by David Ball
Staff Writer
After visiting half a dozen patient rooms at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Jaguars defensive player Walter Curry learned one thing – the kids love touchdowns.
“I got to find someone who likes big hits — that’s what I do,” said Curry, a defensive tackle who kicked off the start of the Jaguars ‘Community Tuesdays’ this week by signing autographs and chatting with sick children at the Southbank hospital.
Four other players including star running back Fred Taylor and wide receiver Reggie Williams were also scheduled to visit, but Jaguars Community Relations Program Coordinator Nyree Bowen said physical treatment and “unexpected things” prevented them from attending.
“They definitely want to reschedule,” said Bowen. “Now that the season has started back up, we’ll be starting our Community Tuesdays again. It’s a really important program for the players.”
But on this Tuesday, the media outnumbered the players six to one. Still, Curry seemed genuinely excited as he went from room to room, and the young patients seemed to get a thrill.
“He’s big. He’s probably a good kicker,” said 8-year-old Robert McKinney, who smiled bashfully at the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder’s offer to a challenge at a Nintendo game.
“I think this is excellent for the Jaguars, for the fan base and the community,” said Curry. “It brings joy to my heart to see them smiling.”
Nurse Melissa Faciane said these kinds of visits definitely make a difference in the psychological health and outlook of the patients, especially when the Jaguars cheerleaders make an appearance.
“You should hear the teenage boys,” said Faciane. “All of a sudden they say, ‘I’m healed.’”
The day certainly became a little brighter for 15-year-old Christopher Bailey, who was waiting to leave the hospital with his mother when Curry strolled up and introduced himself.
“That’s what I asked for at first, to meet a Jaguar,” said Bailey, who had recovered from surgery to help a rare neuromuscular disease and was granted a “Dream Come True” request. “I still haven’t decided on either a shopping spree, or to meet LeBron James or to go to New York City.”
When asked if he likes offensive touchdowns or defensive big hits, Bailey said he just likes the energy of the Jags, which Curry said was good to hear.
“I think with Jack (Del Rio), with his energy, we get energy and the whole organization has energy,” said Curry.
The energy was decidedly down after the Jag’s season-opening loss to the Tennessee Titans last weekend. Curry said he expects the energy to be different after this weekend’s test against the Atlanta Falcons.
“We’re going to worry about ourselves and the energy we bring,” he said. “We’re just going to go out and do what we do.”