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INDIANAPOLIS — Judy Davis stood at center court, the spotlight solely on her, and she had no idea why. She was used to being on the sidelines.
She had no idea what she was waiting for. She had no idea what was coming. All Judy knew was that she had showed up to work her shift as an usher for the Indiana Fever game Saturday night when a wonderful, unimaginable whirlwind began to unfold.
It started at the pre-game meeting for ushers. One of the supervisors came up to Judy with a surprise. She would be honored center court for Inspiring Women Night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
"And I was like, 'Why?' You know, I can't understand that because there's so many inspiring women there," Judy, 73, told IndyStar on Wednesday. "I didn't know why it would be me."
At a loss for words, Judy asked, "OK, well who nominated me?"
That answer would come later.
Before this weekend, Kyle Davis hadn't been home in seven years. Home for him is Greenwood, where he graduated from Suburban Baptist Schools (now Suburban Christian School) then weeks later joined the U.S. Navy where he's had an illustrious 25-year career.
But, Kyle says, that career has come with sacrifices, including finding time to see his mother, due to military deployments and responsibilities.
Kyle is the Command Master Chief of Strike Fighter Wing Pacifica based at Lemoore Station in California, where he helps manage the manning, training and equipping of all the F-18 fighter jets on the West Coast. The F-18s that are deployed overseas now belong to Kyle's fleet.
"It's a great job," Kyle says. But it's demanding. And he credits all of his successes in navigating his career to his mother and the way she raised him. "She was an excellent balance of kindness, goodness, sincerity and structure."
A couple of months ago, Kyle decided he had to do something unforgettable for the mother he describes as "just the nicest, little, tiny, small, short country lady that everybody loves."
That was when he saw the date for Inspiring Women Night, a date that, finally, worked perfectly with his schedule. Kyle took a shot, and he sent an e-mail to the Fever.
"And I just said, 'Hey, I'm throwing an idea out there,'" Kyle says. "'I would love to come in, because it's been a long time since I've been home. And I've tried to come home and ... life happens. I'd love to surprise her.'"
It didn't take long for Kyle to get a response. The Fever was all in on this idea.
"The very minute that I sent that email, the reception was absolutely, 'What can we do to help? Can we be a part of this?'" he says. "And they, from top to bottom, side to side, from the leadership to the players to everybody .... they did everything.
"All I did was just show up."
Admittedly, a tad nervous about what was coming, Judy walked to her normal ushering spot in the fieldhouse Saturday night. During a break in the first half of the game, a Fever rep came up, took her arm and walked her out to center court.
With 17,000 people cheering her on, Judy stood as the announcer's voice boomed throughout the arena.
"As part of Inspiring Women Night presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, tonight we'd like to honor one of our very own employees, Judy Davis. Judy has been an usher for the past 23 years and is often recognized for her great guest experience and relationships that she has built with our fans.
"Judy has been described by many guests as one of the main highlights of all the games they attend. Here to present Judy with her commemorative Indiana Fever team autographed basketball is a special guest."
Judy turned her head and ...
"I'm like, 'That looks like Kyle.' It was just a shock," Judy says. "To see him in his uniform, there is so much love in that and so much pride for all his years of service."
Judy put her hand to her heart with tears in her eyes as Kyle walked toward her. As the two embraced, the fieldhouse erupted.
"And then you've got the whole stadium clapping and cheering. And you can see people crying. And that was for Kyle and I," Judy says.
But it was, especially, for Judy.
Judy was 50 when she applied to work for Pacers Sports & Entertainment at then-Conseco Fieldhouse in 2003. She had raised her two children, Kyle and Heather, and decided it was time to work "just fun jobs."
She was already doing Colts events and baseball games at Victory Field, but landing that spot at Conseco 23 years ago was "a gift," Judy says.
Kyle says his mother tells him all the time that her ushering gig is not a job. It's almost like family, which is why that moment Saturday night meant so much to Judy.
"My mom's not 18 anymore, you know, so she's older. And it really was about giving her a moment that she'll never forget," Kyle says. "And I think her reaction on the court said everything that needed to be said. She didn't have to say a word. Just watching it back. That was, that was everything."
Before Kyle flew back to California this week, Judy told her son exactly what it meant to her. She said it was the greatest moment of her life.
"And that, as a kid, if you can provide your parent that, other than you being born, that's pretty cool," he says. "I mean, her phone, there's smoke coming out of the back of it, because there's so much going on with it."
The video of Kyle surprising Judy has been viewed more than a million times across different platforms, so Judy's phone has been blowing up.
"It's been a little quieter today. And, I have to admit, I needed that," Judy says, "because I wanted to get back with absolutely everybody that reached out to me.
"It was a magical night. It's one I'll never, ever, ever forget. It's a memory-making night that will last a long time."
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever usher hadn't seen her son in 7 years. Then he showed up at a game
Continue reading...
