The choices we make....



At approximately 12:01 AM more than 120 players in the NBA will become either free agents or restricted free agents, the second term meaning that their current team can match any deal they are offered. Often this is one of the biggest moments of any offseason in sports because of the fact that even just the arrival of one player can turn a franchise's hopes around, just look at what happened when LeBron James returned to Cleveland (not to mention what happened when he first left). For some guys, it's an opportunity to begin anew, and for others it's a chance to continue something special where they are currently planted.

For those who have the freedom to go wherever they wish, a number of factors always comes into play. Some choose to go because of the amount of money they can receive, for others, it's a chance to finally get over the hump and win a title. Regardless of their choice, their arrival can impact not only the team they join, but the one they left.

We all have those situations in life where we face a difficult choice. It could be a career change, a move to another area, or in some cases, a relationship. You've heard the old saying, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread," that's often because we make choices in life without counting the costs. Do we look at what we are sometimes giving up because the grass looks greener on the other side? If we aren't careful, the end result of making the wrong choice costs more in the long run than we ever wanted to pay.

This is why it's always wise to take time to see the big picture and not the immediate gains when making life choices. Consult the wisdom of those who have ventured before you, and of those who you trust have your best interests at heart. You might find that the best choices are the ones we don't make.

Here's hoping that each of these players have taken the time to count the cost before making a choice that will impact possibly the prime of their lives. Here's also hoping that no one decides to make their decision on a prime time television show.

A father's gift...

As a kid I used to watch cartoons of superheroes such as Superman, He-Man, and G.I. Joe, always excited to see how they overcame the odds to beat the villains. The next day at school while most kids would pretend to be their favorite superheroes, the person I wanted to imitate didn't wear a cape or a mask, and wasn't able to lift up a building with one hand. No, the person I most wanted to be like had an ability that couldn't be measured in physical attributes, but in wisdom, guidance and love. It is the man here in the photo, my father, John Henry Reid III.

Don't get me wrong, I was your typical 80's action hero fan, but there was something just a little more special whenever it was my father and I watching them together. He had a way of explaining it that made the light bulb in my mind go off just a little bit brighter. I would marvel as he would tell stories of his life growing up as a one of the first 10 students to integrate Bibb County Schools in Macon, Georgia. Whether it was about his coming-of-life tale as a Freedom Fighter to his more radical days, his knowledge and experience taught me so much growing up that it was a fascination for me just to hear what he had to say.

Both he and my mom had such an awesome responsibility to deal with four boys growing up in the South, but yet I never heard him complain about it. We grew up when hip-hop was entering its golden age, and despite the clash in cultures and ideologies, there was a mutual understanding...a lot of that you can thank Will Smith's "Parents Just Don't Understand" video. One memory I had was I was 9 and went to see "Transformers: The Movie" and the Optimus Prime death scene came up. Despite the tears that were shed, he was always there to give us encouragement, no matter what. That is what he would do, be there to give that pat on the back when we needed it. Another time was when I was called a racial epithet by another kid at the age of 7. I was stunned at first by the comment and didn't know how to respond, but then he said to me as I got home, "more people will despise you for your faith than they will your color." He always knows just what to say to put things in greater perspective. Disciplined yet fair, that's my dad in a nutshell.

Being a former athlete himself, he always inspires me push for my best, on and off the field. What he taught me most of all, was patience and endurance, how to always believe in the best, and that in the end, things will work out. I remember the celebrations we had when the Atlanta Braves won their first title in 1995, to his tears being shed when America elected its first black President in 2008. He is a man of passion and love for God and family, but even to this day when we talk about sports, there is always the wisdom he displays that made me believe that even now, things will get better.

Some marvel to be like Mike, others to be like Jay-Z, but for me, there's only one man I wish I could be half of what he is, and that's my role model, my father. Happy Father's Day dad, I love you.

Hangin' in the rough...

OK, full disclosure here, I am an avid golf fan. I don't care if it's a Sunday at the Masters or the first round of the Dinah Shore Classic, I am all about the links. I often joke with my father that heaven must be a beautiful day where the sky is blue and all 18 holes are open on the golf course. So before going on, I want to provide fair warning that there will be many golf terms in here that will be broken down in its most laymen of terms.

Today is the beginning of the 115th US Open, which is one of the four major championships of the PGA. For the next four days the world's best golfers will head up to Chambers Bay near Seattle to compete for the silver jug. Leading up to the tournament all of the talk about not just who would win but instead who will overcome the rough conditions of the course.

