David Beebe

I can’t for the life of me figure out why youth baseball (Little league age, travel ball, high school) is one of the only arenas where people with absolutely no experience have the strongest opinions. Stay with me here. Like adults that know for a fact they never played baseball ever stand at sporting events criticizing coaches or kids for making mistakes while also knowing virtually nothing about the subject matter. It’s the most ignorant, lacking any self awareness things in society. Do you also walk in the kitchen during dinner service and question the executive chef or ask the roofing professionals if they’re replacing your shingles correctly knowing you have no idea what you’re talking about it’s such an insane concept to me. Yelling at children knowing you trip over your own feet mowing your lawn. just be positive and encourage the kids, thank the coaches for doing the job you can’t even come close to doing. Stop embarrassing yourself and your kids.

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

19 years ago, a high school basketball coach put his team manager into a game for the final four minutes. The kid had never played a single minute of competitive basketball in his life. He scored 20 points. Jason McElwain was diagnosed with severe autism at age two. He didn’t speak until he was five. He couldn’t chew solid food until he was six. He wore a nappy for most of his early childhood. As a baby, he was rigid, wouldn’t make eye contact, and hid in corners away from other children. He tried out for his school basketball team every year and got cut every time. Too small. Too slight. Barely 5’6 and about 54 kilograms. But he loved the game so much that his mum called the school and asked if there was any way he could be involved. The coach created a team manager role for him. For three years, McElwain showed up to every practice and every game. He wore a shirt and tie on match days. He ran drills, handed out water, kept stats, and cheered every basket like he’d scored it himself. On 15 February 2006, the last home game of his final school year, the coach let him suit up in a proper jersey and sit on the bench. With four minutes left and a comfortable lead, the coach sent him in. His first shot missed. His second missed. Then something shifted. He hit a three-pointer. Then another. Then another. His teammates stopped shooting entirely and just kept passing him the ball. He hit six three-pointers and a two-pointer. 20 points in four minutes. The highest scorer in the game. When the final buzzer went, the entire crowd rushed the court and lifted him onto their shoulders. His mum tapped the coach on the shoulder, in tears. “This is the nicest gift you could have ever given my son.” McElwain won the ESPY Award for Best Moment in Sports that year, beating out some of the biggest names in professional sport. He’s 36 now. He works at a local supermarket, coaches basketball, has run 17 marathons including five Boston Marathons, and travels the country speaking about never giving up. When asked about that night, his coach still gets emotional. “For him to come in and seize the moment like he did was certainly more than I ever expected. I was an emotional wreck.”

LSU walk-on Izzy Besselman hasn't played in a game since March 2024 due to a unique heart condition. Coach Kim Mulkey made sure to get her on the court for her senior night 💜

Beautiful display of humanity and sportsmanship by Smackover (AR) basketball team vs Ashdown (AR) last night! Kid will remember this forever!

Incredible moment at Medical Lake as terminally ill student Owen Pitts gets his first varsity start, scores, and receives his cap and gown in an early graduation ♥️👏