She had no idea what she was waiting for. She had no idea what was coming. All Judy knew was that she had showed up to work her shift as an usher for the Indiana Fever game Saturday night when a wonderful, unimaginable whirlwind began to unfold.
It started at the pre-game meeting for ushers. One of the supervisors came up to Judy with a surprise. She would be honored center court for Inspiring Women Night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
"And I was like, 'Why?' You know, I can't understand that because there's so many inspiring women there," Judy, 73, told IndyStar on Wednesday. "I didn't know why it would be me."
At a loss for words, Judy asked, "OK, well who nominated me?"
That answer would come later.
You must be registered for see images
'I'd love to surprise her'
Before this weekend, Kyle Davis hadn't been home in seven years. Home for him is Greenwood, where he graduated from Suburban Baptist Schools (now Suburban Christian School) then weeks later joined the U.S. Navy where he's had an illustrious 25-year career.
But, Kyle says, that career has come with sacrifices, including finding time to see his mother, due to military deployments and responsibilities.
Kyle is the Command Master Chief of Strike Fighter Wing Pacifica based at Lemoore Station in California, where he helps manage the manning, training and equipping of all the F-18 fighter jets on the West Coast. The F-18s that are deployed overseas now belong to Kyle's fleet.
"It's a great job," Kyle says. But it's demanding. And he credits all of his successes in navigating his career to his mother and the way she raised him. "She was an excellent balance of kindness, goodness, sincerity and structure."
You must be registered for see images
A couple of months ago, Kyle decided he had to do something unforgettable for the mother he describes as "just the nicest, little, tiny, small, short country lady that everybody loves."
That was when he saw the date for Inspiring Women Night, a date that, finally, worked perfectly with his schedule. Kyle took a shot, and he sent an e-mail to the Fever.
"And I just said, 'Hey, I'm throwing an idea out there,'" Kyle says. "'I would love to come in, because it's been a long time since I've been home. And I've tried to come home and ... life happens. I'd love to surprise her.'"
It didn't take long for Kyle to get a response. The Fever was all in on this idea.
"The very minute that I sent that email, the reception was absolutely, 'What can we do to help? Can we be a part of this?'" he says. "And they, from top to bottom, side to side, from the leadership to the players to everybody .... they did everything.
"All I did was just show up."
'That looks like Kyle'
Admittedly, a tad nervous about what was coming, Judy walked to her normal ushering spot in the fieldhouse Saturday night. During a break in the first half of the game, a Fever rep came up, took her arm and walked her out to center court.
With 17,000 people cheering her on, Judy stood as the announcer's voice boomed throughout the arena.
"As part of Inspiring Women Night presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, tonight we'd like to honor one of our very own employees, Judy Davis. Judy has been an usher for the past 23 years and is often recognized for her great guest experience and relationships that she has built with our fans.
"Judy has been described by many guests as one of the main highlights of all the games they attend. Here to present Judy with her commemorative Indiana Fever team autographed basketball is a special guest."
Judy turned her head and ...
"I'm like, 'That looks like Kyle.' It was just a shock," Judy says. "To see him in his uniform, there is so much love in that and so much pride for all his years of service."
Judy put her hand to her heart with tears in her eyes as Kyle walked toward her. As the two embraced, the fieldhouse erupted.
"And then you've got the whole stadium clapping and cheering. And you can see people crying. And that was for Kyle and I," Judy says.
But it was, especially, for Judy.
'The greatest moment of my life'
Judy was 50 when she applied to work for Pacers Sports & Entertainment at then-Conseco Fieldhouse in 2003. She had raised her two children, Kyle and Heather, and decided it was time to work "just fun jobs."
She was already doing Colts events and baseball games at Victory Field, but landing that spot at Conseco 23 years ago was "a gift," Judy says.
Kyle says his mother tells him all the time that her ushering gig is not a job. It's almost like family, which is why that moment Saturday night meant so much to Judy.
You must be registered for see images attach
"My mom's not 18 anymore, you know, so she's older. And it really was about giving her a moment that she'll never forget," Kyle says. "And I think her reaction on the court said everything that needed to be said. She didn't have to say a word. Just watching it back. That was, that was everything."
Before Kyle flew back to California this week, Judy told her son exactly what it meant to her. She said it was the greatest moment of her life.
"And that, as a kid, if you can provide your parent that, other than you being born, that's pretty cool," he says. "I mean, her phone, there's smoke coming out of the back of it, because there's so much going on with it."
The video of Kyle surprising Judy has been viewed more than a million times across different platforms, so Judy's phone has been blowing up.
"It's been a little quieter today. And, I have to admit, I needed that," Judy says, "because I wanted to get back with absolutely everybody that reached out to me.
"It was a magical night. It's one I'll never, ever, ever forget. It's a memory-making night that will last a long time."
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever usher hadn't seen her son in 7 years. Then he showed up at a game
Continue reading...
