Posted on 11/07/2011 9:19:06 AM PST by MissEdie
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Sports are defined by moments. On Friday, something very special happened in a South Carolina high school football playoff game, but it wasn't a game-winning play or a standout performance, it was a gesture of pure sportsmanship.
The Myrtle Beach Seahawks were leading Hilton Head 64-10 late in the fourth quarter with just a few seconds on the clock. On Hilton Head's roster is a young man with Down's Syndrome by the name of Chip Mullen.
With the game well in hand, Myrtle Beach Head Coach Mickey Wilson gave a signal to the Hilton Head sideline that it was time to allow Chip the chance to score. Mullen ran 75 yards for a touchdown as time expired. As Mullen reached the end zone, his own team and the Seahawks met him there in celebration.
Myrtle Beach was nationally ranked as they began regional play this season, but the defining moment of their season might just be how they gave Chip the chance to do something that he, and football fans all over the state, will remember forever.
Myrtle Beach hosts Airport Friday night in the next round of the playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Good to see not all sports have given into thuggary.
Not the first time..something like this has happened!!
Carrying a football into the end zone? I guess I'll never understand this, no matter how many times I read stories like this.
You know what would REALLY be memorable? If the guy was handed the ball, looked around, realized what was happening, and handed the ball back. That would bring tears to MY eyes.
Don't get me wrong -- I don't mind if they decide to stop playing football, and do some performance instead. I just don't see how it is meaningful to a person to be given something.
I've played softball games where we were getting trounced, and the other team thought they'd do something nice for us. One time, I went right to their bench, and told them they were doing nobody any good by handing us stuff -- we were there to play a game, not be treated like beggars looking for handouts.
On a more substantive note -- There are probably kids at the school that also were not "good enough" to play the game and win, but actually had some skills. They would probably love to be given ONE chance to go out on the field and prove they could actually accomplish something. But they don't have Down's Syndrome. How do we choose which unskilled kids get the opportunity (not talking about being handed a freebie -- again, I don't think anybody who is self-aware would get any pleasure from such an act).
Ping!
I agree with you, and it’s why I really don’t get the Special Olympics. Don’t those who are least handicapped always “win”? What are the criteria for qualifying for the Special Olympics? It really doesn’t make sense.
I would think the members of the losing team would feel like little kids being patted on the head by a bigger, stronger brother when the winning team allowed them this one TD after smashing them the rest of the game.
Thanks for posting! I am sure this will be something that this young man remembers all his life.
Aw, go kick a puppy or something...
You are a hardcore grump. :o)
Survival of the fittest down to the least of us, huh.
The kid with DS likely will not develop to remember it was “given” to him or understand the ramifications, significance or lack there of of the event. More to the point, there was likely more of a lesson gained by the players and fans than there was for the one time, one play event for the child with DS. If you can move a small populace to grace, awareness and compassion with one single act of kindness, I believe Jesus would be proud. In this way, the child with DS was more of an instrument, used, to touch the hearts of thousands. Think of the Down Syndrome child as.... well... an actual living breathing Angel of God.
That said, Darwin would role his eyes and be condescending, as he would see no use in a child with DS.
Do either of you (Pining and Charles) have high school aged kids? If you do and you are not aware of how the kids think about these things you are missing something. Just look at the commercial that runs periodically about the Down’s girl who gets elected homecoming queen. Today’s kids are just a lot more inclusive about these things and tries to get involved in these situations.
It’s just part of how they think today. Its wonderful how much kids will try to give these ‘gifts’ when they can, and believe me it is a gift.
Neat story. There was a similar case in southern Indiana about a year ago.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2611329/posts
I guess being a realist is akin to animal cruelty.
Glad I am not you.
For what it’s worth getting trounced 64-10 tells me the rest of the guys on the team don’t play much better than Chip.
Certainly it would mean to you you are too good to accept a break, But Chip has Downes Syndrom, and he probably didn’t realise they were giving him anything.It made his day, and didn’t cost a dime.
Some time in life, most all of us get a gift, be gracious enough to accept the generosity of one who means well.The only thing you did when you exorted the other team for being nice was to have them say “Boy, that guy is a real asshole”.
I’m curious as to how this young man, and others with disabilities, are treated the other 179 days of the school year when they are not permitted to run 75 yards unmolested to the endzone? If they are given the same treatment all school year long, that would bring tears to MY eyes.
I disagree regarding the special olympics. The Special Olympians are kids who do want to compete, but through no fault of their own they are unable to participate with the non-handicapped people.
Special Olympics provides them a forum with others who are similarly challenged. Yes, it’s not purely “fair” because every handicap is different and you can’t just equalize them. But at least it’s a second shot at being able to compete. They really do compete, and the winners can be proud of their accomplishments, because they are accomplishments.
There is no accomplishment in knowing how to carry a ball without dropping it, and jog to the correct end zone while people cheer you on.
There was one just last week here about a boy in a wheelchair scoring. They are nice stories that do no harm. Makes us see we are not that same as other mammals.
I'm wondering if Venturer has spent any time around students (children) with disabilities. From the comment it appears Venturer has the opinion that they are all the same.
Beside the definition of “class” in the dictionary should be a picture of the Myrtle Beach football team and coach.
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