INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
Little Boy’s Courageous Push Ups
Story told by Jim "Basketball" Jones
I had an assembly in Hebron, Ohio, with around 500 kids from K to 5th grade. I picked a teacher to shoot to win a basketball. I gave her two choices and she elected to shoot at the foul line. If she made it, she got the ball. If she missed, she had to do 10 push ups. If she chose to shoot from the three point line, she won the ball if she made it or received a poster if she missed. I looked at her and knew she was a teacher with a good heart, but not good at push ups. I said, "Is this the type of school that we are willing to help others?" I asked a male teacher if he was the type of person willing to help others. He said, "Yes." "Are you willing to help her?" I asked. "Sure!" he said. "Great! You can do her push ups if she misses," I told him. He sat back down and said he could not do push ups. I understood he was being honest so I shouldn't push the issue. I asked another male teacher and he said, "I don't even know that lady!" I was stuck. But then I heard this little boy right in front of me saying, "I'll do the push ups! I'll do the push ups! I can do them!" I look down and on the first row of bleachers was a little boy that must have been in first grade at best. I was a little desperate and thought, " I could make this work." I picked him and moved back to the free throw line. Then I noticed the little boy drop off the bleachers to his hands and start working his way to the free throw line using his hands. His legs were somewhat limp and dragging behind him. He was so excited to be called up and so willing to help the teacher do push ups if she needed it. I gave her three tries to make the shot, but she didn't. The little boy worked his way into push up position and did 10 perfect push ups. Then he worked his way back to the bleachers on his hands and climbed back up to his seat. I just watched in awe. I looked at the teacher and she said, "I so wanted to give him the ball." I said to the audience that we all have strengths and weaknesses. We should be willing to share our strengths to help others, just like he did for her. He used his strengths to help her and for that he gets the ball.
It was so cool....I was able to witness something really great. I don’t know what was wrong with the little guy, but I realized after he came up that he got around the school with the help of a wheel chair or blue walking sticks. But today he proved to the entire school that he was strong and capable. It was a great day and I was blessed to just be a part of it.
Compassion of an Entire School
Story told by Jim "Basketball" Jones
I was visiting an elementary school with about 400 students from k to 4th grade. The gym was packed. Kids where in a "U" shape around me and we had a nice center aisle. The show was going well, but I had noticed a boy in the back of the audience sitting on a teacher’s lap and covering his ears. He would get up occasionally to pace back and forth. I wanted to get him up to do something and figured I could have him demonstrate the secret to juggling. All he would have to do is pick up a ball from the floor and I could give him the ball as a reward. I thought he would be a great ending to a really nice assembly. What I didn’t expect is what the other students would do to make me and the teachers all cry. I asked for a volunteer, looking at his teacher if it was ok to pick him. She was hesitant, but I reassured her that it would be ok. So Max, a very autistic boy, worked his way through the center aisle. When he passed the fourth graders, two girls started to chant his name. By the time he made it up to me, the entire student body was chanting his name, "Max, Max, Max". All 400 kids were so in tune and compassionate to Max, that they chanted "Max" at a WHISPER! I was able to see 400 students show compassion for another student. The teachers and I were so touched by what we witnessed.
A Boy Finds Strength
Story told by Jim "Basketball" Jones
It was November and I was in Indiana to perform at a school with over 750 kids from k to 6th grade. The shows went well. I was treated to lunch compliments of the principal and had the chance to talk with the school counselor. As we visited some amazing classrooms, I witnessed a school striving to be great. I enjoyed my visit, but I didn’t expect to hear back from the school until next year when they said they would like me to visit again. I received a phone call from the counselor explaining to me that a 4th grade boy had really connected with me. She explained that the boy was bright, but was struggling with a lot of things and therefore he was withdrawn and his grades were suffering. As we talked, I also found out he was still wetting the bed and was suicidal. But the night of my show, he walked up to his mom and asked her to read to him. His mom was floored and mentioned it to the school counselor the next day. She quickly made the connection between my personal story of asking my mom to read to me in high school. When I heard all of this, I knew I would like to meet the boy and spend some time with him. His mom and the school counselor arranged a little pizza party for him and his brother when I was in town doing shows. I played with him for hours. I spun the ball on his hat, taught him to juggle a little and we ate pizza. I gave him a ball when I left. It was a great time. In late January while I was in the area, I called the counselor to see if I could meet with him again. I met his family at the local DQ for dinner. I had a hat with my logo on it and gave it to him. I told him that was the only hat with my logo on it and would be the only hat ever with my logo on it and I wanted him to have it. He was a hat boy, always with a baseball cap on. In March of that year, I got an envelope in the mail from the school counselor. This boy had written a book in his class about me. He said he was happy now and knew he was important because Basketball Jones cared about him. She wrote that he had changed so much his mom couldn’t believe it. He didn’t have any bed problems, his grades improved drastically and he was performing in the school talent show. She said that would not have been possible without me. I travel around 60,000 miles a year and this one encounter makes all of those miles worthwhile.
