Amp1 Basketball

Amputees to Show Off Stand-Up Basketball Skills at Nike 3on3 Tournament, L.A. LIVE

Eric — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:28:20 +0000

LOS ANGELES, Calif., August 1, 2011 – AMP1, a team of stand-up (versus wheelchair) amputee basketball players will challenge able-bodied and celebrity teams at the Nike 3on3 basketball tournament scheduled to take place at L.A. LIVE August 6-7. The AMP1 team will demonstrate how, with the help of high-tech prosthetic devices, sheer determination and their love of the sport, they have overcome lower limb amputations caused traumatic accidents, congenital complications and cancer.

AMP1 will enter three, three player teams into the tournament with a minimum of nine games scheduled to be played throughout the weekend (times to be published at the event). In addition to the general tournament, the AMP1 varsity team will be featured on Saturday August 6th from 11:45am-12:15pm on the Nike Center Court in an exciting “AMP1 vs. Celebrities” 3on3 exhibition game.

AMP1 will also be featured in the Nike Fan Fest area where attendees can meet the team including co-founder Scott Odom, who will be signing his book Stand Up: I Los t My Leg to Cancer, Not My Dream. AMP1 sponsor Freedom Innovations will be showcasing the advanced prosthetic technology that enables the team to play at such a high level. Raffle tickets for an array of prizes will be on sale to benefit the P.L.A.Y. Foundati on, a non-profit group that provides financial resources for amputee youth to participate in the arts, education and sports.

AMP1 players all wear the Renegade prosthetic foot, designed by Freed o m Innovations especially for highly active amputees. It features carbon-fiber Z-Shock Technology, which stores and returns energy and provides the shock absorption that is critical for high impact activities such as basketball. One of the players also utilizes the Plié 2.0 MPC Knee, which combines cutting-edge microprocessor and hydraulic technologies to facilitate the responsive movements and stability required in the sport.

Following AMP1’s visit to Los Angeles, the team will be making appearances in Detroit and Washington D.C., before closing out their 2011 National Tour.

About Nike 3on3

Nike3on3 basketball tournament debuted on the streets of the L.A. LIVE entertainment and sports district that surrounds STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre in 2009. It has grown to become the largest 3on3 street basketball tournament and fan fests in Los Angeles. Annual participation exceeds 1,070 teams, 4,000 players and 25,000 spectators with participants and spectators coming from all over the country.

About Freedom Innovations

Freedom Innovations engineers, manufactures, and markets advanced technology prosthetic devices that provide people with physical challenges the ability to reach their full potential. Based in Irvine, CA, Freedom’s lower-limb prosthetics are distributed in over 40 countries around the world.

For more information, visit www.freedom-innovations.com

About P.L.A.Y. Foundation

P.L.A.Y. (Positive Living for Active Youth) was developed by an amputee to allow the dreams and desires of other amputees to come true. We are a financial resource to allow growth in the arts, education and sports.

Learn more at www.playfoundation.net

Freedom Innovations Underwrites AMP1 Stand-up Basketball League’s Game in Texas

Eric — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:03:24 +0000

IRVINE, Calif., Jun. 7, 2010 – Underscoring its support of widening the opportunities for amputees, Freedom Innovations (www.freedom-innovations.com), provider of world-class lower limb prosthetic devices, continues its support of AMP1 Basketball (www.amp1basketball.com), the first and only organized stand-up (vs. wheelchair) basketball team, at a recent game in Fort Worth, Texas.

With team members wearing the Freedom Innovations Renegade prosthetic foot, AMP1 Basketball plays in charity challenge games nationwide, including able-bodied teams, to benefit physically challenged students, amputees, and cancer patients. Freedom Innovations’ sponsorship of foot and knees prosthetic products has enabled the AMP1 team to excel in the demanding sport of stand-up basketball.

“We are able to compete more effectively with Freedom Innovations’ products because of the stability, balance and flexibility they offer, especially the Plié 2.0 MPC Knee which has a microprocessor and sensors that provide the responsive movement required in basketball,” says Tyler Hyatt, transfemoral amputee and co-founder of AMP1. “We couldn’t do what we do without them.”

Freedom Innovations also underwrites the team’s travel to games and to visit hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation facilities where their presentations provide inspiration, motivation, and hope to adults and children facing their own challenges while also recruiting new players for the AMP1 team.

In the recent well-fought match against a staff team from Cook Children’s Medical Center and Camp Sanguinity, a summer camp for children being treated for cancer and blood disorders, the AMP1 team raised money for the Camp and showcased AMP1′s message of “anything is possible.”

“When you pair advanced prosthetic care with our commitment to collaboration and innovation, amputees have the ability to reach their full potential,” notes Gary Wertz, Executive Vice President of Freedom Innovations. “AMP1 Basketball is a perfect example of how people, equipped with the most effective tools can excel while also inspiring others to do the same.”

Amputees to Show Off Stand-Up Basketball Skills at Long Island, NY Charity Basketball Game

Eric — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:59:13 +0000

IRVINE, Calif., Mar. 23, 2011 – AMP 1, a team of stand-up (not wheelchair) amputee basketball players will challenge an able-bodied team at a Long Island, NY charity basketball game at 7pm on Friday March 25th. The AMP 1 team will demonstrate how, with the help of modern high-tech prosthetics, sheer determination, and their love of the sport, they have overcome lower limb amputations caused traumatic accidents, congenital complications and cancer.

AMP 1 will visit Mattituck High School to play against its varsity basketball team which hopes to claim victory following the school’s loss to AMP 1 in 2010. Ticket proceeds ($5 each) will benefit the MCTA Scholarship Fund.

