thursday,may 13,2004
sports
the university daily kansan
5B
Organization, University team up for fundraising
Former MLB umpire raises money for paralysis research The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Steve Palermo, the baseball umpire partially paralyzed by a shooting in 1991, has found a new outlet for his efforts to help fund research on spinal cord injuries.
Palermo has raised more than $3 million during the past decade for research, with much of the money from his Steve Palermo Foundation for Spinal Cord Injuries going to the National Paralysis Foundation.
Since that organization closed in July, Palermo had been looking for another way to continue his work, one he's now found with the University of Kansas.
"The name of our organization
is different, but we'll be doing basically the same thing," Palermo told The Kansas City Star. "We didn't work all these years to make all these relationships to help all these people, and then just let it all die."
Mike Wall, vice president for medical development with the Endowment Association, said Palermo and his family would help raise funds to further research projects at The University of Kansas Hospital and the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
Medicine. "We're very excited about this partnership." Wall said of the venture with the new Steve Palermo Endowment for Spinal Cord Injury, Research and Education. "We're already the only facility in the area that can deliver these things. With the Palermos on board, our program will grow even further in
He said the University's research center was one of about a dozen around the nation.
stature."
"We would like to take our research in basic science and translate that to clinical trials, new drugs or stem cell research to regenerate the damaged nerves," said Paul Armold, the neurosurgery professor who directs the center. "The discoveries we think we can make in the lab will translate into treatment for patients with spinal cord injuries."
court injure.
Palermo, 54, was a member of an American League umpiring team when he was shot in Dallas in July 1991. Leaving a restaurant with friends after a game, he was shot when he tried to come to help two women who were being mugged.
A neurosurgeon thought he would never walk again, but he made progress through therapy.
Imperialism to face off against Smarty Jones in Preakness Stakes
Trainer enters colt after convinced of potential victory
The Associated Press
BALTIMORE — Kristin Mulhall wasn't all that excited about bringing her horse Imperialism across the country to take on Smarty Jones again in the Preakness Stakes.
ness Stakes.
After Imperialism finished third behind Smarty in the Kentucky Derby, the plan was to return home to Hollywood Park and get ready for another run at the undefeated colt in the Belmont Stakes on June 5.
So much for planning. Imperialism was training great. Derby replays showed that the colt had a tough trip. Owner Steve Taub and jockey Kent Desormeaux convinced the trainer her horse had a chance to win the 1/3-16-mile Preakness on Saturday.
When it comes to Smarty Jones, though, Mulhall isn't so sure defeat is imminent.
succeed Imperialism was strong at the end of the 1/1-4-mile Derby after being clipped by a horse on the first turn and slowed by another along the backstretch.
He finished six lengths behind the winner, but even if Imperialism's patented closing kick moved him close to the leader, Smarty Jones "had another gear and would have taken off again,"
Mulhall said.
A field of 11 3-year-olds was entered yesterday, including Derby runner-up Lion Heart. The Cliff's Edge (fifth), Borrego (10th) and Song of the Sword (11th) are other Derby runners back for another shot.
Eddington and Rock Hard Ten colts who missed the Derby because they didn't have enough graded-stakes earnings, top the new challengers. Eddington was third in the Wood Memorial; Rock Hard Ten finished second in the Santa Anita Derby but was disqualified to third for interference
The newcomers are Derby Trial winner Sir Shackleton, Tesio Stakes winner Water Cannon, and Little Matth Man.
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