CBS Has To Play It Again -- Jason McElwain

The other night CBS featured the basketball story of Jason McElwain, a senior at Greece Athena High School near Rochester, N.Y. It initially caught my attention because former Syracuse University standout John Wallace went to high school there too.

The story CBS told was one of the most powerful that I've ever seen. McElwain is autistic and was the manager of the varsity basketball team. Because of his dedication and enthusiasm, the coach, Jim Johnson, let him suit up for the game. With four minutes left in the game, Johnson put him in. McElwain not only played, but connected on six three pointers and another basket to score 20 points! The packed high school gym grew in intensity with each basket and flooded the court when McElwain connected on a buzzer beater.

One of the best parts of the piece was McElwain's explanation. He said quite simply, "I was hotter than a pistol."

The story received so much follow-up attention that CBS ran it again a second time. The footage is inspiring, packed with emotion, and you have to see it in order to appreciate it.

The story, and its response, is a testament to the belief that people are truly interested in positive news too.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/23/earlyshow/main1339324.shtml