unexpected hero

[MackemX]

you reckon they'll make this into a movie?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/23/earlyshow/main1339324.shtml

(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.

[Treebeard]

never thought about making it a movie, but I could see that happen.

[smearbrick1]

"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."

Sorry, but does anyone see this as a bit of a negative statement on the mother's part?

I believe the mere fact the he's on the team and is autistic is probably a success and something to be proud of.

[BJ_M]

yea -- mom sure had a pretty defeatist attitude

[reboot]

I have an autistic son, and although the mother's comment could maybe have been phrased differently, the sentiment definitely makes it's point well.
The fact that he got a chance to play, may not be such a big deal, depending on how severe his autism is. High functioning autistic savant's can do almost everything anyone else can, but usually fall very short in one area, and excell beyond everyone in some other.
Rainman (the movie) is a good example of a medium autistic savant. Barely able to dress himself, severe irrational paranoia's, obsessive-complusive bahaviours, yet able to count a dropped box of toothpics at a glance, and count a 5 deck shoe in Vegas.
The fact that this boy can excell at basketball, may be (one of) his particular savant trait(s), yet he may not even be able to spell his own name.
I would say his achievement in the game IS the moment to be proud of, not the fact that he got to play at all.