Ike Ditzenberger is like a lot of other 17-year-old American football players. He dreams of playing college football. He attends daily practices. Most of the time he toils away in offensive drills. Then, on rare occasions, Ditzenberger runs into the limelight with aplomb. The description could fit thousands of American teenagers, except for one crucial detail: Ike Ditzenberger has Down Syndrome.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Down syndrome football player scores TD in Washington game
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3 comments:
What a very cool story, Zach. It is easy to tell from that video that it was a collaborative effort from both teams and one of the reasons it is so special. The caption on the second video speaks volumes, I think: "Sports don't build character, they reveal it"
Thanks for sharing this.
I don't like these kinds of stories anymore. Because they are, to me, fabrications. Ike didn't actually get to play football. He got tricked so that coaches, parents, the teams and, yes, Ike could feel good.
It sends the message, "Ike can't really play football." I say let the kid run the ball for real and get one genuine yard. That would be amazing.
They like Ike, but ultimately, they don't think Ike could really play football. Maybe they are right, but I believe he could play football, maybe not spectacularly, but he could do it. It would show the people that he's more than a lifetime special, he's a kid, just like theirs who is trying but kind of sucks at football. He's like every other kid that God didn't gift with height, strength, a quick mind or natural talent.
Personally, I'd rather see him trying and getting validated as an equal based on his effort and not seen as a charity case.
But, then, news agencies will rarely cover, "Local boy with down syndrome has four carries for 2 yards."
Sorry for the rant.
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