Joel

4 years ago, I was in Quezon City Philippine. I was volunteering for the hospice for handicapped people. I was used to play Basket ball alone during the other people taking siesta. I was playing Basket ball since Hi school. I was tall in Japan (185cm/6,2foot). That’s why head coaches of my teams always forced me to be center player. But I was a pure long shooter. I had chance for training 3 point shoot during the other people are in siesta. That day I was doing what I had repeated for million of time. One of handicapped guys came to me. His right half body was Paralyzed, and had Intelligence obstacle. He looked child, but should be around same age of mine. Many of mental handicapped people’s body never get grown well. He was used to talk to me. Actually he couldn’t speak language. But I was able to understand him. He asked me to train him 3 point shoot. He wanted to be a little hero. It was same with my situation. I was unable for any exercise. I wanted to be normal at least. That’s why I joined basketball team in my Hi school. My coach was happy for tall guy joined his team. But I was too weak, and had no body balance. I always fell down to the other players. Then my coach told me I shouldn’t join their training, because it’s dangerous. Since then I was always shooting 3 point at the corner in gymnasium. People were laughing, because my shoots even couldn’t reach the ring. But there’s no way to survive under the ring for me.

The handicapped guy began to shoot. It never reached the ring. He carried the ball on his left shoulder, and threw it. It reached. But it was out of control. He simply threw the ball as if dodge ball. “No, you must make an arch” I said. He repeated it following days. People noticed what we are doing, and said “Jerry, it’s impossible”. I didn’t reply. After thousand of shoot, finally the ball passed the ring. “Ah! Ah!” he shouted. It was hot noon. There’s no audience. But he was a shooting star. He was a hero.