Good Guys Win Every Once in a While

[green1]

“Matt Ziesel, who has Down syndrome, is a freshman at Benton High School in St. Joseph, Mo. Despite his disability he suits up for every football game and cheers on his teammates from the sidelines.”



When it became apparent that the Benton team would lose, Benton coach Dan McCamy approached the other team with a proposition: Let Matt score a touchdown.

Both teams were enthusiastic about the idea; the winning team gave up its shut-out and freshman Matt Ziesel scored a 60-yard touchdown to a cheering, applauding crowd.

In a note on YouTube, Matt’s family writes:

Matt is a special athlete who has Down Syndrome. He loves football and has grown up in an environment surrounded by sports. His father is a coach/ athletic director, and all his siblings play sports. He grew up at athletic events, and has always been a cheerleader. He registered as a freshman at Benton High School -Saint Joseph, MO this year, and told his mother and father he wanted to play football. The team takes good care of looking after Matt, and he is still the cheerleader on the sidelines. He puts his pads and helmet on, stands next to Coach McCamy and waits for his turn to play. Over and over during the course of the game Matt will say, “Coach McCamy, I am ready! I am ready Coach!” On this Monday night coach gave him a chance.

[Bicycle Bill]

I've seen this before. It's heartwarming, and a feel-good moment — much like the Arkansas HS player who took a knee at the 5 rather than run up the score against an opponent — but let's remember one thing: Down's Syndrome kids (and other handicapped kids) aren't necessarily stupid. While he may have been caught up in the moment, now that all the hubbub has been made of it I wonder if he's already figured out that it was a setup and a gift.......

Worse yet would be if he *DOES* think he actually made an honest, legitimate touchdown, only to see the video a few years from now and then come to realize that it was a walk-in.

-"BB"-

[ph4ever]

I'm sorry Bill, but instead of taking a negative glass half empty attitude on this why can't you see the good?

Both coaches taught their teams a valuable lesson - sportsmanship. For every one decent good coach like these two, coach Dan McCamy and David McEnaney, there are a lot more that only care about how many wins they have. Let's face it the majority of kids in team sports will never make pro; or possibly even pursue athletics once they finish high school. The most imporntant things a good coach can teach his players are life lessons that they can use everywhere. The opposing team jumped on board for this. This not only has affected Matt's life in a positive manner but years down the road this will also affect everyone involved in the moment in a positive manner.

Instead of putting a damper on someone's "moment" by dwelling on the negative, try the positive.

[C-Dawg]

I'm sorry Bill, but instead of taking a negative glass half empty attitude on this why can't you see the good?

Both coaches taught their teams a valuable lesson - sportsmanship. For every one decent good coach like these two, coach Dan McCamy and David McEnaney, there are a lot more that only care about how many wins they have. Let's face it the majority of kids in team sports will never make pro; or possibly even pursue athletics once they finish high school. The most imporntant things a good coach can teach his players are life lessons that they can use everywhere. The opposing team jumped on board for this. This not only has affected Matt's life in a positive manner but years down the road this will also affect everyone involved in the moment in a positive manner.

Instead of putting a damper on someone's "moment" by dwelling on the negative, try the positive.

I have to agree

[Bicycle Bill]

I'm sorry Bill, but instead of taking a negative glass half empty attitude on this why can't you see the good?

Both coaches taught their teams a valuable lesson - sportsmanship. For every one decent good coach like these two, coach Dan McCamy and David McEnaney, there are a lot more that only care about how many wins they have. Let's face it the majority of kids in team sports will never make pro; or possibly even pursue athletics once they finish high school. The most important things a good coach can teach his players are life lessons that they can use everywhere. The opposing team jumped on board for this. This not only has affected Matt's life in a positive manner but years down the road this will also affect everyone involved in the moment in a positive manner.

Instead of putting a damper on someone's "moment" by dwelling on the negative, try the positive.

I have to agree

Oh, I do see the good. My issue, which probably could have been better put, was more about whether this was being blown out of all proportion.

If they had let the kid run for the TD, and then let it drop; fine. Benchwarmers get put into games that are out of reach every Friday night all across the country; some of them make great plays (or the hapless underdogs finally manage a score against the scrubs) but they don't become the subject of viral Youtube videos. Some things are not meant to be a big deal, and for a dambed good reason. This, in my mind, was one of them.

My statement about Down's/other mentally challenged kids not necessarily being stupid still stands, by the way. Unless they've interacted with them, most people have no idea how perceptive they can be.

-"BB"-

[ph4ever]

I'm sorry Bill, but instead of taking a negative glass half empty attitude on this why can't you see the good?

Both coaches taught their teams a valuable lesson - sportsmanship. For every one decent good coach like these two, coach Dan McCamy and David McEnaney, there are a lot more that only care about how many wins they have. Let's face it the majority of kids in team sports will never make pro; or possibly even pursue athletics once they finish high school. The most important things a good coach can teach his players are life lessons that they can use everywhere. The opposing team jumped on board for this. This not only has affected Matt's life in a positive manner but years down the road this will also affect everyone involved in the moment in a positive manner.

