[Greenstoner]

too many of raping, beating, killing and suicide stories on RS lately, I'm brining some touching news. There is still love in this world :thumbsup:




Ike Ditzenberger is a 17-year-old high school student with Down syndrome and a player on Snohomish Panthers football team in Seattle.

Ditzenberger made the news recently with what his teammates call "The Ike Special," an touchdown run designed especially for him.

The Vikings were up 35–0 with seconds to go, when the Panthers quarterback made the hand-off to Ditzenberger. The Vikings sluggishly allowed the Panthers' offensive line to shove them aside, as Ditzenberger sprinted 51 yards to the end zone.

The score now 35-6 as time expired, Ditzenberger performed a touchdown dance with his adoring teammates. Check below for the newly released video of the whole thing, including the tear-jerking screams of excitement from the crowd as soon as they realize what's happening.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txMiQTBLhVM&feature=player_embedded

[chouchou]

reminds me of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZtU676jA_k

both are pretty touching!

[Sgt_Koopa]

That's pretty cool. Made his day.

[CP.AR]

nice to see the other team cooperating for this kid to get a golden moment!

That's what TRUE sportsmanship is, and should be at times

[murd0c]

Now that is sportsman ship right there!!! More people need to learn from this. It isn't always about winning it's about having fun win or lose.

[BlacknJean]

fuck that shit, im a winner

:troll:

[Gumby]

fuck that shit, im a winner

:troll:
So you'd go tackle him to ensure that your team gets a shutout victory? :D

[Ch28]

So you'd go tackle him to ensure that your team gets a shutout victory? :D

Yes.

What's the point of having him 'score' the touchdown when the other team basically gave it to him?

[darkfroggy]

I don't want to seem cruel or anything, but giving him the touchdown seems worse than not giving one at all.

It's like you're acknowledging he has a problem, and then giving him a touchdown out of pity.

It's like how in sports competitions they give EVERYONE a medal regardless of whether you did good or not. It totally defeats the purpose of medals, and discourages anyone from even trying their best. "You might have scored 32 baskets, but you wouldn't have won without Billy's 2 baskets! So he deserves a reward just as much as you do."

I mean, yes, it's nice of people to do that. But deep down, you all just confirmed that the only way the kid would get a touchdown is if people basically gave it to him. And that just won't do.

[Gumby]

Yes.

What's the point of having him 'score' the touchdown when the other team basically gave it to him?

I don't want to seem cruel or anything, but giving him the touchdown seems worse than not giving one at all.

It's like you're acknowledging he has a problem, and then giving him a touchdown out of pity.

It's like how in sports competitions they give EVERYONE a medal regardless of whether you did good or not. It totally defeats the purpose of medals, and discourages anyone from even trying their best. "You might have scored 32 baskets, but you wouldn't have won without Billy's 2 baskets! So he deserves a reward just as much as you do."

I mean, yes, it's nice of people to do that. But deep down, you all just confirmed that the only way the kid would get a touchdown is if people basically gave it to him. And that just won't do.
Yeah, I kinda agree with these two... If they don't want to be seen as "special" then they shouldn't get "special treatment". Slippery slope, really...

[spades]

as long as the kid's happy, who cares

[darkfroggy]

as long as the kid's happy, who cares

You're only setting up the kid for disappointment later in life. It's really one of the worst things you could do.

To me, the most important thing is people learning that people with disabilities CAN contribute to the world instead of being moving pity-wagons. Knowledge, knowledge, and more knowledge of what people with special needs can and cannot do is important. What are you trying to prove when you give them free wins? It proves absolutely NOTHING except confirm them as being "lesser" human beings.

The world's an entirely different place when you turn 30 and there's no high-school squad to give you wins...

[murd0c]

You're only setting up the kid for disappointment later in life. It's really one of the worst things you could do.

To me, the most important thing is people learning that people with disabilities CAN contribute to the world instead of being moving pity-wagons. Knowledge, knowledge, and more knowledge of what people with special needs can and cannot do is important. What are you trying to prove when you give them free wins? It proves absolutely NOTHING except confirm them as being "lesser" human beings.

The world's an entirely different place when you turn 30 and there's no high-school squad to give you wins...

