Guest guest Posted June 11, 2005 Report Share Posted June 11, 2005 This was a great story. Thanks for sharing it. --- rubenken2000 <rubenken@...> wrote: > I loved this. > > Ken > > One Night Changes a Life, and Calif. Town > > > > By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Writer /Fri Jun 10, > 3:40 PM ET/ > > > > CLOVIS, Calif. - The chant began late in the > fourth quarter in the > > basketball gym at Clovis East High. The students > started it first, > > clapping their hands in unison and pounding the > bleachers with their > > feet. It didn't take long for the parents to pick > it up, too. The noise > > grew until the whole gym seemed to shake. " We want > Ryno. We want Ryno. " > > > > > > Pacing the sideline, coach Tim Amundsen felt > himself getting goose > > bumps. Less than 4 minutes remained in the game, > and Clovis East was > > winning comfortably over rival Buchanan High. Now > Amundsen had a > > decision to make. > > > > It was senior night, the last time Belflower > would wear his home > > uniform. Everyone in the gym knew his story. > > > > was a special education student who would do > anything to fit in and > > worked tirelessly to make that happen. His > basketball career began as a > > ninth grader passing out balls to the girls' team. > Then he hooked on > > with the boys' team, getting there every morning > at 6:30, helping out in > > drills, running the practice clock and cleaning up > afterward. > > > > Now, he sat proudly on the sideline in his own > white No. 12 uniform. > > > > The crowd wanted him in the game. Amundsen wanted > him in, too. But he > > was also afraid the slightly built 18-year-old > might get hurt. > > > > Amundsen considered all this as he walked toward > and patted him on > > the shoulder. Off came the warmup jacket, the > buzzer blew and kind > > of half hopped, half ran onto the court, his left > leg trailing slightly > > at an odd angle. > > > > The noise was deafening as he ran out on the > court. > > > > In the stands, Belflower was near tears. A > few years earlier, he > > was a jock at Clovis East, one of those big men on > campus. He knew how > > hard his kid brother had worked for this moment. > > > > " If you had said four years ago he'd play in a > varsity basketball game, > > I'd say stop lying because it will never happen, " > said. > > > > On this afternoon in February, it did. > > > > And Clovis East would never be the same. > > > > ___ > > > > Shooting a basketball was never that big a problem > for . He figured > > that out during countless hours of playing > H-O-R-S-E with in the > > driveway of the family's modest home in this > Fresno suburb. > > > > Playing in a game was something entirely > different. couldn't grasp > > the concepts of filling lanes, going to spots, > running routes. > > > > As a child he struggled to understand the smallest > things. He could tell > > you his name, but for years he couldn't tell you > his age. > > > > " You would try to teach him at every birthday, but > sometimes it just > > didn't sink in, " said his mother, Shauna > Belflower. > > > > His mother knew early on that was different. > He was barely speaking > > as a toddler, and he just didn't act like his > older brother did at that > > age. She took him to a speech and language > specialist, who examined > > for about five minutes before turning back to his > mother. > > > > " I'm not sure how to tell you this, ma'am, but > there's a lot more wrong > > with your son than his speech, " the woman said. > > > > Shauna Belflower searched for answers, though few > came as the years went > > on. had autistic symptoms, but no one ever > formally diagnosed him > > with that. She took to different doctors, and > even locked him in a > > psychiatric hospital for 16 days when he was 5. He > went on medication, > > but it made him violent and he had to be weaned > from it. > > > > " It was almost like having a little Helen Keller. > He had no way of > > communicating, " his mother said. " He knew words > were a way of > > communicating, just no way of knowing what they > meant. " > > > > In the end, there wasn't much doctors could do. > would improve as he > > learned things, but for years he struggled to > understand and carrying on > > a conversation was almost impossible. He would > look at the ground when > > he talked, and it was a long time before he could > answer a question like > > " How are you? " > > > > Increasingly, though, that talk was about sports. > memorized > > statistics, watched ESPN constantly and found out > everything he could > > about his favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers. > > > > Still, he struggled in his vocational special > education classes, > > struggled to find his place in a big high school, > struggled with life's > > little oddities every single day. > > > > One day during his freshman year, girls basketball > coach Meredith > > Pulliam asked her class if anyone wanted to help > the team. > > > > In the back of the room, 's hand went up. > > > > Every day he'd be at practice, handing out balls, > trying to figure out > > how to run the clock. At first, the girls were > wary of this boy who said > > almost nothing but was always around. But, as time > went on, they grew to > > love the scrawny kid who worked so hard and did > everything he could for > > them. > > > > was finally a part of something. And the kid > who could barely talk > > to anyone a few years earlier now wanted to be > manager of the boys' > > team. Maybe, just maybe, he could even play. After > all, he did know how > > to shoot. > > > > " I had a long day to figure it out, but I wanted > to play, " said. " I > > really did. And if I didn't make it, at least I > tried. " > > > > Amundsen knew about 's work habits and his > determination. After > > tried out as a junior, he told him he could be the > boys' team manager. > > If he worked real hard, maybe he would earn a > uniform. > > > > " A lot of times kids like that end up disappearing > after two weeks, " > > Amundsen said. > > > > Not . > > > > He got up early, swept the gym, put out > basketballs and got players > water. > === message truncated === __________________________________ Discover Find restaurants, movies, travel and more fun for the weekend. 