What a great story! - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

Matt700wlw · 02-23-2006, 03:11 PM

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/sto...C-EF50A0D8D673

It's good to see something like this in this day and age.

flyer85 · 02-23-2006, 03:34 PM

amazing.

Better have him suited up for the next game.

SunDeck · 02-23-2006, 04:04 PM

Oh, that is so going to be made into a movie.

max venable · 02-23-2006, 10:17 PM

You guys remember this one (one of my all-time faves)
http://apse.dallasnews.com/contest/2...ns.first1.html

Nugget · 02-24-2006, 12:12 AM

Not meaning to be a party pooper but I think this masks a greater problem for persons with autism. Autism is greatly misunderstood and many people diagnosed with autism unfortunately are classified as being special needs and are treated differently. In many circumstances they can lead normal lives - autism is a diagnosis where certain parts of the brain have a higher level of function than normal. For instance, autistic persons can have a highly developed problem solving skill.

My question is why wasn't J'Mac in the team to begin with?

Caseyfan21 · 02-24-2006, 12:42 AM

Wow, really amazing and even ironic to see this story here.

I frequently post at a Dave Matthews Band forum and one of the non-DMB discussion topics there is this. The kid that started it goes to that high school, knows this kid, and was at the game.

I think it's very cool to see this happening and the only question is why wasn't he suiting up earlier?

Chip R · 02-24-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caseyfan21

I think it's very cool to see this happening and the only question is why wasn't he suiting up earlier?

Not scrappy enough? Didn't do the little things?

Yachtzee · 02-24-2006, 01:28 PM

I have cousin with autism and she is quite good at basketball. It helps that she's the tallest girl in her age group, but having austism hasn't affected her ability to play in any way. It mainly affects the way she learns and handles things emotionally, but it doesn't hurt her physical or mental abilities to play the game.

I'm with Nugget on this one. It's kind of sad that he wasn't given the opportunity to try out for the team in the first place.

RedsManRick · 02-24-2006, 03:10 PM

I have a little brother who has a genetic disorder which causes a wide variety of symptoms, many of which mirror autism. He plays a number of sports with the adapted teams and with special olympics. He has served as an assistant for the varsity team. 2 years ago, a group of kids at his school sort of adopted the adapated soccer team and attended all their games. My little brother has his own cheering section, signs and all. I can't begin to tell you what that meant to him.

Many of these kids go through hell on a daily basis and while they aren't 100% as perceptive as "normal" kids, they get it. It's particularly hard for Austistic kids who have a very difficult time expressing their emotions. What makes this a wonderful story isn't his accomlishment, which was awesome. It's the acceptance he got from his teammates and classmates. Many special needs kids never get that feeling of inclusion and are marginalized. That for a short bit, he got to feel like a king is wonderful.

KronoRed · 02-24-2006, 04:24 PM

Thanks for posting this Matt

max venable · 02-27-2006, 03:33 PM

Here's a great video link to this story...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBYPa...tball%20player

IslandRed · 02-27-2006, 04:39 PM

I saw the story on ESPN. I could be wrong, but I thought they said that (1) the boy is only around 5' 6" and (2) he had tried out for the JV team at some point and didn't make it. From the comments of his coaches and teammates -- paraphrased, "we were just hoping we'd get a chance for him to score somehow" -- I didn't get the impression that channeling Larry Bird was a normal thing for him. Which makes the story all the more heartwarming!

02-23-2006, 03:11 PM	#1
Matt700wlw Making sense of it all Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 26,149	What a great story! http://www.13wham.com/news/local/sto...C-EF50A0D8D673 It's good to see something like this in this day and age. __________________ An excited shade of Red

02-23-2006, 03:34 PM	#2
flyer85 He has the Evil Eye! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: south of the border Posts: 23,858	Re: What a great story! amazing. Better have him suited up for the next game. __________________ What are you, people? On dope? - Mr Hand

02-23-2006, 04:04 PM	#3
SunDeck First Time Caller Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 5,239	Re: What a great story! Oh, that is so going to be made into a movie. __________________ Dusty Baker, second shooter. --Confirmed on Redszone.

