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For hoopster, Deaflympics a crash course in Deaf culture

by Colin Whited on September 11, 2009

When U.S. Men's Basketball Team head coach Keith Westhoelter received a forwarded e-mail from USA Deaf Basketball International Director David Hamilton about a prospective player for the 2009 Taipei Summer Deaflympics squad, he had no idea what to expect. Nearly a year has passed since that e-mail, and USA jersey number six in the Deaflympics now belongs to that same prospect, Brian Cronin. "When I first met Brian, my first impression was that he was a man of great character," Westhoelter said. "Not only is he a good player, he's a great person." For Cronin, the journey to Taipei has been an adventure. "When my brother told me about [the U.S. Basketball Team], I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to see what I was missing out on, to play with other deaf athletes, to represent USA basketball, and to play the game I love to play," he said. Cronin, 29, of Madison, Miss., and his brother were born deaf. His parents didn't know about the Deaf community and sent him to Magnolia Speech School for the Deaf, where sign language was nonexistent. It was there that Cronin learned to lipread, and he took speech lessons until age 17, developing excellent speech. Cronin has played basketball for as long as he can remember. He excelled in the sport in high school, where he made all-conference and all-state two years in a row. His senior year, he was named the Mississippi Class 4A MVP. Despite receiving numerous scholarship offers from schools to play basketball, Cronin opted to stay close to home and enrolled at Mississippi College. There, Cronin's basketball excellence continued, peaking when he was second in the National Junior College Athletic Association in assists per game. For Cronin, the Deaflympics has been a blessing. His first time in an environment where ASL was strictly used came during tryouts, held at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. "Before the Deaflympics, I had no idea of the Deaf community and what it meant to be involved," he said. The Deaflympics "has made me proud to find something to feel connected to, and to know that other people like me are doing the same thing is pretty special." He also has been impressed by other Deaflympians in Taiwan. "I'm proud to see other deaf ambassadors representing their city, their states, and their country—and they're truly great athletes." He added that since he arrived in Taiwan with the rest of the U.S. Team, he can perceive the others' pride in being Deaf. "I can see it, I can feel it, and I think it's awesome. It changed how I perceive myself and the Deaf community," he said. Cronin gives credit to his Deaflympics roommate for helping him evolve as a Deaf individual. "I was fortunate to have Jon Mowl around. He was patient and taught me a lot of things and kept me in the loop in terms of communication. He's a great example of how good people can be in the deaf community," he said. At the Deaflympics in Taiwan, Cronin has averaged about two points and two assists in 19 minutes per game, but his impact goes beyond statistics. His presence has made a positive impression on the team, according to Westhoelter. "He's a great influence to have for our younger players. He makes sure they're prompt and behave like gentlemen. More than often, Brian would say to me, ‘You tell me what I need to do, and I'll do it,'" Westhoelter said. "That man is a template for excellence," he added. "The community needs more people like him." Not only does Cronin hope to help his team win a 14th consecutive gold medal in the Deaflympics, but he also wants to gain a better understanding of the Deaf culture as a whole. "I definitely see myself learning more about [Deafness], especially the communication, and trying to find other avenues where I can be more involved." When Brian is not competing on the hardwood, he coaches on the sidelines as the men's basketball head coach at St. Andrews Episcopal High School in Mississippi. He is also an insurance salesman. He is happily married to Kristy and is expecting his first child in April.

(Photo by Bill Millios)
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