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One Night Changes a Life, and Calif. Town
By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Writer Fri Jun 10, 3:40 PM ET

CLOVIS, Calif. - The chant began late in the fourth quarter in the basketball gym at Clovis East High. The students started it first, clapping their hands in unison and pounding the bleachers with their feet. It didn't take long for the parents to pick it up, too. The noise grew until the whole gym seemed to shake. "We want Ryno. We want Ryno."

Pacing the sideline, coach Tim Amundsen felt himself getting goose bumps. Less than 4 minutes remained in the game, and Clovis East was winning comfortably over rival Buchanan High. Now Amundsen had a decision to make.

It was senior night, the last time Ryan Belflower would wear his home uniform. Everyone in the gym knew his story.

Ryan was a special education student who would do anything to fit in and worked tirelessly to make that happen. His basketball career began as a ninth grader passing out $#%* to the girls' team. Then he hooked on with the boys' team, getting there every morning at 6:30, helping out in drills, running the practice clock and cleaning up afterward.

Now, he sat proudly on the sideline in his own white No. 12 uniform.

The crowd wanted him in the game. Amundsen wanted him in, too. But he was also afraid the slightly built 18-year-old might get hurt.

Amundsen considered all this as he walked toward Ryan and patted him on the shoulder. Off came the warmup jacket, the buzzer blew and Ryan kind of half hopped, half ran onto the court, his left leg trailing slightly at an odd angle.

The noise was deafening as he ran out on the court.

In the stands, Justin Belflower was near tears. A few years earlier, he was a jock at Clovis East, one of those big men on campus. He knew how hard his kid brother had worked for this moment.

"If you had said four years ago he'd play in a varsity basketball game, I'd say stop lying because it will never happen," Justin said.

On this afternoon in February, it did.

And Clovis East would never be the same...

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...and now the rest of the story

ChrisS wrote:

..and I thought it was the onions I hadn't started to chop that were affecting my eyes.

Nice story Dan. Very touching. That young man sure has a terrific work ethic. That should stand him well through life. He'd be the type who you'd want to hire for his reliability and dedication to the task.

ChrisS wrote:

Guess I'm not the only softee on here.  LOL

Thanks Dan. 

                                                                   Kevin

That's what I call great commitment. 

This story appeared in our local Sunday paper today. As soon as I saw the picture I told my wife she had to read it and that I had already read it from this site. I thought she was going to start crying and told me she had already read it earlier. Then she was puzzled that I had read it here. What, we can't get a little Culture once in a while.  LOL

Good stuff!!!

 - What an awesome story to start the day - especially a Monday!!!!!

Sherri

Culture...Me??? Usuallly if I'm involved it's sub-culture....

I read it on 24 Hour Campfire and was moved...and I know many of you guys and gals appreciate inspirational stories so ...I'm glad you all enjoyed it.

                                                                   Dan

Thanks Dan.

Walt

I enjoy the stories people post here and enjoy coming here a one stop place to get the know how.