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With Dunedin High's Blessing, Disabled Boy Shoots For Stars
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Published: January 31, 2008
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In his final basketball home game Wednesday night, Eddie Blackshear got a surprise: His coach at Dunedin High School sent him running out with the starters.
Eddie, a senior whose mother is in prison on cocaine charges, is designated as mentally disabled but trainable and is something of a celebrity at Dunedin high. He learned to read in high school and has progressed enough to enter a career education program.
Seconds before Eddie was announced Wednesday night, the fans began chanting his name. He ran grinning onto the court, slapping hands with every teammate and shaking his head in disbelief while joining the other four starters.
Eddie didn't score as he played the first two minutes and 17 seconds of the game, but he returned in the final minutes of a lopsided loss to the powerful Boca Ciega Pirates.
He was fouled and made one of two free throws with two minutes and 12 seconds remaining. The fans chanted his name one last time.
"Edd- dee! Edd-dee!"
The shot didn't decide the game, not hardly, but, of course, that didn't matter. Falcons fans never miss a chance to celebrate Eddie.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( gronybabes ) on January 31, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is not just a feel good story, this is a great story. This young man has overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to reach the goals he had in his heart. My hats off to him and all of his fellow students and faculty who have encouraged him to be strong and to never stop trying.
Look out world, here comes Eddie!
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Posted by ( cshultz110 ) on January 31, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Very good story! After my critizism of only negative stories on TBO, it is nice to see a positive story for a change.
Great job Eddie! Good luck in the future.
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