By BERT ROSENTHAL, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles Times Sunday May 15, 1994
Bulldog Edition
Sports, Page 1
Type of Material: Profile; Wire

NEW YORK--In the nine years since Marc Buoniconti sustained a spinal cord
injury during a college football game, his father, Nick, has dedicated
much of his life to his son's rehabilitation.

"I made a commitment to Marc when he got hurt," said Nick Buoniconti,
a former All-Pro and Pro Bowl linebacker with the Boston Patriots and
Miami Dolphins. "I said money would not stand in the way.

"Now, every night, Marc dreams that he will walk again. And he will."

Marc Buoniconti, who was a sophomore middle linebacker at the Citadel
when he was injured in the game against East Tennessee State on Oct. 26,
1985, was left a quadriplegic.

To help his son reach his "impossible dream," Buoniconti co-founded
the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, an organization dedicated to spinal
cord research.

"At the time, there was nothing in the country for people with spinal
cord injuries," Buoniconti said. "When Marc got hurt, the Project was
born out of necessity. Now, it's a labor of love."

To fulfill the Project's mission of treating as many spinal cord
injuries as possible, Buoniconti has launched a $30 million campaign to
build a huge research facility.

Assisting Buoniconti are some of the biggest names in business, sports
and entertainment: NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue; former football star
O.J. Simpson; former tennis star Chris Evert; Wayne Huizenga, chairman
and CEO of Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. and owner of the Florida
Marlins, Florida Panthers and Miami Dolphins; Frank Biondi Jr., president
and CEO of Viacom International Inc.; Phil Knight, chairman and CEO of
Nike, Inc.; and singer Gloria Estefan.

"The people on the board are friends," Buoniconti said. "I told them
what we need to accomplish, and they're going to help us do it."

One of the most enthusiastic supporters is Estefan.

"When she heard about it, she immediately wanted to be a part of it,"
Buoniconti said. "When she had her bus accident (in 1991) and was
paralyzed for more than a month, she thought she would never walk again."

Marc Buoniconti, 27, is not the only football player taking advantage
of the Miami Project. Another is Mike Utley, the former Detroit Lions
lineman.

"He will be at the Project for about the next four months," the elder
Buoniconti said. "He's still a paraplegic, but I think he eventually will
get on his feet."

Another NFL player who sustained a paralyzing injury was former
Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley, who was injured when hit by the
Oakland Raiders' Jack Tatum in an exhibition game.

"Darryl never has reached out," Buoniconti said. "He's never gone very
public with his injury. Some people become introverted, unresponsive,
bitter. They climb into themselves. Everybody deals with it differently.

"Marc has been just the opposite. He's dealt with it publicly. He's
taken spinal cord injuries out of the closet."

Huizenga has been impressed with Marc's attitude and fortitude.

"Marc Buoniconti has inspired and given hope to people the world over
with his courage, his spirit and his dedication," Huizenga said. "And he
has inspired us as well -- inspired us to do our utmost to help the Miami
Project transform that dream into reality."

Of the $30 million, approximately $16 million is being earmarked for
construction of a six-story, 83,000-square-foot facility, and $4 million
will be used for equipment. The balance will be used to endow research
programs.

Groundbreaking for the new building in Miami was Oct. 26, 1995,
the 10th anniversary of Marc Buoniconti's injury.

Nick Buoniconti and his wife, Terry, contributed the first $1 million.

"All of us are very mindful of the enormous costs of spinal cord
injuries -- emotionally, physically and economically," Buoniconti said.
"Spinal cord injury is a major national health concern, and this is why
we are working diligently to develop a state-of-the-art facility that
will speed the day when the Miami Project gives our country a cure for
paralysis."

"To realize a cure, we must sustain the momentum achieved since 1985,"
said Dr. Barth Green, who co-founded the Miami Project. "A dedicated
building will remove our current space constraints, and enable us to meet
our emerging needs."

Marc Buoniconti's progress has been slow but encouraging. He goes to
the Project three times a week and works on a shoulder machine.

"He's doing something he thought he would never have to do: rebuild
his upper body," his father said. "It takes him about an hour and a half
for a normal 10-minute workout.

"The only way he'll have full function is if we can find a cure for
paralysis. I feel positive that will happen.

"Ninety to 95% of spinal cord injuries happen to males under 25, and
they are in wheelchairs for a long time. The cost to their families is
astronomical. Something has to be done."

Copyright, The Times Mirror Company; Los Angeles Times, 1994.
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