An Amazingly Courageous and Strong Little Girl
Story told by Jim "Basketball" Jones
I was at a school in Michigan for two assemblies for grades K through 5th. We had a fun time and things went well for the first assembly. Since I had another assembly in the afternoon the principal bought me a sub for lunch. I ate in the library and then stopped in the office to thank the principal. He said, "Jim, did you meet our special first grader, Amanda?" "No, I didn’t. Hello Amanda," I said. She said, "You know, Basketball Jones, when you were spinning the ball on the stick and all the kids were coming up to hold the stick, I thought I could have just as much fun watching my friends so I didn’t volunteer to go up." "I’m sorry you didn’t get a turn Amanda. After you finish your peanut butter and jelly sandwich, come into the gym and I will give you a turn." As I walked into the hall, I felt the principal grab my shoulder and say, "Thanks for spending some time with our special Amanda. She has brain cancer."
While I was in the gym setting up, Amanda brought me some water for the second show. Now I recognized her. She was the girl with the blue helmet from the first show. I spun the ball on the stick and gave it to Amanda to hold. She did great. I took the ball and signed it for her. I wrote, "Amanda, don’t ever give up! Your friend, Jim ‘Basketball’ Jones." I gave her the ball and she just bounced up and down, quickly heading back to show her friends what she got. But then she turned back towards me saying in her cute little voice, "Basketball Jones, will you be my big buddy?" I said, "Amanda, I would love to be your big buddy."
I was able to visit Amanda and her school again for another assembly when she was in fifth grade. She had just gotten back from the Cleveland Clinic and was still fighting her disease. Again, her nature and caring for others was unbelievable. I was having kids hold the stick again and she was in the back directing me who to pick. She didn’t want to be chosen, she just wanted her friends to have fun and be included. When I told her to come forward to hold the stick, she came up wearing slippers. As she got to the front, Amanda stopped by the first graders and invited a little boy to go up with her to hold the stick with the group. She always put others before herself. With what she was dealing with no would question her being a little selfish, but not Amanda. She is just that wonderful! It is a true blessing to be her big buddy.
A Loving Couple of Faith
Story told by Jim "Basketball" Jones
Mary Jane and her husband Jim were voted the best married couple in the Cleveland area. I met Mary Jane through her daughter who is a principal at a school I visit every year. Mary Jane actually booked me to present at her church one evening so I got to spend time talking with her before the show. She is absolutely an amazing woman of faith and courage. It was a joy for me to just listen to her. She asked if I presented earlier in the day and I said I had visited Hayes Elementary School in Lakewood. They had visited Hayes as well and it was an interesting story. Before I share her story, I want to explain background information about her husband. He had a stroke in his late twenties that left Jim paralyzed. They had four kids at the time and would have one more "miracle" child years later. They lived in a small neighborhood close to the church and Jim was the sole financial supporter of the family prior to his stroke. Jim would communicate with his kids by spelling words out with his eyes. As technology would improve, he used a keyboard to peck out words to speak. Jim was a HUGE Cleveland Indians fan and wasn’t able financially to attend many games. Mary Jane supported the family by sharing their love story and talking about faith. He would accompany her and they became a great speaking team. Her fee was simple; she never charged. She figured the Lord would know what her family needed. Sometimes they got a hug, others times food and sometimes cash, but she never asked for anything. She had FAITH that the Lord would provide for her family and He did. All of the kids went to college and are professionals in many great fields. The daughter I know is an outstanding principal but an even better person. Jim was a funny man and would use humor to relax people about his condition. While visiting a prison, Jim would joke about the loss of his legs as a result of his paralysis. "When I got married I was 6’3" and now I am only 3’6". I’m half the man I use to be…marriage is a tough business." He would tell them he knew he would go to heaven, but not just one limb at a time. He was an amazing person and Mary Jane’s story about their visit to Hayes demonstrates his love of others.
