23. Coach Jim Johnson ON: Think Bigger, Lead Better, Win More! Author of 'A Coach and A Miracle' True story of young man, J-Mac, with autism scoring 2...

Most of us remember the story ESPN highlighted in 2006 about a young man Jason McElwain, with Autism entering his first and only High School game with 4 minutes remaining, where he caught fire and knocked down 6 3-pointers in a row. Have you ever wondered who his coach was?

 

 

Let me introduce you to my friend and one of my personal hero's Coach Jim Johnson. You won't want to miss his message!

 

 

In the words of Coach Johnson "On the night of February 15, 2006, the bleachers at Greece Athena High School near Rochester, New York, were packed with students who had just begun cheering wildly and jumping up and down. During that same moment, I collapsed into my seat as tears welled in my eyes. Never before had I made a coaching move with such impact. Never had I felt such emotion in my career. You’d think we had just won a championship. It wasn’t a buzzer-beating basket; it wasn’t a heave from half-court that made the place go nuts. In fact, it wasn’t even a specific play. All I had done was turn toward the player with uniform number 52, point my index finger at him, and say “J-Mac.” Up bounced Jason McElwain. In giving him some playing time, I enabled him to realize a lifelong dream. It was the last home contest of his senior year, and Jason was seeing his first varsity action.

 

 

Now this might seem like a fairly ordinary moment, but Jason wasn’t your ordinary basketball player. He was small and skinny. He stood all of 5 feet, 7 inches and weighed only 120 pounds, and his blonde hair was partially covered by a head band. Jason—or J-Mac, a tag I had hung on him two years earlier when he first managed for us—was so excited to enter the game that he started right for the basketball court without first checking in and had to be redirected to the scorer’s table. But very few people noticed that; they were just so happy to see him get in the game. Why were they so happy? They were happy because Jason is autistic and learning-disabled. Knowing his limitations, the crowd was moved while witnessing Jason entering the game. And so was I. Throughout the night J-Mac—and the increasingly impatient spectators—had wondered if I was ever going to play him. Finally, with 4:19 remaining in the game, a large lead and all my other substitutes having seen action, J-Mac ascended his stage with the fanfare of a rock-and-roll star. In fact, many fans had brought blow-up photos of Jason attached to wooden sticks, and they began eagerly waving the placards upon his grand entrance. My simple reason for playing Jason was because I loved the kid and wanted to give him the shot he deserved.

 

 

I didn’t do any of this for hype, but what a beautiful scene nonetheless, and enough reward right there for me. When play resumed Jason promptly launched an air ball, and I put my head in my hands. Prayer supposedly isn’t allowed in public schools, but I started praying for all I was worth: “Please, God, let him make just one basket.” He then missed a layup. I started praying harder. Fortunately, God must be a basketball fan. And he apparently had a message to deliver to the rest of the world that night. In fact, I believe it was nothing short of a miracle. ...I’ve read and heard, many times over, the Gospel accounts of miracles performed by Jesus. These acts typically involved common, everyday folks. Some of them had disabilities. All had faith, and they became a positive example for others.

 

 

From that same inspiration of faith I find the meaning behind the miracle of February 15, 2006. As it turned out, I’d say J-Mac and I were just the kind of people God might employ to send a message of hope to the rest of the world in the form of a timeless, feel-good story.

 

Author of: A Coach and A Miracle - https://www.amazon.com/Coach-Miracle-Jim-Johnson/dp/0984131876

 

 

Website: https://coachjimjohnson.com

J-Mac ESPN Video: https://youtu.be/__JQcJ-wr0M

 

 

Coach, Thank you for inspiring me over the past few years. You are one of my personal hero's that I am grateful to call friend.