Mack Wilson Hosts Third Annual Celebrity Charity Game
Today, people may know Mack Wilson as an Arizona Cardinal, or they may remember him from his three years with the Alabama Crimson Tide. But before all that, Wilson wore the green and gold at Carver High School.
And Wilson has not forgotten about that—making a point to come back home. On Saturday, he hosted his third annual Make a Difference celebrity game in Montgomery. And boy, did all the love and support Wilson received at Carver feel good.
“It was an unbelievable feeling honestly; I got emotional walking out here,” Wilson said. “Being here and playing here and being able to get back into the atmosphere of a high school basketball game.”
The Montgomery community got to see Wilson back on the court, along with some NFL friends, including Terrell Owens, on the basketball court.
“It means everything,” Carver sophomore Camare Jackson said, “to be able to see all these people come back and give to us. Like we look up to (Wilson), so we’re thankful to have him as a leader, a big brother.”
But before the celebrity basketball game tipped off, there was lots of fun for kids outside. Children enjoyed bouncy houses, Kona Ice, hot dogs, and bags that fit a basketball.
Lomar Specialty Advertising president Marlo James Lomar said she donated the drawstring bags with functionality in mind.
“I did grow up in a single-parent household, so I understand those challenges, and I understand what it means to have one more thing that your child can use,” James said. “They can take this to training; they can take it to camp.”
As they try to be like the athletes they grew up watching, including Park Crossing graduate and Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt. Taylor-Britt said he would’ve liked something like this event growing up.
“To see all the guys who you see on TV and wish they come back,” he said. “And then they finally come back and have an event just for the kids, for the people to come see. That’s what you want, man. That’s what we shoot for, especially being from down here, just to show the kids: You can do it.”
Inspiring local kids is a key part of the vision for the event.
“He’s a great example to us,” Carver sophomore LaRodney McQueen said, “because he came from Carver; he knows what it’s like to be here.”
Wilson said he loves connecting with the kids and he wishes he could do it every day.
“Just being able to see the emotion that these kids have when they see guys like me and me bringing other guys back that’s on the same level as me,” he said. “When they see them, just how their face lights up and how their energy changes. It’s unbelievable. It’s something that you can’t really explain.”
Perhaps like having an entourage of NFL players show up to your hometown to play basketball.
“When I was 13, 12-years-old, I’ve never thought I’d be playing basketball with Terrell Owens at my high school like that, so it’s something that I’m definitely gonna reflect on when I go home,” Wilson said. “At the end of the day, I’m grateful, blessed, and fortunate to be able to do this. You know, I look forward to continue to do it.”
