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Dantheman


Location: Orange County, N.Y.
Joined: Jan 21, 2003
Points: 561

Great Story to Share...
Original Message   Jun 11, 2005 5:54 pm


Quote:

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...




...and now the rest of the story
Replies: 1 - 13 of 13View as Outline
robmints


Joined: May 13, 2003
Points: 4691

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #1   Jun 11, 2005 11:02 pm
That hit the spot Dan.
Thanks.
Paula


May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
enough trials to make you strong,
enough sorrow to keep you human and
enough hope to make you happy.


Joined: Apr 30, 2004
Points: 785

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #2   Jun 11, 2005 11:31 pm
Great story Dan!

Reminds you that you can do anything you want to do. 

Paula

ChrisS


Appreciate what you have already been blessed with.


Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 2793

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #3   Jun 12, 2005 11:25 am
Try to read that and not have your eyes start to water.......

Very nice Dan.....

C

This message was modified Jun 12, 2005 by ChrisS


Honda 928TA, Ariens 924 STE, Toro single stage S-620, 95 Jeep Wrangler with a 6 foot Fisher Plow, many shovels, one 14 year old boy.  Craftsman 01 1000 LTX pimp Gold LT 20hp Briggs OHV V-twin.  Tough as it is ugly.
Highwind


Despite the high cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular.

Joined: Jan 13, 2004
Points: 985

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #4   Jun 12, 2005 12:01 pm
ChrisS wrote:
Try to read that and not have your eyes start to water.......

Very nice Dan.....

C

..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.

Honda stable: HS 724 snowblower;  HRS216 lawnmower; BF2 UWWW; 5 HP, 2200 psi/2.9 GPM pressure washer.

Electric: BV2500 B&D Leaf Hog/snow duster; old 12" Weedeater.

Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #5   Jun 12, 2005 12:35 pm
Vangellis


Dream more easy in the chair that really fits you.

Location: Factoryville, PA. (NE PA)
Joined: Oct 1, 2003
Points: 373

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #6   Jun 12, 2005 1:36 pm
ChrisS wrote:
Try to read that and not have your eyes start to water.......

Very nice Dan.....

C



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

Thanks Dan. 

                                                                   Kevin


Simplicity Conquest
AJace


I have an Ariens 926 Pro because I like Orange



Location: Near Gettysburg
Joined:
Points: 969

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #7   Jun 12, 2005 10:15 pm
That's what I call great commitment. 

Ariens 926 DLE Professional; Toro S200; Craftsman LT1000, Echo ES-230;

Vangellis


Dream more easy in the chair that really fits you.

Location: Factoryville, PA. (NE PA)
Joined: Oct 1, 2003
Points: 373

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #8   Jun 12, 2005 11:58 pm
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
This message was modified Jun 12, 2005 by Vangellis



Simplicity Conquest
Bill_D


Nice day for a mow!!

Location: Chicago
Joined: Dec 6, 2002
Points: 920

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #9   Jun 13, 2005 12:00 am
Good stuff!!!
MissSnowshoveler


If you don't have free speech, what do you have?

Location: NS
Joined: Feb 5, 2005
Points: 706

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #10   Jun 13, 2005 7:54 am
 - What an awesome story to start the day - especially a Monday!!!!!

Sherri

If you don't have free speech, what do you have?
Dantheman


Location: Orange County, N.Y.
Joined: Jan 21, 2003
Points: 561

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #11   Jun 13, 2005 11:53 am
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

Walt


Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. -T. Roosevelt

Location: Chester County, PA
Joined: Dec 31, 2004
Points: 148

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #12   Jun 13, 2005 2:16 pm
Thanks Dan.

Walt

AJace


I have an Ariens 926 Pro because I like Orange



Location: Near Gettysburg
Joined:
Points: 969

Re: Great Story to Share...
Reply #13   Jun 13, 2005 10:55 pm
I enjoy the stories people post here and enjoy coming here a one stop place to get the know how. 

Ariens 926 DLE Professional; Toro S200; Craftsman LT1000, Echo ES-230;

Replies: 1 - 13 of 13View as Outline
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