I'm proud of this article I wrote for The Phoenix on March 17, 2006...
Recently in the enws we were inspired by the amazing story of Jason McElwain. Jason is a 17-year old senior at Greece Athena High School in Greece, New York. He has been the "team manager" of his high school basketball squad for several years now. Some of his duties have included keeping statistics, running the clock and handing out water bottles to the players. He can usually be found sitting on the bench in a white shirt and black tie.
Being only 5'6 in height, he was thought to be too small and frail to even make his junior varsity team. Although he always had a dream of actually playing in a game, he never complained to be team manager, as it allowed him to be close to the game he loves so dearly.
Oh, I forgot one thing: Jason happens to be autistic.
Admiring Jason's determination and dedication, Coach Jim Johnson made the brave and kind decision to allow Jason to suit up for the Trojans final home game this season. The last game of the season, the final home game for Jason, since he will be graduating this spring, it had to be a dream come true for Jason just to put on a uniform. Whether he would actually play or not depended upon the score..but did it matter?
Jason's friends and fellow students came out to the game full force, hoping Jason would play even a few seconds. They made signs with his nickname, JMAC, and cheered when he walked on the court with the other players.
With only four minutes to play, and Greece Athena ahead by a large margin, Coach Johnson put Jason into the game. His dream had finally come true. He actually stepped on the court as a player.
Jason's first shot was from long-range, an air ball that was short of the hoop by a good six feet. His second shot also missed, an easy lay-up.
Despite the rocky start, Jason didn't give up. He was used to adversity. he didn't start speaking until he was 5. He lacked the social skills of other so-called "normal" kids his age, yet he managed to make friends and life got easier as he became older.
His father, David, said, "The thing about Jason is he isn't afraid of anything. He doesn't care what people think about him. He is his own person."
The coach buried his face in his hands after Jason missed his first two shots, thinking he may have made a mistake in letting the kid play. "Please Lord, just give him a basket," the coach whispered.
God must've been listening. Jason's "miracle game" suddenly kicked into high-gear.
The next time down the court Jason unexpectedly hit a long jumper for 3 points. Nothing but net. The ball never touched the rim. The crowd went crazy. Then he hit another 3-pointer. And another. And another.
In fact, Jason made a total of six 3-point shots, tying a school record. He would've had a seventh, but his foot was on the line and the shot only counted as 2 points. Jason scored an incredible 20 points in less than 4 minutes, an awesome feat, even by professional standards. "I was hotter than a pistol," he said later.
All this from a kid thought to be too small, a kid with autism, a kid who wore the tag as being "different" every day of his life with dignity and grace. Imagine the time he must have secretly practiced, either in his driveway or when no one was around in the gym, dreaming of his impossible chance to be a "normal" basketball player. Who ever knew the talent Jason had within? And the motivation and guts.
The final score didn't matter as the horn sounded to end the game. The Trojans won but the real story was Jason. The fans rushed the court and people hoisted Jason on their shoulders, carrying him off the court in triumph. This frantic, unbelievable scene was played on the news and shows like "Good Morning America" the next day.
Jason has become a local celebrity in his small town near Rochester, New York. He autographs basketballs and poses for pictures. But when the \Trojans begin playoff action soon he will be back in his familiar place on the bench, probably wearing his customary white shirt and black tie.
In the fall he will start classes at Monroe Community College, majoring in business management. He hopes to be involved somehow in their basketball program, probably as team manager or whatever he can do to be near the sport he loves.
It's the stuff that dreams are made of, the stuff movies are made of. Hopefully there is a screenwriter in Hollywood already working on a script. A feel-good, underdog movie too good to be true, yet too incredible to invent.
Jason finally got his chance and made the most of it. Just goes to show you, anything is possible, despite the odds, despite the challenges, if only given a chance.
Dreams do come true. Just ask Jason McElwain.
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