Basketball

Tonight was the game between the Lions Club and the JBSRA (Special Rec) kids.  They do this every year.  The Lions Club is a big contributor to Special Needs.  The guys show up and play a game against our Jr and Sr team and then they feed everyone.  :-)  

The game began with one of the Lion's members singing the National Anthem.  About half way through one of the guys from the Sr team went and stood by the Lion's member that was singing and put his arm around him as he finished the song.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. 

The game is always a lot of fun because the older Special Needs "kids" (a lot are adults) help the younger ones and really feed them the ball.  The refs always call a lot of fouls on the Lions and not as many on our guys.  ;-)  It's just a great time and it's just FULL of celebration - there is absolutely NOTHING in this world that looks as good as a special needs kid that has just done something like make a basket or in Sal's case, inbound a ball.  Their whole body lights up.  :-)  

It's very hard for me to watch and not just bawl my eyes out in happiness.  There's just SO much happiness in that gym.  What's also kind of cool is we usually draw a crowd from the other gyms and they all stand around and watch.  The Sr team is really VERY good.  They will be traveling downstate again this year to defend their gold title in Spec Olympics.  Bill and I are very tempted to take the kids in March and go watch.  But, being in Bloomington - it's expensive to get a room and food and all and we think it might be best to skip it.  It's such a good time, though to watch those guys. 

After the game the Lions served hotdogs and chips and soda and the kids all sat around and did their thing.  :-)  It's so neat to see them all talking together.  These programs do SO much more than let them play basketball - there's SO much social practice and life skills there.  So we said goodbye to our basketball coaches for the year.  Of course we see them again at Social Club.  :-)