Words of the Weise
New York autistic boy captures the spotlight in rare opportunity during high school basketball game
Andy Weise
Issue date: 3/6/06 Section: Sports
Sometimes we are so lost in the multi-millions and billions of dollars in sports that we don't see the great and wonderful opportunities sports can be to different people.
I watched a story on ESPN the other day involving a high school senior named Jason McElwain who is a manager of his basketball team. McElwain, who attends Greece Athena in Rochester, NY, dressed for the final home game for the seniors, and was able to get into the game too. What makes this special is that the boy is autistic.
At 5 feet 6 inches, McElwain entered this game with four minutes remaining. His team was already ahead and when he got into the game, his teammates put the ball into his hands and he threw up his first shot, missing completely. The crowd was going absolutely crazy and before you know it, McElwain had made six 3-pointers - some well beyond the 3-point line. He finished with 20 points in those four minutes and gained national attention because of his inspiring performance.
What makes this story so good? For once we aren't focusing on what some athlete is doing off the court or field. We aren't focusing on some athlete that is unhappy with their multi-million dollar contract and thinks they deserve even more. Sports, to me, has become another world similar to that of Hollywood.
Don't you ever get tired of watching every single show on ESPN talk about the same issues over and over?
I think this particular story is one we can look at and really see the opportunities presented before someone like McElwain. It takes a lot of character from the coach, who told McElwain he would try to get him into the game. The sight to see is when he is carried off the floor by his teammates as the whole crowd rushed the court at the end of the game.
Hopefully this is a story that will provide more opportunities for people like McElwain. It truly shows that anything is possible in this world.
Andy Weise is a junior print journalism major and a sports editor of The Spectator.
I watched a story on ESPN the other day involving a high school senior named Jason McElwain who is a manager of his basketball team. McElwain, who attends Greece Athena in Rochester, NY, dressed for the final home game for the seniors, and was able to get into the game too. What makes this special is that the boy is autistic.
At 5 feet 6 inches, McElwain entered this game with four minutes remaining. His team was already ahead and when he got into the game, his teammates put the ball into his hands and he threw up his first shot, missing completely. The crowd was going absolutely crazy and before you know it, McElwain had made six 3-pointers - some well beyond the 3-point line. He finished with 20 points in those four minutes and gained national attention because of his inspiring performance.
What makes this story so good? For once we aren't focusing on what some athlete is doing off the court or field. We aren't focusing on some athlete that is unhappy with their multi-million dollar contract and thinks they deserve even more. Sports, to me, has become another world similar to that of Hollywood.
Don't you ever get tired of watching every single show on ESPN talk about the same issues over and over?
I think this particular story is one we can look at and really see the opportunities presented before someone like McElwain. It takes a lot of character from the coach, who told McElwain he would try to get him into the game. The sight to see is when he is carried off the floor by his teammates as the whole crowd rushed the court at the end of the game.
Hopefully this is a story that will provide more opportunities for people like McElwain. It truly shows that anything is possible in this world.
Andy Weise is a junior print journalism major and a sports editor of The Spectator.