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Ike Ditzenberger is a 17-year-old high school student with Down syndrome and a player on Snohomish Panthers football team in Seattle. Ditzenberger made the news recently with what his teammates call "The Ike Special," an touchdown run designed especially for him.
The Vikings were up 35–0 with seconds to go, when the Panthers quarterback made the hand-off to Ditzenberger. The Vikings sluggishly allowed the Panthers' offensive line to shove them aside, as Ditzenberger sprinted 51 yards to the end zone.
The score now 35-6 as time expired, Ditzenberger performed a touchdown dance with his adoring teammates. Check below for the newly released video of the whole thing, including the tear-jerking screams of excitement from the crowd as soon as they realize what's happening.
One last bit from this story, in case you aren't already bawling (in a manly way, of course). Ike's mother, Kay Ditzenberger, told the media that she couldn't have been prouder of the other players: "They redefined worth. Players often are defined by their scores on the board, but they showed he was worth their effort and time."
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Thursday 30 September
By Ladyrook
I hope every last one of the players parents, friends and school are proud of them. In a time when people can still be some major a-holes towards people that don't look and act like them this was great to see. I hope this video gets played out!
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Friday 01 October
By CJ
I agree with you 100% Beautiful to see all ego's put aside by everyone involved in that game to do something so good, like this.
Thursday 30 September
By Ed
Awesome on so many levels. Way to go guys.
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Thursday 30 September
By mark
seeing "One last bit from this story, in case you aren't already bawling(in a manly way, of course)" below the video made me shed even more tears....great job!
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Thursday 30 September
By Andrew
Am I the only one who doesn't think this is moving? Special needs people can really do plenty of spectacular things without other people spoon feeding success them like a baby.
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Thursday 30 September
By Ken
I agree. Maybe Ike feels good now, but how will he feel when he finds out that his own team conspired with their opponents to deceive him? Does this show that score doesn't matter, or does it show that Ike had to score points to be worth caring about? It seems like our opinion is a tiny minority, though.
Thursday 30 September
By Go, Wolf-Spider!
True, but you have to realize that their spectacular events aren't shown in a format such as this. It's like the commercial where teenagers elect someone with Down Syndrome Prom Queen. That kid might not have been playing at all. That might have been the first time he's played. He might never play again. This is hypothetical, because I don't know his situation. Yes, the other players didn't HAVE to let him score. It was something they WANTED to do. Just like taking a knee after a touchdown.
Wolf-Spider
Thursday 30 September
By Amanda
These are two of the most heartless comments I've ever seen. How often do you see special needs children get to participate in activities such as football? You don't. You take this 17 year old boy, put him on a field with people he looks up to, and he gets to score a touchdown because the other team was compassionate enough not to force the blow-out. This act of love wasn't mean to belittle this child. It was meant to inspire him to do the impossible and be accepted as "normal" in an otherwise cruel and inconsiderate world. There is no doubt that this little boy has touched everyone's lives he has ever come into contact with. Why not respect his team mates' appreciation for his love.
Saturday 02 October
By lividmonky
Amanda is right on this. People with Down's syndrome can live fully productive lives and can do amazing things. However, in this case, both teams worked together to let him have this moment. Why do you have to rain on his parade? He doesn't need to know that it was handed to him. You obviously never worked with special needs kids before, Andrew.
Thursday 30 September
By chris
all this did was show that the only way a special needs kid can do anything is if you lay down for him. thats not the way the world works. if i was ike's parent i would be pissed that all these people pity my kid instead of treating him like everyone else.
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Friday 01 October
By Adventurer Rich
Ok, so a bunch of guys didn't feel that a blow-out was worth tackling a kid with Down Syndrome... and what is not real life about that? This did not show that "the only way a special needs kid can do anything is if you lay down for him." This did show that it is easier for this particular "special needs" kid to score a touchdown in a high school football game if he is not tackled. And, it is obvious, this kid felt very good about himself; how often do you think that happens for him? Do you think that because he has "special needs" that he doesn't realize that he is different from all of the other kids? A group of people decided to give this child (and, God bless them, his parents [whom you are definitely not strong enough to be] ) a memory that will last a lifetime. What father has never let his small son beat him at arm wrestling, or score an outlandish hoop on him, or let that little 5-year-old tackle him? We do things for those who are less fortunate than us, or are weaker than us, or don't have the advantages that we do... or who we are trying to teach the ways of the world... in an effort to build the self-confidence of another; this is one of the many things that separates us from all other animals. At times, we let someone "weaker" than us succeed because it is the right thing to do... and because it makes us feel good.
All of this discussion is pretty irrelevant anyway, because what you and I think is or isn't or should or shouldn't be doesn't matter. This entire event happened... in real life... like it or not... so how can you say this is not what happens in the real world? It just did, Sparky! Real world, real touchdown; so quit being so negative.
Saturday 02 October
By lividmonky
You guys are just jealous that you've never scored before.
Friday 01 October
By lucysjazzz
If you can't see the good in this you are not human!
Reply
Friday 01 October
By CJ
Adventure Rich, great way to put it, well done sir.
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Friday 01 October
By Atlas366
Guess I'm not human then, oh and I'm heartless too. This disgusting story says far more about the rest of society's need to feel good about themselves than the poor kid who was cruelly and wickedly deceived. Bending reality to give someone a false, cheap sense of accomplishment isn't brave and it isn't lofty, it is called lying. The other poster is right, Ike isn't so inept that he won't later come to realize that the joke was on him. Those of you false-altrusists are the ones who should be ashamed. Too bad you weren't there in person to laud him in a paternalistic, sing-songy, voice about what a great job he did. So false.
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Saturday 02 October
By asuigeneris1
I suppose you tell small children their pictures are bad because they color out of the lines too? : P
...tell your wife she looks crappy and fat in her clothes maybe?
People who feel a need to be "honest" all the time, typically like to hurt others...it gets them off. LOL
Saturday 02 October
By asuigeneris1
Oh and also, did you ever consider that even if the boy does eventually figure out that the touchdown was "given" to him...he might just think wow, people thought I am such a nice kid that they wanted me to be happy for that moment, I sure am lucky.
...most people would feel blessed to have people care about their happiness that much.
Saturday 02 October
By chris
rich obviously thinks down syndrome kids arent capable of doing anything for themselves. ike doesnt want to be treated like the down syndrome kid, he wants to be treated like a football player. you dont make someone feel like they belong by treating them different. sooner or later ike is going to realize what happened and feel like crap. you said this was real life and it was a real touchdown. well your wrong. the touchdown wasnt earned. it was pity. atlas was right, it is disgusting.
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Saturday 02 October
By asuigeneris1
Dude you have absolutely no idea to what degree this child has Down's, he may be very limited indeed...and just being able to mainstream at all with kids his own age might just be spectacular for him, so don't judge a situation that you have little inside knowledge of.
...if the boys mother feels blessed he was included and cared about, then I trust her opinion and judgment far more than yours.
Saturday 02 October
By lividmonky
Seriously, you guys who are saying that this is stupid or bad really have never worked with or probably even met someone with Down's Syndrome. This moment probably made that kid's life. The point isn't that special needs kids can't do anything unless it is given to them. The point is that this kids wants to try. He wants to be like these other kids who have the opportunity to play football. He got that wish. These other kids and their coaches allowed this kid, who has had more obstacles and challenges in his life than you can even fathom, to have that chance. You guys should really think before posting preposterous comments in which you have no idea what you're talking about.
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