Posted on 09/27/2010 9:46:43 PM PDT by Abin Sur
Ike Ditzenberger is like a lot of other 17-year-old American football players. He dreams of playing college football. He attends daily practices. Most of the time he toils away in offensive drills. Then, on rare occasions, Ditzenberger runs into the limelight with aplomb. The description could fit thousands of American teenagers, except for one crucial detail: Ike Ditzenberger has Down Syndrome.
Ditzenberger, a junior at Snohomish (Wash.) High School, achieved a major milestone on Friday in a game against Lake Stevens, running 51 yards for a touchdown with 10 seconds remaining. The "Ike Special" provided the only points in Snohomish's 35-6 loss. It was the first varsity touchdown in Ditzenberger's career, a ramble through an opposing defense that mirrors the end to Snohomish practices every day, when Ditzenberger gets the final run of practice and somehow finds the end zone, through a combination of running guile and intentionally passive defenders.
"He's someone that everybody can kind of enjoy because he has such a great personality and character," Snohomish senior captain Keith Wigney told the Everett Herald in a feature on Ditzenberger.
For Ditzenberger's feel-good story to go beyond practice to an actual competitive game took an assist from the coaching staff at Lake Stevens. The Vikings' coaches not only instructed their players to let Ditzenberger score, but to make it look relatively competitive in the process to make the moment more real for the Snohomish junior. In the video above you can see a handful of Lake Stevens defenders make diving runs at Ditzenberger, only to come up agonizingly short. Or perhaps gleefully short, in this case.
(Excerpt) Read more at rivals.yahoo.com ...
Wait until Saturday Night Live and the Daily Kos hear about this. They’ll be on a tear making fun of this kid. Oh well...
And then I show up to remind you that it's not nice to allow people to think they are doing something right when they really, really can't on their own. It sets false expectations.
And that can be dangerous for everybody, not to mention, somewhat cruel when the person realizes that 'you let me do that'.
Welcome to Free Republic. Where we love and cherish everyone for what they can really do on their own. And don't participate in falsehoods.
/johnny
nice story, thanks for posting it.
Dub
"And then I show up to remind you that it's not nice to allow people to think they are doing something right when they really, really can't on their own."
And I show up to remind you that I feel sad that you have such a cold heart, and can't appreciate the love that both teams and coaches displayed for this young man.
I will remember your username - JRandomFreeper, and will never forget this cold post of yours.
Beautiful deal. TD, bucko. Fantastic fellow.
The game was over. The spread was probably more than covered, and so it’s no sweat off of anyone’s back. They let the kid have some fun, and in the process they all got to feel like they did a good deed for someone they obviously care about. It’s not like this kid is going to be disillusioned into thinking he’s going to be a football star. Most likely this is pure win-win.
Do you think that lying to the young man, and convincing him he can do something he really can't will help him? Or society?
May as well convince the poor kid that he can fly and encourage him to jump off a building.
I could approve of helping him to work within his limits, and recognize them. Because we all have them. But not lying, or setting up a charade. That's cruel.
/johnny
I’d hate to be a heartless b*st*rd, but I agree with J. As nice as it is to let the guy score, if he gets into college ball, and he washes out of tryouts or get smashed trying to make a touchdown, he just might realize that he was had.
Well, maybe not. But, if it gives him a few minutes of pride - after the thousands of hours he has no doubt spent, being ridiculed, I say - who does it hurt? No one - but people with cold hearts that think since they don't deserve it, they shouldn't get it.
Not unless he reads about it on the internet. Then it could be devastating.
Er...did you watch the video? He's not going to play college ball. Both teams were simply being kind and giving him the experience of a lifetime, and good for them for doing it.
And, thank you, Abin Sur. I agree wholeheartedly.
Perhaps you should deal with some that really, really can't do for themselves.
/johnny
It wasn't real. It was a lie.
/johnny
I say RIGHT ON!
To the folks that think this was unfair or wrong or hurtful I say put yourself in this kids’ shoes for a few years..or his parents. Imagine that your kids are so disadvantaged. Would you be so courageous and lucky to have a kid with such spirit? This guy could likely be a special olympic star!
It will be cool to see this on tomorrow’s news paper...hopefully front page here in Everett,Wa.
You’re a d!cK!
really? you never hung a child’s crappy crayon drawing on the fridge? He knows he’s not a superstar, I’m more than sure, but he’s going to cherish this moment for the rest of his life, who cares if it was a lie?
BTW, be sure to tell your wife/girlfriend her ass looks huge the next time she’s trying on a pair of pants.
I beg to differ with you. Real love is about an open, giving, sharing, compassionate, and caring heart, and that is something that some (ahem) don't seem to have, nor care to find out about.
Good night - it's way past my bed-time, here, and, I don't want to go to sleep thinking about someone who doesn't understand what real love is all about.
Have an enjoyable week, JRandomFreeper
Per FR rules, personal attacks are not allowed. I suggest you hit the abuse button and have your post pulled.
I've dealt with family members that weren't able to do what some of us can normally do. Not facing reality is a bad option.
And lying to a child, any child is always a bad thing. Be honest, or don't discuss it, but never, never betray that trust.
/johnny
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