Three hundred Dolphins players, coaches, staff members and other people associated with the organization spent part of yesterday at Mae Walters Elementary in Hialeah, Fla., putting "over 100 gallons of paint" on the school, according to Armando Salguero of the MIAMI HERALD. They also put "200 plants in the 1,000 pounds of soil they brought." Players "were surprised to learn practice was called off," as they "boarded four buses and made the 40-minute trek from their training facility." The team "spent between $70,000 to $80,000" on the project. Salguero: "If having a good feeling about spending time serving the community wasn’t a reward, there was a feeling among some in the organization that this day could actually help the team" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/11).
JOIN THE CLUB: In Cleveland, Simone Jasper reports the Cavaliers and the NBA yesterday "unveiled a refurbished" NBA Cares Learn & Play Center at the Broadway Avenue Boys & Girls Club in Cleveland. The league "partnered with State Farm and Kaiser Permanente to transform the center with new furnishings, books and games." NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER was "present for the dedication," along with Cavaliers GM DAVID GRIFFIN, coach DAVID BLATT, G JOE HARRIS, C TIMOFEY MOZGOV and Fs JAMES JONES and SHAWN MARION. After "cutting the ribbon to signify the opening of the new space, the players mingled with the children" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/11).
WISH GRANTED: In Minneapolis, Kent Youngblood reports the WNBA Lynx yesterday signed 14-year-old ARIYA SMITH to an “honorary contract” in conjunction with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Smith, who has systemic lupus, today will “take part in all team events,” including warming up for the game against the Storm and sitting on the bench with the team. Smith's experience is "being filmed by ESPN as part of its 'My Wish' series" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/11).
