Story of our Past President and CEO
WAYNE MAGEE
When I was diagnosed with MG 7 years ago now, I gave up playing golf as I had worked very hard getting down to an 11 handicap and because golf is a finesse game, even after I was able to eliminate the double vision and depth of field issues, I found as I got tired I could not “effectively” compensate for strength losses and so became very frustrated with my score.
Because of high doses of prednisone and eventually Imuran (steroid suppressants) I decided I needed to get back running to strengthen my cardio, and to add emphasis on strength building resorted to going back to playing my favorite sport of basketball. (Wayne is 6″10″)
In 1998 before moving to Phoenix (1991) I played in Europe on the Canadian Team in World Masters Sports (40 + age bracket). An international foundation supported by Olympic sports foundation that is encouraging senior level sports encompassing all venues, the International games are held every four years and are moved like the Olympics from country to country. So I had some experience with this before in my life.
Here in The USA we have another nationally promoted program that involves annual state level qualifying tourneys and every 2 years a National 3 on 3 tournament. Ever since I was diagnosed and asked Dr Sivakumar if he could get me back on the basketball court, I have won gold medals (along with 4 of my AZ friends that I play with regularly) in over 24 tournaments including California, Nevada, and new Mexico Tourneys. We have participated twice now in the National Tourney (involving some 30-40 teams in 55 age brackets) and managed to always get down to the final 16, but loose out after semi finals and just do not enough strength to get to the playoffs. I run our of gas after playing 2-3 games a day of intense 3 on 3 competition as our teams leading scorer.
This last year, I was recruited to play on a “stacked team” faith great California ball players made up of a host of ball players having former college and professional experience. (Even though we beat them 2 years ago in Pasadena to take the California gold). They know of my having MG and said look we would rather have you play with us than us play against you and with me they and I believe have a very good chance at winning the National Championship. It will be August 4-9th at Stanford University. So this year playing with the California Team we have picked up Gold in California and Nevada so far. The other important element to this is that the same group of guys are also involved in World Master Sports with a team made up of guys from Chicago, NY, Detroit, LA and me here in Arizona.
The US World masters Foundation have a series of tourneys (5 on 5 full court) play starting at age 45 and like Sir Olympics covers age groups up to age 75 if you can imagine. Well this year I have played against 7 ft 3″ Artis Gilmore (famous ABA/NBA all time shot blocker and rebound holder) and playing in tourneys in Buffalo and Florida, have not won Gold yet but have showed great promise and have come in second and third place after over time losses.
May 10th thru 16th I play with our team back in Florida in National Championship Tourney and will play against Artis again, in what will a grudge match.
August 4th-9th we will be competing for the US Championship 3 on 3 game at Stanford University National Sr Olympics were 15,000 athletes will compete in senior sports National levels involving every known Olympic sport.
In October (10th-18th) I have been advised that I am now chosen to be on one of two teams representing the USA in Sydney Australia at the World Maters Finals (estimated 20,000 athletes will be there over 6 weeks involving all sports).
At all my tourneys I always take MG brochures on emergency management and meet with paramedics to explain the disorder and ask them to assist if something stupid happens. I exasperate the disease at times and while have never had a crisis situation, am aware. I do from time to time have swallowing issues and choking sessions, but with cold compresses and rest, I rebound quickly. many times on multiple game days I will find a corner on a court at the gym having no game activity, curl up and actually go to sleep between games.
For me having MG is nothing more than an inconvenience to my life style. It affects my enjoyment working in my yard and garage. It has affected my energy levels at work in the heavy truck industry and I know I am no were near the man I was before I was diagnosed. BUT, it at the same time it has encouraged me to work harder on conditioning and placing greater emphasis on more balance in my life. To this end I am for ever thankful for the knowledge, confidence and encouragement I received from my former board members of the Arizona Chapter. They along with my doctors and family have enabled me the joy of competing at National and International levels, earning respect on the court and off the court as an ambassador of senior sports competition by my fellow Senior Olympians.
I have so much to be thankful for and encourage every Myasthenic.
That one can enjoy a reasonable quality of life living with MG as long as we adapt and believe in our ability to manage it is paramount.