SPORTS N' SHIT: "Hot as a pistol"

I saw an unbelievable moment in sports today... one worth talkin' about, that's for sure... Sports geek that I am, I have the luxury of listening to the radio at work, and sports talk is the order of the day - every day. Today, the chatter was all about this autistic high school kid named Jason who went beserk lofting up 3-pointers during his one and only appearance in a HS basketball game...

The footage (just shown on CBS' Nightly News) apparently ran originally sometime in the last week, but because of the overwhelming response, they re-aired it tonight... and man, is it a good show...

The student body up in the bleachers had all these pin-up sticks Jason's mug on it for the last game of the year. It was the coach who, in reward for his dedication to the team as their manager over the years, decided to let Jason 'suit up' for the final game and sit on the bench as a member of the team.

And that's where this footage they show comes in. Late in the game, and on the losing end of a blowout, the coach stands up, turns and unexpectedly points towards Jason to enter the game... and the place goes wild. It was evident the last possessions were designed for one purpose, get Jason the ball and hope he sinks a shot before time runs out...

1st shot - airball

2nd - misses an off balance hook shot

3rd - blows a lay up...

Then, as Jason himself says, he became "hot as a pistol"

And he just starts draining these ridiculous shots. 3 pointers, man! Not cheesy lay-ups with no defenders around... The crowd just goes bananas... it hard not to watch without a tear wellin' up...

He ends up hitting his last 7 shots (including (6) 3-pointers), the last at the buzzer, for a total of 20 points in the last 4:30.... Did I mention the kid's autistic... just unbelievable.... Then, just in case you weren't choked up enough already, the crowd rushes the floor, picks Jason up and he's carried off the court by the delirious student body with his hands in the air triumphantly... The 3 minute piece shows everything that's right with sports. Unfortunately high school home videos like this is where you're most likely to find them in this day and age - but I wouldn't ruin a great story by including the marketing-obsessed professional sports giants and how much they get on my nerves....

Jason spent years giving the team water, towels and enthusiasm... but words can't describe what he gave his teammates that night... It's just a wonderful story...

Last I heard, CBS will also re-air this piece on Sunday Afternoon (Feb 26) during halftime of the Michigan State college hoop game (... whenever that is). So watch it, tape it, TiVo.... whateva ya gotta do, just make sure you see it...

God I love sports...

BACHELOR MOMENT: ...alright Cupid, I'm sorry... I've cooled off...

Ah... Valentine's Day wasn't that bad this year. It's less annoying each post-divorce year, so that's kinda a good thing, right? I just start thinking too damn much on this day...

Talk about a bias holiday. What are all us loser ass single people s'pose to do on this day? Ah well, the Trifecta of Miserable Holidays is now over. I gave my thanks, got the usual bachelor standards for Christmas and got stood up for a Valentine's Day lunch g to round it out. Guess it could be worse...

That damn divorce and all it's lessons. I'm almost tired of them. I mean, I value them immensely, but sometimes I wish I could just be naive and happy and stupid again. It just seemed less complicated. I guess I just need a woman... I mean a good woman... who makes me get all giddy and stupid... and not even care how dorky I may act because of it. I need someone to spark my excitement cuz ...man, am I gettin' bored.

Ya know, about 10 years ago I was living in a bachelor pad with 2 of my boys when very suddenly and unexpectedly, I fell hard for this woman. And while I was smack-dab in the middle of those first butterfly days, I was home alone one afternoon and had the tunes blaring. I believe the song was a dance version of "Sexual Healing"... ya know, the one with the reggae skattin'... Anyway, not the most masculine song for the bachelor pad, but I was dancing on the couch regardless, turnin' the mutha OUT, I tell ya!

I was in such a great mood that when my roommate Jay came home, I turned around admist some sad white man move I probably made up on the fly - he was standing in the doorway saying "Dude.... what the hell are you doin?" Ha, if that happened today, I'd probably freeze in humiliation. But that day, all I could say was:

"Fuck it man, I'm in love!!"... with the biggest smile on my face. I might have even kept dancing there a little bit if I remember correctly. It was such a carefree, confident and genuinely happy moment.

That ain't too much to hope for, is it??