02-23-2006, 10:17 PM	#4
max venable Bunn-O-matic Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sugarcreek, Ohio Posts: 2,720	Re: What a great story! You guys remember this one (one of my all-time faves) http://apse.dallasnews.com/contest/2...ns.first1.html __________________ For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism.

02-24-2006, 12:12 AM	#5
Nugget Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorthEast Posts: 1,002	Re: What a great story! Not meaning to be a party pooper but I think this masks a greater problem for persons with autism. Autism is greatly misunderstood and many people diagnosed with autism unfortunately are classified as being special needs and are treated differently. In many circumstances they can lead normal lives - autism is a diagnosis where certain parts of the brain have a higher level of function than normal. For instance, autistic persons can have a highly developed problem solving skill. My question is why wasn't J'Mac in the team to begin with?

02-24-2006, 12:42 AM	#6
Caseyfan21 Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 1,830	Re: What a great story! Wow, really amazing and even ironic to see this story here. I frequently post at a Dave Matthews Band forum and one of the non-DMB discussion topics there is this. The kid that started it goes to that high school, knows this kid, and was at the game. I think it's very cool to see this happening and the only question is why wasn't he suiting up earlier?

02-24-2006, 01:28 PM	#8
Yachtzee Hisssssssss Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Land of the Lost Posts: 6,996	Re: What a great story! I have cousin with autism and she is quite good at basketball. It helps that she's the tallest girl in her age group, but having austism hasn't affected her ability to play in any way. It mainly affects the way she learns and handles things emotionally, but it doesn't hurt her physical or mental abilities to play the game. I'm with Nugget on this one. It's kind of sad that he wasn't given the opportunity to try out for the team in the first place. __________________ "I don't classify 'em, I just pacify 'em." - George Foster.

02-24-2006, 03:10 PM	#9
RedsManRick Stat Wanker Hodiernus Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 14,988	Re: What a great story! I have a little brother who has a genetic disorder which causes a wide variety of symptoms, many of which mirror autism. He plays a number of sports with the adapted teams and with special olympics. He has served as an assistant for the varsity team. 2 years ago, a group of kids at his school sort of adopted the adapated soccer team and attended all their games. My little brother has his own cheering section, signs and all. I can't begin to tell you what that meant to him. Many of these kids go through hell on a daily basis and while they aren't 100% as perceptive as "normal" kids, they get it. It's particularly hard for Austistic kids who have a very difficult time expressing their emotions. What makes this a wonderful story isn't his accomlishment, which was awesome. It's the acceptance he got from his teammates and classmates. Many special needs kids never get that feeling of inclusion and are marginalized. That for a short bit, he got to feel like a king is wonderful.

02-24-2006, 04:24 PM	#10
KronoRed The Lineups stink. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: West N. Carolina Posts: 55,349	Re: What a great story! Thanks for posting this Matt __________________ Go Gators!

02-27-2006, 03:33 PM	#11
max venable Bunn-O-matic Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sugarcreek, Ohio Posts: 2,720	Re: What a great story! Here's a great video link to this story... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBYPa...tball%20player __________________ For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism.

02-27-2006, 04:39 PM	#12
IslandRed Charlie Brown All-Star Join Date: May 2001 Location: Mt. Juliet, TN Posts: 4,681	Re: What a great story! I saw the story on ESPN. I could be wrong, but I thought they said that (1) the boy is only around 5' 6" and (2) he had tried out for the JV team at some point and didn't make it. From the comments of his coaches and teammates -- paraphrased, "we were just hoping we'd get a chance for him to score somehow" -- I didn't get the impression that channeling Larry Bird was a normal thing for him. Which makes the story all the more heartwarming! __________________ "I don't have a baseball team, I have a theological seminary." -- Charlie Brown

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