found attached, for example, to some antibiotics, antitumor agents, or to the outer surfaces of bacteria. The main technique employed in the laboratory is x-ray crystallography, which is a powerful method that allows one to “see” a protein in three dimensions. For this technique, crystals need to be grown of the protein of interest. During the fall of 2008, the Edgewood students (two each from sixth, seventh, and eighth grades) learned the basic elements of molecular biology including cloning, protein expression, and purifications. Indeed, one of their proteins has already crystallized!

Ensuring that the goal of Project CRYSTAL is more widespread than to just Edgewood Middle School, our third mission is developing outreach activities specifically aimed at underprivileged youth. To this end we participated in the Devin Harris basketball camp held in August 2009 in Milwaukee. Harris is an NBA All-Star who plays for the New Jersey Nets. Part of his mission is to provide athletic and academic opportunities to at-risk students. He has hosted the Devin Harris Recreation Camp in Milwaukee for four years, and the camp includes an educational component. In addition to playing basketball and other sports, students attend class for one and a half hours each day for four days. We taught over 360 students, ranging in ages from 7 to 15, about the nutrition of sugars through readings and experiments (pictures can be found at www.projectcrystal.org/outreach). Each student left with a poster we designed about carbohydrates, and the science behind why too much added sugars to foods can be unhealthy. For the camp this August Project CRYSTAL has been asked to increase our participation to four days, where we will be providing interactive, standards-based, health-conscious activities for students. In addition to the Milwaukee camp, Project CRYSTAL has partnered with Edgewood College, UW-Madison, and Madison School Community Recreation (MSCR) to create a similar basketball camp in Madison. The goal of our outreach activities is to move the topic of chemistry from the “dull and boring” realm to a “cool and relevant” subject.

WEST ORANGE – Victor Muniz was going through another rigorous physical therapy session at the Kessler Rehabilitation Institute last Thursday afternoon, the second of the day.

It’s a two-a-day workout routine that the 22-year-old Muniz has become accustomed to, ever since the freak accident near West Hudson Park last June that had the Kearny native trapped under a giant tree during a nasty thunderstorm, an accident that left Muniz paralyzed from the waist down.

But on Thursday, things were just a little different, when Muniz recognized the face that entered his second floor wing while he was going through his therapy exercise.

“I told my therapist I had to go,” Muniz said. “Because Devin Harris was here to see me.”

That’s right, the New Jersey Nets’ standout point guard paid a visit to Muniz at Kessler Thursday, a meeting that was arranged by The Observer through Nets’ senior vice-president/chief relationship officer Leo Ehrline.

Ehrline was informed of Muniz’ plight and he arranged to have a Nets player pay a visit to Muniz.

And who better could visit the former point guard and captain of the Kearny High School basketball team than the current point guard and floor leader of the Nets?

“Here’s a guy like Devin Harris, an NBA star, coming to see a guy like me,” Muniz said. “I mean, you don’t get a chance to see him, unless he’s on TV or unless you have tickets. But even then, it’s far away. I got a chance to sit and have a conversation with him about anything. It was great.”

Muniz told Harris the story of that fateful night, when he was simply walking through West Hudson Park as a shortcut to get home, ironically after watching the NBA Finals.

“I don’t know what happened, but the tree broke and I was under the tree for like 15 minutes,” Muniz told Harris. “It took like six people to move the tree and get me out, but I already broke my spine.

Added Muniz, “The next day, the doctors told me that I was paralyzed. I didn’t believe it until I heard it the fourth time. But then I said, `Well, that’s life. That’s what God wanted for me.’”

Muniz told Harris that when the accident first happened, “I couldn’t move at all.”

But through the hard work and dedication of the great people at Kessler, Muniz is getting better. He has movement in his arms. His hands are improving with every passing day. He is learning to care for himself more and more.

“I’ve come a long way,” Muniz said. “I’ve learned to wheel myself around. I’ve never had a bad day since I’ve been here. It’s never been negative. I was first upset how it all happened, but I’ve realized that it’s just one of those things. Stuff happens.”

