If This Doesn't Make You Feel Great, Nothing Will - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

tspikes51 · 02-26-2006, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Autistic Teen's Hoop Dreams Come True
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 23, 2006(CBS) It was the stuff of Hollywood, but it was real.

Senior Jason McElwain had been the manager of the varsity basketball team of Greece Athena High School in Rochester, N.Y.

McElwain, who's autistic, was added to the roster by coach Jim Johnson so he could be given a jersey and get to sit on the bench in the team's last game of the year.

Johnson hoped the situation would even enable him to get McElwain onto the floor a little playing time.

He got the chance, with Greece Athena up by double-digits with four minutes go to.

And, in his first action of the year, McElwain missed his first two shots, but then sank six three-pointers and another shot (video), for a total of 20 points in three minutes.

"My first shot was an air ball (missing the hoop), by a lot, then I missed a lay-up," McElwain recalls. "As the first shot went in, and then the second shot, as soon as that went in, I just started to catch fire."

"I've had a lot of thrills in coaching," Johnson says. "I've coached a lot of wonderful kids. But I've never experienced such a thrill."

The crowd went wild, and his teammates carried the excited McElwain off the court.

"I felt like a celebrity!" he beamed.

McElwain's mother sees it as a milestone for her son.

"This is the first moment Jason has ever succeeded (and could be) proud of himself," reflects Debbie McElwain. "I look at autism as the Berlin Wall, and he cracked it."

His teammates couldn't be happier.

"He's a cool kid," says guard Levar Goff. "You just get to know him, get used to being around him. A couple of weeks ago, he missed practice because he was sick. You feel different when he's not around. He brings humor and life to the team."

Jason's next goal: to graduate.

Make sure to visit the link for the video.

This brought tears to my eyes... anybody that has worked with autistic kids before will agree when I say that it's hard... they are such bright people, but they can't express it. I hope that we can start seeing more stories like this.

Blackthorn · 02-26-2006, 05:03 AM

tspikes51 you get bonus points for posting the feel good story of the day. This is awesome! At first glance I was thinking this would be a story about a lay up as time expired where the other team let the fellow score. This sounds like actual game competition and the kid drops a twenty on the opponent...even better!

pig · 02-26-2006, 05:38 AM

tspikes,

I saw some footage of this the other day. That was completely badass. That kid was draining 3's and the whole crowd was going apeshit. Great story.

amonkie · 02-26-2006, 05:50 AM

Saw this on the news the other night ... and it reminded me : Never underestimate the power of potential

Psycho Dad · 02-26-2006, 06:17 AM

That's great. And even better than getting to be on the team for a night he contributed greatly to the final score. But that contribution pales in comparison to the contribution of the message of what someone can achieve if given the opportunity. Imagine that if you are moved by this story how those in attendance that night must have felt.

flstf · 02-26-2006, 07:12 AM

I have seen high school kids get into a zone where they cannot miss. It was fantastic to see this happen to this particular boy on his first chance to play.

greytone · 02-26-2006, 08:57 AM

I saw some of the footage as well. I only hope they play some of the real film during the credits when the movie comes out in a year or two. I figure we will see it either on Lifetime in about 12 months or in the theaters in 2-3 years.

tspikes51 · 02-26-2006, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greytone

I saw some of the footage as well. I only hope they play some of the real film during the credits when the movie comes out in a year or two. I figure we will see it either on Lifetime in about 12 months or in the theaters in 2-3 years.

Ah, I'm banking on it being the first movie on the ESPNCinema channel (I'm banking on there being one in the next couple years), because Disney has no doubt already contacted the family about movie rights.

Esen · 02-27-2006, 07:59 AM

This to me is what sports is all about.
Ive been hearing about this story for a few dasy now and finaly found th elink.

It is about an Autism boy who was given a chance to play Basketball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBYPaNc57Ik

if the link does not work above then try this link below and scroll to th efirst post to get the link.

http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/...0&#entry170290

msh58 · 02-27-2006, 11:42 AM

awesome. would have loved to have been in that crowd.

ngdawg · 02-27-2006, 12:26 PM

As my eyes water all I can say is...Holy Shit....

Sweetpea · 02-27-2006, 12:52 PM

a beautiful thing.

i'm happy to see someone given the chance they deserve

sweetpea

stevo · 02-27-2006, 01:10 PM

I saw footage on the new the other night. Saw him draining three's like it was nobody's business. He played for 4 1/2 minutes and ended up being the teams leading scorer for the game. I didn't realize he was autistic until I read this post. At first I was wondering, "why has this kid been managing the team and not playing" I still wonder.

02-26-2006, 05:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Blackthorn Beware the Mad Irish Location: Wish I was on the N17...	tspikes51 you get bonus points for posting the feel good story of the day. This is awesome! At first glance I was thinking this would be a story about a lay up as time expired where the other team let the fellow score. This sounds like actual game competition and the kid drops a twenty on the opponent...even better! __________________ What are you willing to give up in order to get what you want?

02-26-2006, 05:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
pig pigglet pigglet Location: Locash	tspikes, I saw some footage of this the other day. That was completely badass. That kid was draining 3's and the whole crowd was going apeshit. Great story. __________________ You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

02-26-2006, 05:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	Saw this on the news the other night ... and it reminded me : Never underestimate the power of potential __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

02-26-2006, 06:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	That's great. And even better than getting to be on the team for a night he contributed greatly to the final score. But that contribution pales in comparison to the contribution of the message of what someone can achieve if given the opportunity. Imagine that if you are moved by this story how those in attendance that night must have felt. __________________ Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

02-26-2006, 08:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
greytone Junkie	I saw some of the footage as well. I only hope they play some of the real film during the credits when the movie comes out in a year or two. I figure we will see it either on Lifetime in about 12 months or in the theaters in 2-3 years. __________________ I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing. Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"

02-26-2006, 07:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
flstf Easy Rider Location: Moscow on the Ohio	I have seen high school kids get into a zone where they cannot miss. It was fantastic to see this happen to this particular boy on his first chance to play.

02-27-2006, 07:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
Esen TFPer formaly known as Chauncey Location: North East	This almost made me cry This to me is what sports is all about. Ive been hearing about this story for a few dasy now and finaly found th elink. It is about an Autism boy who was given a chance to play Basketball. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBYPaNc57Ik if the link does not work above then try this link below and scroll to th efirst post to get the link. http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/...0&#entry170290 __________________ ~Esen What is everyone doing in my room?

02-27-2006, 11:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
msh58 Crazy	awesome. would have loved to have been in that crowd.

02-27-2006, 12:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	As my eyes water all I can say is...Holy Shit.... __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

02-27-2006, 12:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
Sweetpea Fade out Location: in love	a beautiful thing. i'm happy to see someone given the chance they deserve sweetpea __________________ Having a Pet Will Change Your Life! Looking for a great pet?! Click Here! "I am the Type of Person Who Can Get Away With A lot, Simply Because I Don't Ask Permission for the Privilege of Being Myself"

02-27-2006, 01:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
stevo Rail Baron Location: Tallyfla	I saw footage on the new the other night. Saw him draining three's like it was nobody's business. He played for 4 1/2 minutes and ended up being the teams leading scorer for the game. I didn't realize he was autistic until I read this post. At first I was wondering, "why has this kid been managing the team and not playing" I still wonder. __________________ "If I am such a genius why am I drunk, lost in the desert, with a bullet in my ass?" -Otto Mannkusser