Latest news with #ScotPollard
The Independent
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
NBA champ, 'Survivor' contestant Scot Pollard shares Indy 500 parade float with heart donor's family
Scot Pollard was standing in Gasoline Alley at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and trying not to cry. The NBA champion and 'Survivor' contestant was talking about meeting the family of Casey Angell, whose heart was now beating inside Pollard's chest. Angell's sister brought a stethoscope. 'She touched my chest. She listened and she started crying. She said, 'Hey, Bubba,' because that's what she used to call him,' Pollard said. 'And we all lost it. And I'm losing it right now.' A first-round draft pick who took Kansas to the NCAA Sweet 16 four years in a row and won it all with the 2008 Boston Celtics, Pollard was virtually bedridden by 2024, unable to walk around the block or even conduct an interview without needing a rest because of a virus that had weakened his heart. Since receiving the life-saving transplant last winter, he has dedicated himself to raising awareness of organ donation, a mission that earned him the honor of serving as the Grand Marshal for the Indy 500 Festival Parade on Saturday. Angell's family rode along on the float with him. 'Any time we get to see them and be around them is a great moment,' Pollard said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. 'But also just to be able to share this experience of being grand marshal with them, and be part of their lives.' At 6-foot-11 and a playing weight of 260 pounds, Pollard inherited his size from his father along with a genetic heart condition that doctors say was triggered by a virus that left him no other choice but a transplant. The problem would be finding a donor organ big enough to pump blood throughout his NBA center-sized body. Six hundred miles away, in East Texas, Angell was on life support with pneumonia brought on by a respiratory illness. 'We made the decision that we were letting go, and they came to us within about 30 minutes and asked about donation,' said Megan Tyra, who works as an administrator at the hospital where her brother died. 'We saw the heart leave, going out the door, and all we were told was that it was headed to Tennessee.' To protect everyone's privacy, organ recipients can only learn about their donors – and vice versa – through a system that requires both sides to agree. Pollard was told that most people don't hear back, but he wrote a note anyway. Angell's family responded. (In addition to his heart, Casey Angell's corneas and his kidneys were donated. The family was told the other recipients were two 17-year-olds and a 48- and a 49-year-old; they have not heard from any of the other recipients.) 'Casey was a nosy dude. He always wanted to be in the know,' Tyra said with a laugh. 'And so when we got that first letter from Scot, … we were grateful that Scot wanted to know about Casey. Him and (his wife) Dawn have been so sweet and kind, (saying) 'You're part of our family now.'' They set up a meeting in Texas this March. Tyra was there with her husband, Clint; Angell's wife, Pam; and her son William, who is now 13. Pollard brought his family — and cameras to record the event for a TV documentary. 'To say the least, it was a tad bit overwhelming,' Tyra said in a telephone interview this week from Indianapolis. 'We never did this for anything other than who Casey was, a helper, a guy who would help anyone do anything. So it's a little bit surreal, a little bit overwhelming. But (Scot) and Dawn make it easy.' Pollard, who turned 50 in February a few days after celebrating his one-year anniversary with the new heart, said that since receiving the transplant he has suffered from survivor's guilt — the doubt that he was worthy of such a gift: 'It's a challenge, because I've got to live right. There's a face, and I know what he looks like and I know who he was, and the family. And so there's that pressure.' Angell's family, he said, helped save him twice. 'There were a lot of days I was crying like, 'I don't know if I deserve this,'' Pollard said. 'And then when they responded, and I got to know them, and I learned a lot more about Casey, it definitely helped. He has helped a whole lot with the healing. Not just emotionally, obviously.' Pollard is hoping the documentary and the other media attention he brings as a former pro athlete will persuade people to consider organ donation. Last month, he spoke at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation and received a standing ovation from a convention center full of doctors, including his own; that night, he attended a Celtics playoff game and got another big cheer when he received a shoutout on the scoreboard. Pollard, who spent two of his 11 NBA seasons with the Indiana Pacers and settled near Indianapolis, was booked for a breakfast with the governor as part of the Indy 500 festivities this weekend along with some other meet-and-greets. He will watch the race — known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing — on Sunday in a suite with Angell's family. 'We're excited about the fact that we're honoring Casey, and who Casey was. So it's all about Casey, and the sacrifice Casey made,' Tyra said. 'We're grateful that Scot wanted us to meet, and wants us to be a part of this and that he's doing so much for organ donation. It's amazing. 'You know, we never thought our little smalltown selves would be here for the Indy 500," she said. 'But here we are.' ___