The thing about it is this might be the greatest moment in his life. It has nothing to do with setting him up for disappointment it's being for 30 seconds all of his disability's went away and he felt like a normal person for once. The thing about down syndrome is they have a kind of a innocence and even tho you think you are setting them up for failure they will never realize that since there mind doesn't work that way.

[ajax]

You're only setting up the kid for disappointment later in life. It's really one of the worst things you could do.

To me, the most important thing is people learning that people with disabilities CAN contribute to the world instead of being moving pity-wagons. Knowledge, knowledge, and more knowledge of what people with special needs can and cannot do is important. What are you trying to prove when you give them free wins? It proves absolutely NOTHING except confirm them as being "lesser" human beings.

The world's an entirely different place when you turn 30 and there's no high-school squad to give you wins...

Setting him up for disappointment? How would you like it if you were disabled and were not able to play a game you love. If this was more than one play than yeah they shouldn't have given him that kind of pity. But since this was one play, in a game where they had nothing else to lose they gave the guy who probably wanted nothing more than one play a shot. He's probably had enough problems trying to cope with his disability and to be as normal as possible so let him do something most of us take as a given.

[ShanghaiKid]

In the end, whether you think there is a moral conflict here or not, the point was everyone on that field had the good intention of letting that kid have his own special moment, and that's the lesson about the human heart we should be taking away.

Think about the age group they're in, it's not everyday you see teenagers so closely tied to our disabled as they should be. It makes instances like these ever so rare.

[quasi]

as long as the kid's happy, who cares

This, it made his night, week, month and year.

[quasi]

In the end, whether you think there is a moral conflict here or not, the point was everyone on that field had the good intention of letting that kid have his own special moment, and that's the lesson about the human heart we should be taking away.

Think about the age group they're in, it's not everyday you see teenagers so closely tied to our disabled as they should be. It makes instances like these ever so rare.


This to, it also made everyone else on the field (both teams) and watching the game feel good.

[Psb1]

This has all the makings to be a real contentious issue but everyone needs to relax and chill. Its not like these kids are playing professional football for the NFL. Its one of those special moments in life that everyone's gotta respect and admire.

If it were my kid the last thing I would want is to put them in a full contact sport like football. The parents should be more careful because the special child is gonna be more susceptible to injury.

[geeknerd]

yea the kid probably wont even know it was set up his whole life. itll be one of his happiest moments in life.
Also it probably made every1 feel like a winner despite the score.

[bengy]

I don't want to seem cruel or anything, but giving him the touchdown seems worse than not giving one at all.

It's like you're acknowledging he has a problem, and then giving him a touchdown out of pity.

It's like how in sports competitions they give EVERYONE a medal regardless of whether you did good or not. It totally defeats the purpose of medals, and discourages anyone from even trying their best. "You might have scored 32 baskets, but you wouldn't have won without Billy's 2 baskets! So he deserves a reward just as much as you do."

I mean, yes, it's nice of people to do that. But deep down, you all just confirmed that the only way the kid would get a touchdown is if people basically gave it to him. And that just won't do.

Just the fact that he made the team shows that people have taken pity on him already... Guess when you're like that, your whole life is a pity party, and bullying nightmare?

[Noir]

Just the fact that he made the team shows that people have taken pity on him already... Guess when you're like that, your whole life is a pity party, and bullying nightmare?

Dude. You may think you're on the right. But if you were to tackle that down syndrome kid because you provide no quarters for anyone - it's like taking a seat from an elderly on the bus because you see no difference between the 2 of you.

Hell, if you were to tackle the down-syndrome kid like any other capable athlete, you would look more retarded than the "special needs" kid himself. (That's not an insult to you, just plain saying that's what it will look like.)

[bengy]

Dude. You may think you're on the right. But if you were to tackle that down syndrome kid because you provide no quarters for anyone - it's like taking a seat from an elderly on the bus because you see no difference between the 2 of you.

Hell, if you were to tackle the down-syndrome kid like any other capable athlete, you would look more retarded than the "special needs" kid himself. (That's not an insult to you, just plain saying that's what it will look like.)

LOL yes I know. I would not be the one to tackle the kid no worries!

[johny]

why is this kid playing? he's just going to get hurt.

