October 21, 2005The Woodmen Edition 850 Arcturus Drive Colorado Springs,I . v ri . ■ ’ • ( ‘ i ■■ k.r. “jJ . L # .'/V ^ .r *5 uVC r ^5 50 _r '41 * 4 . A . . i^Tl rjCM 1 _v ‘ ‘■ ''?%Local boy meets basketballsuperstar at shot challengeby Jesse FloreaCharlie (you know, the guyfrom the Chocolate Factory) hasnothing over Woodmen Editionresident Michael Bukowski.While Charlie found thegolden ticket to earn a trip tothe mysterious candy factory,Michael was picked out of thousands and thousands of entriesto travel to New York City andcompete in the Bubblicious ShotChallenge on Sept. 24.44He qualified up at Water-World this summer,’' Michael’smom Marian said. “He put hisname in for the drawing and waspicked to compete in the 8- to10-age group.99Only 17 individuals in eachage group from various marketsaround the country were chosento compete in the Big Apple.Michael was the youngest.A guy in his late 50s was theoldest in the 16-and-over group.Not only did Michael get anall-expenses paid trip to NewYork for himself and a parent,but he also got to meet NBAEight-year-old Michael Bukowski poses with NBA all-star LeBronphenom LeBron James of theJames. Photos courtesy Bukowski familyCleveland Cavaliers and get free tra| Park, F.A.O. Schwarz andadvance in the competition, thesamples of LeBron’s Lightning Times Square to name a few.whole family agreed that the tripLemonade bubblegum.44“I really didn’t know whoWe justwas fun no matter what.LeBron James was,” MichaelCity,” Marian said, “so we took441 liked a lot of things aboutadmitted. “But I’m a fan nowthe whole family.”the trip,” Michael said. “I justThe competition took place in like walking around the city andand got to take my picture with a single-elimination format with seeing the different places.99him. And his bubblegum is very each participant having to makegood. I think it’s my favoriteflavor.”a specified shot on the basketball court.Marian is also a LeBronbasketballbacker. “He’s a very nice man,99Marian said. “He couldn’t havebecause we did it last year atbeen better with the kids.school,” the third-grader atIt seems our estecDivine Redeemer School said.of their time engirThe shot challenge took place“Thpn u/p nrartippd for min-