Haitian athletes wait for word from home
Source: Agencies |
January 15, 2010, Friday
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INDIANAPOLIS Colts receiver Pierre Garcon waited for word as his mother frantically tried to reach relatives in Haiti on Wednesday. Three days before what is expected to be his first career NFL playoff game, Garcon was without his trademark smile.
"Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews. We still have not heard much from them, and my mom is still trying to call them," Garcon said. "I'm keeping in contact with my mom. It's tough to get in touch with people down there because of the phone lines."
Garcon and other athletes of Haitian descent were devastated by the powerful earthquake that struck the capital of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday and is feared to have killed thousands - perhaps more than 100,000.
"I heard from my father and got an e-mail he was OK. That was a relief," Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert said.
"There are so many other people I don't know about, relatives and friends. I'm getting new information all the time. It's just really hard."
The 76ers planned a moment of silence and the organization is in the process of assembling funds.
"It's kind of hard to fathom a situation like this because those people didn't do anything wrong," Dalembert said. "It's so hard to watch the TV. I feel helpless."
The parents of WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto are from Haiti, and he has relatives on the island.
"Like many other Haitian-Americans, my family and I are working to reach my loved ones," Berto said. "From what we have learned to this point, some of my family members are still missing, and we have already been informed that members of my family have passed away in the earthquake."
Berto fought for Haiti at the 2004 Athens Olympics after barely missing the US team. He's scheduled to face Sugar Shane Mosley on January 30 in Las Vegas in the biggest bout of the undefeated fighter's pro career, but his training was interrupted by the tragedy.
Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) has been heavily involved in charity work and relief efforts in Haiti for years.
On his Twitter account, Berto wrote: "Haiti is the first black republic since 1804. Haitians are strong, powerful, prideful people but this a tough blow (to) endure," and "My heart bleeds for my people."
New Orleans Saints rookie linebacker Stanley Arnoux worried about his half sister Esmeralda Arnoux, 7, and half brother Pascal Arnoux, 5, who both live in Haiti.
Lance Armstrong's Livestrong foundation pledged US$250,000 to Partners in Health and Doctors Without Borders, and the World Series champion New York Yankees announced they were donating US$500,000 to aid rescue and relief efforts.
"Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews. We still have not heard much from them, and my mom is still trying to call them," Garcon said. "I'm keeping in contact with my mom. It's tough to get in touch with people down there because of the phone lines."
Garcon and other athletes of Haitian descent were devastated by the powerful earthquake that struck the capital of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday and is feared to have killed thousands - perhaps more than 100,000.
"I heard from my father and got an e-mail he was OK. That was a relief," Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert said.
"There are so many other people I don't know about, relatives and friends. I'm getting new information all the time. It's just really hard."
The 76ers planned a moment of silence and the organization is in the process of assembling funds.
"It's kind of hard to fathom a situation like this because those people didn't do anything wrong," Dalembert said. "It's so hard to watch the TV. I feel helpless."
The parents of WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto are from Haiti, and he has relatives on the island.
"Like many other Haitian-Americans, my family and I are working to reach my loved ones," Berto said. "From what we have learned to this point, some of my family members are still missing, and we have already been informed that members of my family have passed away in the earthquake."
Berto fought for Haiti at the 2004 Athens Olympics after barely missing the US team. He's scheduled to face Sugar Shane Mosley on January 30 in Las Vegas in the biggest bout of the undefeated fighter's pro career, but his training was interrupted by the tragedy.
Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) has been heavily involved in charity work and relief efforts in Haiti for years.
On his Twitter account, Berto wrote: "Haiti is the first black republic since 1804. Haitians are strong, powerful, prideful people but this a tough blow (to) endure," and "My heart bleeds for my people."
New Orleans Saints rookie linebacker Stanley Arnoux worried about his half sister Esmeralda Arnoux, 7, and half brother Pascal Arnoux, 5, who both live in Haiti.
Lance Armstrong's Livestrong foundation pledged US$250,000 to Partners in Health and Doctors Without Borders, and the World Series champion New York Yankees announced they were donating US$500,000 to aid rescue and relief efforts.
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