Harris, who came to the Nets last year from the Dallas Mavericks as part of the trade that sent Jason Kidd to Dallas, talked to Muniz about a variety of topics. After all, they aren’t far removed in age _ Harris is 25 _ and they shared the same position on the floor, namely point guard.

Muniz asked Harris what it was like to play against Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, who admittedly is Muniz’ favorite player. Harris said that he not only played against Wade in the NBA, but the two squared off when Harris was at the University of Wisconsin and Wade was attending Marquette.

Muniz knew a lot about Harris’ career, recalling Harris’ best game in the NBA with ease, knowing that Harris left Wisconsin early to apply for the NBA Draft.

“I left early because my Mom told me it was time,” said Harris, who was drafted fifth overall by the Mavericks four years ago.

Harris asked Muniz what his plans were.

“I’m looking for a girl,” Muniz laughed. “But there aren’t many around here. Maybe I can find a cute therapist.”

The two continued to chat like old friends for almost an hour. Harris presented Muniz with an autographed pair of his sneakers. It turned out to be a meeting that could last a lifetime.

“Victor’s been dealt with a difficult hand and yet, he’s still living with it,” Harris said. “It was definitely a freakish accident. He’s in great spirits. It’s a sad situation, but he’s learned to deal with it. It’s great to see him in great spirits. He’s having fun and being himself. It was great to see. So many other people feel sorry for themselves and don’t try to get better. Victor has from Day One accepted what happened and has been dealing with it. He wants to move forward. You never know what can happen in just a minute. It’s very sad.”

Harris said that he was motivated and uplifted by visiting with Muniz.

“I’m definitely glad that I met him,” Harris said. “He really was an inspiration and makes you realize that you can’t take the simple things for granted.”

Harris invited Muniz to attend a Nets’ game when his rehabilitation at Kessler is done and he’s able to go back home.

One of Muniz’ best friends at Kessler, an Army veteran named Nathan DeWalt from Pennsylvania, was able to go home right at the same time Harris was visiting Thursday.

“There’s a sense of sadness that I’m saying goodbye to him,” Muniz said. “We’ve been together since I got here. We’re best friends now. We hit it off from the minute I got here and we hang together every day. I’m going to miss him. We’re planning on going to Florida on a vacation together.”

Muniz said that he was floored when he realized Harris was visiting him.

“It made me feel great,” Muniz said. “I mean, for a pro star like that to take the time off of his busy schedule to come and see me? It’s the beginning of the season, where they’re practicing, lifting weights, shooting, and he took the time out of that schedule to come here. I loved every minute of it. He’s a good guy. It was amazing that he was here.

Added Muniz, “He was himself. He didn’t have the big ego. He came in here and hung out with me. We talked about normal stuff. It was great. There aren’t a lot of pro athletes who would do that for someone like me.”

Muniz said that it feels good that there are so many people who still care about him.

“No one has forgotten about me,” Muniz said. “I have so many friends who do so much for me. It shows how people care by how big their hearts are.”

Muniz continues to work toward two goals _ going home and walking again. His return home is eminent.

“I’m going to be OK, as soon as I can go home,” Muniz said. “I’ve been away for four months and through that time, people in Kearny have been praying for me, thinking about me and that’s kept me going. I’m definitely going to walk again. I’m never giving up on that. God has enabled me to work hard in therapy and I have for three hours a day. I was in bad shape when I got here, but I’m better now.”

And not once has Muniz’ spirits wavered.

“I swear, I’m never negative,” Muniz said. “I have so much help from my friends. They’re always here and they’re always caring for me. It’s like I’ve been home. The only difference is that I’m in the hospital. But that’s going to change soon.”

Muniz said that he plans on returning home to Kearny within a month or so.

“Then, I’ll take a little vacation,” Muniz said.

Harris made sure that he will keep in touch with Muniz and hopes to see him at a game very soon.

“It was very uplifting for me to meet him,” Muniz said. “To see a star like that come here? It’s amazing. Maybe we helped each other.”

Could very well be.