    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [March 14, 2006]
    [Pages 470-471]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Jason McElwain and an Exchange With Reporters in Rochester, New York
    March 14, 2006

        The President. First of all, it's great to be here in upstate New
    York. As you can see, a special person has
    greeted me at the airport.
        Jason, mind if I call you J-Mac?
        Jason McElwain. Yeah. [Laughter]
        The President. I call him J-Mac. You call
    me George W. [Laughter]
        But our country was captivated by an amazing story on the basketball
    court. I think it's a story of Coach Johnson's
    willingness to give a person a chance. It's a story of Dave and Debbie's deep love for
    their son, and it's a story of a young man
    who found his touch on the basketball court, which in turn, touched the
    hearts of citizens all across the country.
        So I want to thank you for being here. You probably didn't realize
    the impact you were going to have on people all across America and
    around the world when you made those six 3s in a row. I've kind of
    gotten off the courts these days because I'm getting old, but if I got
    back on the courts, I'd need a lesson--[laughter]--on how to rotate that
    ball. But let me have that there, Coach.
        James Johnson. Okay. There you go, sir.

    [At this point, the President held a sign with Jason's picture.]

    [[Page 471]]

        The President. Thank you. There you go. Kind of looks like you.
        Anyway, thank you all for coming. God bless. I appreciate the
    wonderful story that's come out of your family.
        Q. Mr. President, how did you hear about the story, and what's your
    reaction?
        The President. Saw it on TV. Saw it on TV, and I wept, just like a
    lot of other people. It's just one of those stories that touched a lot
    of people's heart.
        Q. Did somebody play it for you, or did you just see it?
        The President. I can't remember exactly how it happened. Probably
    somebody played it for me, you know, being the President and all. But
    it's a wonderful tale.
        God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:50 a.m. at the Greater Rochester
    International Airport. In his remarks, he referred to Jason McElwain, an
    autistic student at Greece Athena High School who scored 20 points in
    his first varsity basketball game; and James Johnson, coach, Greece
    Athena High School boys basketball team.