Buddy Sports Helps People Make Great Memories
Every angler always wants to catch the biggest fish, but sometimes, they catch something much more important. They catch smiles.
Mike Crawford’s daughter Emily, now 23, has disabilities that prevented her from participating in many activities with other children. The Pass Christian man decided to do something about that. In 2010, he founded Mississippi Gulf Coast Buddy Sports and currently serves as its executive director.
“At first, we started a buddy baseball program in Long Beach where we pair volunteers with players,” Crawford says. “Two teams play against each other, but we don’t keep score. It’s really all about participation.”
Since then, the all-volunteer Buddy Sports added kickball, horseback riding, sunset cruises to Ship Island and other activities. Now, about 250 South Mississippi families participate in various Buddy Sports programs for people five years old and up.
“Everything we do is free, thanks to our sponsors and grants,” Crawford says. “We don’t take any tax dollars. Participants don’t pay anything. Everyone is a volunteer.”
In 2019, Buddy Sports began taking people fishing out of Long Beach. One volunteer boat captain, Ronnie Daniels, runs Fisher-Man Guide Services out of Pass Christian Harbor.
“Ronnie suggested we do a fishing event in Pass Christian during the fall,” Crawford recalls. “We’re always looking for additional activities to add. Fishing is a big part of life in Coastal Mississippi for many people.”
Now, Buddy Sports runs an annual spring fishing event out of Gulfport and another fall event out of Pass Christian. In the October 2025, 42 participants fished from 39 boats.
“When I participated in the Gulfport event, I fell in love with it and saw an opportunity for us to be able to host one in Pass Christian,” Daniels says. “In the 2025 Pass Christian event, we had boats from Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama as well as Mississippi. All of the volunteers came at their own expense. Some volunteers didn’t even have boats, but they wanted to be involved anyway they could.”
Many participants never touched a fishing rod before. Other participants fished a few times, but this event wasn’t about catching trophy fish. Some participants simply enjoyed riding around in the boats waving to people.
“It didn’t matter what took the bait,” Ronnie says. “They just wanted to feel something pull on the line. When fish hit the boat deck, they were all smiling and cheering. Everyone had the time of their lives.”
Each one had different levels and kinds of disabilities, but none of that mattered. Some came in wheelchairs. All participants came with a family member or friend who knew their situation and helped them do whatever necessary. Everyone participated and enjoyed the day.
“The bite was phenomenal that day,” Ronnie recalls. “Everybody caught plenty of fish, but the fish were really backstage at this event. More importantly, everyone made great memories. Just seeing people happy and others willing to help to make another person’s day brighter was amazing.”
Local businesses and organizations supported the event. B&W Bait from Pass Christian provided bait. Sea Tow provided floatation devices. The Coastal Conservation Association provided rods and reels. Local fire and law enforcement kept everyone safe. Shaggy’s in Pass Christian Harbor fed everyone after the fishing ended.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Buddy Sports
www.msgulfcoastbuddysports.org