Associated Press
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
NBA champ, 'Survivor' contestant Scot Pollard shares Indy 500 parade float with heart donor's family
Scot Pollard was standing in Gasoline Alley at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and trying not to cry. The NBA champion and 'Survivor' contestant was talking about meeting the family of Casey Angell, whose heart was now beating inside Pollard's chest. Angell's sister brought a stethoscope. 'She touched my chest. She listened and she started crying. She said, 'Hey, Bubba,' because that's what she used to call him,' Pollard said. 'And we all lost it. And I'm losing it right now.' A first-round draft pick who took Kansas to the NCAA Sweet 16 four years in a row and won it all with the 2008 Boston Celtics, Pollard was virtually bedridden by 2024, unable to walk around the block or even conduct an interview without needing a rest because of a virus that had weakened his heart. Since receiving the life-saving transplant last winter, he has dedicated himself to raising awareness of organ donation, a mission that earned him the honor of serving as the Grand Marshal for the Indy 500 Festival Parade on Saturday. Angell's family rode along on the float with him. 'Any time we get to see them and be around them is a great moment,' Pollard said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. 'But also just to be able to share this experience of being grand marshal with them, and be part of their lives.' At 6-foot-11 and a playing weight of 260 pounds, Pollard inherited his size from his father along with a genetic heart condition that doctors say was triggered by a virus that left him no other choice but a transplant. The problem would be finding a donor organ big enough to pump blood throughout his NBA center-sized body. Six hundred miles away, in East Texas, Angell was on life support with pneumonia brought on by a respiratory illness. 'We made the decision that we were letting go, and they came to us within about 30 minutes and asked about donation,' said Megan Tyra, who works as an administrator at the hospital where her brother died. 'We saw the heart leave, going out the door, and all we were told was that it was headed to Tennessee.' To protect everyone's privacy, organ recipients can only learn about their donors – and vice versa – through a system that requires both sides to agree. Pollard was told that most people don't hear back, but he wrote a note anyway. Angell's family responded. (In addition to his heart, Casey Angell's corneas and his kidneys were donated. The family was told the other recipients were two 17-year-olds and a 48- and a 49-year-old; they have not heard from any of the other recipients.) 'Casey was a nosy dude. He always wanted to be in the know,' Tyra said with a laugh. 'And so when we got that first letter from Scot, … we were grateful that Scot wanted to know about Casey. Him and (his wife) Dawn have been so sweet and kind, (saying) 'You're part of our family now.'' They set up a meeting in Texas this March. Tyra was there with her husband, Clint; Angell's wife, Pam; and her son William, who is now 13. Pollard brought his family — and cameras to record the event for a TV documentary. 'To say the least, it was a tad bit overwhelming,' Tyra said in a telephone interview this week from Indianapolis. 'We never did this for anything other than who Casey was, a helper, a guy who would help anyone do anything. So it's a little bit surreal, a little bit overwhelming. But (Scot) and Dawn make it easy.' Pollard, who turned 50 in February a few days after celebrating his one-year anniversary with the new heart, said that since receiving the transplant he has suffered from survivor's guilt — the doubt that he was worthy of such a gift: 'It's a challenge, because I've got to live right. There's a face, and I know what he looks like and I know who he was, and the family. And so there's that pressure.' Angell's family, he said, helped save him twice. 'There were a lot of days I was crying like, 'I don't know if I deserve this,'' Pollard said. 