As part of the NBA All-Star festivities last week, Liberty’s Swin Cash and WNBA legend Ruth Riley joined NBA All-Stars like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, and Damien Lilliard for one of the many NBA Cares projects that took place all over New York City. In the Chelsea section of Manhattan, the players joined over 300 volunteers to sort and pack food for City Harvest, a food rescue organization which aids the 1.8 million New Yorkers who are facing hunger.
I was able to catch up with both Ruth and Swin in the midst of all the packing and sorting to get their thoughts on this year’s All Star festivities:
How do you guys feel about participating in the NBA All Star Weekend? Especially for you Swin, you are a member of the New York Liberty along with Tina Charles, so how do you guys feel about being here and being a part of all the festivities?
Swin: I think it’s awesome. The NBA has done an amazing job of always engaging no only the fans and the community, but also the players, and I think what better place than the mecca of basketball here in New York where there are so many eyes and you have the opportunity to show who you are globally. So, we’re excited to be part of it. The W’s always kind of been engaged with it. Now with Ruth being retired, she’s still here and engaged with the NBA side and NBA Cares, and I think that’s important that it’s really a family atmosphere that’s being created within the NBA.
This year, Shoni Schimmel is participating for the 1st time. What would you say to some of the other players who, down the line, are going to be participating in the All Star activities for the 1st time?
Swin: I would say to have fun, take it all in, and network, because you meet some really awesome people here. And for Shoni, show up and show out!
And Shoni did just that, scoring 17pts. in the star-studded NBA Celebrity All-Star Game. Here’s some more pics from the amazing project:
(For more information on City Harvest and ways you can help or donate, check out their website at www.cityharvest.org.)
