excellent story Kathy, and thanks Patrick for sharing it with the rest of the state. Many of us that spend hours following our local school teams walk into our home gyms and see the same faces week in and out and though we may not know them all-we know they'll be there enjoying the games. As the small schools go, i know that walking into one of our other conference gyms, there will be the same faces (like Bill) attending games with passion for their home team. Wyoming high school sports is truly a community affair, and for that we are very fortunate.

Great Story. Its nice to read something positive on here for a change.

I am looking forward to this weekend, so I can go to the Ron Thon Memorial Wrestling Invitational in Riverton, Wyoming. It is great watching the wrestling matches and meeting the fans. I really enjoy talking to the fans and seeing them again a couple of weeks later at another meet. Sometimes I do not even ask them their names, but enjoy talking with them. Other times we just exchange smiles. I hope we all can plow through the snow and wind, plus have a safe trip in our travels. Be careful!

Seeing Bill at basketball games in gillette was a great thing. He was probably the nicest man i had ever met and cared about everyone. It was incredible what he could remember about people. By the way did you used to work in gillette patrick?

gtown, I was in Gillette for a while. It was my first job out of college, from June-October 2004. I've got a lot of respect for what Kathy does with the sports up there; she does a great job. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet Bill while I was there....
--patrick

After coaching for the better part of three decades, I have found that many communities have a "Bill" that follows the "home team" or in some cases the entire state. Whether it be "Matt the Stat" in Laramie, or Daniel in Casper. It puts high school sports into perspective and how much pleasure they get from being "a part of the game". I would only hope that more people take a look through Bill's eyes when they attend high school games.

I don't know why they say grown men don't cry. The Adam Lavery mentioned in the article is my nephew. Thought this was a great story.

'We want Jerry' 'We want Jerry'
Every once in a while, something happens to restore your faith in humanity. In fact, sometimes what happens makes you wonder why you questioned it in the first place.


On Tuesday night, Frontenac senior Jerry Ruthberg got to suit up with the varsity, got to play the final 38 seconds and got to score the final point in the Raiders' 50-37 victory over Southeast. It was Senior Night, the Raiders' final regular-season game and one chance for Ruthberg to savor a moment of glory.

Ruthberg is a special needs student at Frontenac. He's been the manager for the Raiders this season. And on Tuesday, head coach Paul Colton agreed to let Ruthberg suit up with the team.

He took warmups with the Raiders, drawing cheers from fans whenever he sank a shot. Then he spent most of the game on the bench as the Raiders were locked in a tight game with the Lancers.

But in the final minute, a lot of people did something to make Ruthberg a star.

During a timeout with 52 seconds left, the crowd began chanting "We Want Jerry," as it appeared that Ruthberg might get into the game. But with the outcome still a little in doubt, Colton delayed his decision to put Ruthberg in.

With Frontenac leading 46-35 with 38.8 seconds left, senior Adam Lavery volunteered to come out of the game so Ruthberg could go in. Lavery, mind you, was one of the five senior starters, playing the last regular-season game of his high school career.

And he was more than willing to share the limelight.

The crowd went nuts as Ruthberg checked in at the scorer's table and trotted onto the court.

The Raiders spent most of those final 38.8 seconds trying to get Ruthberg the ball. After a few attempts failed by teammates Kris Knaup and Josh Bird, Southeast guard Zack Dainty came to the rescue.

Instead of worrying about his own points, knowing the outcome had been decided, Dainty turned an easy steal into a voluntary turnover, handing the ball back to Ruthberg, then gently fouling him with 1.2 seconds left.

Both Colton and Knaup recognized Dainty's efforts. Colton summoned the Lancer sophomore to the Raider bench and shook his hand. Knaup, standing with Dainty near the halfcourt line, patted his opponent on the back, then also offered a handshake to say thank you.

The crowd was going bonkers now, again chanting Ruthberg's name rhythmically as he trudged from one end of the court to the other for his free throw attempts.

The chants gave way to silence as he eyed the basket and clanged the first attempt high off the backboard.

And then, in a magic moment right out of the movies, he swished the second one.

The crowd reacted as if he'd hit the game-winning basket in the state championship game. When the time finally ran off the clock, nearly everyone ran to Ruthberg. There were smiles, and even a few tears.

And Ruthberg was the happiest person on the planet. Hoisted on the shoulders of his senior teammates for a moment, he was a hero.

Thanks to a lot of other heroes who made it all possible.

Bill McMillen, for The Morning Sun

Thank you for sharing that story Bill. That puts it all into perspective. What an incredible group of human beings in that gym that night.....on both sides. We can all take a lesson.

I loved the story Bill shared with us. To many people worry about "me" and want to be a hero. Yes Mike, we all can and should take a lesson.