Posted by Rich DeLeo
on 12/22/2003, 10:54 am
Board Administrator
I just saw a great football story on ESPN. No, it wasn't about the high priced jerks that play in the NFL, nor was it about a crybaby running back at Ohio State University, not even a great high school athlete. It was about a middle school player named E.J.Greczyk. E.J. is in the 8th grade at Somers Middle School, and E.J. has Downs Syndrome. All he ever wanted to do was play football, but his mother was reluctant, fearing for his safety. A natural concern that the coaching staff took into consideration. The team only played 4 games this year, but E.J. not only was given permission to play by his parents, but the coaches took matters one step further. E.J. played in all of the games, and scored 3 touchdowns. Of course, the coaches got together and set up these particular plays, but they looked real enough. Opposing players made attempts to tackle E.J., but they were "unsuccessful". The point of the story is that all kids should be afforded the chance to play sports, if they can stand the rigors of practice, and are in no danger of getting injured. The coaches see to that. This was not a story of a kid just wanting to play football, but a kid with a disability wanting to play football, and HAVING FUN while doing it. That report should be shown to all high school, college and even pro teams to get the point across that this is nothing more than a game, played by most for fun, and by a few for pay and profit. Not everybody has the God given ability to play sports, but to a kid like E.J., just putting on the uniform is a victory. He doesn't care about wins and losses, all he wants to do is put on that uniform and go out onto the field and have some fun, and get dirty. His teammates are appreciative of his efforts and go to great lengths to protect him. His brother is very happy for E.J. and wants him to continue to play football next year when he attends Somers High School. This story should be a reminder to all, myself included, that these are nothing more than games, and the outcome doesn't change our lives one bit. If the big boys in the NFL and the NCAA could see this story, it hopefully will make them thank their maker for the ability to play the game at the highest level, and appreciate the efforts of kids like E.J. Greczyk, who will NEVER have the opportunity to make a living playing football.
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