April 28, 2010 - How it all started

I conduct a school assembly titled “No Hands – No Arms – No Problem!” During this interactive disability/diversity awareness program I teach students that it’s okay to be different!

For information about my assembly, follow this link: http://www.tomsfeet.com/Assembly/NHAP-01.html

Before each of my early assemblies I sent out press releases to news outlets in the San Diego area to try and drum up media coverage. In February 2008 I received a call from a producer of “San Diego Insider”, a program that airs on San Diego Channel 4 (home of the San Diego Padres). She saw the press release and wanted to do an "Insider" story about my assembly and me. She then brought a Channel 4 crew to one of my school assemblies and to my home for an interview. The story aired in March.

To see the story, follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaPHcX5jrBE

I went down to the Channel 4 studios afterwards to pick up a DVD copy of the story. While there I met again with the producer, who in turn introduced me to the video editor who helped put the segment together. He complimented me on my assembly saying, “I really enjoyed the part when you threw tennis balls into the audience. You have a pretty good delivery.”

“Thanks,” I quipped jokingly. “You guys should get me to throw out a first pitch before a Padres game someday.”

“We’ll see what we can do,” the producer chimed in.

I didn’t give it a second thought until May 17, the day my phone rang. The call was from a woman from the San Diego Padres who asked if I’d be available to throw out a first pitch before the Padres game on May 27.

“Of course!”

And that is how it all started!

Next up – Spring Training