Jason McElwain, left, met President Bush when he visited Rochester, N.Y. on Tuesday.
Posted on 03/14/2006 11:47:34 AM PST by MinorityRepublican
"Our country was captivated by an amazing story on the basketball court," the president told reporters gathered on the tarmac, his arm draped around the 17-year-old senior, with Air Force One, the presidential jet, in the background. "It's the story of a young man who found his touch on the basketball court, which in turn touched the hearts of citizens all around the country."
The president joked that if his aging body would let him return to the basketball court, he'd want a lesson from McElwain.
Because of his autism, McElwain didn't begin talking until he was 5 and still lacks some social skills. Despite suffering from the little understood developmental disorder, he has served as all-around motivator for the Greece Athena High School basketball team, in Greece, N.Y., a Rochester suburb.
Last month, the coach had him suit up for the final home game of the season and put him in with four minutes to go when the team opened a large lead. In his first and only appearance for the team, the 5-foot-6 manager hit six 3-point shots and a 2-pointer and was carried off the court on his teammates' shoulders.
The jaw-dropping performance was caught on a student video and made national news. His parents have received a flood of calls from Hollywood.
Bush said he learned about McElwain from seeing him on TV.
"I wept, just like a lot of other people did," he said, as McElwain beamed beside him.
Jason McElwain, left, met President Bush when he visited Rochester, N.Y. on Tuesday.
It's times like this when I'm proudest of my President. What a great honor for this young man.
How nice!!
COOL!
Why can't we get more happy stories from the media?
Bump for Bush.
But CNN said that Bush is evil?
What's wrong with this picture? It seems blurry, all of a sudden...or is it my monitor?
I know...I know.
Forgot to post the article that came with the picture:
http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=60B1BAE4-53A0-4758-829D-1B6EBAED26BC
13WHAM's Doug Emblidge reported that part of their conversation went something like this:
President Bush: "I am very honored to meet you Jason, can I call you J-Mac?"
J-Mac: "Yes, sir."
President Bush: "You can call me George W."
Coach should've been suiting him up long before the final game.
Kudos to GWB.
He's an awfully tall 5'6" since President Bush is 5'11" and they seem about 1/2 inch apart.
What a great picture of this good man.
What a great picture of this good man.
Thanks for posting that wonderful story.
They want to keep quiet any idea that Bush is a good man.
In Sharon Rocha's book about Laci Peterson, when she met President Bush for the signing of Laci's law ( I think that is what it was) he said the same thing to her..."I'm George W"
The posting NAZIS are coming--just wait! They hate this story, but I congratulate you for posting GOOD NEWS!
New making of Men In Black??? Staring Bush and the Kid.
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