It's the things Kelly Camel can do that make him so valuable to the Grizzlies.
Camel has cerebral palsy and is nearly deaf. He spends much of each day in a motorized wheelchair, as he has since the age of 6.
If you've been to a Griz basketball game over the past three or so years, you've probably seen Kelly Camel. Dressed in suit and tie, he wheels onto the court with the coaching staff, shakes hands with the opposing coaches and often with the referees as well. He then takes his place at the end of the Griz bench where he becomes the team's best cheerleader.
“He always brings a little bit of energy to the game that nobody can really replicate,” Griz junior Jordan Hasquet said. “He's unique and brings his own little flair.”
Sophomore Cam Rundles goes a step further.
“He's the heart and soul and inspiration of this man because I've never seen him one day in my life - ever since I came to this campus - where he was not happy,” said Rundles, a fairly happy-go-lucky sort himself. “He's always happy to be around us.”
Camel celebrated his 30th birthday last month, a feat just short of miraculous, considering the way he came into the world.
Born 3 1/2 months premature, Camel weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces at birth.
“In 1978, the chances back then were extremely slim (that he would survive),” his mother, Rhonda Swaney, said. “The doctors told us the chances were 100 to 1. He's been a fighter from the time he was born.”
He had to be. While still in an incubator at the hospital, Camel aspirated. By the time he was resuscitated, he had been without oxygen for several minutes.
But Camel fought his way back. Swaney and Kelly's father, Charles Camel, were eventually able to take their baby home.
“Kids don't come with instruction manuals, so I didn't know what to expect,” Swaney said.
She didn't think things were quite right with her infant, but doctors attributed that to his low birth weight.
“They tell you, ‘He's slow, he'll catch up,' ” she said.
It wasn't until Camel was 18 months old that he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a condition associated with brain damage, usually occurring before the age of 1.
“It was hard, the physical strain of caring for someone who doesn't walk,” Swaney said. “Trying to teach him to do those things for himself takes a lot of time. It was a challenge. We were his locomotion. The bigger he got, the harder it was for me to carry him.
“We were his outlet intellectually, but it was difficult for him to depend on us all the time.”
It wasn't until Camel was 4 that he was diagnosed with deafness. Camel and his family began taking lessons in sign language.
“I'm sure it was very frustrating for him that he had things to say that we didn't understand,” Swaney said.
Today, Camel communicates with a mixture of rudimentary speech, sign language and lip reading. His sign language can be difficult to read because of the nature of cerebral palsy and how that affects his movement.
“We communicate about his physical needs,” Swaney said. “As far as ideas and aspirations, it's difficult for me any longer. But he doesn't seem to have any problems making people understand him.”
There's no misunderstanding Camel when he's happy, which by all accounts is most of the time. His laugh is infectious.
“He has a huge heart,” his brother, C.T., said.
Camel just “kind of showed up out of the blue,” at Griz basketball practices and games, Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said.
Larry Krystkowiak was still coach when Camel first started coming around.
“His enthusiasm for basketball and life in general is a tremendous lift to the Griz,” said Krystkowiak, now in his first full season as head coach of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. “He used to come into the locker room as the team was warming up and he always wanted to help out with the game plan.”
That's still true. Griz assistant coach Andy Hill loves to tell the story of how Camel tried to help this year's team.
The Griz had just dropped a 56-54 decision to Idaho State, a game in which they struggled mightily on offense. Camel showed up at the next practice very excited.
When Hill approached, Camel pointed to his backpack. Hill opened the backpack and took out a book: “Basketball Offenses and Plays,” by Ken Atkins.
“It was kind of funny,” Tinkle said. “You knew his heart was in the right place. We said, ‘Kelly, do you think it's our offense or how we're running it?' He thought for a second, he has a very quizzical look on his face, he looks at the ceiling, then he's like, ‘You're right, Coach, it's how we're running it.' He was trying to do his part to help out. That's what we love about him.”
“I wanted to give it to Wayne from me so they would have more playbooks and there would be one book from me, so they could learn different plays,” Camel said through interpreter Michelle Pickell, who through her Expansion Job Opportunity Based Services helped Camel land his part-time job in UM's human resources department.
Camel also helps out at Griz basketball camps during the summer, where the kids adore him. The Grizzly staff gives him a whistle and has him referee some of the games.
“I call the fouls,” Camel said, adding that he's a good ref. “I'm good at remembering how the game is played, the rules. I got good at it by playing video games.”
Ah yes, the video games. Vernis Trochmann, a habilitation aide, said Camel spends many hours playing video games, an outlet for his sports enthusiasm.
“I'm not a big video-playing guy, that's why he likes to play with me,” said Montana football coach Bobby Hauck, who plays against Camel whenever time allows. “He can kick my butt.”
True, Camel says with a hearty laugh.
“If he wants to come to my house sometime, I'll play him,” Camel said. “Wayne can come anytime. Anybody who knows me can come over anytime.”
Camel has season tickets to all other UM sports. He's also a fan of hockey, golf and especially professional wrestling, the WWE variety.
“My grandma loves sports the same as me,” Camel said. “My whole Indian heritage family all loves sports.”
Camel recently acquired a WWE belt engraved with his name. He showed it off to the Grizzlies.
“He told me he bought it with his own money, he worked for it,” Rundles said. “He wanted to show us all.”
It's hard to say who gets more out of Camel's association with the UM athletic department, Camel or the players and coaches.
“One thing I have to say about Kelly is that he does those things like that, making friends with the coaches and players, all on his own,” Swaney said. “He's been persistent at that. I really can't put it into words, it's been such a valuable experience and outlet for him. It's something he can do even though he has severe handicaps. I think it's great the coaches let him be involved and the players respect him. I'm thankful for that and glad they appreciate him for who he is.”
After Tinkle hired Camel to help out at the summer camps, the coach said he wanted Camel to remain involved with the team.
“We also told him if that was the case, he had to abide by the same rules as our players as far as how he conducted himself,” Tinkle said. “I think that really went a long way in helping him feel like he was a legitimate member of the team and accountable for his behavior. It's just really flourished from that point on. Our players, he's very inspirational for them. He'd give his heart to be able to suit up and get out there on the court.”
Tinkle thinks it's also important for young, healthy athletes to know they shouldn't take their good fortune for granted.
“I think it's really hit home to a lot of them that you should never feel too comfortable with your position in life or on the team,” Tinkle said. “They see the obstacles he may have in front of him and he doesn't really acknowledge any obstacles. He deals with what he's been dealt in a very, very positive manner and has a great influence on others. It's good for young kids to see that - and for all of us - because it helps keep things in perspective.”
Hauck has no doubt about who gets the most from the relationship.
“As good as we are for him, I think he provides more for us,” Hauck said.
No argument from Rundles.
“He wants to be a part of the Griz so bad - and he is a part of us - but he really wishes he could go out there one day and play with us,” Rundles said. “Every time I see him I smile, even when I'm kicking balls and getting technicals when I see him in that locker room and he comes up to me and tells me to keep my head up Š I love him, man.”
The feeling is undoubtedly mutual. Camel and his family are thankful for the opportunity he's been given.
“I am amazed at his strength of will,” Swaney said. “I'm thankful he is so strong-willed - most of the time - and I'm grateful because he touches the lives of so many people. That's his purpose.”
Sports editor Bob Meseroll can be reached at 523-5265 or at sportsdesk@missoulian.com.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)