Instead of putting a damper on someone's "moment" by dwelling on the negative, try the positive.

I have to agree

Oh, I do see the good. My issue, which probably could have been better put, was more about whether this was being blown out of all proportion.

If they had let the kid run for the TD, and then let it drop; fine. Benchwarmers get put into games that are out of reach every Friday night all across the country; some of them make great plays (or the hapless underdogs finally manage a score against the scrubs) but they don't become the subject of viral Youtube videos. Some things are not meant to be a big deal, and for a dambed good reason. This, in my mind, was one of them.

My statement about Down's/other mentally challenged kids not necessarily being stupid still stands, by the way. Unless they've interacted with them, most people have no idea how perceptive they can be.

-"BB"-

Do you even know WHY this was on youtube originally? It was so that his mother who could not make the game see the TD run. It's not as if they did this to pat themselves on the back. This shows everything that is right and your attitude is still so freaking wrong it's sickening.

[Joetown Parrothead]

This is my hometown, my foster daughter is a Senior at Benton High School... The Ziesel folks are just great people, and here in Joetown we are so proud of what all these kids did that night... It still show's that, your right "Good Guy's Win every once in awhile...

It might give Matt a smile the rest of his life, and that is a great thing. This kid was never going to be able to play football in his life because of his condition. For people to take that away from him is insane. Can't we just have one feel good story that doesn't have to be challenged. Do you really think he is going to go through the rest of his life thinking everything will be handed to him because he got to score a touchdown?

I will tell Coach about this link. THANK YOU ALL from St. Joseph Missouri


A great link to help out.......http://www.kansasmonks.org/?p=598

[Snowparrot]

Chill, pholks.
I don't see Chris's attitude as "sickening"! just a bit negative, but quite realistic.
Please don't use such loaded words on each other, phriends!

[ph4ever]

Chill, pholks.
I don't see Chris's attitude as "sickening"! just a bit negative, but quite realistic.
Please don't use such loaded words on each other, phriends!

I'm sorry but sickening was about as light a word I could use to completely express my feelings about this. If it doesn't meet with your approval I'm sorry about that too.

It's clearly obvious that 2 sets of high school students realized the importance of this event - too bad some of the adults here on this board can't find a good positive thing to say about it. I bet y'all would poop bricks if you found out that a NCAA team's equipment room is named after a person that had Down's.

[Bicycle Bill]

Chill, pholks.
I don't see Chris's attitude as "sickening"! just a bit negative, but quite realistic.
Please don't use such loaded words on each other, phriends!

I think it was me that ph4ever was unloading on, not Chris.

-"BB"-

[ph4ever]

Chill, pholks.
I don't see Chris's attitude as "sickening"! just a bit negative, but quite realistic.
Please don't use such loaded words on each other, phriends!

I think it was me that ph4ever was unloading on, not Chris.

-"BB"-

Hun if expressing my feelings to you about something that I strongly feel is unloading you should get a glimpse of me really unloading on someone.

[Joetown Parrothead]

Chill, pholks.
I don't see Chris's attitude as "sickening"! just a bit negative, but quite realistic.
Please don't use such loaded words on each other, phriends!

I think it was me that ph4ever was unloading on, not Chris.

-"BB"-

Hun if expressing my feelings to you about something that I strongly feel is unloading you should get a glimpse of me really unloading on someone.

[docandjeanie]

Here, here to the coaches, players and all involved. My 1 1/2 nephew has down syndrome and I hope that someday he can have a special moment too

[Elrod]

Matt shows up for every practice and game and is ready to play when called upon. I coached football for three years. That's what you hope for from every player.

...and Matt now has one more career touchdown than I do. Linemen don't score a lot of touchdowns.

Good job Matt!

[C-Dawg]

Matt shows up for every practice and game and is ready to play when called upon. I coached football for three years. That's what you hope for from every player.

...and Matt now has one more career touchdown than I do. Linemen don't score a lot of touchdowns.

Good job Matt!

As a former High School lineman, and Pop Warner Football coach, I agree with you 100%

[MammaBear]

What a wonderful thing for both teams to do!!

When my son was in 7th grade and running track, I was lucky enough to be able to attend a meet at the school. My focus was on my son who had just run when I heard loud cheers coming from my left.

The entire middle school team, both boys and girls, were lining the inside of the track cheering for "D" who is a special needs kid. The coach was in front of this boy running backwards saying "come on D, Come on D." When this child crossed the finish line, the entire crowd including the other team and their parents were all cheering. The cheering lasting quite a bit longer than it would normally. To this day, my eyes still well up when I tell this story. I was so proud of that coach, all the kids and parents.

Just my little "good guys win" story!