Be a Fan! Shining Moments at a Special Olympics Basketball Game
A couple of nights ago, I attended a Special Olympics basketball tournament. If you have never been to a Special Olympics event... please go!
It is so much fun!
I am!
I had taught many of the students who were competing that night. I really enjoyed talking to my kids before and after their games. One particular student asked me what I thought would happen if he took off the mascot's head and ran away. I told him that first I would fall down on the floor laughing... but then a lot of the little kids would be scared at the sight of a headless mascot. He decided it would be best not to scare the little ones. He's a good kid (and he's really funny).
If it were this mascot, I think he would have been saving little
kids from nightmares by removing the head.
Although it is true that I knew half of the kids on our teams (we have enough kids for three full squads) I am confident I would have had a great time even if I didn't know a single participant. The conversations with the players were all awesome (I made sure to talk to every kid I knew), but they were nothing compared to the games. The school really supports this particular tournament. Although, the four thousand seat bleachers aren't completely filled, more than 1500 people attend the games. That's a pretty big number for any non-varsity sport.
The 1500 who attend cheer so loud that you would think it was a fully packed house. The best part is, the stands are mostly filled by the players' classmates. That is what the players want to see. It's nice to have their mom, dad or history teacher cheering for them... but its spectacular to have their peers screaming their names. Oh and do the fans scream.
Every basket is cheered as if it were the shot to win the state championship. Students bring signs with the names and numbers of the players written on them. Entire varsity teams of other sports attend to support their classmates. The coolest kids in the school come. Why? Because these kids in the stands are a fan of their classmates. They are supporting the participants' daily courage and determination. Oh and because its so much fun!
One of my favorite things in the world is to watch someone have a "shining moment". Luckily as a teacher, I get to see many. Sometimes it's a kid answering a really tough math question in front of the whole class. Other times its a member of the marching band performing at halftime. It may be a member of the color guard executing a perfect twirl of her flag. Perhaps it's a student belting out the national anthem. For some it's hanging their award winning photograph next to the trophy case. Last week, I saw one girl raise herself out of her wheel chair and use a walker to make her way down the entire hall (she was so proud... exhausted but proud). I have witnessed a kid have his shining moment by standing up to a bully to protect a lonely boy at lunch... then he sat next to that boy and had a conversation. The boy never sits alone anymore.
It looks like this is a shining moment for both of these kids.
Maybe a shining moment can be helping someone to experience her moment.
That night, 36 kids had their shining moment. This moment happened before the clock even started. Each athlete's face filled with pride as his or her name was announced while 1500 people gave a genuine standing ovation. No-one cheered because they felt they had to. People cheered out of respect and recognition of all of the hard work these players put it. They also cheered to remind the competitors that they are supported and that they belong. I cheered because I like basketball and I was looking forward to seeing some cool plays.
During the game, a little girl in front of me asked her dad why they weren't calling traveling and other violations. Her father responded, "The rules are a little different." That's it. Perfect explanation. Different... not "worse". The little girl nodded and said, "I think the game is more fun this way." Then she went back to cheering.
I smiled.
I still am.
I didn't have time to read the post yesterday and I'm so glad I did now: I have shivers and tears in my eyes. Thank you so very much for sharing this magnificent piece of beauty with us.
It reminds me of one of the little Syrian refugee that is now coming to our school. She lost half of a leg after her house was targeted by a missile and landed on their place. Because of her, the school now owns 2 wheel chairs that we use in our gym and they happen to be sports-wheel chairs, the ones wheel-chair athletes use. Because I have had my own share of use of these, I have taught her and a few kids how to use them more efficiently and, now, the whole gr.1 class gets to use the chairs, one after another, the kids take their turn at trying it out during gym time and partake with our little refugee hero the same challenges she faces everyday.
Thanks again for sharing this article with us. All for one and one for all! Namaste :)
Wow! You should do a post about that story. It is way better than mine. I am so happy that the little girl found her way to caring people like you!!!! Namaste
Thanks for the kind words, there are so many posts to deal with, it is hard to know which one will have to come first!?! That is now one more to add up to the list! All for one and one for all!!! :) Namaste
Although I've always commanded full use of my legs I ended up playing wheelchair basketball when I was younger to fill a spot on a team. You are spot on in your representation of the port. These people are some of the hardest working athletes out there. Thank for doing what you do.
That is awesome that you were willing to do the to help the team have enough players!
Well it was a lot of fun, and something new and interesting. It also didn't hurt I had a crush on the girl who asked me. Lol
Smart man!
Seems really interesting, I would love to go to one of these competitions! Nice Post
Thanks! I assure you that you will smile.
Wow, love this! Thank you mate for sharing. As someone with a disability myself, it’s wonderful to read about your genuine love and encouragement for your students. Big-hearted is a great description. And thank you so much for your generosity. Really appreciated your act of generosity in sharing the Steem you won with me.
Thank you! My kids are awesome! It was my pleasure to share. It makes the game even more fun.
Awesome post and experience!
Thank you!
Thanks for the story @hanshotfirst
My pleasure!
You sound like a great teacher @hanshotfirst :)
Thanks! But think I may learn more from the kids.
And that's why you're a great teacher.
Salut j'espere que je ne vous derange pas trop car je vient juste de voir
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Je vous prie de me répondre.
Awesome post, I have yet to attend an event like this but really do love the interactions I have had with children with "disabilities". Hate saying describing it as "disabilities" simply because from my interaction with those individuals throughout my time in school made it clear that many of these people are some of the most genuine people I have ever talked to. There is something about the genuine compassion and bigheartedness they show that I have not seen in anyone else.
As long as you are talking about the people first I'd say you are being respectful. The disability doesn't fine them. Their actions do. "Bigheartedness " is a great word to describe what I am lucky enough to see every day. The world needs a lot more of it.