04/20/24
October 13, 2010
Wheelchair-Bound Player Scores Touchdown: Manila [Ark.] High School football player Dylan Galloway, who has cerebral palsy and is confined to an electric wheelchair, was allowed to score a touchdown against Rivercrest High last weekend. See the video. "He had been after me all year in the hall, at lunchtime and during the school day, and kept telling me he wanted to score a touchdown," said head coach Toby Doke.
I thought it sounded patronizing, but when I watched the video I changed my mind. Seeing both teams crowd around him and the cheerleaders as well was a great moment. It meant a lot to everybody involved.
posted by rcade at 09:41 AM on October 14, 2010
As a parent of a kid with a disability, I don't really care about the why of it... It was a wonderful thing for the coach, kids, and schools to have done, and I'm sure a special moment for him and his family.
Also, if you read the story, the kid had always been around the football team as a waterboy, etc... It's not like they just picked someone at random.
posted by LostInDaJungle at 02:36 PM on October 14, 2010
I guess the idea rolling around in my head is that people with disabilities can have real meaningful achievements on their own. They don't need anyone to give them their triumphs or special moments. It may not be on the football field as an athlete, but so what?
posted by bperk at 04:28 PM on October 14, 2010
They don't need anyone to give them their triumphs or special moments.
True.
But it made everyone a little happier. Nothing wrong with that.
It would have been more fun if he'd gotten to hit someone as he crossed the goal line, though.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:10 PM on October 14, 2010
I never had that many cheerleaders give me that much attention in high school. Good for him.
posted by justgary at 12:31 AM on October 15, 2010
I generally like these kind of stories, but this one seems to be missing something. Usually, it is someone who has been part of the team who had some misfortune or something. This one seems to be a gift to a kid because he loves football and has a disability. I can't pinpoint why I don't find this one to be a great moment in sports.