Randy Foye and Ruth Martin: Grandma was his guide in tough environment

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: May 10, 2008 - 11:56 PM

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PERFECT TEAMS

Professional or amateur, athletes know deep down that they’re involvement and successes are linked directly to the support and sacrifice of mothers (and grandmothers) along the way. Here are four stories of some familiar local sports figures at the upper reaches of their sports and the special people who helped get them there.

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Randy Foye grew up in Newark, in one of New Jersey's worst neighborhoods. He lost his dad to a motorcycle accident at age 3; his mom walked out on him about three years later. So how did he dodge the troubles that surrounded him, graduate from college and become an NBA lottery pick?

"It was her," Foye said.

Meet grandmother Ruth Martin. Today, Foye -- who still lives in New Jersey in the offseason -- will have a party in his back yard for Martin, and for Betty Foye, his other grandmother. Together, they kept Foye on the right path.

"She was so important," Foye said of Martin. "She showed me the ins and outs of being a man, which I needed because there wasn't a role model around me at the time. She showed me how to treat people, how you treat a woman, things like that."

Martin remembers Foye being a quiet young boy who always listened. "He was never a problem," she said. "Never, ever. I can say he was just a good child. I am so proud of him, and I always tell him that."

Martin still has the memories, both in her heart and in her closet -- scores of trophies Foye won growing up that she still keeps.

Foye has the memories, too.

"She taught me and my brother [Christopher] that we had to have a strong spirit to get through the tough times.''