The emails arrive each day.
Ernie,
I too have a son on the Autism spectrum … I could really empathize with the situation you spoke about -- the hurt, the anguish … I get so much pleasure out of my son Joey. He is an amazing kid, as I am sure Ben is as well. I just want to thank you for doing what you do and showing people they don't have to be scared if they are in the situation we both found ourselves in.
And …
Hello, Ernie.
I appreciate and respect all the work you and your wife have put into Ben's autism and the foundation. My little nephew has just recently been diagnosed with it. I love this little guy like he was my own. He is a huge fan of yours. (I don't even have to point you out anymore on TV!) He just says, "Uncle, Big Easy is shooting the puck! Go, Canada, go!"
Anyway, just a note to say you have a great following in Canada and we wish your family the best.
P.S. -- Please win Augusta.
For what it's worth, the Vegas oddsmakers have Ernie Els at 60-1 to win the Masters this week. That's nothing. The odds that Els would ever become an international spokesperson and world-class philanthropist for autism research were a VCU-like long shot, maybe higher.
But here he is, the unlikely front man for a cause he didn't choose. Instead, it chose him -- or more precisely, it chose his 8-year-old son Ben, who was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2006.
• Click here to read the entire story by ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski