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Guest guest Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 This was really touching - truly wonderful. > I loved this. > > Ken > > One Night Changes a Life, and Calif. Town > > > > By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Writer /Fri Jun 10, 3:40 PM ET/ > > > > CLOVIS, Calif. - The chant began late in the fourth quarter in the > > basketball gym at Clovis East High. The students started it first, > > clapping their hands in unison and pounding the bleachers with their > > feet. It didn't take long for the parents to pick it up, too. The noise > > grew until the whole gym seemed to shake. " We want Ryno. We want Ryno. " > > > > > > Pacing the sideline, coach Tim Amundsen felt himself getting goose > > bumps. Less than 4 minutes remained in the game, and Clovis East was > > winning comfortably over rival Buchanan High. Now Amundsen had a > > decision to make. > > > > It was senior night, the last time Belflower would wear his home > > uniform. Everyone in the gym knew his story. > > > > was a special education student who would do anything to fit in and > > worked tirelessly to make that happen. His basketball career began as a > > ninth grader passing out balls to the girls' team. Then he hooked on > > with the boys' team, getting there every morning at 6:30, helping out in > > drills, running the practice clock and cleaning up afterward. > > > > Now, he sat proudly on the sideline in his own white No. 12 uniform. > > > > The crowd wanted him in the game. Amundsen wanted him in, too. But he > > was also afraid the slightly built 18-year-old might get hurt. > > > > Amundsen considered all this as he walked toward and patted him on > > the shoulder. Off came the warmup jacket, the buzzer blew and kind > > of half hopped, half ran onto the court, his left leg trailing slightly > > at an odd angle. > > > > The noise was deafening as he ran out on the court. > > > > In the stands, Belflower was near tears. A few years earlier, he > > was a jock at Clovis East, one of those big men on campus. He knew how > > hard his kid brother had worked for this moment. > > > > " If you had said four years ago he'd play in a varsity basketball game, > > I'd say stop lying because it will never happen, " said. > > > > On this afternoon in February, it did. > > > > And Clovis East would never be the same. > > > > ___ > > > > Shooting a basketball was never that big a problem for . He figured > > that out during countless hours of playing H-O-R-S-E with in the > > driveway of the family's modest home in this Fresno suburb. > > > > Playing in a game was something entirely different. couldn't grasp > > the concepts of filling lanes, going to spots, running routes. > > > > As a child he struggled to understand the smallest things. He could tell > > you his name, but for years he couldn't tell you his age. > > > > " You would try to teach him at every birthday, but sometimes it just > > didn't sink in, " said his mother, Shauna Belflower. > > > > His mother knew early on that was different. He was barely speaking > > as a toddler, and he just didn't act like his older brother did at that > > age. She took him to a speech and language specialist, who examined > > for about five minutes before turning back to his mother. > > > > " I'm not sure how to tell you this, ma'am, but there's a lot more wrong > > with your son than his speech, " the woman said. > > > > Shauna Belflower searched for answers, though few came as the years went > > on. had autistic symptoms, but no one ever formally diagnosed him > > with that. She took to different doctors, and even locked him in a > > psychiatric hospital for 16 days when he was 5. He went on medication, > > but it made him violent and he had to be weaned from it. > > > > " It was almost like having a little Helen Keller. He had no way of > > communicating, " his mother said. " He knew words were a way of > > communicating, just no way of knowing what they meant. " > > > > In the end, there wasn't much doctors could do. would improve as he > > learned things, but for years he struggled to understand and carrying on > > a conversation was almost impossible. He would look at the ground when > > he talked, and it was a long time before he could answer a question like > > " How are you? " > > > > Increasingly, though, that talk was about sports. memorized > > statistics, watched ESPN constantly and found out everything he could > > about his favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers. > > > > Still, he struggled in his vocational special education classes, > > struggled to find his place in a big high school, struggled with life's > > little oddities every single day. > > > > One day during his freshman year, girls basketball coach Meredith > > Pulliam asked her class if anyone wanted to help the team. > > > > In the back of the room, 's hand went up. > > > > Every day he'd be at practice, handing out balls, trying to figure out > > how to run the clock. At first, the girls were wary of this boy who said > > almost nothing but was always around. But, as time went on, they grew to > > love the scrawny kid who worked so hard and did everything he could for > > them. > > > > was finally a part of something. And the kid who could barely talk > > to anyone a few years earlier now wanted to be manager of the boys' > > team. Maybe, just maybe, he could even play. After all, he did know how > > to shoot. > > > > " I had a long day to figure it out, but I wanted to play, " said. " I > > really did. And if I didn't make it, at least I tried. " > > > > Amundsen knew about 's work habits and his determination. After > > tried out as a junior, he told him he could be the boys' team manager. > > If he worked real hard, maybe he would earn a uniform. > > > > " A lot of times kids like that end up disappearing after two weeks, " > > Amundsen