Willie Davis
LIVING is more than just learning to meet your basic needs.
It was during my time at the Rehab that I got the opportunity to play pool from a wheelchair. At first it was awkward and frustrating, but with nothing else to do some evenings, I would often wheel down to the cafeteria and would pass by the recreation room where the pool table was. So, naturally, I got curious and became hooked on playing everyday (to this day I still play pool on a league team, but with arthritis setting in, I’m not sure how much longer I can play).
Sports was in my blood. Any chance I had to play in a physical activity I was there. Growing up my friends and I would play football for hours up until the day before my accident. My interest in all types of sports came from my Grandfather and uncles who instilled in me the skills and abilities that allowed me to genially love watching or participating. So, I guess it was natural for me to find alternative activities/sports after my accident.
I had a chance one night to watch wheelchair basketball practice first hand. After seeing how the players pushed their wheelchairs up and down the court, with so much ease and quickness I wanted to do that and be able to shoot the ball and be part of the team. But, at that time I was still in a body brace that limited my movement.
When I got back to the Rehab that night all I could think about was getting stronger and taking the brace off so that I could go and play basketball. I later joined this team called the “Wallbangers” and we traveled all over the country as a team playing in National tournaments and community fund-raisers. I managed to play with the team for 17 years. It too, took a toll on my bones, causing major arthritis problems. However, I would not have given up the chance and pleasure to have played organized sports be it wheelchair basketball, softball, track & field. It did not matter; just as I had planned to do in college before the accident (play college baseball) I fulfilled that goal in my life with wheelchair sports.
Find out more about wheelchair basketball here at the National Wheelchair Basketball Association site.
There is, of course, more to life than sports. Living on the Turtle Mountain reservation, enjoying nature, and deer hunting are just a part of life.
| To learn about the services and the support from his family as Willie learned to live independently again, click here |  |