It was the night before the Cleveland Indians’ opener and Jim for the first time in his life had tickets. Mary Jane ran to grab the phone when it rang. She said to Jim, it’s Hayes Elementary School and they have a little boy with cerebral palsy. He had a pecking board like Jim and he wasn’t doing well with it. He didn’t like it and felt bad about pecking out his words. She said, "Jim, they want you to come talk to the boy while the factory representative is there tomorrow. Honey, you would miss the game." Jim said, "Sure I will go!" She drove both of them to Lakewood which would require them to pass Jacob’s Field where the Indians play their games. They arrived and Jim pecked out to the boy, "Hi, how you doing buddy?" The boy and Jim hit it off and they talked for a long time. When Jim and Mary Jane were ready to leave, the little boy typed out..."Now I know I can grow up to be a man!"
On the way home as they passed Jacob’s Field, Mary Jane said, "Honey, I am so sorry you missed the home opener." Jim typed out, "If the only reason I had this stroke 28 years ago was to be here for that little boy today, it was all worth it."
Parent of an Autistic son
"You were at Lane Middle School yesterday giving a presentation to the 6th grade. I am the new teacher for the hearing impaired students here. I also have an autistic son who is in the 6th grade. The transition to middle school has been extremely difficult for my son and for us as his parents. He does not see much positive. He was at your program. There were times I saw him connect with what you were doing. Even if he did not look at you I knew he heard you. The words were also a comfort to me about continuing to encourage him because as his parents we get very discouraged even though we are both educators and have lived in the special education world for a long time. What you said brought me to tears. I wanted to come and tell you in person but I had to stay in our routine and be in my classroom for my son at the end of the day to find me. Thank you does not seem enough for what you gave my soul."
Mother
"Thank you for sharing your time and talent with our children. After talking nonstop about your cool moves and music for a week, my son, Nicholas, came home on Friday with a smile from ear to ear after winning your autographed basketball. Nicholas has a medical condition that will prevent him from playing competitive sports even though he would love to do so dearly. This ball will always have a special place in his heart!"
Counselor, Covington Middle School
"We at Covington Middle School wanted you to know that we jumped on your "piece of cake" idea when preparing our middle schoolers for their April achievement tests in Reading, Language Usage and Math. We publicized to the kids and their families that if the student improved his fall test score in one of the tests, they would be rewarded with an invitation to an "exclusive dessert party" where they would be treated to a piece of cake. We shared with them that improving could be done a piece at a time, just like the piece of cake idea that we learned from the Jim Basketball Jones assembly. Here’s the awesome news….the kids have gotten excited. It’s all they talked about, and they have taken the tests much more seriously than before. They have shown great pride in improving and trying to improve. 89% of our 6th graders improved 5 points or more, while 84% of the 7th grade improved 5 points or more. 98% of the 6th grade improved by at least one point, and 100% of the 7th grade improved by at least one! Thank you for the "piece of cake" idea. The kids and staff are revved up and ready to take on more challenges. What a way to close our school year!
Fourth Grade Teacher
I have to tell you that your story about your life and what you and your mom accomplished brought tears to my eyes as I remembered what my mom did for me and what I hope to be able to do for my sons. As well, I have had 3-4 students with dyslexia, so I could only hope that I made them feel as important as you made all of us feel. Right now I have a highly intelligent student with severe dyslexia. I teach fourth grade, but he is around the first grade reading level independently. Fortunately his family is a huge support, plus he has the most persistent and happy attitude for learning. He is truly a remarkable student!
When we returned from the assembly, all of us feeling like a million dollars because of you, I turned to Sten, who had the biggest smile and he said, "I have dyslexia, too!" How amazing! I felt left out, like I was the one who had a disability at that point.
Thank you for making all the Stens of the world feel like they are not the ones who are different. They are the ones who need to help the rest of us notice how different we are. Your message touched me in a special way. I hope you continue to spread such a hopeful and powerful message to many more children and adults.
Physical Education Teacher
"I want to thank you for doing such a wonderful job with all three of our schools last week. You wouldn’t believe how many students lives that you touched. Brooke, a second grader looked at her teacher when you said that you were LD and she said, "So am I". Then she did it again when you told her that your mother read to you. She was so excited to know that someone didn’t have to be "different" because they had some learning disabilities. She is a great kid and really needed to hear your message... THANK YOU!! Brooke was just one of the stories that my principals told me about that really got a lot from your message."
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