A Special Thanksgiving Note

by Andrew Flynn
Hoopville Managing Editor

Greetings, everyone. While everyone is recovering from Thanksgiving and the effects of Tryptophan, I thought I'd pass along a letter of thanks we received recently that really touches home, especially in this time of giving thanks. It's in regards to the "Paying Tribute" article written by Jed Tai, on the one-year anniversary of the tragedy of September 11th. I'd like to share this with you, our loyal readers.

  Dear Mr. Tai,

Thank you for your beautiful tribute to our beloved son, Tyler, and all of those who were also lost on 9/11.

At the new Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts (the city Ty was born) there is now an Inspirational Section in perpetuity which lists about 10 individuals with ties to the game. Tyler is honored here with the Sports Illustrated tribute, "Color This Perfect," which Jeff Pearlman wrote about him. There is also a permanent tribute inside the Hall's Game Gallery which simply says:

 

IN TRIBUTE TO TYLER UGOLYN
"I Just Love Playing The Game"



We had received earlier a letter from one of Ty's high school teachers who wrote some beautiful memories she had of Ty, including a conversation she had with him at school where she asked him why a lot of boys in his class where not going out for the team. She said that he told her that they didn't like the coach. So she asked him, "What about you?" To which he replied: "It doesn't matter to me. I just love playing the game."

Our warmest regards and appreciation,
Mr. and Mrs. Ugolyn