WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — When 9-year-old Joey Cadavid's season opening Little League baseball game and the annual Woodland Park kids fishing tournament were both scheduled for April 20, he planned to attend both events.
So Cadavid went to the fishing derby hosted by New Jersey B.A.S.S. Nation member Antonio “Go Go” Gomez in the morning, but he had to leave the event early.
“He really didn’t want to miss baseball either,” said Joey’s mother, Roxanne Cadavid. “So we ran from one end of town to the other end, and he changed clothes in the car.”
When Roxanne later saw Gomez’s girlfriend, Maria Rosa, she told her how disappointed Joey was about having to leave the fishing derby early. When Rosa told Gomez about Joey’s disappointment, Gomez called Roxanne and set up a surprise visit to one of her son’s baseball practices. Because Joey missed the prizes that Gomez handed out to the kids at the end of the fishing tournament, Gomez took hats and a goody bag to Joey’s practice.
When Gomez showed up at the baseball practice on May 3, Joey’s eyes lit up. After practice, Gomez gave Joey and his teammates hats and issues of B.A.S.S. Times and posed for a group photo. Joey also got the goody bag he missed when he had to leave the tournament for his baseball game.
“I feel that I made another kid happy and made his dream come true,” said Gomez. “When it is about kids, I go all out for them just to see them smile and be happy taking pictures with me.”
“That Go Go Gomez really made a mark on my son,” said Roxanne Cadavid. “He really likes him. He was so, so happy. There really should be more people like Go Go Gomez.”