By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports editor
If there is one thing Waterford Union High School boys basketball coach Mickey Mala is sure of, it is the character of one David Hanson.
Hanson is a long-time youth coach in the Waterford and Union Grove areas, both for basketball and football. During the summer, he has coached Waterford’s summer league boys basketball team.
And through it all, even though Hanson was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the summer of 2010, he has handled himself with the dignity of a champion.
“It’s kind of the way he carries himself,” Mala explained. “He’s the most positive, good-natured man I’ve ever been around.
“Just a great role model for his kids … for me as a young father,” Mala added.
For the second year in a row, the Wolverines will host a “Coaches vs. Cancer” game at Waterford. This year, the opponent is traditional rival Union Grove, who will come to town Tuesday at 7 p.m. with both teams fighting for placement in the SLC.
T-shirts are on sale at Waterford Union High School for $10, and 20 percent of the proceeds for the shirts will be donated directly to the Hanson family. The rest of the proceeds from the event will go to Waterford Union High School’s Relay for Life event in May.
After the game, Rivermoor Golf Club will open up for pizza and a social.
Hanson, whose son Erik played for the state runner-up Waterford football team in the fall and is on the basketball team now, said he is humbled by the attention.
“I feel almost a little bit embarrassed about it,” David Hanson explained. “There are a lot of people, a lot of families, fighting cancer.”
But when it comes right down to it, he said, if another avenue comes up to help raise awareness for cancer – an avenue like this game – then “I’m all for it,” he said.
“I don’t view it as something for me,” he said.
David Hanson may not think the cause is about him, but he certainly has served as a rallying point. In addition to the “Coaches vs. Cancer” game, the captains of Waterford’s football team decided to dedicate November’s state championship game to him.
That kind of humility is something Mala said he and others have seen throughout Hanson’s time working with youngsters. That same attitude has rung true even while fighting the disease.
“Until the last couple of months, he went into work, even on days he had chemo,” Mala said. “He takes a completely different outlook.”
As a result, “the kids just respond to him,” Mala said. So do adults.
“I already knew what kind of impact he’s had on the community,” Mala said. But it’s truly amazed the coach how many have come out to support the evening. Rivermoor isn’t normally open on Tuesdays, Mala said, and because Erik Hanson is friends with a number of the Union Grove players, that school is joining the T-shirt effort as well.
Combined between the two school districts, almost 200 T-shirts have already been sold. Mala was quick to point out, though, that raising money was only part of the equation.
“It’s not about raising money,” Mala said. “It’s nice to do that. But it’s more… I’m hoping to see the stands full, people in blue shirts.
“It should be a good high school basketball game,” Mala added. “Hopefully it gives him and his family some sunshine in a time of clouds.”
Erik Hanson said the community support has been wonderful.
“I think it’s really good, and I think cancer is affecting a lot families at Waterford,” said Erik. “Anything we can do to help is good for everyone.”
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