Scott Odom, co-founder of AMP 1 and an amputee since age 14 will make several presentations to local students in the days leading up to the games. Supporting the message in his book Stand Up: I Lost My Leg to Cancer, Not My Dream, Odom seeks to inspire others to put adversity behind them and follow their dreams to overcome whatever challenges they may face in life.

Odom and his AMP 1 teammates all wear the Renegade prosthetic foot, designed by Freedom Innovations especially for highly active amputees. It features carbon-fiber Z-Shock Technology, which provides the shock absorption that is critical for high impact activities such as basketball. One of the players also utilizes the Plié 2.0 MPC Knee, which combines cutting-edge microprocessor and hydraulic technologies to faciliate the responsive movements and stability required in the sport. Long Island Orthotics & Prosthetics’ Marc Werner is providing prosthetic care to the team.

Following AMP 1’s visit to Long Island, the team will be making appearances in Detroit, Washington D.C., Kansas City and Los Angeles during their 2011 National Tour.

Amputees to Show Off Stand-Up Basketball Skills in Dallas Mavericks Halftime Show Jan. 6

Eric — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:51:07 +0000

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 5, 2011 – Amp1, a team of stand-up (not wheelchair) amputee basketball players will kick off a tour of the Dallas-Fort Worth area with an exhibition during the halftime show at the Dallas Mavericks/Oklahoma City Thunder game on Jan. 6th at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas.

The AMP1 team of stand-up basketball players will demonstrate how, with the help of modern high-tech prosthetics from Freedom Innovations, sheer determination and their love of the sport, they have overcome lower limb amputations.

The exhibition is part of a four-day tour of the Dallas-Fort Worth area where AMP1 players, including co-founder Scott Odom, will speak to local schools and play a charity game against able-bodied players benefitting the P.L.A.Y. Foundation, a financial resource for amputees who want to excel in the arts, education or sports.

Odom, who has been an amputee since he was 14, is also introducing his new book, Stand Up: I Lost My Leg to Cancer, Not My Dream, which he wrote to inspire other amputees to put adversity behind them and follow their dreams – that they can overcome whatever challenges they face in life.

Odom and his AMP1 teammates all wear the Renegade prosthetic foot, designed by Freedom Innovations especially for highly active amputees. It features Freedom’s patented all carbon fiber Z-Shock Technology, providing a smooth and normal gait for running, jumping or just walking. One of the players also utilizes the Plié 2.0 MPC Knee, which combines cutting-edge microprocessor and hydraulic technologies to provide the responsive movements and stability required in basketball.

The Texas tour, highlighted by the Mavericks exhibition on Thursday, will begin on Wednesday with appearances at Shelton Middle School and, on Friday, at the A.M. Pate Elementary School including a surprise visit to a fourth-grade amputee. Events will conclude on Saturday with the P.L.A.Y. (Positive Living for Active Youth) Foundation charity game and Scott Odom book launch party, which will take place beginning at 5 p.m. at the Hockaday School in Dallas.

Freedom Innovations, which sponsors the team, supports the AMP1 mission to inspire, motivate, educate and provide hope to adults and children facing their own challenges.

Following AMP 1’s visit to Walter Reed, the team will be making appearances in Detroit, Kansas City and Los Angeles to close out their 2011 National Tour, which is sponsored by Freedom Innovations and the P.L.A.Y. (Positive Living for Active Youth) Foundation.

AMP1 Basketball Team to Provide Stand-Up Basketball Clinic for Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Eric — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:39:29 +0000

IRVINE, Calif., April 12, 2011 – AMP 1, the only touring team of stand-up (not wheelchair) amputee basketball players in the nation will visit wounded warriors at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center on April 26, 2011. AMP 1 will demonstrate how, with the help of modern high-tech prosthetics, sheer determination, and their love of the sport, they have overcome lower limb amputations to pursue their dreams and lead active, healthy lives. In addition to a 3 on 3 exhibition game that will demonstrate AMP 1’s skills on the court, the team will provide a basketball clinic for the wounded warriors as a component of their recreational therapy program. A scrimmage game with the soldiers will follow the clinic, which aims to teach participants some of the unique skills required for amputees to play stand-up basketball. The event will take place from 1-4pm at the Military Advanced Training Center (MATC).

Scott Odom, co-founder of AMP 1 and an amputee since age 14 will make a brief presentation to the soldiers to kick off the event. He will speak to the importance of connecting with other amputees as he did via FaceBook and YouTube to form AMP 1 nearly three years ago. Since then the team has embarked on a six city national tour, including a stop in Dallas, Texas where they played a game during the Dallas Mavericks NBA half-time show. The team also recently visited the most famous outdoor basketball arena, Rucker Park in Harlem, New York. The AMP 1 team, which experienced limb loss due to traumatic accidents, congenital deformities and cancer, ultimately seeks to inspire others to put adversity behind them to follow their dreams and overcome whatever challenges they may face in life.

Odom and his AMP 1 teammates all wear the Renegade prosthetic foot, designed by Freedom Innovations especially for highly active amputees. It features 100% carbon-fiber Z-Shock Technology, which provides the shock absorption through a lightweight design that is critical for high impact activities such as basketball. Team member Tyler Hyatt also utilizes the Plié 2.0 MPC Knee, which combines cutting-edge microprocessor and hydraulic technologies to facilitate responsive movements and stability. This function is especially important for transfemoral (above-knee) amputees to play the sport safely and confidently.

Following AMP 1’s visit to Walter Reed, the team will be making appearances in Detroit, Kansas City and Los Angeles to close out their 2011 National Tour, which is sponsored by Freedom Innovations and the P.L.A.Y. (Positive Living for Active Youth) Foundation.