When he was a teenager, José Rodriguez was kicked out of public school.
He was diagnosed with a learning disability and sent to a school for students with special needs.
This qualified him to participate in the New Jersey Special Olympics -- any child or adult with an intellectual disability can take part.
At StoryCorps, José told his former coach Charles Zelinsky what his life was like before he found the games.
José is now a Special Olympics basketball coach -- and will be coaching during the 2012 New Jersey Summer Games.
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From: StoryCorps
Robert Stokely remembers honoring his son, Army Sgt. Michael Stokely, who was killed in Iraq in 2005.
StoryCorps: Adrian Hawkins and Horace Atwater Jr.
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Adrian Hawkins talks to his foster father, Horace Atwater Jr.
StoryCorps: Shengqiao Chen and Zehao Zhou
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Shengqiao Chen (L) tells his friend Zehao Zhou (R) about being smuggled to the U.S. aboard the Golden Venture in 1993.
StoryCorps MVI: Travis Williams
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Iraq war Veteran Travis Williams, sole survivor of his 12-man squad, remembers the explosion that took his 11 teammates.
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Sally Edwards (L) and Lue Hutchinson (R) remember becoming friends after they both lost sons in the Gulf War.
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Herman Blake and his brother Sidney remember their childhood during the 1940s
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(02:54)
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Jack Richmond tells his daughter, Reagan, about being an amputee.
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(02:20)
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Staff Sergeant Daniel Hodd and his mother, Evelyn, talk about Daniel's decision to put aside a promising career as a pianist in order to join the Marine Corps.
StoryCorps Historias: Ruben Aguilar and Bill Luna
(02:01)
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Ruben Aguilar tells his friend Bill Luna about his family's deportation as part of the Mexican Repatriation Program in 1933.
StoryCorps: Dawn Maestas
(04:00)
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Dawn Maestas, who removes tattoos for survivors of domestic violence, talks to a client about her work.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
When he was a teenager, José Rodriguez was kicked out of public school.
He was diagnosed with a learning disability and sent to a school for students with special needs.
This qualified him to participate in the New Jersey Special Olympics -- any child or adult with an intellectual disability can take part.
At StoryCorps, José told his former coach Charles Zelinsky what his life was like before he found the games.
José is now a Special Olympics basketball coach -- and will be coaching during the 2012 New Jersey Summer Games.
Broadcast History
NPR's Morning Edition June 8, 2012
Transcript
José Rodriguez: I got into the street life at the age of 8. If there was a fight, I was there. There was no turning anything down, I didn’t care if he bigger than me; I fought just about anybody.
But my little brother got sick when he was 4 of encephalitis. I sort of helped my mom with him around the house: feeding him, and stretching him. After he passed away that’s when I realized, you know, my mom can’t really handle another son passing away so I basically turned my life around. I started playing basketball, and opportunities just opened up for me.
Charles Zelinsky: Yes, and in 2006 New Jersey Special Olympics was going to the national games and you were one of ten athletes picked from the entire state. At that competition, we took fourth. But we had a second chance to go back in 2010. Do you remember at halftime we were losing by eight?
JR: Yeah. I gathered the team up and I was l...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:It is Friday, and that means time for StoryCorps, the project that captures the memories of everyday people. States across the country are hosting their annual Special Olympics summer games, and New Jersey's opening ceremonies begin later today. Jose Rodriguez joined the New Jersey Special Olympics back in 2003. He was 13 years old. Special Olympics is for people with intellectual disabilities, and Jose struggles with reading and writing. At StoryCorps, Jose told his former coach, Charles Zelinsky, what his life was like before he found the games.
OUTRO:Charles Zelinsky and Jose Rodriguez at StoryCorps in Trenton, New Jersey. Jose is now a Special Olympics coach himself, and he'll be coaching games this weekend. To see photos of Jose and his former teammates, visit NPR.org.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Tranvía | Jenifer Avila | Best of Breitband Vol. 2. | FMA-Limited | 2010 | 00:21 |
Additional Credits
Capella University
Related Website
