Proud mother boasts about her two graduating sons.
Born with achondroplasia, a genetic form of dwarfism, both Morgan Ray and his adoptive brother Michael, graduated from UNF
You might see Sam Reck setting up in-game events, lining up halftime performers or even playing the drums during timeouts at Little Caesars arena.
And although he is only 4-foot 6, the organization’s Swiss Army knife lends a hand when needed. Simultaneously, he also calls the shots down the street on West Warren Ave. for the Motor City Cruise, the NBA G League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons.
“I love show-calling and the industry I’m in. I love being able to create memories for fans,” said the 29-year-old from Madison Heights.
Reck, officially the manager of game operations for the Cruise, mostly oversees game presentation at the Wayne State Fieldhouse.
He, along with the other game operations staff, has his hands in everything not involving a ball for both Detroit teams. That includes halftime shows, anthems, videos, lighting and partner recognitions.
For the basketball operations crew, the work mostly stops at the sideline. For Reck, though, it can continue on the court, as he plays the drums.
“It’s never going to leave me at this point. I’m never going to escape it,” Reck said.
Reck, who grew up with achondroplasia, a bone-growth disorder that results in dwarfism due to a genetic mutation in the arms and legs, knew playing sports wasn’t an option for him growing up. So he became a drummer, through his formative years at Grand Haven High School, his time at Michigan, while working for the Chicago Bulls early in his career and then sparingly with the Pistons Drumline.
‘One step for an average person is three steps for me’
People sometimes have preconceived notions about what Reck can do, thanks to their preconceived notions about dwarfism.
“When you have a disability – mine is physical; for others, it’s mental – people’s expectation for what your life automatically narrows. Now there are obvious things. I’m not going to be a professional athlete, but there’s a lot of accommodations that can be made too.”
Reck acknowledged sometimes he does need help, but living with dwarfism makes him want to prove himself in his professional and personal life.
“One step for an average person is three or four steps for me. I’m always going to be the one pushing the buttons and asking how we can make this work.”
Reck’s philosophy pushed him though classes at Michigan toward his master’s, and while there have been challenges he said scoring internships and full time roles at his alma mater and with the Detroit Tigers have prepared him for his role with the Pistons and Cruise.
“During drumline in high school, when my director said they didn’t know if I could do it, I told them, let me prove it to you. That summer, I decided to do a bunch of weightlifting in order to carry the drum across the field and up the bleachers. I want to be judged on whether I can do it, not what you think I can do,” Reck said.
Reck, who has a younger brother who also deals with Dwarfism, hopes he can inspire him and other with disabilities.
“I want to break barriers and pave the way. Back to my brother, I want to show him, too, although he’s doing his own thing, we can do whatever the heck we want. It’s not going to be dictated by outside. We determine our future.”
Dwarfism Awareness Month is observed every October, to raise public awareness about the disability. In 2015, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a proclamation declaring October Dwarfism Awareness Month in Michigan.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.