Charlie Breitrose
Boston Celtics player Phil Pressey watches kids at the Watertown Boy’s & Girl’s Club make healthy desert creations.
The Watertown Boy’s & Girl’s Club welcomed some special visitors Friday when a current and a former Boston Celtics player stopped by.
Current Celtics guard Phil Pressey and former Celtic and Boston College great Dana Barros shared their tips for eating healthy when they stopped by the club.
Students used fruit and toothpicks to build some desserts that were both attractive and good for you.
Charlie Breitrose
Former Boston Celtics player Dana Barros gives a hand creating some healthy desserts.
Pressey told the students that he has to work hard and eat and drink the right things to get ready for games.
“The night before I am drinking all the water, eating all the pasta and trying to do the right things so when the game starts I have the right amount of energy,” Pressey said.
As a rookie, he got to practice before the veterans to try to make it up to their level.
“I get up at 7 a.m. and get to practice early because I have to work to get where Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett and those guys are at,” Pressey said. “At your age, you have to work hard to get where I’ve got.”
Barros grew up in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston, and said he was not the tallest player. The key to making the NBA, he said, was commitment.
“Every single day took ball to park and played. When the lights went away I dribbled my ball up and down the street all night,” Barros said. “The only reason we are here is because we worked harder than everyone else.”
The children were also entertained by the Celtic’s mascot, Lucky, who did some acrobatic dunks off a trampoline.
Charlie Breitrose
Lucky, the Boston Celtics\’ mascot, goes in for a dunk at the Watertown Boy’s & Girl’s Club.
The visit came together with the help of Arthur Margolis, the president of America’s Compounding Center in Newton. The center is the official pharmacy of the Boston Celtics and as part of the partnership a new program was created where players make appearances in the community. The first stop was at the Watertown Boy’s and Girl’s Club on Friday.
Margolis said he went to the Boy’s & Girl’s Club when he was growing up and wanted to support his local club.
Charlie Breitrose
The Celtics pose with children at the Watertown Boy’s & Girl’s Club. Back left, former Celtic Dana Barros, second from right in the back is Celtic guard Phil Pressey and back right is Arthur Margolis, president of America’s Compounding Center in Newton.