[b0unce. [?]]

reminds me of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZtU676jA_k

both are pretty touching!

I teared a bit watching this video. It was so heartwarming.
That kid puts his heart into his team and supports them with every ounce of his being. Just STUNS everyone with the 6, 3 pointers :D

HOT LIKE A PISTOL

[Qmx323]

TOUCHDOWN

seriously though good on this kid, and the opposing team. I bet one kid on the other team was holding back a huge hit on him.

[Levitron]

You're only setting up the kid for disappointment later in life. It's really one of the worst things you could do.

To me, the most important thing is people learning that people with disabilities CAN contribute to the world instead of being moving pity-wagons. Knowledge, knowledge, and more knowledge of what people with special needs can and cannot do is important. What are you trying to prove when you give them free wins? It proves absolutely NOTHING except confirm them as being "lesser" human beings.

The world's an entirely different place when you turn 30 and there's no high-school squad to give you wins...

A lot of Down's Syndrome kids do not live a long life. Though it's been improved a lot nowadays, most of these individuals do not have a good physical heart...along with a whole bunch of other physical problems.

It's very possible this kid wouldn't even live to be 30, whereas you have a much better chance to do so than him.

[Brianrietta]

One of the new Kenny Chesney songs about football best describes what would happen to the hero that might have tackled him there: "You mess with one man you got us all".

[m3e92interlagos]

wow. waste of my time, gay ass video

[sonick]

This is right out of an episode of GLEE

[Gumby]

wow. waste of my time, gay ass video
I'm not even gonna waste a Fail on you. :rolleyes:

[twitchyzero]

inspired by forrest?
http://www.futuregamez.net/movies/forrestgump/forrestgump3.jpg

[Ferra]

I don't know what's down syndrome like...but if I have some kind of disability and the same thing happened to me, I am just gonna feel more depressed and ashamed of myself. (for being the pity of everyone, feel bad about not being able to accomplish anything real by myself...)

It guess it depends....if his mental disability is to the level which he doesn't realize people are doing this out of goodwill and sympathy, then that's great. (i.e. it is like playing games with a 3 years old and letting them win)
But if he is intelligent enough to realize the situation, what they did is just going to make him feel worse eventually. (i.e. playing game with an 18 years old and purposely let him win surely won't please him)

[InvisibleSoul]

You can't forget about this one either...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEDBnKahuNs

[jigga250]

So you'd go tackle him to ensure that your team gets a shutout victory? :D

LOL. Unblemished record intact.

[asahai69]

not only does tom hanks make hit movies. he also inspires all ages. someone give him another oscar

:troll:

[Noir]

I don't know what's down syndrome like...but if I have some kind of disability and the same thing happened to me, I am just gonna feel more depressed and ashamed of myself. (for being the pity of everyone, feel bad about not being able to accomplish anything real by myself...)

It guess it depends....if his mental disability is to the level which he doesn't realize people are doing this out of goodwill and sympathy, then that's great. (i.e. it is like playing games with a 3 years old and letting them win)
But if he is intelligent enough to realize the situation, what they did is just going to make him feel worse eventually. (i.e. playing game with an 18 years old and purposely let him win surely won't please him)

Dude, compare it to an experience such as breaking into a new sport. How would you feel if more experienced or excellent players just tooled you every game?

Trust me, you're pride might be speaking for you right now, but if you found yourself in impossible situations, you'll learn to appreciate "courteous" players. I guarantee it.

Now one of the best ways to learn is to join a tiered league where beginners are grouped together but there's no Down Syndrome only Football league that I know of for that guy.

[m3e92interlagos]

fail me. just cuz i dont care about retards and just because i want to be an asshole =] what can ya do

[The7even]

fail me. just cuz i dont care about retards and just because i want to be an asshole =] what can ya do

I completely agree with you. You don't care about retards and you want to be an asshole. Good on you.

But please, don't hate me for hoping that people like you die slow painful deaths and suffer for hours on end as your corpse is decaying and rotting. I really hope this happens to you btw. I really sincerely do.

Fail me.

[Kingcong89]

as long as the kid's happy, who cares

I think they're happier than we'll ever be. Their disabilities somehow give them better insight to what really matters. When you think about it, the rest of us are the real retards.