Two years ago cancer kept Conor Smith away from his basketball passion. But just as the disease has released its grip, he's been benched again - this time by his own youth basketball program.
"I had no idea this was coming at all. I was completely shocked," said Tim Smith, Conor's dad, still reeling from the news that his 13-year-old son has been cut from a "C" team, the lowest rung of the Eagan Traveling Basketball association.
Conor was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March of 2007. Six months later doctors found Leukemia too.
Rounds of chemotherapy kept Conor out of basketball the entire 2007 season. Though still recovering, he came back to play last year.
Conor's latest trouble started two weeks ago when he couldn't participate in try-outs because of casts he was wearing on both legs to ease stiffened calf muscles caused by his chemo. The casts will be off by next week, but that was too late for the board that oversees Eagan Traveling Basketball.
"Could there be an exception, I guess there could have been but we try to keep everything according to our policies as best we can," said Beth Koenig, who co-directs the basketball association with her husband Gregg.
With no try-out on which to base a decision, the Koenigs say association rules called for Conor to be judged on his performance on the court last season. Hardly a fair assessment, his parents say, since Conor was still getting back on his feet from his cancer.
"This young man has grown probably an inch, inch-and-a- half and has probably put on about 15 pounds, went through camps and training one-on-one this summer, so how do you base his ability on last year," said Hope Smith, Conor's mother.
The Koenigs say they agonized over the decision to cut Conor, but had no choice but to follow the rules. "We're proud of our program," said Beth Koenig. "Is this one of our proudest moments? No. But we do believe we followed the policies we have in play."
This year 54 children in Conor's age group tried out for 50 spots on five teams. Conor was among 4 boys left out.
For his part, Conor admits his disappointment that he won't be playing ball and traveling to out-of-town tournaments with his friends. "I was just kind of bummed, because I don't really have anything else to do now."
Beth Koenig says she encouraged Conor's parents to "find another place for him to play."
The Smiths are considering seeking a team for Conor in another community, but say interaction with his friends would have been best for their son as he continues his cancer recovery.
Among the basketball trophies and memorabilia in Conor's room is a poster signed by some old teammates while Conor was in the hospital. "You da man! We missed you!" wrote one of the boys.
"I thought it was good for the kids to have a teammate last year that goes through what Conor goes through," said Tim Smith, "and we would have thought all things considered that they would have found a role for him."
Tim Smith says he was also told he was no longer needed as a coach, a volunteer position he had held within the youth basketball organization.
(Copyright 2009 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
