Autistic athlete redefines what sports is all about
Wednesday, March 1, 2006 12:35 PM PST
By Rick Woodson
Printable version
E-mail this articleWho hasn't gotten all worked up when our favorite NFL team wins its first Super Bowl. Or "our" Red Sox and "our" White Sox won their first World Series in forever.
And even if you were more curious than interested, what about Texas quarterback Vince Young scoring the winning touchdown in the final seconds of the Rose Bowl?
We've all had our emotional moments. I had a lump in my throat when they played the National Anthem as swimmer Mark Spitz was presented his seventh gold medal in the 1972 Olympics. Then there was Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters golf tournament at 46. And actually being there and feeling the electricity at ringside when Muhammad Ali climbed through the ropes one last time.
Anyway, you get the picture.
Well, it took Jason McElwain, the autistic 17-year-old manager of the Greece Athena High School basketball team, four minutes to redefine what sports really is all about.
Unless you've been vacationing in another galaxy, you know that McElwain ---- J-Mac as he is known at Athena ---- suited up for the first and only time this season, and scored 20 points in the final four minutes of Athena's last regular-season game. His six 3-pointers were literally shots heard 'round the world, and the world has taken notice.
Television networks and reporters everywhere ---- even in Europe and Asia ---- have told their audiences of his amazing accomplishment.
And almost before you can say "Brian's Song" and "Rudy" and "The Karate Kid," there will be a movie about what just might be the most amazing four minutes in sports history. Hollywood ---- specifically, Disney Studios ---- has already come calling.
The guy probably would've laughed and told you to call back when you sobered up and weren't hallucinating.
Here's how the U.S. surgeon general's Web site describes autism: "Autism, the most common of the pervasive developmental disorders (with a prevalence of 10-12 children per 10,000), is characterized by severely compromised ability to engage in, and by a lack of interest in, social interactions. It has roots in both structural brain abnormalities and genetic predispositions, according to family studies and studies of brain anatomy."
In other words, Jason didn't overcome a common cold, or a sprained ankle, or a knee injury to get where he is today. He won a war. It has been reported that he will graduate from Athena this year and enroll at Monroe Community College.
Perhaps the real hero in this heart-warming story is Athena coach Jim Johnson, who made it a point to get Jason into that game back on Feb. 15. Because Jason wasn't on the official roster all season, Johnson asked Spencerport High coach Joshua Harter that if the opportunity presented itself, would he object to Jason getting some playing time.
Harter agreed, and when Athena had a comfortable lead halfway through the fourth quarter, Jason McElwain reported to the scorer's table ---- and the rest, really, is history.
And none of this would've happened if Johnson didn't have the heart and the courage to put his manager into the lineup. I haven't seen Athena play in years, but rest assured it was the most brilliant coaching decision Johnson has ever made.
He must've known he was taking somewhat of a risk, and when Jason missed his first two shots ---- one an air-ball ---- Johnson must've wondered if he had made a mistake. The only thing he made was history. And five minutes later, there wasn't a dry eye in the place.
Johnson told the media: "It was as touching as any moment I have ever had in sports."
Watch the video of J-Mac's 3-point barrage and the cheers are so loud you'd swear Athena had just won the national championship. Players, fans, cheerleaders, everybody rushed out to congratulate Jason.
I refuse to watch it without tissues handy. Because The Miracle on Long Pond Road is the most moving event I have seen in five decades of watching sports.
Rick Woodson is a former sports editor of The Daily News who lives in Rochester, N.Y. He can be reached at rwoodson@rochester.rr.com.
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