original article: The Day Shay Got To Play EJ Nolan - The Day Shay Got To Play is exclusive property of the author EJ Nolan who has reserved ALL rights (written permission has been given to Baseball Almanac for its use).

Not born predestined to change things, you choose time to time to do so and is not even necessary to waste a lot of words to do it.

I collected a few days ago a story really happened in an anonymous town in the United States but which could find a place anywhere in the world, this is a serious but true story that makes reflect on the fact that all of us, dispatched a multitude of e. mails with jokes, there dileggiamo in discussions read and love often speak of our dreams without thinking twice, but when it comes to addressing deeper issues, often we stop, we had almost ritraiamo afraid to tackle them, share them.

We have almost hidden and irrational fear that talking about serious topics, is not "cool", not interest, bored, and the company today instead loves the "smiling live, all smiles and victories, fun money and sex. In cyberspace circulating freely bloody scenes, vulgarity and obscenity but the public debates on important issues of life are often sottaciute or even deleted.

At a dinner for raising funds for a school that serves the mentally disabled, the father of a student made a speech that nobody would most forgotten. After school and praised the dedicated staff, had a question:

"When not interfere external influences, the nature of all is perfect. My son Shay can not learn things that they learn the other, can not understand the things they understand others.

Where is the natural order of things in my son? "

The public was zittito demand.

The father continued.

"I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, presents an opportunity to realize the true human nature, and it shows in the way other people treat that child."

Then told the story that follows:

Shay and his father were walking near a park where there were certain guys that Shay knew that playing baseball.

Shay asked, "Do you believe that I leave play"

Shay's father knew that most of the guys did not want a guy like him in the team but understood that if his son had been allowed to play, what would have given a sense of belonging, which had much need, and some 'Confidence in being accepted by the other despite his disability.

The father then came to one of the guys on the field not expecting much in response. The boy looked around in search of counsel and said. "We are under six and you're the eighth inning. I think we can stay with us, we will try to do the last inning to beat. "

Shay came laboriously to the bench, put a team shirt and smiled to his father, who noticed to have tears in my eyes and feel a sense of warmth to the heart. The boy saw the joy of his father for having been accepted.

At the bottom of the eighth inning team Shay got a couple of bases, but was still back of three, at the height of the ninth and final inning, Shay began the glove and played in right field.

Although not on his side came launch, it was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and in field, with a smile that came from one ear to another. At the end of the ninth inning, the team of Shay marked again: now, with two out and the bases occupied, had the opportunity to score the winner and beat Shay was the next to shift battuita.

At this point would have left beat Shay and lost the opportunity to win?

Surprisingly, Shay was assigned to the innings: all knew that it was impossible to hit the ball because Shay did not know even hold the bat well, not to mention hitting the ball and guide. However, while Shay went to bar, the pitcher understanding that the other team was surrendering the victory to ensure that Shay had this moment, moved some steps to launch the ball softly so Shay could at least be able to touch it.

Came the first launch and Shay turned the bat vacuum, the pitcher still had a couple of steps forward and again threw the ball slowly towards Shay.

While the ball was turned Shay came goffamente the bat, struck and sent slowly on the ground, straight toward the pitcher.

At that point the game should end there, but the pitcher picked up the ball. He could have easily lanciarla in the first covering the base and disqualify the batter. Shay would have been outside and this would have marked the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw beyond the head of the first in base, outside the reach of fellow teammates. All those who were on the sidelines and players began to shout: "Shay, run at first base! Run at first! "

Shay had never in his life course so far, but managed to get into first base. Racing along the line with eyes spalancati and full of wonder. All shouted: "Run to second, run to the second hour!" Trattenendo breath Shay races even more goffamente to second base, ansimando and striving to achieve it. When Shay bent towards the second, the ball was already in our hands right player, a piccoletto which now had the possibility for the first time for him to be the hero of his team.

He could have easily lanciarla and disqualify the batter, but including the intentions of former pitcher and he threw the ball high, well beyond third base. Shay ran toward the third base full delirium, while all others are moved to go to home base. All shouted "Shay, Shay, Shay vai Shay." With fatigue reached third base, as opposed to races to help him and voltarlo in the right direction and cried. "Shay Run, run in the third!"

Mentra Shay rounded third base for the boys of both teams and those who watched were all standing and strillavano. "Shay run to the base, run behind Sali on the plate!" Shay racing, climbed on the plate and was acclaimed as the hero who had marked a "grand slam" and made his team win.

That day, "said the father in a low voice and with tears that rigavano now face, the boys from both teams helped to bring this world a piece of true love and humanity.

A slight ray of light in his great dark!

Shay not overcame the summer and died in winter, without ever forgetting that he was the hero, making his father so happy and to be returned home between the tender embrace of his mother for the little hero of the day.

If now, after reading the story, think to share with others, in all likelihood been filtering in your mind the people with whom to do this, distinguishing between those "appropriate" and those not.

Well, however, I believe that everyone can make a difference, or rather that the difference does not exist and that we all have every day one thousand opportunities to help create "the natural order of things." If we believe we can begin to change things, calciopoli, raiopoli, furbetti number of quartierino more and who has put it most.

A wise once said that a society is judged by how it treats its children less fortunate.