Challenging lessons from an autistic high school athlete

A special needs student,
he dreamed of the day
his coach would say “Jason,
it’s your turn to play.”

But Jason McElwain
was hardly convinced
his dream would be realized.
He sat on the bench.

While dressed in his street clothes
as managers are,
this wanna-be hoopster
was hardly a star.

He gave the team water.
He handed out towels.
He cheered for his teammates
and protested fouls.

Autistic and awkward,
and often left out,
young Jason refused
to get angry or pout.

He did as requested
and honored his team.
But never gave up
on his unlikely dream.

And then came the last game
and out of the blue
the coach said, “Suit up, son.
Tonight’s game’s for you.”

He sat with his teammates
all beaming with pride.
His team dominated.
Their lead was quite wide.

Just then he heard “Jason,
it’s your turn. You’re in!
You’re part of the team
so go share in our win.”

Good Lord, it was magic
as everyone screamed.
This special needs student
was living his dream.

In the space of four minutes,
he scored twenty points.
The grandstands went wild.
Every fan in the joint

knew Jason was gifted.
The whole crowd agreed
that labels are lethal
when you’ve special needs.

To be called autistic,
you’re thought of as odd.
You’re misjudged as if you’ve been
orphaned by God.

How hurtful. How stupid.
How wrong can folks be.
Quite often these kids
are much smarter than we.

From Jason McElwain
we all have been shown…
You can’t judge another
by what he’s most known.

Within every person
God’s image is seen.
So why don’t we help them
discover their dreams?

Looking at March Madness through the eyes of John Wooden

John Wooden would what others wouldn’t.
Truth be told, the others couldn’t

match his record through the years
earned by practice, sweat and tears.

Competition, he’d attest,
fuels the best to stand the test.

That’s the reason Coach kept on.
Hope for him was never gone.

Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton
learned the lessons Coach had taught ’em.

Like the fact that discipline
means far more than just a win.

Or the truth that self control
makes a gifted player whole.

There were poems he’d recite
that were fun but never trite.

Faith in Christ, Coach boldly claimed,
shaped the way he coached each game.

Shaped the way he’d build guys up
when they drank from failure’s cup.

Shaped the way he helped them see
teamwork leads to victory.

That is why he loves March Madness
with its joy and with its sadness.

And at nearly ninety-six,
Coach still needs his yearly fix.

Waiting for what lies in store,
he will watch the Final Four

Remembering what one snowboarder is trying to forget

Seems she got a little cocky
right before the finish line.
Just a hot dog spreading relish
thinking “Hey, it’s showboat time!”

She had gold within her pocket
if she’d only played it straight.
But she didn’t have it in her
so we watched her bow to fate.

Like the Good Book says quite clearly,
there’s a price to pay for pride.
When you try to land your snowboard,
you will likely flip and slide.

That’s a lesson from Torino
that we should not soon forget.
Unrestrained and spendthrift egos
tend to lead to needless debt.