Living in the Moment
The All Abilities basketball team (also known as The Sensational Seven) is comprised of seven men who have been labeled cognitively and physically impaired their entire lives. Although the inconspicuous group lives under the watchful care of local organizations like Opportunities, Inc. and Texarkana Resources, they are remarkably independent. They have their own housing, go to their jobs daily, and make all their own decisions with the help of life coaches. These guys had mostly gone unseen and unheard. That is, until a few hometown volunteers decided to take the world’s perception of disabled and flip it on its end through the game of basketball.
Whitni Allen, owner of Texarkana’s Heat It Up, was juggling the demands of family life and business when Jennifer Lewis, CEO of Texarkana Resources, stopped by to pick up a meal. In their conversation, Lewis talked of her work with people with disabilities, sparking an idea for Allen. Remembering her love for high school basketball, she wanted to give these men the same sense of excitement and competition she once enjoyed. Allen reached out to Texarkana Resources and Opportunities, and soon, a seven-man team was assembled. All they needed then was a coach, and Allen knew just the person.
Jason Boston, a seasoned coach with an excellent reputation, was the perfect fit. The guy was born to coach. It runs in his family. His dad is a basketball coach, his brother is a basketball coach, and he is the happiest on a gym floor teaching kids how to dribble, shoot, and pass. Boston lives and breathes the game of basketball. He has made it his life’s mission to infuse his love into a very football-minded part of the world. To proceed with that mission, he founded Buckets with Boston, a basketball training program that teaches kids how to handle the ball and learn the game using correct form and techniques. It was through Buckets with Boston that he was training Allen’s daughter. In addition, Allen was once a member of the Texas High girls’ basketball team, which was coached by the one and only Jason Boston.
Once All Abilities was an established team and had a coach, the only problem left to tackle was getting organized. Everything came together in such a rush, there was no time to practice before their first game in Foreman, Arkansas. The guys had yet to meet their new coach. Opportunities bussed the team to the gym in Foreman, and Coach Boston showed up separately. The team immediately accepted Boston as their leader. “There were no judgments on their part. They focused. They didn’t argue with me or have bad attitudes. They just played with everything they had,” he said.
Boston encouraged his team in dribbling and shooting. He coached them on rebounding both offensively and defensively. “They did exactly what I told them to do and were happy to do it,” Coach Boston said proudly. “These guys played their hearts out, and I knew we had something special going on.” The brand new team won their first game that day but lost the second as they made the tying basket right after the buzzer sounded. It didn’t matter, though. The bar was set.
Running with the momentum from the win in Foreman, practices began. Most athletes will admit they prefer competition over practice and training, but not the Sensational Seven. They committed all they had to their strength training regimen with Allen twice a week. She designed exercises to enhance the team’s daily life skills while fostering socialization through teamwork and competition. The guys also reveled in their basketball practices at the Texarkana Boys and Girls Club. Despite the challenges they face, their love for the game of basketball kept their focus sharp and recall of skills learned in practice even sharper. “It was simply amazing,” Boston said with a smile. The team members gave their all in practice because they had one goal in mind—the Special Olympics Arkansas Tournament of Champions.
Total Medical Supply (TMS) of Texarkana heard about the All Abilities team and their quest for the Arkansas Championship. They were so impressed that they sponsored the team and bought them uniforms to wear at the state tournament. Due, in part, to local support, the All Abilities team was hyped as they headed to Benton, Arkansas, to compete for the championship.
Once arriving in Benton, the team discovered they weren’t alone in their enthusiasm. 47 other teams had entered the tournament. Not letting intimidation become a factor, the team easily won their first divisional game that day. That set them up for bracket play the next day.
With their first win under their belts, the team attended the opening ceremony coordinated by the Special Olympics Committee, followed by a dance. Coach Boston and Allen both laugh and agree the Sensational Seven poured as much effort into dancing as they did into basketball. It was an expression of happiness for them, no matter who was watching.
The next day, bracket play in the Special Olympics Tournament of Champions began, and the Texarkana team was on fire. They dribbled, passed, shot, and rebounded the ball, just like their coaches had shown them in practice. According to Coach Boston, Eddie Webb made attempts at three pointers from crazy places on the court that would have impressed Steph Curry. During a timeout, the tallest player on the team, Jamell Foate, quickly designed and drew out plays on the floor with all his teammates nodding their heads in agreement. The coaches admit they still have no idea what kinds of plays Foate was drawing or what kind of basketball voodoo the guys were consenting to, but it worked. The Texarkana All Abilities basketball team won third place in the Special Olympics Tournament of Champions.
The Sensational Seven and their coaches, local sponsors, and family members met at the We Are Washington Community Development Center to celebrate their win. Each athlete received an individual award.
- Dynamic Dribbler—Wesley Canipe
- Loud and Proud—Jonathan Richards
- Intense Defense—Cory Gray
- Awesome Offense—Ron Seay
- Super Celebrations—Eddie Webb
- Rough and Tough Rebounder—Jamell Foate
- Hurricane Hustler—Corey Williams
Total Medical Supply also bought each team member brand-new Nike basketball shoes. The guys were on top of the world.
The All Abilities basketball team made lasting memories in the Tournament of Champions. That is what the team members will keep forever, but it’s the coaches, helpers, and sponsors who learned the real lessons. “I went into this just wanting these guys to have their own space and their own moment in time,” said Allen, “but they brought the joy of basketball back to me.” When Boston spoke at the awards ceremony, he said, “I had several coaches come up to me during the tournament and tell me how much they enjoyed watching my team play. That’s a big compliment, but this is not my team. This is our team. I’m a coach and a friend to all of you guys.”
The award ceremony revealed the closest thing to Heaven on Earth—no haughty judgments, no differences in skin color, no opposing political opinions, and no contrasting social classes. These men don’t wake up in bad moods or worry about tomorrow. When it comes to living in the moment, they are rock stars and express their happiness regardless of what others think. By reciting the Special Olympics Athlete Oath aloud, these guys experience joy in its purest form. “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” This team is seven guys, whom the world considers “different,” reaping their well-deserved benefits.
Texarkana All Abilities Basketball would like to recognize Felisha Johnson and Travon May for their unwavering support of the team. Thank you to Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages for donating swag bags. Also, a big shout out to Madeline Haak, Jasmine Bruce Cree, Reggie Myrks, Megan Palowski, and Total Medical Supply for all their generous contributions.
