J-Mac a Hoop Dream

Sports has always been, how could I say his equalizer? He's like, just like any of the other kids out there. It's not a really a big deal at all. I'm just. I'm just normal like other people is the way I am. At 5 foot 6, Jay Mac didn't make the junior varsity basketball team at his high school. Greece, Athena, near Rochester, New York. Instead, he became team manager, a role he now has for the varsity, as a senior. In the last three years, in his white shirt and black tie. He's missed only one game. I set up the clock and get the water to gain and be enthusiastic. As this season was wrapping up, coach Johnson approached Jason with an idea about the Trojans final home game of the season. And I said, you know, I'm really going to look to try to get you in the game, but you remember I can't promise you that and you say, okay, coach. February 15th, Greece, Athena against Spencer port. Senior night. 

With word out that Jason might play, the student section printed signs of J max face, just in case. And with four 19 left in the game, with a Trojans up by 20, coach called down to the end of the bench for number 52. I just kind of turned and pointed them in, he almost ran right on the court. He was so excited. Hey, Jay, you gotta check in. So it's a buzzer. And he doesn't go anywhere. It's like now you go on the court, you know? He was so, he was so caught up in the moment. He came into the game, they all stood up and they put those signs, you know, the pictures of him up, and I got really emotional. And I sat down and started crying. With three 46 left, Jason got the ball. When he missed that first three, I was like, oh, and then air ball and I was like, man, I really just want to see him score one time. I put my head in my hands. Dear God, please. Just get him a basket. Then, with three 12 left, another chance. That third trip down the court. Magic. This is a serving in my first shot and kept shooting, and I was just hot as a pistol. Shot? After shot. After shot. Kept going in. 

The basket was like a big old Jewish bucket. And I was shooting free throws. This is a big old huge bucket that's like huge. You know, I was like, oh my God, is this really happening? He has more than more points than me. So he's got bragging rights over me. He was unstoppable for that moment in time. He was unstoppable. He comes down the court right at the end would like three seconds left and he hits this one that's probably like an MBA three. As soon as the gun ended, they stormed the court. I couldn't just go dream anything like that. It felt like we weren't championship. Everyone was just so happy for me. In that four minutes 19 seconds, Jason was 7 for 13, 6 of ten from three point range, 20 points in all. In the end, Jason mcelwain was the game's high scorer. Truly the most incredible moment I've ever had in coaching I was so touched. 

And it was just so special to me that a young man his dream came true, you know? And that I could help that exhaustion. What we all want in life is a shot. Took his. And now, it's a story we can all tell. If it sounds like a story for Hollywood, you'd be right. Mikael Wayne and his parents have heard from about 25 movie production companies ranging from Walt Disney Company, ESPN's parent company to Warner Brothers to independent filmmakers. As for Greece, Athena, the story doesn't end. Tonight, the team wins its semifinal sectional game. Jay Mack with him all the way back in that white shirt and black tie handing out water bottles, encouragement, and of course, inspiration.