'And then when they responded, and I got to know them, and I learned a lot more about Casey, it definitely helped. He has helped a whole lot with the healing. Not just emotionally, obviously.' Pollard is hoping the documentary and the other media attention he brings as a former pro athlete will persuade people to consider organ donation. Last month, he spoke at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation and received a standing ovation from a convention center full of doctors, including his own; that night, he attended a Celtics playoff game and got another big cheer when he received a shoutout on the scoreboard. Pollard, who spent two of his 11 NBA seasons with the Indiana Pacers and settled near Indianapolis, was booked for a breakfast with the governor as part of the Indy 500 festivities this weekend along with some other meet-and-greets. He will watch the race — known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing — on Sunday in a suite with Angell's family. 'We're excited about the fact that we're honoring Casey, and who Casey was. So it's all about Casey, and the sacrifice Casey made,' Tyra said. 'We're grateful that Scot wanted us to meet, and wants us to be a part of this and that he's doing so much for organ donation. It's amazing. 'You know, we never thought our little smalltown selves would be here for the Indy 500,' she said. 'But here we are.' ___ AP auto racing:
Indianapolis Star
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Scot Pollard is 500 Festival Parade grand marshal. What to know about the NBA champion
Scot Pollard will be the grand marshal for the AES 500 Festival Parade. The Carmel resident will lead during the Indianapolis 500 race weekend event on May 24. Here's what you should know about the 2025 AES 500 Festival Parade grand marshal. The 6-11 Pollard played in the NBA for 11 years, including for the Indiana Pacers from 2003 to 2006. He is an NBA Champion and three-time NBA Finalist. He was the 19th pick of the 1997 NBA draft, chosen by the Detroit Pistons. A three-time NBA Finalist, Pollard retired after his Boston Celtics won a championship in 2008. The son of former University of Utah basketball player Pearl Pollard, Scot Pollard was born in Murray, Utah, and grew up in San Diego, California, and Kennewick, Washington. He played college ball at the University of Kansas, where he graduated in 1997 with a degree in education. Pollard appeared as a contestant on the reality television series 'Survivor: Kaôh Rōng' in 2016, being voted out on Day 27 and becoming the fourth member of the jury. 🏁🏎️: 500 Festival Parade returns. What to know about parking, performers and tickets He received a heart transplant in February 2024, after contracting a virus in 2021. (The donor was Casey Angell, a 45-year-old man who'd died in a Texas hospital after a short health battle.) He and his wife, Dawn, started the non-profit Pearls of Life to advocate for organ donations, educate the community and support families who are going through the organ transplant or donation process. Dawn Pollard serves as the organization's executive director and Pollard is the volunteer spokesman, traveling the country sharing his personal story. IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow contributed to this report.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
500 Festival Parade returns. What to know about parking, performers and tickets
A tradition since 1957, the downtown Indianapolis parade celebrating the Indianapolis 500 marches on. 2025's AES 500 Festival Parade is expected to draw more than 200,000 spectators to watch floats, giant helium balloons, bands and all 33 Indy 500 what to know about one of the most anticipated events of the year: The parade will take place on Saturday, May 24. Festivities kick off at 11:45 am, and the parade begins at noon. WTHR, Channel 13, will broadcast the parade live for the Indianapolis audience, while Peacock will stream the event live. WTHR will re-air the broadcast at 8 p.m. on May 24. NBA champion and former Indiana Pacer star Scot Pollard is this year's grand marshal. Kelsey Hart is the featured performer for the AES 500 Festival Parade Opening Production. The Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders and Pacemates will also perform. Hart will perform a post-parade concert at Turntable starting at 8 p.m. The general admission show benefits the 500 Festival. Use code PARADE to get tickets for $10 at 38th Infantry Division Band, Indianapolis – Director, Catherine Maloney Centerville High School Blue Regiment, Centerville, Indiana – Director, Johnathan Lucy Chartiers Valley Showband, Bridgeville, Pennsylvania – Director, Traci Kelly Goshen High School Crimson Marching Band, Goshen, Indiana – Director, Tom Cox Indianapolis Public Schools All-City Marching Band, Indianapolis – Director, Josh Goodman Jimtown High