Thread: A real human interest story

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This youtube story brought tears to my eyes!
YouTube - Jason McElway

as a mom of a disabled child who was always the team managers and still is that really brings tears to my eyes. Thank you so much.

Every time I see that vid it makes me feel good, and makes me proud for the lad. I’ve had the privilege to volunteer at Special Olympics events and watch kids who aren’t as physically able as Jason put their heart and soul into competing at the best level they can. They don’t know the meaning of quit. They don’t wallow in envy or self pity. They draw energy from the crowd and keep on keepin’ on, no matter how much they have to struggle, or how long it takes. They thrive on the competition. Whenever I hear the able bodied whining about how hard “it” is, as happens far too much in an election year like we’re in now, or how they expect others to do for them what they should be doing for themselves, I reflect back on those athletes and draw inspiration……………………..we could learn a lot from those youngsters.

There a few sporting events that I know I will never forget as long as I live. Not in any particular order....

Boise State's win in the Fiesta Bowl last year,

Nebraska's loss to Miami in the 1980 Orange Bowl,

The 4th and 13 miracle our highschool rival pulled on us in the state semi-finals costing us a possible first ever state championship my senior year,

The tears in their eyes, the look of complete euphoric exhaustion and absolute joy on their faces and the clearance they got jumping up and down screaming and yelling, this past football season when the boys I coached won a really tough play-off game in overtime against their biggest rival to advance to their championship,

And finally, this story.

When I first saw it on the news, I couldn't help but cheer for him myself. I thought it was amazing and that he had really had an incredible run. I was also taken by the fact that his teammates jumped up and down screaming and yelling having the time of their lives watching him succeed. It really was one of those life imitating art moments. Stories that good aren't made up, and they can only happen and inspire in real life. Congratulations to him. He deserves every bit of it.

The year he did that, ESPN gave him an ESPY for his amazing performance. In fact, as I recall, he beat out Kobe Bryant for that ESPY, who happened to put up 81 points in one game that year. Now, I'm not a big fan really; but, Kobe to his credit, agreed that the award went to the better player....

Cheers,
Dutch

Thanks for the nice words. I think we provide better news coverage here than on the boob tube!

Great story, wouldn't it be nice if we could get that good warm feeling about life in general, think it would be a better place.

How is your brother doing in Iraq, we are thinking of him and all of those in the Military.

Richard

This kid is from my town of Greece outside of Rochester. He has just written a book. They are making a movie about him. Pretty much of a local celebrity around town but very low keyed young man. Very nice kid.

Its amazing that he is also autistic.My youngest son is autistic and it is really amazing what they can do with such a strange illness.there is such a broad spectrum of autism that its a pleasure to see him in so much control

Originally Posted by ford2custom

Great story, wouldn't it be nice if we could get that good warm feeling about life in general, think it would be a better place.

How is your brother doing in Iraq, we are thinking of him and all of those in the Military.

Richard

Richard
He's doing well. I talked with him last weekend, but he'd been up for a long time in surgery, after a 3 day local artillery shelling of their area. I guess they treat locals as well as troops. He sounded upbeat though. Said the comissary has next to nothing over there. I guess he blew a 1amp cord fuse to a vacuum, and was asking me to send one, as that would be impossible to find over there. The things we take for granted. I can walk down to our local hardware store in a few minutes and get one. He has to send home for the same things!
No news on the Family and wife front, but I don't ask either. I like to think he should be focused on the present while over there.
I talked with a lady at work whose son is a vehicle computer specialist. When a HMMV or other vehicle is ambushed and disabled, he goes out in the field to try to get the computer up and running, so they can retrieve the vehicle. The vehicles won't start without the on board computer running. If he can't get it running he has to remove the gps system or destroy it. I guess there are very few people trained to this specialty, so he has been called back on his third tour of duty now. Normally he would get a year back here, but he gets about three months. The sucky part of his job, is the Iraqis know he will come back for the computer or vehicle, so they lay in wait to ambush him or kidnap and randsom him. He is constantly surrounded by Rangers who's job is to keep him alive and get him back. She told me she called him on his cell and heard guns and explosions. She said I better call you later son, he said, don't worry mom they can't hit shit. Two seconds later he says crap! His mom asked what happened, and he said they just blew up the commisary. His mom then said I thought you said they can't hit anything, he replied laughing, I'm sure they weren't aiming for it mom!

I think of her story all the time, the pride and fear in her voice. These Guys deserve all the support we can send!

The guys are doing way more then should be asked of anyone going back 2, 3 and some times more. I prayed every day my niece was over there, and my nephew has been there twice. Sometimes I think if people didn’t have relatives over there, they wouldn’t even know there was a war going on. I would like to see the Soldiers get the appreciation they deserve for making this Country safe.

I was in the Army from 64-67 State side, my Brother went to Vietnam, the enemy didn’t get him but agent orange did last year, he turned 62 in May got one Social Security check but the family had to send it back since he died before the end of the month!

Tell your Brother we thank him for what he is doing and we hope he can get back to hot rodding soon.

Richard

I am sorry for your loss. I have a cousin who developed a neuro disorder after operation Dessert storm. Lots of people over there were exposed to chemical war fare. It's a sad world, when your brother never even got a chance to enjoy retirement.

Here is another great story posted on msnbc.com
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23538741/