Down Syndrome Boy's 60-Yard Touchdown Run an Internet Hit

LifeSiteNews ^ | 9/21/09 | Thaddeus M. Baklinski

[pesto]

Disgusting comments. But great video

[Richard Kimball]

Yeah, I saw post #5 was pulled and wondered how anyone could say anything bad about that, then I read the youtube comments.

[Randy Larsen]

I usually try to make fools of people like them but I think they already did a better job of it than I could ever hope to do.

[wagglebee]

Sometimes just letting everyone see what an ass a person is does the trick.

[Salvation]

Thanks, wagglebee, I just sent this wonderful story to my Down Syndrome grandson’s parents.

What a winner!

[wagglebee]

I knew you would enjoy it!

[mountainbunny]

These kids has something to really be proud of.

So do their parents. All of the kids involved show that they understand the meaning of "sportsmanship".

[mlizzy]

Boy, I hate to be a wet blanket, but I don’t agree with what the coach came up with. I would have let the kid play, and instructed he receive the pass, but then let him take his tackle like the rest of ‘em remembering to tell him to really hang on to the ball. Then at the end of the game, the team’s players could all of given him a huge pat on the back saying they know exactly how he feels (it was 46-0!) ... I think he would have felt pretty good about that hobbling back to the bench.

[PERKY2004]

Thanks for posting that!

[blackminorca]

Sorry - but that is not football. There are lots of ways to show love but breaking the rules is not one of them.

[JMJJR]

Thanks for posting.

Growing up in Avon, NY we had a guy with Downs Syndrome, Drew Moran

I don't know how old he was back then, but he suited up for every game I can remember, he started before I started HS and continued well after I left.

The coaches had assigned him (allowed him ?) a bunch of jobs, being part of the team was the most important thing in his life. I'd forgotten all that, till I read the post. Thanks !

[MrDem]

Sounds like WaterBoy in real life.

[buschbaby]

"They are the only team in the country that uses this name."

Wow! I've live near Maryville and St. Joseph all my life and had no idea that Spoofhound was a unique name.

I run our football booster club, every week we serve the team a meal. My best volunteers are a family with a son who is DS. Pierce is the most loyal fan to our football team. Win or lose he is just happy to see them play and get to spend time with them each week. I'm sending this video to his mom to make sure she sees it, but I suspect she knows all about it. The families with Down children are a very close knit group in our area.

[danamco]

With your own situation taking into account it is surprising you don’t have just a little of compassion!!!

[Libloather]

There are lots of ways to show love but breaking the rules is not one of them.

Which rules were broken?

[rawhide]

[cpforlife.org]

Pro-Life PING

Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

"It is the duty of every patriot to protect his country from its government"
--Thomas Paine

[Kimberly GG]

My goodness. You have no idea of the depth of my compassion. My compassion IS for Matt. Just because he’s disabled doesn’t mean he would appreciate the dishonesty, should he discover (and no doubt, he can read) his achievement was not of his own making. As someone who IS disabled, it irks me to no end to be treated that way, as if my disability makes me stupid.
Oh well, nevermind, I can see from the other posts most just don’t understand.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Ziesel carried the ball for a 60-yard touchdown escorted into the end zone by his teammates who wrapped him in hugs following the score.

The crowd clapped and cheered their approval, and after the game, Matt Ziesel enthused, "I scored a touchdown! 60 yards, I go for touchdown for us!"

Gosh, stories like these always bring tears to my eyes.

Thanks for sharing this heartwarming story.

[married21]

My daughter, who does not have any disability other than a fear/dislike of organized sports, had a moment like this a couple of years ago in fourth grade p/e. She finally got to score at dodgeball to day the teacher deliberately started an argument with the person who should have thrown her out, in order to give her time to run. She just beamed when she got home, and later I heard about how her big moment happened from the teacher. I normally would say that sticking to the rules is the way to go and that people should earn their points, but I’m really glad the teacher did what he did. With a little confidence gained from that experience, she played a bit better and had a better attitude about p/e after that.