By: Justin Boone
jboone@ticats.ca
It’s Cops and Cats time again, as the Tiger-Cats join forces with the Hamilton Police Department to raise money for McMaster Children’s Hospital.
On Thursday, all three parties came together at Hillfield Strathallan College to announce the commencement of the 2008 season, which will feature 13 games.
Cops and Cats sees a team comprised of Ticats players and Hamilton police officers, face off against a team made up of teachers and students from the school they are playing. Last year, the program raised just under $16,000, a total that they expect to surpass this season.
“This is my second year in the Cops and Cats program and it’s a lot of fun going out there and playing basketball in front of the kids,” said recently re-signed safety Sandy beveridge. “They usually get pretty into it and the kids on the court are pretty aggressive. They’re out there to win, make no mistake about that, it’s a competitive game.”
Beveridge was joined by CFL legend Ron Lancaster, who is a big basketball fan himself, defensive end Nautyn McKay-Loescher, offensive lineman Jonta Woodard, and the newest Ticat wide receiver, Tony Miles. Beveridge joked that he’s excited for what Miles brings to the team on the field, but he’s just as excited to see what he can bring on the basketball court.
“Sandy overrates my basketball game,” said a very modest Miles. “I’m a football player. I can’t play basketball that well. I can run, that’s all I can do. I’m in pretty good shape so I can run a long time, that’s the best I have to offer.”
The big man Jonta Woodard, weighed in on his abilities on the court, adding a little humour to the mix.
“I’m more old school, like a Charles Barkley type player,” he said with a smile. “I’m going to get the rebounds, I got the baby hook, back down some players, set some good screens. Try not to hurt anybody and hopefully I just don’t foul out and I get a chance to run around a little bit.”
The first game tips off next Wednesday, February 27, at Sir John A. MacDonald High School at 1:45 p.m.
The “Cops and Cats Caring Students” program originated in 1996. Constable Steve Mahler had started an assignment as the first High School Liaison Officer in the downtown core, and was looking for ways to improve relations between the Hamilton Police Service and local high school students. Cst. Thomas Chalmers had already developed contacts within the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cat organization.
They contacted both Hamilton school boards, and challenged several local high schools to competitive, fun basketball games against the Cops and Cats team. Student spectators paid their admission to the event using either money or non-perishable food items, which were later donated to the school’s charity of choice.
In 2001, the McMaster Children’s Hospital joined the partnership and Cops and Cats began donating all the monetary proceeds to the Children’s Hospital. To date, the program has donated a sum of $66,800 to McMaster.
