Don’t feel good, TRY THIS STORY
February 24th, 2006
GREECE, N.Y. (AP) - Jason McElwain had done everything he was asked to do for the Greece Athena High School basketball team - keep the stats, run the clock, hand out water bottles. That all changed last week for the team manager in the final home game of the season. The 17-year-old senior, who is autistic and usually sits on the bench in a white shirt and black tie, put on a uniform and entered the game with his team way ahead. McElwain proceeded to hit six 3-point shots, finished with 20 points and was carried off the court on his teammates’ shoulders. McElwain, 5-foot-6, was considered too small to make the junior varsity, so he signed on as team manager. He took up the same role with the varsity, doing anything to stay near the sport he loves. Coach Jim Johnson was impressed with his dedication, and thought about suiting up McElwain for the home finale. His performance was jaw-dropping: 20 points in four minutes, making 6-of-10 3-point shots. The crowd went wild.
McElwain didn’t begin speaking until he was 5. He lacked social skills but things got easier as he got older. He found many friends and made his way through school in this Rochester suburb, although many of his classes were limited to a half-dozen students. And he found basketball. Even though McElwain was in uniform for the Feb. 15 game, there was no guarantee he would play - Athena was battling for a division title. The fans, however, came prepared. One section of students held up signs bearing his nickname “J-MAC” and cutouts of his face placed on Popsicle sticks. McElwain will soon be done with high school basketball, then enroll in business management this fall at Monroe Community College. “I’ll go on to college and I’ll try to hoop there,” he said. “I just love it, it’s one of the greatest sports in the world.”
WAY TO GO JASON
February 27th, 2006 at 10:44 am
Someone will make a movie out of this, you wait and see!
February 27th, 2006 at 10:55 am
Ahhh yes a good idea. Maybe we should try and contact Jason, do an interview and get the rights to make the large screen film.
It is worthy of as much attention as people will give it. It’ll probably be on lifetime or show up as an afterschool special. They will twist the story so it looks like no one got a long with this kid and then a happy ending was had by all.
February 27th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
JMAC IS THE MANNNN. i went to school with him but graduated from Athena 2 years ago. im so happy for him. he got to live his dream.
February 28th, 2006 at 5:42 am
Very Cool, Mike. We here at GreenarrowRadio are proud of J-MAC and are actually amazed at what he did. It wasn’t like the defense just dropped off of him, he was guarded well and just simply nailed the shots.
March 2nd, 2006 at 2:28 pm
We need more stories like this one to balance out the more typical hate, violence, death and partisan issue stories that are out there.
The “Original Mr. G”
March 2nd, 2006 at 3:01 pm
Well, that is true “original G.” Ususlly here at Greenarrowradio, you will find us shying away from the typical, in this case the regular news you are force-fed into thinking is the truth. We like to be a little on the lite side and have a sense of humor. Let’s face it, we are about bringing the music and artists to you and your thirsty ears and tired eyes.
Tune in Saturday from 9am until 12 noon.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:35 am
I’d like to know of any other High School kids in the country that poured in 20 or monre pints in 4 minutes this year, or any year for that matter. Simply amazing at any level.
Missed your show on Saturday, but I/we will definitely be around this Saturday to tune in. Looking forward to it.
peace, and of course, GO SOX!
March 6th, 2006 at 8:56 am
Greg, good question. How many other kids in High School ball, not even AAU have accomplished that feat. Heck, not just this year but let’s say the last 5-10 years. I hope people realize, as you do, that what J-MAC did was simple special.
Yes, tune in and there will be something special played just for you.
GO SOX
Mrg.