Often the hardest part of an athlete’s career is battling back from injury, but nothing can compare to challenges faced by members of the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team, which visited Bellarmine earlier this month in an appearance documented by HBO's
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
All of the players have endured near-fatal injuries and excruciating rehabilitation to return to the ballfield from the battlefield. The current team is made up of 15 Army and Marine vets who suffered leg, foot or arm amputations while heroically serving their country.
Despite their individual handicaps, they face able-bodied teams and have a .500 record. Real Sports correspondent Frank Deford visited the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team during an appearance at Bellarmine, to show that they are the same focused, physically capable men they have always been.
The segment, part of Real Sports Episode 172, debuts Tuesday, July 19 at 10 p.m. on HBO. Other HBO playdates: July 19 (3:20 a.m.), 21 (5 p.m., midnight), 24 (9 a.m.), 26 (10:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m.), 28 (1 p.m., 1:45 a.m.) and 30 (10:30 a.m.), and Aug. 4 (8:30 p.m.). HBO2 playdates: July 23 (6:30 p.m.), 25 (1 & 10 p.m.), 29 (5 p.m.) and 31 (12:30 p.m.), and Aug. 2 (11 p.m.) and 5 (11:30 a.m.). HBO On Demand availability: July 25 to August 15.
For more on the Wounded Warriors, visit
www.woundedwarrioramputeesoftballteam.org