Jason McElwain (aka “J-mac”) an autistic boy going to school at Rochester, New York’s, Greece Athena High School was the manager of the basketball team in 2006. As manager his main responsibilities were motivating the players, handing out water, and attending to the needs of the team. On February 16, 2006 during a division title game against Spencerport High School, things changed a little bit. Jason got to suit up for the game, wearing #52. Originally the plan was to let Jason suit up and feel what it was like to wear the uniform and be a part of the line-up. After Greece Athena took a substantial lead, coach Jim Johnson signaled to Jason to get into the game with 4 minutes left. The rest, as they say, was history. Jason went on to score 20 points in 4 minutes, sinking 6 three pointers and one 2 pointer. Jason’s last three pointer was a buzzer beater that turned the crowd into a frenzy.

Jason’s efforts over the years as the teams manager earned him a spot in the game, his efforts in that game earned him a spot in history. He gained national recognition and become an local celebrity. During the 2006 Espy awards, Jason was nominated for and won the Espy for Best Moment in Sports, beating out Kobe Bryant’s 81 point game. Jason also got to meet President Bush in March of 2006, who later told Jason he wept upon seeing the video of his time in the game.

Jason’s story shows us all that when we are given the chance to shine, we should take the moment for all it is worth.

Anthony Webb, aka Spud Webb, is a retired NBA point guard and the third shortest player to ever play in the NBA. Although Spud only measured in at 5′7″ in 1986, that did not stop him from competing in the slam dunk competition that year. One of Spud’s fellow participants was teammate and former slam dunk champion Dominique Wilkins. Dominique Wilkins measured in at 6′8″, a full 1 foot and 1 inch taller than Spud. Another aspect of this story is the rim height. In the NBA the rim height is 10 feet, just short of double Spud Webb’s height. All of these factors did not deter Spud and his reported 42″ vertical leap from doing the unthinkable and going on to become the slam dunk champion of 1986.

If that were not impressive enough, in 2006 Spud Webb went on to train Nate Robinson, who measures 5′9″ (just 2 inches taller than Spud) for the slam dunk competition that year. Under Spud Webb’s tutelage, Nate Robinson went on to win the slam dunk competition in 2006. One of Nate’s highest scoring dunks came when Spud Webb, standing on the court in the paint, served up the ball to Nate. Nate proceeded to jump over and clear Spud just before completing the dunk.

This certainly proves that if one man (woman too!) can do it, so can another. Especially if the first man to do it teaches the second!