Playing with a pro

Professional athletes are kind of rare in Havre, especially homegrown ones. So when Marc Mariani of the Chicago Bears returned home to host a Play 60 event at Pepin Park Tuesday afternoon, the turnout and the excitement was expectedly high.

When it was all said and done, around 270 kids came out to participate in the event and to meet their hometown hero in Mariani, who was participating in the National Football League's Play 60 program, which encourages kids to get out and play 60 minutes a day to help fight obesity.

"It was great to see so many people come out," Mariani said. "I was really glad to be able to do this in my hometown and the response that we got was just incredible. It was really exciting to see so many kids out there having fun."

The young athletes that were in attendance, which consisted of both boys and girls currently in the K-8 age range, took part in a number of different drills and games at four stations.

Of course, the most popular station was the football station. Kids ran through cone drills with Mariani's dad Steve, then got to catch a pass from Mariani himself.

"It was really cool," Carson Ottinger, 10, of Havre said. "He's one of my favorite players."

Kyle Walker, 13, also enjoyed the day and said getting to meet Mariani and play some football were the two biggest reasons she came out.

"It's really cool to get to meet an NFL player," Walker said. "And I really like football. It was a lot of fun."

The only thing that threatened a perfect day in the park was a rain storm that erupted in the skies shortly after the Play 60 period got underway. However, the rainstorm did little to dampen the spirits of the kids or Mariani.

"I was kind of worried when the rain started and thought for a second about shutting it down," Mariani said. "But the kids were having fun and kept playing, so we just went with it. And I think everyone ended up having even more fun because of it."

In addition to football, other stations included soccer, jumping rope and other games that put an emphasis on being active.

At the end of the hour of play, Mariani huddled up with the kids one more time and prizes were handed out. Some of the items distributed were signed footballs, authentic game gloves worn by him, autographed hats and a jersey. Yet, even if the kids didn't win in the drawing, everyone left with a signed picture of Mariani, who also stood and took pictures with whomever wanted them, well after the event had concluded.

"This was something I have always wanted to do," Mariani said. "Bringing Play 60 to Havre is so great, because it's everywhere, but it doesn't always come to places like Havre, so this was really special."

The former Havre High alum, who starred in football, basketball and tennis for the Blue Ponies, said he was grateful to everyone who helped put the Play 60 together, but saved a special thanks for his mom, Julie Mariani.

"Honestly, this wouldn't have been possible without all the work she put into it," Mariani said. "I have been training and had OTAs (organized team activities with the Bears) so it's really because of her that we were able to do this."

Before sending the kids on their way, Mariani had a few poignant messages for Havre's youth to close out the afternoon, telling them not only to stay active and involved, but to follow their dreams, whatever they may be.

"This is my hometown. I grew up about 10 blocks from here and I used to play in this park," Mariani said to the crowd at the conclusion of the Play 60. "So stay active and dream big. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't do it. You can grow up to be in the NFL, play in the WNBA, be a guitar player or whatever you want. It takes a lot of hard work, but I did it and you can do it, too."