Teenage boy beat Kobe Bryant in 4 minutes.
Welcome back!
Jason McElwain, was a senior from Greece Athena High School in Rochester, N.Y. Who has
Jason McElwain making the shot
autism but his has a strong passion for basketball.
Jason nicknamed “J-Mac”, standing at 5 foot 6 inches. He 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 very impressed with his dedication.
On February 15, 2006 Coach Johnson added J-Mac to the roster so he could be given a jersey and get to sit on the bench in the team’s last game of the year. Jason’s team had a large lead, so Coach Johnson decided to let Jason play in the last four minutes of the game.
It was Jason’s first game of the year and as soon as he hit the court, the ball came to him almost right away. His first 3-point shot sailed completely off course, and the coach wondered if he made the wrong move. Jason then missed a layup, things were questionable.
The thing about Jason is that he isn’t afraid of anything. He doesn’t care what people think about him, he just play his own game. The next chance he got to shoot a 3-pointer, he went for it and the ball went it. Then he sank another, and another. In fact, Jason made six 3 pointers in a roll and a 2 pointers to score a total of 20 points in three minutes.
At the end of the game. The crowd went wild, and Jason’s teammates carried him off the court.
Jason’s mother said: “This is the first moment Jason has ever succeeded (and could be) proud of himself. I look at autism as the Berlin Wall, and he cracked it.”
Since Jason McElwain’s stunning 4 minutes performance. He had met the President of The United States, and many of the sport’s great. President Bush said, “Our country was captivated by an amazing story on the basketball court. It’s the story of a young man who found his touch on the basketball court, which, in turn, touched the hearts of citizens all around the country.”
Jason McElwain met with President Bush
Jason had been on many talk shows. And he won an ESPY Award for Best Moment in Sports 2006, Jason beat out Kobe Bryant’s 81-point-game to win the Espy Award. In 2009 Jason appeared in the Gatorade commercial along side with all of sport’s finest athletes
So what makes this teenager’s 4 minutes on a basketball court so significant? It was not because of the 20 points in 3 minutes. It was about his journey of not letting his autism stop him. Even though he wasn’t playing on team, Jason showed up to the game every day practicing with his team mate, dreaming and hoping that one day…he will have his moment. And when his moment came Jason was ready for it.
Whatever your dream is, put yourself in the best possible position to that. Keep your hopes and believe. Do your practice and your work to be ready for it. And when your moment comes, step up and give it your all!
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
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Giovanna, That is a great story. He did what he needed to do to be ready for the chance that he was given. That takes dedication when you do that and can come out on top in the end when it matters most. Let us all do as much.
Dan and Deanna “Marketing Unscrambled”
Wow, this is an amazing tale. I agree that you have to put your full, true self into your dream in order to make it a reality!
It’s that kind of excellence despite the odds that always gets me jazzed. Great story.
Hi Gio .. lovely to hear Jason’s story, especially with his apparent obstacle .. but he’d learnt somewhere to keep on going, regardless of any impediments .. just keep on and in the end he was recognised, then he could finally fulfill his final dream - but actually it led to a bigger destiny .. because he was ready .. he now helps others.
Lovely story - thanks
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters
Hi Deanna
Yes, don’t wait for the ship to come in. We have to get ready for the ship first.
Thank you for your comment and sharing your thought.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi J.D.
That is awesome, it makes me happy to hear that this made you JAZZED!!
Thank you for your comment and sharing your thought.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Hilary
You got it my friend, you got the whole point of this story and message.
Thanks for your comment and sharing your thought.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi J.D.
I am so glad you enjoyed this story.
Thanks for your comment and joining the conversation.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action