• Slug: Sports-Mikey’s League Photo Essay, 420 words.
• 6 photos available

By Mary Grace Grabill
Cronkite News

TEMPE – While Karl Bender was deployed in Iraq, his brother Michael was fighting a battle of his own. In 2008, “Mikey,” as Michael Bender was known, lost his fight of 21 years with cerebral palsy and a heart defect.

When he was born, doctors told the Bender family Mikey would not live past the age of 3.

When Karl came home for the funeral, his unit was hit by an IED back in Iraq. In a way, Mikey’s death saved Karl’s life.

“I would not be here if it wasn’t for him (Mikey),” Karl Bender said.

To honor Mikey’s memory, Bender founded Mikey’s League with Scott Freeman in 2019, creating an outlet of sports for children and adults who have intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities.

“They might have to live at home and stuff, but they can still be big functioning members of society,” Bender said. “They’re no different. And that’s what I want to change. That’s what I want to really show and be true to the inclusive word.”

Mikey’s League offers flag football, basketball and hockey within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area and Bender hopes to expand it throughout the nation.

“That’s been our emphasis from the beginning, is making sure that these kids feel like they’re getting the same thing as everyone else,” Freeman said. “We want them to have the same experience that they watch their brothers and sisters have. There’s really no reason that they can’t have that experience.”

Freeman said the basketball program did not meet their “internal expectations of following our mission of giving these kids exceptional services,” so in January, Mikey’s League and KinectAbility Athletics joined to strengthen each program and help athletes grow.

Daisy Altamirano, founder and chief executive officer of Kinectability Athletics, played collegiate basketball and is making changes to improve the Mikey’s League basketball program.

“Daisy is an incredible partner in helping us keep Mikey’s League going,” Bender said. “And that’s what we strive to be is we want to bring quality, and she is quality to our sport or to our league.”

Each practice includes 45 minutes of skills development and 45 minutes of game play for participants. Freeman said the program helps young athletes make connections with everyone involved.

“Through sports, we become connected with coaches that are positive role models,” he said. “We’re connected with peers who hold us accountable for our actions and … to expectations.”

For now, Mikey’s League is confined to the East Valley, but Bender and Freeman hope to expand it across Arizona.

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