His Legacy Is Love of Basketball
Twenty-four years isn’t a whole lot of time. Jason Ferguson didn’t seem to waste much of it.
So let’s not waste any time, or words, summing up his life. He did it himself.
“Basketball is my life . . .
So what do you say about a guy who coached from a wheelchair?
. . . If I didn’t have basketball . . .
What do you say about a guy who had to gasp for breath, but still whispered instructions to his assistant to relay to the team during games?
. . . you are talking about a man just sitting around his house . . .
What do you say about a guy who was weary from chemotherapy treatments, but made practice--except when he was in the hospital?
. . . day-to-day-to-day thinking all the time . . .
What do you say about a guy who was fighting to survive, but would postpone treatments to coach games?
. . . about all the negative things . . .
What do you say about a guy who became nauseated just thinking about eating, lost 60 pounds, was given a week to live--five months ago--who could no longer work but who insisted on coaching his team?
. . . that can happen with cancer.”
What do you say?
More words?
A lot has been written about Ferguson the last couple of days. Why? He died of cancer early Sunday. It was tragic and it’s time to remember.
Actions, by him and by others, seem to speak best. Why muck it up with words?
* Four years ago, he told his Costa Mesa freshman team he expected to win all 21 games. They burst out laughing, all of them. They didn’t win 21 games, but their attitudes changed.
* He created, and strictly enforced, a study hall for his players.
* Costa Mesa won three Pacific Coast League games last season after winning only three the previous three seasons.
* The Laguna Beach basketball team, a Pacific Coast League rival, held a free-throw shooting contest this year to raise money to help offset Ferguson’s medical bills. It brought in $1,000.
* The Costa Mesa booster club raised another $5,000.
* Local charities chipped in with food and clothing.
* The Costa Mesa student body adopted Ferguson as part of its adopt-a-family program during the holidays.
* A group of Costa Mesa students recorded a “get-well video” Friday and sent it to the hospital because only family was allowed to visit.
Basically, Ferguson didn’t have a whole lot of time but didn’t seem to waste it. He loved a game. He played it and coached it.
If you need words, Ferguson already said plenty. All that needed to be said anyway.
“Basketball is all about fun . . .
His father, sister and brother will grieve. His fiancee will. Friends, colleagues, students will. It’s a sad time.
. . . go out and enjoy it . . .
What would he be doing this week? That’s easy, he’d be at a basketball game.
. . . don’t take any off-court problems onto the floor . . .
Go to a high school basketball game--any high school basketball game. Go enjoy yourself. It’s all about fun.
. . . and don’t worry about about things you have no control over.”
Great words.
What do you say about a guy? Only this . . .
Jason Ferguson, one of the youngest coaches in Orange County history and in his second season as head of the boys’ basketball team at Costa Mesa High School, died after an inspiring, yearlong battle against a rare form of cancer.
He was 24.
