http://youtu.be/fM4830Ablek
A brilliant example of exactly what sports should be about: the love of the game
Desert Chapel and Trinity Classical Academical are two basketball teams from CIF Southern Section D-VI Boys Basketball Championship (not a competition we're overly familiar with, we must say), but the undoubted star of their game was Trinity's Beau Howell, a young autistic player who has become a hit with fans.
That was easy to see from the support shown in the video as they cheer him on as he makes his tenth appearance from the bench, with Trinity Classical well in control of the game and the clock winding down. He unsuccessfully attempts to make a few baskets, before Desert Chapel's coach calls a time out with around 30 seconds left.
With the game lost, Desert Chapel showed some class and provided the crowd with exactly what they wanted, which was to see Beau get his first points on the court, and they guided him to the basket, letting him get the shots in without pressure until he slots it home and the buzzer goes to mark the end of the game.
Although Chapel would certainly not like to have lost in the fashion that they did, to give the ball to Beau and show that kind of sportsmanship, even in the face of defeat, was a truly brilliant act, and reminds us that winning and losing on the field is not all there is in life.
Hat-tip to USA Today for the video
