To Any Sports Enthusiast, or Believer of Fate…
Wednesday, February 15, 2006, at approximately 9:30 PM, Greece Athena High School experienced its own personal “Rudy” story.
In a sports world of egos and attitude, people tend to lose sight of the true meaning of sports, until that one special moment when you see something so great that it shocks you into reality. It’s not always about winning and losing, scoring the most points, or making the headlines- it’s about heart and passion for the game. All of Greece Athena witnessed sports at its finest, through Jason McElwain.
Jason McElwain is currently a senior at Greece Athena High School. His one great passion has always been basketball. Although Jason’s size or speed was never the tops, he still displayed more heart than any one person can imagine. For the past four years, Jason proudly served the position of team manager, but was never allowed to suit up. Resiliently, Jason attended every game in his shirt and tie we have all grown to love, to support his team. Most normal teens would lose interest after one or two seasons, but this thought never crossed Jason’s mind.
It would be no rare occurrence during a close game to see an emotional “J-MAC,” as he is affectionately known by the student body, show his enthusiasm on the sidelines. The team’s energy at times would live and breathe through J-MAC. When the team was down, J-MAC would keep them motivated, as a pillar of steadfast confidence and support. If a crowd were to ever become weary and restful, we could all look down to J-MAC and the game would regain its importance. No one ever believed J-MAC’s role would ever stretch beyond that of team manager, but on this night karma would shock all in attendance.
In the week of “senior night,” the last home game in which all seniors can display their talents for one last good-bye, word began to trickle through the grapevine that Jason would finally get his chance to suit- up for his first- and last- Varsity basketball game. In front of a packed home crowd, we watched in anticipation as J-MAC, proudly wearing number 52, displayed his habitual fervor. Sitting in his usual seat, first seat to the right of Coach Johnson, J-MAC cheered his team to an astounding 30 point lead, fueled by healthy efforts from stand-out seniors Steve Kerr, Levar Goff, and Ricky Wallace; except on this night it was as an equal.
Throughout the first twenty-eight minutes of play, the crowd would periodically grow restless as chants of “J-MAC” resonated to the rafters. As the night progressed the scale of the game continued to tip in favor of the Trojans, and the impatient fans began to grow louder. As the minutes of the fourth quarter ticked away, devoted Trojan supporters became apprehensive that Jason may not get his moment of glory. Then, with 4 minutes left on the scoreboard, the crowd erupted as Coach Johnson gave Jason the signal.
I personally have never experienced a noise so deafening as Jason proudly hopped onto the court. Even as teammate Terrance McCutchen was taking his free-throws, the crowd abandoned its traditional rituals in favor of chants for J-MAC. Posters, signs, and even masks that displayed pictures of Jason’s face began to litter above their heads. We thought that J-MAC’s entrance onto the floor was exciting enough, but we had no idea what he had in store for us.
One would think after Jason’s first shot flew well wide with overflowing energy, that the pressure may have been too overwhelming, but not for this resilient young athlete. I watched in suspense as J-MAC began to plant for another three-point shot…and SWOOSH, “nothin’ but net.” If only you could imagine the exhilaration felt by J-MAC and his ever-supportive Varsity team. For the next three minutes, shot after shot fell cleanly through the orange cylinder, all of which from beyond the three point arch. With each “3-ball,” if at all possible, the fans grew unbelievably more fanatical. Finally the seconds ticked down, and J-MAC had just completed six baskets, and every one ached for just one more. After Spencerport drove down for what seemed to be the last offensive drive of the night, J-MAC was left with 15 seconds to complete the dream. I watched in complete disbelief as Jason heaved up that final three as time wound down. Our collective heart almost exploded as we watched that ball float through the basket. The teeming crowds poured onto the court as the final seconds ticked down, as if Michael Jordan had just made the game winning basket in the championship.
Being packed on the court with parents and students alike, made everyone feel the power of the miracle which graced our gymnasium. I fought to hold back tears as I watched Jason hug his hysterical mother in what was one of the most emotional and pure experiences of my life. As if on Cloud 9, J-MAC was hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates as if it were a dream. We all had to look at ourselves, in fact to see if it were a dream or if this had actually happened. This night, J-MAC was our own personal celebrity as he celebrated with his teammates and signed autographs for the incessant crowd.
I walked out of that gymnasium, and still sit here in utter amazement, that there can still be so much good in the world. The image of Jason’s face will forever be instilled in my memory as I will always remember that passion, confidence, and heart can always bring you to your dreams. The story of Jason McElwain is a pure tale of how sports were meant to be.
We need to take this rare moment given to us courtesy of one strong young man and not let its emotion wither away. We should keep this story to always look back, and keep in perspective how the game was meant to be played.
By: Jason McElwain
As: Told By Sean Meritt and Charles Dell’Anno
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