Jered Weaver says Special Olympics athletes show true sportsmanship

Baseball fans know Jered Weaver on the playing field, but many might not know the impact the Los Angeles Angels pitcher has as a Sports Ambassador for Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC).

Weaver and his wife, Kristin, have been active in the SOSC community for the past six years and became involved in the organization as a result of their own participation in sports. Both were standout athletes at California State University, Long Beach (Jered in baseball, Kristin in soccer), where Bill Shumard was the athletic director. When Shumard later became president and CEO of SOSC, he reached out to two of his former star student-athletes to see if they would be willing to help the organization.

The Weavers didn't hesitate.

"As soon as he came to us, we were more than willing to help out and be a part of such a great organization," Weaver recently told ESPN.com.

Prior to moving to Southern California, Kristin worked one-on-one with children with intellectual disabilities. Weaver says his wife was "more than excited" to be a part of an organization like Special Olympics, and the couple have remained jointly committed to the group ever since.

In his particular role as Sports Ambassador, Weaver spends most of his volunteer time at events, lending a hand wherever needed, whether it be handing out awards or simply cheering on the athletes and meeting them and their families.

"I'll show up, wear my Angels jersey, sign some autographs, pass out medals to some of the athletes after they get done with their events, walk around and talk with everybody, kind of show my face," Weaver said. "I just try to put a smile on their faces a little bit."

Shumard said Weaver's presence has an awe-inspiring effect on the athletes.

"They worship him," said Shumard. "They know if you're being sincere. They know if you're being true. There's a genuine affection [for Weaver] because they know he respects and admires them."

Weaver especially appreciates the competitive spirit the athletes bring to the Special Olympics. "Although they have some disabilities, they're just like everybody else," he said. "They're competitive. They put the practice in just like everybody else does, and they expect to achieve things just like everybody else does. They want to go out there and win."

But there is more to Weaver's contributions than smiling and signing autographs. He and Kristin raise money for SOSC through their annual Gold Ball Mystery Grab Bag event. Held during one home game each year and hosted by Angels' Wives, the event gives fans the opportunity to buy "mystery" gift bags with baseballs signed by players and coaches. If a bag happens to contain a golden ball, the lucky recipient wins a chance to meet the player whose name is on the ball during batting practice before a home game.

The event is so popular that fans line up at the stadium early to make their purchases before the bags sell out. Weaver estimates the event has raised approximately $80,000 for Special Olympics since its inception just a few years ago.

But the real benefit is far greater: While fans wait in line to buy their gift bags from the players' wives volunteering for the event, they are greeted by Special Olympics athletes. The athletes get the chance to shake hands and personally thank people for the donations that will support their endeavors, and the fans get to meet a group they might not know much about.

"It's exposure you just can't buy," says Shumard.

When describing the most significant personal moments of his involvement with Special Olympics, Weaver recounts the story of several athletes approaching him after winning medals, eagerly offering them up to him as mementos, beaming with pride in their accomplishments.

"I told them, 'You've got to sign it for me,' so they feel like they're somebody when they're signing their autograph on a medal." He paused for a moment, adding, "I've got a couple of them hanging up in my office at home with signatures on them, which is pretty cool."

Weaver doesn't seem like one to boast. His frequent refrain -- "I just try to help out whenever I can" -- reflects his belief that his contributions are small drops in the bucket compared to the greater goodness from numerous other generous individuals. Shumard attributes this quality of Weaver's to his team-first attitude, something Shumard said was on display during Weaver's Long Beach State days.

"While he was the All-American and the guy at the forefront, Jered was a teammate," Shumard said. "Jered was an ideal teammate. He was not greater than the team. The team depended on him, and he just knew that was his role."

Perhaps that is why Weaver recognizes another quality in Special Olympics athletes that hits home for him: sportsmanship. While the athletes compete against one another and have a desire to win, they also cheer for each other, smile and offer high-fives all around. They are genuinely happy to share in the successes of their fellow athletes, even if they don't place or earn a medal that day.

"If you need a class in sportsmanship, just go to one of the events and see how these kids go about it," Weaver said.