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St. Louis, Missouri — (bobfromaccounting.com)
Despite an unprecedented recovery of partial sensation in
his hands and toes, quadriplegic actor Christopher Reeve remains
the last person picked during weekly pick-up football games
at Washington University Hospital.
"After seven years, this kind of recovery is unheard
of," explains Dr. Kevin Guthrie, head of rehabilitation
at Washington University and part time receiver for the adult
football league. "Of course, I would never pick him for
my team. I want to win."
Reeve, known throughout the world for his starring role in
all three "Superman" films, has been bound to a
wheelchair since a 1995 equestrian accident left him with
a broken neck and severe spinal cord damage. He has promised
his fans he will one day walk again and return to his failed
acting career.
Todd Martin, a 37-year-old neurologist and starting quarterback
admits that while he and his fellow teammates often taunt
Reeve with nicknames such as "Butterfingers, "Respirator
Man" or "Man of Balsa," they feel the 49-year-old
actor is still an integral part of the team — most of
the time.
"After he dropped 6 easy passes in the first week, me
and the guys realized that we should stop picking him,"
admits quarterback Martin. "But then we decided it wasn't
fair to always try to stick him on the other team. Now we
alternate every week and everybody seems pretty happy with
that."
Physical therapist and team coach Ralph Thomerson acknowledges
Reeve was a horrible failure as a wide receiver, but he's
recently moved Reeve to fullback, where he hopes his size
could be an advantage.
"The problem was that he lacked the speed needed to bust
through the holes. Well, actually he couldn't accelerate at
all and we lost about 8 yards on every snap," recalls
Thomerson. "It was really humiliating for him, especially
with his wife and kids watching in the stands."
Now playing an essentially blocking role, Reeve is showing
both sides that he can still make a big contribution in Washington
University's quest for the St. Louis Inter-Hospital Touch
Football Championship.
"Man, when he gets out there on the wing with that big,
bulky wheelchair, nobody can get to our ball carrier,"
contends running back Ray Rogers. "And he's not afraid
to take a solid hit to the groin, unlike the other players.
The guy really does have balls of steel."
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Christopher
Reeve helped win the game when his drool caused a fumble and
interception
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