So Nice, He Gave Shirt Off His Back

Thank you for Larry Stewart’s moving story on Matt Stevens.

As a Bruin alumnus and fan, I always admired Matt’s fiery disposition on the field. A few years ago, we became friends. Matt and my son Nick had something in common. Nick also had testicular cancer--at age 1. Although he is now fully in remission, chemotherapy resulted in complications that left Nick handicapped. Still, he is a happy, bright, special boy of 14.

One night last fall, before UCLA’s first game, I came home and discovered a pouch at my front door, addressed to my son. There was a note in which Matt spoke of the joy he felt the day he received his first uniform as a young boy. In the pouch was Matt Stevens’ jersey from the 1986 Rose Bowl victory over Iowa.

MICHAEL GALLANT

Encino