The Game of My Life

In The Game of My Life: A True Story of Challenge, Triumph, and Growing up Autistic by Jason "J-Mac" McElwain, Jason tells the story of the game that captured national attention when he took to the court and made 20 points in four minutes and 19 seconds. The New American Library published the book in 2008.

The story, told mostly in first-person, opens as Jason describes his preparation for the game on February 15, 2006. Jason is excited for the biggest night of the high school basketball season: Senior Night. Jason's mom encourages him not to get his hopes up, but he is looking forward to being a part of the senior ceremony.

Jason works with the coach of the team, Coach Johnson, in particular during practice. During games, Jason does his best to keep the players focused and motivated. "It didn't matter if we went up by ten or down by ten," he writes, "you had to keep your head in the game."



The skinny teen had tried out for the basketball team and had won the position of the manager of the varsity squad. Ever since then, Jason had become known at games for his passion and enthusiasm. Teammates note that his neatly tucked shirt would sometimes be flying free by the end of a game. Coach Johnson sometimes worried that Jason would earn the team a penalty for yelling.

On this particular night, the game is coming to an end, and the Trojans have a comfortable lead. Coach Johnson, wanting Jason to enjoy the feeling of playing in the last home game of the season, tells Jason to suit up. When Jason heads for the court, the crowd goes wild. A staple of the team, the Trojan's fans are thrilled that Jason is going to get a chance to play in a real game. There are only four minutes left to play.

On the court, Jason manages to get hold of the ball a couple of times, air-balling a three-pointer and narrowly missing a layup. His coach would later say in interviews he was thinking: "Dear God, let him make one basket."



Jason's teammates pass him the ball again, and he shoots another three-pointer, this time making the shot. In the next few minutes, Jason unbelievably makes five more baskets from the three-point line and one more two-pointer, earning his team 20 points in four minutes. Jason makes the last shot as the buzzer sounds, and the crowd pours onto the court to congratulate him. Athena wins the game 79 to 43.

Sitting in the crowd is Jason's High School Speech and Language Pathologist, Andy McCormack. Knowing the game was recorded, Andy takes a copy of the tape to Jon Kucko, a local sports newscaster, who airs it the same night. The tape causes a national sensation, and within days, Jason is famous. In one interview, Jason describes himself on the court that day as "hot as a pistol," and the phrase becomes synonymous with his video.
A fellow student Marcus Luciano filmed t
he famous game. Coach Johnson had given Marcus instructions to shoot only the players, but the videographer couldn't help but scan the audience as Jason made shot after shot. Johnson later called Marcus's defiance a "brilliant move."

Jason is suddenly famous in his hometown. The phone rings continuously and people approach him at restaurants asking for his autograph. Jason finds himself amid a media frenzy. He gives an introduction speech for Magic Johnson, meets President George W. Bush, and wins an ESPY Award for the Best Moment in Sports. He appears on talk shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live, and meets several celebrities.



When Jason meets Peyton Manning, Manning invites him and two other students to visit the Colts' training camp. Jason says that Peyton is "one of the nicest guys in sports." He tears up when Manning lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy after his team wins the Super Bowl.

Several film companies express interest in Jason's story, and Columbia Pictures ultimately buys the rights in 2006.

Jason walks with his class at graduation but doesn't have the credits to receive a diploma. Instead, he plans to work toward his GED, even though his teachers are uncertain whether he will ever be ready to take the test. He works at Wegmans Food Markets in Greece Athena and occasionally has fans asking for his autograph.



Jason also addresses some of the challenges he has faced having autism. Doctors diagnosed him with autism at age three when he had trouble communicating and couldn't tolerate touch. As he learned to manage his condition, sports helped him connect with his emotions, make friends, and find a useful way to expend his energy. He also admits that he was teased in school, but no more than anyone else and never because he has autism.

While the story is told mostly in Jason's voice, some parts are told from the perspectives of his parents, coach, and teammates. Each chapter is separated into two parts, the first detailing an important story from his life and the second continuing the narrative from his famous game.

Following the publication of his book, Jason became a volunteer coach with his old high school team, and he sometimes gives speeches for events. He has earned his GED and plans to go to college.



In 2016, he signed a single-day contract with the minor-league team the Rochester Razorsharks. They put him in the game after establishing a 40-point lead, and Jason scored an additional 10 points. In 2012, he finished in 15th place in the MVP Health Care Rochester Marathon and qualified for the Boston Marathon, which he also completed.