Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128309
Warm-and-Fuzzie!i Freelance MX journalist Steve Bauer recently organized a tour of top riders through Lorna Linda University Children's Hospital in Southern California. Tagging along were Mike Metzger, Jeff Emig, David Pingree, Andrew Short, Sean Hamblin and Trevor Vines, with a cart of goodies trailing behind them. They handed out toys , hats, posters, stickers and , more importantly, a lot of smiles. No Fear's Marty Moates drove up with a bundle of hats to tour the hospital as well, while Parts Unlimited 's Rob Buydos also helped give out stickers and posters. During the tour, the staff said they were glad to see visitors, but they had a challenge. One boy on their floor, having his seventh birthday that day, refused to smile. The boy 's mom, grandmother and a photographer were all trying tricks with no luck. Metzger gave the boy a toy motorcycle and grinned at him, to no avail. Finally Metzger just told the boy, "O kay, I am not leaving until you can make , a face like this," then he made his famous big-teeth face, which the boy copied and the staff was pleased. "T his is a chance to go and do something, and you realize what life is really all about," Metzger said. "It' s not perfect all the time. It is a good reminder to come in and see that. I was passing out some Mike Metzger-repl ica one-sixth-scale diecast toys, stickers and autographs. A lot of people knew who I was, and it's cool to get kids to smile. That's the biggest thing. I have two kids of my own, so it is kind of heart-aching to see kids that have to go through that stuff with their families. It is an eye-opener." Hamblin wished there were more opportunities like this. "I was able to go in and visit some of the kids that are less fortunate and having it the hard way," he said, "It was good to see some smiles on their faces. I think they are [happy to see us]. Some of them don't know who we are, but definitely for someone to take time out of their day and say 'hi' and try and cheer them up, I think that is good for them. No Fear brought some stuff; Mike... It was a good time. I would love to do a lot more of these. One a year is too little." Emig was on the tour last year and came back because he really enjoyed it. A lot of the parents and some kids knew him and got autographed posters. "That brought some smiles to some of the kids' faces," he said. "I think last year Bauer asked me to come out, and I thought, 'Okay, I will come and do my good deed.' I got to spend some time with the kids. It just makes you feel good to br ing a smile to these kids' faces. We aren't supposed to talk to them about their story and what they have going on , but if they volunteer it and it's interesting, you listen. Some are getting out of here today, and some have health problems that they have to deal with. If you can entertain them a little bit with some magazines and stuff and things to take their minds off what's going on , then it's good. I wish we could do more. I would definitely be up for it . The best part is, we got to see Jonathan ." Jonathan is a former mini racer who had a brain tumor and saw Emig and the riders there last year. Vines also enjoyed making a bor ing day in the hosp ital a little better for the kids. "We got to see some kids that normally don't get a chance to see us and got to put a smile on some faces that normally they wouldn't have had today ," he said. "It was pretty fun going around and see ing some of the kids we saw last year and some of the new faces. We brought them some dirt bikes and stickers and posters and hats. They were pretty stoked on that. They don't get too many treats like that." - STEVE BRUHN To cast your vote , log on to WEb On-line poll results from last week Who will end Ivan Tedesco's win streak in the 125cc West? INSiYE Cyclenews.com reader poll question of the week if:. With Valentino Rossi just completing his first test on the Yamaha M I MotoGP bike, how many races do you think he'll win this year? A. None B. 1 C. 2-3 0 . 4-7 E.8-1 2 F.12-16 Stephane Roncada Andrew Short Brock Sellards Troy Adams Josh Summey Someone e lse www.cyclenews.com 264 62 31 5 3 25 (20.08%) (4.7 1'Yo) (2.36% ) (0.38% ) (0.23% ) (1.90% ) Travis Preston Nathan Ramsey Greg Schnell Chris Gosselaar Josh Hansen Nobody 50S 260 3 10 15 132 (38.40%) (19.77%) (0.23%) (0.76%) (1.14%) (10.04%) Total Replies: 1315 CYCLE NEWS . FEBRUARY 4, 2004 81