said. > > > > Not . > > > > He got up early, swept the gym, put out basketballs and got players > water. > > > > " I paid the price, " said. " I didn't want to quit and I wasn't going > > to. " > > > > Just before the last game of the year, Amundsen handed him his No. 12 > > uniform. > > > > " He did it the right way. He earned it, " Amundsen said. " You don't see > > that much these days. " > > > > ___ > > > > With finally in the game, the chant grew even louder in the Clovis > > East gym. > > > > " Give the ball. Give the ball. " > > > > wanted it, too. He ran down the court to the corner by himself to > > wait in case someone saw him. If no one did, he would run back behind > > the 3-point line to get a pass. > > > > On defense, the 5-foot-6 player ran after Buchanan High's biggest man. > > > > " Coach told me to guard anybody I saw, " he would explain later. > > > > had played a few seconds in a few games already his senior year. It > > hadn't gone well. > > > > In his first game, the other team was running a fast break off a miss > > and couldn't get out of the way. He was sent sprawling about 10 > > feet down the court. It wasn't anybody's fault, but it made Amundsen > wary. > > > > The other kids were bigger and stronger. They saw plays developing. They > > reacted quicker. > > > > About 2 minutes remained in the game, and 's teammates were trying > > their best to get him the ball. > > > > Suddenly, he had it unguarded out beyond the 3-point line. As he > > launched the shot, everyone in the gym froze. On the sideline, his > > teammates rose as one. > > > > The shot missed badly, clunking off the lower backboard. > > > > By now, the Buchanan players seemed to recognize what was going on. When > > got the ball again they fouled him, sending him to the free throw > > line so he would have a chance to score. > > > > But all the games of H-O-R-S-E hadn't prepared him for this moment. His > > free throw arced high off the top of the backboard. > > > > In the stands, was crying tears of joy. His brother may have > > missed, but at least he got a chance. He could always talk about the > > night he played. > > > > The final seconds were ticking off the clock and Clovis East got the > > ball one last time. This time, found a spot just beyond the 3-point > > line to the left of the key. He got a pass, and turned to shoot. > > > > The noisy gym quieted for a split second as the ball seemed to hang in > > the air forever. > > > > It swished through, the way it did so many times in the driveway in > > front of his house. > > > > " Nothing but net, " he exclaimed. > > > > The buzzer sounded as ran joyously toward his bench, attempting to > > chest butt a teammate in celebration. > > > > In the stands, tried to scream, but nothing came out. He wasn't > > alone. Grown men and women hugged each other and cried. > > > > The kid who wouldn't take no for an answer could now say he was a > > player, too. > > > > " All the parents were bawling, and the students were too, " Amundsen > > said. " My coaching staff all had tears in their eyes. It was an > > unbelievable moment. " > > > > It wasn't over yet. As the teams shook hands, two football players > > grabbed and hoisted him on their shoulders. He held his arms high > > in celebration, a big grin on his face, as they carried him on a victory > > lap around the gymnasium. > > > > " I've never seen anything like it before and I probably never will, " > > Amundsen said. " He'll be my example the rest of my life as a coach. " > > > > ___ > > > > Word traveled quickly about 's shot. He was on the front page of the > > Fresno Bee. Local TV replayed his shot again and again. > > > > The attention has been a bit overwhelming, but his mother says he has > > handled it well. He makes sure he looks a visitor in the eye when he > > talks about it. > > > > " It's about showing the love, " he said. > > > > The entire Central Valley has shown its love to , too. He's not > > really sure what it all means, but he knows he's been accepted. > > > > " You can see how he's kind of trying to figure it out. I don't know if > > he fully comprehends what is going on, " said his special education > > teacher, A.J. Blackburn. " His ability to process how huge this has > > become isn't quite there. With disabilities you don't understand > > abstract concepts. They need to be concrete. He understands what he did > > was important, but doesn't truly understand why. " > > > > 's future is uncertain. He walked with other students at graduation, > > but the special education kids don't get diplomas. He had never had a > > date, but recently worked up the courage to ask a member of the girls' > > basketball team to the prom. > > > > He's thinking of trying to be the team manager at Fresno City College, > > and wants to have a career in sports. He memorizes statistics and can > > tell you how every member of the 49ers did last year. > > > > " My dreams now are to be a sports analyst, " he says. " I know so much and > > people say I'm good at it. " > > > > That dream will be harder to achieve than hitting a 3-pointer. > > > > " It's going to be a tough transition from this sheltered place called > > high school, " Blackburn said. " Eventually I envision to be for the > > most part independent with some counseling. He will always need some > > assistance, but once he gets in a routine he will be able to live a life > > much like the rest of us. " > > > > Whatever happens, they can't take away the moment that brought a school > > together and made a town proud. They can't take away the shot that made > > a hero. > > > > " He's a guy who tries more than most people ever do, " Pulliam said. > > " He's probably put in twice the work and gotten half the results of > > anyone else. But he gives others like him hope that there might be a > > moment in life for them, too, in some way. " > > > > ___ > > > > Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. > > Write to him at tdahlberg@a... > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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