Matt Ryan, Boston Athletes Show Support on 'Boston Strong Night' in Lawrenceville

They may live in Metro Atlanta, but their hearts were with Boston Tuesday night.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan played football at Boston College. Jason Varitek—a Georgia Tech alum—won two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox. Rodney Harrison also won a championship playing safety for the New England Patriots. Retired Basketball player Dee Brown won the NBA’s Slam Dunk contest while wearing the Boston Celtics’ uniform.

All four came together to show their support for those affected by April’s bombings at the Boston Marathon on “Boston Strong Night” at the Gwinnett Braves game. The athletes threw out the ceremonial first pitches before the start of the G-Braves game against the Pawtucket Red Sox, the minor league team of the Boston Red Sox.

“We were approached by some people in the organization here [the Gwinnett Braves] and some friends,” said Variteck. “It was a no brainer to help.”

“We’re happy to help out in any way we can,” said Ryan.

As a student at Boston College, Ryan would regularly watch the Boston Marathon as the runners raced through the campus. “Some of my favorite memories are from Marathon Monday,” said Ryan. “It’s just inconceivable that it happened.” 

Brown’s wife is originally from Cambridge, Mass.—the city where bombing suspects Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev lived. She also graduated from the same high school as the suspects and her brother is an officer with the Cambridge Police Department who aided in the search for Tamerlan. 

Read the complete story on Lawrenceville Patch.

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