Posted on 01/18/2011 3:02:07 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Jesse was adopted by Ron and Anne Landry when she was just 2 days old.
[snip]
“I started playing basketball when I was about 3,” she said. “I started to really like it a few years later, and my brothers would work with me. They didn’t go easy on me. They knew I had to work harder than everyone else.”
[snip]
“She was always so determined,” Anne said. “You couldn’t tell her that she couldn’t do anything.”
Nimitz coach Debbie Jackson caught her first glimpse of Jesse when she was playing for the Teague Middle School eighth-grade team. One of the officials didn’t show up for a game, so Jackson was asked to step in.
“Jesse was playing, and I noticed that she was pretty good right away,” Jackson said. “I didn’t notice she was missing a hand until about five minutes into the game. She just moves so well and plays so well that you just don’t notice.”
Other coaches have. Early in the season, when Jesse would enter a game, defenders would back off.
“They thought I wouldn’t be any good because of my arm,” she said.
The Nimitz players on the bench would giggle and wait for it — an open shot, a made 3-pointer and a lot of surprised opponents.
“She is an instant offensive spark for us,” Jackson said. “She shoots really well, and she is so fast, so she gets our offense moving.”
She averages about seven points and three assists per game this season off the bench. With 13 steals, she also is one of the best defenders for the 11-11 Cougars.
[snip]
“No one in her life looks at her as the girl missing a hand or treats her differently,” Anne said. “She is just Jesse.”
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
And it is a feel good story, except for the people she plays against. How would you like having a stump waved in your face while on defense or trying to get the ball? And if you foul her, what will the crowd reaction be?
Awesome. She’s a winner before she even steps on the court.
Good grief.
Can’t you just applaud her resolve and success?
Thanks for the posting C.W.
As a kid in Decatur, Ill back in the early 60’s one of my classmates and playmates was missing most of his right arm at the elbow,IIRC. Ir didn’t slow him down a bit, he played a pretty mean game of baseball:-)
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
My niece was born with the same affliction, nothing slows her down. About the only problem she has is cutting her steak. The biggest problem with her handicap is the stares she gets out in public. She does not seem to be bothered with it but it bugs the hell out of me.
She realizes the public has a problem, not her. She sounds very grounded.
Bump!
I love the part of how she inspires her team.
That’s pure gold.
She embodies the American spirit of “Gitt’er done!”
Your comment about a stump was out of bounds and uncalled for.
Inspiration for all of us. Especially in that smile. Very heart-warming.
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