"Aw man, if only they weren't on their KNEES, they'd be able to take these suckers! I think that poodle with the IV Drip is travelling!" - Everyone who ever saw this picture*

*DISCLAIMER: No one ever said this.

Art by  pac
Travis Buckner copyright to me
Ricardo Ortega and Francois Martineau copyright to their owners and players.Home Court Advantage
Story by Tazel Sixpaws, Copyright 2015
All players are copyright to their creators.


Thursday, September 10.

"...And THAT was the case of the Big Bad Polar Bear! Nothing could stop the Chicken Squad! The End!"

Travis closed the book and adjusted his glasses briefly, smiling over the pages to the gaggle of young patients in the pediatric ward. Most had come out of their beds and sat in a semicircle around the basketball player's feet, while others stood with their saline drip bags, attached intravenously. One or two were in wheelchairs, not well enough to get out from the cold steel embrace of the equipment, but warmed enough to smile at the reading of the latest hit children's book.

"So what did you all think? Pretty good, hmm?" asked the koala, as he put aside the reader and leaned forward. The kids giggled and murmured in agreement, some barking out their favorite parts without being prompted. This made Travis laugh gently. "Sounds like you guys had read this a hundred times already!" Some of the kids blushed, shyly turning away. The koala stood up slowly, making the kids' heads almost bend all the way backward. Though only 6'6", and slightly short for his chosen profession, he was still one of the tallest furs the kids had seen lately.

A spotted skunk in a black suit clapped his paws together as he approached the group. "Okay, guys! Let's hear it for Mr. Buckner!" Most of the kids clapped and yelled out celebrations. The ones who couldn't clap just smiled wide. Travis' ears blushed as he looked over the children, especially the ones who were so very ill, but demanded to be taken to the reading. Those were the ones he identified with the most. The fighters. The ones that wouldn't give up, wouldn't let others dictate their movements. Insisted on forging their own path.

"Now, it's time for you guys to get back into your beds, okay? I know some of you have missed your medication for this, and we are not going to have that!" Harman Youssef, the Austin Children's Hospital administrator, nodded to the various nurses and orderlies, much to the dismay of the patients. They knew they had to return, even though some with the energy ran up and hugged at Travis' leg. The koala smiled warmly, and rubbed his dual thumbs happily across their heads, some of which had been shorn near-bald for the chemotherapy.

Oncology was a terrible thing for a child to deal with.

"C'mon guys. You need to get better. Go with the nurses, okay? I'll be back soon, I promise."

Harman was thinking he'd need the jaws of life to extricate his star volunteer, but eventually the kids released him and went back grudgingly to their monitors, their charts, their medications, their procedures. Once gone, Harman put his hand on Travis' shoulder. "They loved it," he said, smiling. "I can't thank you enough for coming down."

"Well, considering the strike, I'm left with a lot more free time on my paws than I'd prefer."

The skunk cocked his head as he walked back to his office, beckoning Travis to follow. "You're not able to keep playing?"

Travis shook his head. "Part of the FBPA rules. Until this gets resolved, we're in lockdown. I'm still practicing, still working out, but also..." He laughed and shook his head. "I don't need to bother you with my troubles, Harman. I'm just glad to help out."

The two went into the elevator, narrowly escaping some photographers and reporters, wanting to get a story with Travis, presumably. Harman poked the 15th floor button and waited for the box to slowly ascend. "We're always happy to have you, but I have to admit, I'm worried." he admitted.

Travis looked over to Harman. In the time he'd been in Austin, and volunteered his time since last year, he'd gained the hospital administrator as a friendly acquaintance. Not quite a friend, but definitely a resource. Yet Harman, Pakastani by birth, fought his way up to get to where he was as well. He knew about overcoming incredible odds of circumstance. "Worried about what?"

"That you won't be here next year." The skunk looked straight ahead, his smile faded a bit. "I know, you have your career to think of, but..." He glanced gently towards the koala. "...it would mean a lot to the kids, and to me, if you stayed."

"Harman..."

Harman looked back at Travis intently. "You leave, people forget the good you did. They see you as leaving for money, not staying for honor." His words cut jagged wounds for as low as his volume was.

This made Travis quiet, motionless, considering his words. The koala's ears drooped a bit - the most expressive anyone might have seen them.

The skunk coughed and laughed at the same time. "Oh my god, I just tried to guilt you into staying... I'm sorry Travis. I did not mean to guilt you. I just don't want to lose your influence."

"Harman, you have my word, if I DO go, I'll still be donating to the cause. You know I believe in what you and your board is doing." Travis voice was a bit shaky after that last jarring sentence.

The skunk stayed silent as the elevator neared its target floor. After a few seconds, he spoke softly. "It's not the money, my friend."

Travis sighed gently. "I'd still visit when I'm in town," he offered plaintively.

"You will be a stranger in this town if you leave it, yes?"

"I hope not!" Travis folded his arms. "Are people that keen to forget what I've done so far?"

The elevator finally rang for the floor, and the doors opened. The pair walked out, past the secretary, a bit slower as the conversation had dulled the spring in their steps. "I hope not either, my friend. But you know the public is fickle. If you do leave, you leave your identity for this city behind. That's a hard thing to pick back up, one's identity."

The two walked into the office, as Travis closed the door behind him. The administrator went to a nearby cabinet, and took out a bottle of gin and a glass. "Let's talk about better things, yes?" he asked, his light Mideast accent floating above them in the air. "Would you have time to come this Sunday and read again?"

