Feb. 29, 2008

DAYTON, Ohio - A fifth birthday party can be memorable for the guest of honor as he anticipates celebrating with friends the day he was born. University of Dayton men's basketball players Dan Fox and Logan Nourse will finally get to experience that feeling as they celebrate their fifth birthdays today. The two Flyers were born on Leap Day in 1988.

"It feels pretty good to have another birthday," Fox said. "I have not had a legit birthday for a while. It is good after a long wait to have another one and to have someone to share it with."

Fewer than six one-hundredths of one percent of the world's population has a birthday on Feb. 29. Other famous "Leapings" include Tony Robbins, Ja Rule, Dennis Farina and Simon Gagne. Also from 1960 to 1968, the trio of Heidi, Olav and Leif-Martin Hendrickson were all siblings that were born on consecutive leap days.

Nourse has other Leap Day birthdays in his family as well.

"My uncle was born on leap year. It is kind of weird that I have two people now that know that have that birthday."

Having a Leap Day birthday has been special for the pair growing up as they have had to find ways to celebrate, even though their "true" birthday only occurs once every four years.

"When I was younger I would usually bring things into school on the 28th," Fox commented. "I would always kind of get poked at and made fun of a little bit. People would say that I don't really have a birthday so I shouldn't be bringing stuff in. It was all in good fun, but was a little different than everyone else."

Nourse agreed with his teammate and found both the good and the bad of being a Leaping.

"There are advantages and disadvantages. You are always the young one of the crowd because you only have a birthday once every four years. I enjoy it because it makes me unique. The only bad part is that you only get to celebrate it once every four years on that day."

Fox did note that his last birthday was memorable thanks to his friends and family.

"For my fourth birthday, there was a surprise birthday party for me. I got a bunch of four-year old gifts. It was pretty funny. I got plastic golf clubs, a T-shirt that was the size for a four-year-old, a couple of books and some Power Rangers."

With a birthday coming only once every four years, the duo could have an elaborate party planned for their fifth birthday. Instead they will traveling with the Flyers men's basketball team to New York to prepare for Saturday's matchup (March 1) with Fordham.

"I am not sure what we will do for our birthday this year," Nourse said. "I have to go to class and I will probably take a birthday nap. Maybe Dan and I will have to watch a movie together in the hotel."