Make-A-Wish Foundation Grants Boy's Wish Of Playing For Pittsburgh Power

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia and the Pittsburgh Power joined in World Wish Day by fulfilling Michael "Mick" Walsh's wish to be a member of the Pittsburgh Power.

Walsh, of Upper St. Clair, will most likely be the coolest kid in school.

The 10-year-old is the youngest football player to join the Pittsburgh Power, our city’s new Arena Football League team. Alright Mick!

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Just like the guys a foot or two taller than him, Mick got the special treatment when joining the professional team. He arrived at the UPMC Sport Complex in a limo and was greeted at the door by management.

Walsh met with owner Matt Shaner and coach Chris Siegfried, signed a contract and received a signing bonus.

"Michael is what we call a character guy and a great presence in the locker room as well as having a lot of potential for the future,” said coach Chris Siegfried. “We are very pleased to make him a part of the Pittsburgh Power."

Shaner and Siegfried joined Walsh for his first press conference.

“You gotta hit people hard, run fast and catch balls,” Walsh told reporters.

After meeting the media, it was time to get a photo for the program. Walsh's favorite Power player Mike Washington made sure he was looking good.

The hundreds of flashes and the large group of media didn’t faze the new star. He was just ready to get on the field.

After some wrist tape and a shoe check, Walsh hit the turf. Drills were first followed by passes. Walsh had a great rhythm going with former Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli.

Walsh's family watched practice proudly, knowing how far he’s come since having serious surgery just six months ago.

“He was born with a Chiari Malformation. Many folks might not know they have it. During baseball season last year, he started having some issues with tingling fingers and some dizziness. He went from being a great baseball guy to being a below average baseball player. That got some concerns up. We were able to discover that he needed to have a decompression surgery, where they would widen the base of the skull. That was almost six months ago," said Walsh's dad Jim Walsh.

Walsh is going to be just fine. Unfortunately, he can't play his favorite sport -- football -- because it's a contact sport.

Before he gives up football, Walsh will take the field as a captain for the Power during the team's next home game on May 7. Not a bad way to end a football career.

Walsh's wish marks the first collaboration between the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Pittsburgh Power and will be among many granted in honor of World Wish Day.

World Wish Day is Friday and will be celebrated in 36 countries. It commemorates the anniversary of the wish that inspired the creation of one of the world's leading children's charities. Chris Greicius, 7, wished to be a police officer and was granted that wish in Phoenix by volunteers from several law enforcement agencies on April 29, 1980.

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