The Daily OrangeMLAX| Like Family
By Tim Gorman
Posted: 4/7/05, 10:32 PM EST Section: Sports
Nov. 16, 1993 began like any other day for Tommy Nims and his co-workers. As they loaded their truck outside the Niagara Mohawk plant in Watertown, Nims told them to wait. He'd forgotten something.
Though Nims was eight years removed from becoming Syracuse's No. 2 all-time saves leader, he was still in playing shape. While his buddies waited in the truck, Nims never returned.
He had collapsed and died from a blood clot - an unfortunate result of hardened arteries caused by diabetes.
He left behind his family, including a son Kenny and two of his closest friends at the time, Greg Niewieroski and Brendan Loftus, now freshmen on the Syracuse men's lacrosse team. Niewieroski, though shaken, continued to play the sport Nims introduced him to - lacrosse.
Niewieroski and his Syracuse teammates will take on Loyola on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Diane Geppi-Aikens Field in Baltimore.
Though they weren't blood relatives, Niewieroski referred to Nims affectionately as "Uncle Tommy." Nims gave him his first lacrosse stick, which still hangs in Niewieroski's bedroom in his Watertown home. He also played with Kenny and Niewieroski in their backyard every day.
Niewieroski says Nims is the main reason he chose Syracuse. Nims, who played for SU head coach John Desko when he was an assistant, brought Niewieroski to his first Syracuse lacrosse game in Carrier Dome in the early 1990s. Since then, Niewieroski only thought about being an Orange.
"That was the biggest thrill of his life," said Niewieroski's father, Greg. "Just looking around and seeing the excitement with the game. Tommy took him into the locker room to meet (former SU lacrosse star Casey Powell) and Casey put him on his shoulders."
Niewieroski and Kenny Nims, one year his junior, grew up watching Casey Powell and his brothers Ryan and Michael play lacrosse. The trio was from nearby Carthage, and after Tommy Nims died, Niewieroski pledged to follow in their footsteps by playing at SU.
Though Nims was eight years removed from becoming Syracuse's No. 2 all-time saves leader, he was still in playing shape. While his buddies waited in the truck, Nims never returned.
He had collapsed and died from a blood clot - an unfortunate result of hardened arteries caused by diabetes.
He left behind his family, including a son Kenny and two of his closest friends at the time, Greg Niewieroski and Brendan Loftus, now freshmen on the Syracuse men's lacrosse team. Niewieroski, though shaken, continued to play the sport Nims introduced him to - lacrosse.
Niewieroski and his Syracuse teammates will take on Loyola on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Diane Geppi-Aikens Field in Baltimore.
Though they weren't blood relatives, Niewieroski referred to Nims affectionately as "Uncle Tommy." Nims gave him his first lacrosse stick, which still hangs in Niewieroski's bedroom in his Watertown home. He also played with Kenny and Niewieroski in their backyard every day.
Niewieroski says Nims is the main reason he chose Syracuse. Nims, who played for SU head coach John Desko when he was an assistant, brought Niewieroski to his first Syracuse lacrosse game in Carrier Dome in the early 1990s. Since then, Niewieroski only thought about being an Orange.
"That was the biggest thrill of his life," said Niewieroski's father, Greg. "Just looking around and seeing the excitement with the game. Tommy took him into the locker room to meet (former SU lacrosse star Casey Powell) and Casey put him on his shoulders."
Niewieroski and Kenny Nims, one year his junior, grew up watching Casey Powell and his brothers Ryan and Michael play lacrosse. The trio was from nearby Carthage, and after Tommy Nims died, Niewieroski pledged to follow in their footsteps by playing at SU.
