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SALT LAKE CITY — J.J. Watt visits a young fan at a hospital who had his football jersey ruined after being hit by a car, a Lakers fan sinks half-court shot to win $95,000, and a basketball team tricks another team to defend the wrong basket. More fun stories from the world of sports in today’s From Left Field.
J.J. Watt brings new jerseys to young fan who was hit by car
There’s nothing better than seeing a sports superstar taking time from his or her schedule to show support to his/her fans.
On Tuesday, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt showed why his greatness on the football field is only matched by his greatness off the field.
Eight-year-old Texans fan Noah Fulmer was hospitalized with multiple foot and leg injuries on New Year’s Eve after getting hit by a car in Matagorda Beach, Texas, according to USA Today.
Despite the injuries suffered, what saddened Fulmer most was the fact that his Watt jersey was destroyed, as EMTs had to cut it during their response.
Fulmer’s family took to Twitter on Monday to let Watt know of the incident and Noah’s grief.
@JJWatt There is a lil boy at memorial hermann who was ran over by a truck and is just crying that EMTs cut his Watt jersey. @HoustonTexans — Marc (@carapia116) January 3, 2017
Just a bit later, Watt replied back.
That is terrible, is he ok?
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 3, 2017
Tell him I'll bring him a new jersey tomorrow. https://t.co/jSYhbhxU1H
On Tuesday, Watt went to the hospital and visited Fulmer, who had just gotten out of surgery. Watt delivered three jerseys to Noah and his family, including on signed by the Texans star.
@JJWatt@HoustonTexans JJ Watt surprised Noah after surgery. Thank you Watt #Nfl#JJWATT#thankyou#teamnoah#prayfornoah#hejustwokeuppic.twitter.com/d68wMhDelT — Marc (@carapia116) January 3, 2017
Noah's father, Cory Fulmer, told [KPRC](http://www.click2houston.com/sports/jj-watt-promises-to-bring-new-jersey-to-boy-injured-in-crash) in Houston, “For his favorite football player to come out and show him support, I believe J.J. Watt would make Noah feel stronger because of the stuff that Watt just went through with his back. I believe he could give good words of encouragement to Noah.”
Here’s to a speedy recovery for Noah.
J.J. Watt: NFL star and all around good guy.
Lakers fan hits half-court shot to win $95K
Steph Curry isn't the only one who can hit deep three-pointers.
Los Angeles Lakers fan Jerald Acoba channeled his inner Curry (or Kobe Bryant) and hit a half-court shot to win $95,000 on Tuesday night.
Jerald Acoba, from Tulare, CA sinks the @arialv Big Shot Jackpot to take home $95,000! pic.twitter.com/ri3StX8vTm — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 4, 2017
After hitting the shot, some of the Lakers players, including Nick Young and D'Angelo Russell, congratulated Acoba.
The Lakers won the game, but the real winner of the night was Acoba.
Jerald Acoba, a 30-year-old from
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) January 4, 2017
Tulare, Calif., won $95K on a halfcourt shot and pledged to buy his mom a car. She's here tonight.
Louisville women's hoops fools opponent, tricks them into defending wrong basket ================================================================================
There are trick plays, and then there are incredibly brilliant trick plays.
This play we’re about to show you is the latter.
At the beginning of the second half of Louisville’s women's basketball game vs. Duke on Monday night, the Cardinals decided to pull a risky trick on their opponent.
The Louisville players acted as if they were playing towards the backcourt basket. This led to the Duke players defending the wrong basket. The ball was inbounded to Cardinals player Briahanna Jackson, who was standing in the middle of the court the entire time, who then had the easiest layup of her college career.
The Louisville women's basketball team had Duke fooled last night 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/rvZSi5uE4g — ESPNU (@ESPNU) January 3, 2017
Wow! I’ve never seen that. Who knew a trick play like that could work. Also, who knew the opponent's players and coaches, in this case Duke, wouldn't notice which basket was theirs.
Louisville with the okey-doke.