J-Mac is THE MAN!!!

I love sports for stories like this. A 17 year old high school senior named Jason McElwain serves as the team manager/trainer for the boys varsity basketball team at Greece Athena High School in New York. Jason has been diagnosed with high funtioning autisim. He didn't speak until he was 5. He loves sports though and has been involved in track and the basketball program for the last few years under head Coach Jim Johnson. Jason rarely misses practice. He sits on the bench during games in a shirt and tie. To reward Jason's dedication and show appreciation for how he has helped the team, Coach Johnson decided he wanted to let Jason get into the final home game of the season, which was also "senior night." The coach said his dream would be to just get him in the game, and maybe get him a basket. So after building a 20 point lead in the fourth quarter, coach called Jason's number. His teammates looked for him, and got him the ball. Jason quickly fired up a 3 point shot that missed completely. Then he missed a layup. But his teammates kept looking to get him his basket. His next three pointer...nothing but net. Then another. And another. AND another. In an interview later he said,"As soon as the first shot went in that's when I started to get going." He described himself as "hotter than a pistol." His final stat line for his only high school basketball game: about 4 minutes, 20 points, 6 for 10 from 3 point distance. Check out some of these pics from the game.

I can't decide which person I admire most. Which part of the story moves me (and I'll freely admit, brings tears to at least the backs of my eyes). Is it Jason himself, who overcomes (daily, not just in this game) the challenges his life holds for him. Is it Coach Johnson who not only gave Jason the opportunity to be involved with his team, but then rewarded his dedication by putting him in the game? Sure they were up by 20. From what I have heard and read, they had locked up the district title, and were headed to the playoffs. But Coach Johnson didn't have to let Jason play. I think lots of coaches would never have considered it, let alone actually been brave enough to do it. How about the teammates who kept finding Jason and feeding him the ball? How about the players (high school kids remember) on the other team?!? They were already losing by 20 points to a powerful team, when the team manager comes of the bench to pour in 20 more points. But from all the clips I have seen, none of those guys tried anything unsportsmanlike or unwarranted towards Jason. It looked like several of them could have easily played better defense on him, and blocked or at least contested his shots. But they didn't. They knew what was going on it seemed. They knew what was more important. The students in the stands had made pictures and posters for Jason, and went wild when he got in the game. It only got louder with each shot. They rushed the court after the final buzzer, and lifted this kid on their shoulders. Awesome.