Big Brother Game

The NBA comes to North Dakota... By now, many NBA fans are still probably reeling from the Nugge...  More »

The NBA comes to North Dakota... By now, many NBA fans are still probably reeling from the Nuggets/Timberwolves game that happened here in Bismarck just hours ago. And, among those fans, a special group of Big brothers/Big sisters who got way more than tickets to the game, they got to work on their own Basketball moves and meet with the pros. I'm gonna be like a kid, sucking up every minute of it. says Mandel Ray Robinson Jr. He's one of more than 30 mentors watching his little brother learn the fundamentals of basketball before the big NBA game. He loves basketball so it'll be a fun day for him, he'll have a couple smiles on his face throughout the day and I think it's an event he'll cherish down the road. says Robinson Jr. He and his little brother, D'andre have been paired up through the big brother/big sister program, and while they have played basketball a few times together, experiencing this event will be a slam dunk of a memory with the program. For my brother it's actually the first time he's been to an NBA game and it's my first time, so I was as excited as my little brother. says Robinson Jr. We're hoping they learn to use sportsmanship, teamwork, and positive attitude to reach their goals in life, we hope that carries over. says Ryan Parsons with the Bismarck/Mandan Chamber of Commerce. Workers with the Bismarck/Mandan Chamber of Commerce have been setting this event up since late August, working with the Timberwolves to make it possible for Big brothers/Big sisters to get so much more than just a ticket to the game. Kids'll be able to say I met Kevin Love, I met Mike Miller. says Parsons. Along with the basketball clinic, kids get to meet players for the Timberwolves... I wanna shake their hands and stuff and get their autographs. says little brother, D'andre. D'andre says he wants to be a professional basketball or Football player when he grows up, and there's no doubt with this experience, and the experience of seeing professional athletes with his role model, Mandel, it's a dream that is that much more attainable. He's pretty cool, and I can look up to him and stuff. says D'andre. Just to see goals can be achieved, put forth the hard work and effort will be able to experience that. says Robinson Jr. For more information on the Big Brother/Big Sister program of Bismarck Mandan, visit: www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org, and enter in your zipcode.  « Less