School Marching Jimmies, Elkhart, Indiana – Director, Kathy Baughman Belleville West Marching Maroons, Belleville, Illinois – Director, Michael Pond-Jones Eastern (Pekin) Musketeer Brigade, Pekin, Indiana – Director, Matt Lindley National Band Association Indiana All-Star Band, Zionsville, Indiana – Director, Mickey Stisher New Prairie Marching Cougars, New Carlisle, Indiana – Director, Jared Jaggi Purdue University "All-American" Marching Band, West Lafayette, Indiana - Director, Matt Conaway NorthWood High School Red Regiment, Nappanee, Indiana – Director, Eric Criss Speedway High School 500 Regiment Band, Speedway, Indiana – Director, Amy Mohl Warren Central Gold Brigade Marching Band and Color Guard, Indianapolis – Director, Ed Meckes The parade starts at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North streets and goes south to Washington Street, east to Meridian Street, and then north on Meridian to end at North Street. See the parade route at The 2025 theme is 'Connected Through May,' celebrating how the 500 Festival unites with local organizations and community members through its diverse events and programs, especially in May. AES 500 Festival Parade tickets are on sale, starting at $25, at Proceeds from all 500 Festival ticketed events help support the organization's free education, health, and fitness initiatives for Indiana youth. Organizers suggest arriving early to find parking, as many downtown streets will be closed to traffic and public parking in preparation for the event. Several parking facilities will be open for event parking, but due to street closings, not all routes into the various parking locations will be available. 500 Festival Parade recommends drivers: Arrive early and relax during peak exit times. Enter downtown from the side on which you plan to park and park facing the direction you intend to depart. Plan where you will park ahead of time. Plan your route ahead of time and carpool if possible. Prepare to park away from the event site. Plan to use a parking garage or lot. Metered parking is limited around special event areas. Book parking in advance through SpotHero. Visit for street close on May 23 for Vermont Street between Pennsylvania and Delaware streets; and on May 24 for the parade route. The event is coordinated by 500 Festival, a not-for-profit organization that produces more than 50 events and programs while celebrating the Indianapolis 500. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: When is the 500 Festival Parade? What to know about the 2025 event
Indianapolis Star
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
500 Festival Parade returns. What to know about parking, performers and tickets
A tradition since 1957, the downtown Indianapolis parade celebrating the Indianapolis 500 marches on. 2025's AES 500 Festival Parade is expected to draw more than 200,000 spectators to watch floats, giant helium balloons, bands and all 33 Indy 500 what to know about one of the most anticipated events of the year: The parade will take place on Saturday, May 24. Festivities kick off at 11:45 am, and the parade begins at noon. WTHR, Channel 13, will broadcast the parade live for the Indianapolis audience, while Peacock will stream the event live. WTHR will re-air the broadcast at 8 p.m. on May 24. NBA champion and former Indiana Pacer star Scot Pollard is this year's grand marshal. Kelsey Hart is the featured performer for the AES 500 Festival Parade Opening Production. The Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders and Pacemates will also perform. Hart will perform a post-parade concert at Turntable starting at 8 p.m. The general admission show benefits the 500 Festival. Use code PARADE to get tickets for $10 at The parade starts at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North streets and goes south to Washington Street, east to Meridian Street, and then north on Meridian to end at North Street. See the parade route at The 2025 theme is 'Connected Through May,' celebrating how the 500 Festival unites with local organizations and community members through its diverse events and programs, especially in May. AES 500 Festival Parade tickets are on sale, starting at $25, at Proceeds from all 500 Festival ticketed events help support the organization's free education, health, and fitness initiatives for Indiana youth. Organizers suggest arriving early to find parking, as many downtown streets will be closed to traffic and public parking in preparation for the event. Several parking facilities will be open for event parking, but due to street closings, not all routes into the various parking locations will be available. 500 Festival Parade recommends drivers: Visit for street close on May 23 for Vermont Street between Pennsylvania and Delaware streets; and on May 24 for the parade route.