Travis nodded, "Of course! As I said, the strike is creating a lot of free time," he replied, sitting down unbidden into the recliner on the side of the less-than-opulent office. One of the many things he liked about Harman was that he was as much of a stickler for function over form - no ostentatious decorating, no display of wealth. But he ruled the hospital - he had the power, he just didn't need to flaunt it, advertise it. People just *knew* he was in charge.

That was something Travis always wanted. To know, that others knew, HE was in charge.

Harman had given Travis the glass, and poured one of his own, though to his he added some tonic water and ice. He sat down in his office chair, squeaking a bit as he repositioned his grand tail off to the side. Such were the concerns of mephits. "You'll forgive me, but I truly hope this lasts a long time - we've never gotten so much exposure before, and you've benefitted us greatly." He raised his glass. "To you, sir."

Travis raised his glass. "To the hospital," he countered, clinking the glassware with the administrator's, and sipping. It was a good vintage of gin. Harman might have kept the office austere, but he spent the money in the 'booze and schmooze' section wisely. You do not get to be an administrator of the largest children's hospital in one of the largest U.S. states without knowing how to woo investors, politicians, and apaprently basketball stars.

"Another reading, then? I know, it's not as active as basketball, but it's not like you could play basketball with these kids, hmm?" Harman laughed a bit, sipping his drink again.

Travis laughed along with, then he stopped, his eyes widening around his glasses. His muzzle remained agape, motionless for about ten seconds of thought. Harman cocked his head, that huge striped tail wavering back and forth, the worry returning. "What's wrong?" he asked, nervously.

"Harman... that's it. That's it!"

Surprise graced the skunk's face. "What's it? What... basketball?!" Harman laughed gently. "Travis, these kids are in no shape to throw a ball, much less play the sport!"

"Not a real game - I just get some of my Texas teammates and we come in and just have a 'small' game, with one of those tiny basketball hoops. We'd be on our knees, to make it 'fair'," he added, smiling.

Harman stroked his chin gently, tapping it with a blunted claw. "Who did you have in mind? Buck Hopper?" he asked, a bit hopefully.

Travis shook his head. "No, no... Buck's knee blew out too much last season. We are not going to put his joints in jeopardy. No, I'm thinking some of the new blood. You met some of them earlier - Francois and Whitney?"

"The dog and the pig?"

"That's them. They loved being here, and I think they'd love it. I can ask if Ricardo wants to join."

"What about Marcus Knight?"

Travis pursed his lips a bit, but nodded. "I can see if he wants to join too," Travis said, his smile becoming slightly less sincere.

Harman put his glass down and stood up, beaming. "Well I think it is a great idea! How does Sunday, 3PM work for you?"

Travis stood up, smiling back, and shaking Harman's offered paw. "Works great! I'll post it on Twitter - that should generate some buzz around the sports channels. But remember... this is NOT FBA. NOT the Lone Stars. This is just... professional basketballers, donating time, okay? Neither of us can afford being embroiled in the strike drama."

"Of course, of course!" Harman nodded profusely as he walked to the door to show Travis out. "I'll make sure that's understood by the publicists. Thank you again, Travis!"

Travis nodded his head and adjusted his glasses, smiling. "Anything for the kids, Harman! See you Sunday!" he said, as the door closed.The Austin Gazette, Sports Page

LOCAL PRO AND ROOKIE BALLERS TAKE THE GAME TO CANCER KIDS

- Story by Jack Stoker, Sports Desk Lead Reporter
- Photography by P.A. Crattie


Sunday, September 13, 2015

The FBA strike has been going on for weeks, and despite the division it has wrought of professional ballplayer compensation policies, it still hits hard. The fans, the livelihoods that depend on the players making appearances, being visible in practices, giving interviews about their teams - everyone is affected.

So when the recently-made free agent Travis Buckner was told about all the free time on his paws, he knew what to do - more of what he's been doing with the Austin Children's Hospital.

Volunteer.

In the last year, Buckner had spent much of his time making FBA-licensed presentations, having franchise photographers take pictures, giving out free swag to appreciative patients and their parents. But with no FBA activity allowed by the terms of the Furry Basketball Player's Association (FBPA) strike, the Lone Star's star three-spot found himself donating more and more time to the children of the hospital, especially in the cancer survivor ward.

Buckner is well known for having his own similar childhood medical history revealed during a press conference last year, and his unprofessional assault of the reporter. But he has since come back, and come back hard, helping the relatively young franchise earn a spot in the playoffs. It is this tenacity and drive that most impressed Harman Youssef, the hospital administrator.

"Travis and the Lone Stars are a blessing to Austin. The donations are always wonderful and appreciated, but it is the personal touch he and the team bring to the healing of our patients that truly make a difference."

Today, Travis brought along some friends of his - shooting guard Marcus Knight, and new rookie talent Francois Martineau, Ricardo Ortega and Whitney Hawkins. The group had brought kneepads, so they could be down on the floor at about the height of some of their biggest, littlest fans, playing a 'pickup game' of basketball, which the patients absolutely adored, and the local media devoured.

"I like him, he's got big ears and he's real nice and he helped me play ball," said one of the patients, pictured with Travis, above. "The others are nice too - the pig lady was really strong and the cat put a ball on his head and he was funny!"

Speculation that Buckner will not be with the Austin franchise next year abounds in the rumor circle, and when asked, Travis declined to answer, claiming he was waiting until the end of the month for any last minute franchises to make their move. A smiling Buckner claimed a promise regardless of the outcome.

"Whatever happens, I owe the FBA and the Lone Stars, their staff and the city of Austin a great debt. I honestly hope to remain here. I do not yet know if I will, but regardless I will definitely be back here for a rematch! Those kids whipped our butts and we have our pride to think of, you know?"