There has been a lot of complaining from the most professional golfers about the design of the course, with the potential of several floating pars and terrain that you wouldn't drive a 4-Runner through. The course is full of sand and little grass, likening it to the conditions usually reserved for the British Open. Whether the concerns about the course are true or not, the fact that there are rumblings point to what could be a very interesting weekend of excuses if the scores are low.

However, I think there is a lesson to be applied here and that's this: Nothing is supposed to be easy, especially at this level. When it comes to obtaining any major goal in life, there needs to be a great level of difficulty. It's as the old saying goes, "Tough times never last but tough people do." Difficulty exposes character, whether one has it or not.

Caleb could've easily did what the other spies did in Numbers 13 and backed away when he saw the giants in the Promised Land, but said, "We can take the land!" He didn't look to the difficulty, he looked to the goal. Often we will count the costs when it comes to a huge task and say, "It's too much, I won't do it."

Each of us come to a point in our lives where we have to step out in faith, not just faith in Christ, but the faith OF Christ, which says, "It's done." It takes going beyond our human thinking when we see a tough situation ahead of us, but instead of murmuring and complaining, we need to step out of the boat and say, "It's done, and nothing will stand in my way."

Real value...

Last night the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the 2015 NBA championship for the first time in 39 years, yet the majority of the post-game conversation centered around who would win the Finals Most Valuable Player. Would it be LeBron James, who led all players in points, rebounds and assists? Or would it be regular season MVP Stephen Curry, who led the Warriors to the title despite not having a very great series?

The MVP award went to Andre Iguodala, who did not start a game all season until Game 4 of the Finals. He brought a myriad of skills that helped the Warriors win the penultimate prize, but it was something more that he represented to this series: his value. The ongoing debate about who would win the award almost became bigger than the winner of the championship. The question at hand was who best represented value to the overall goal?

To many, value has been defined by statistics and results. Men are quick to size one another up, focusing more on what another man does for his occupation and the amount of his net worth as opposed to how he is as a father, a husband, or friend. Women find value in the clothes they wear, or the shoes they walk in, or even the person they're dating. Often their definition of value becomes based on superficial and artificial accomplishments.

Real value is based upon our character. My father always tells me, "Integrity is who you are when no one's looking." It's being able to enjoy the little things in life. Do you value the words of a loved one, or just being in the presence of friends? When's the last time you valued a good night's rest, or took the time to value a nice walk on a beautiful sunny day with your significant other?

Value is what brings true peace of mind, something that cannot be quantified in dollars and cents. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Discover what is truly valuable to you, and it will bring an unspeakable joy.

What is True Greatness?

During this age of 24/7 news media, where every quote or deed can be analyzed to unprecedented levels (imagine if former President Bill Clinton was in the Oval Office now...hoo boy) we were treated to the power of the message boards when Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James was at the press conference after Game 5's loss to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. A reporter approached James with the inquiry of why he had not yet lost confidence in his team to win and force a Game 7. James responded with, "I'm confident because I'm the best player in the world."

It sent media outlets such as ESPN and sports talk radio into a near frenzy. The comments section of any sports website went as follows, "How dare this man come out with such braggadocio after such a loss?" "Everyone already knows how good he is, does he need to remind us every time," and my personal favorite, "Michael Jordan never said that during his playing days!"

Ah, how soon we forget Jordan's now infamous Hall of Fame speech, which was the ultimate "I told you so" moment to everyone who had the misfortune of attending. What LeBron said was something that isn't exactly breaking news, but the reaction and vitriol directed at him was one of disdain and continued a long-running feud between LeBron and the fans who have yet to forgive him for "The Decision."

If we take a step back, we would see that throughout the history of sports, there has always been a myriad of athletes who have laid claim to being the G.O.A.T (Greatest of all time) and usually have what it takes to back up such a statement. The person best associated with that term (if you ask your local barbershop) would be Muhammad Ali, a fighter whose skill inside the ring was only bested by his bravado out of it. Whether it was him saying "I'm King of the World!" to "It ain't bragging if you back it up," Ali had a charisma that endeared him to the public at large, even after his legal battles against the United States for refusing to go to war, and after embracing of the Islamic faith in a time when racial tensions were at an all time high.

Ali was a man of many quotes, but there was one particular quote that reminded me of what James said and what defines true greatness...

He was a man of conviction, a conviction that he was willing to go to prison for. If Ali had any shortcomings, he wasn't going to broadcast them. However, what Mr. Ali did not realize that even the true greats in history had a character trait that made them who they are: humility. Humility that recognizes that in our own selves, we cannot achieve greatness. Humility that says, "Left to my own devices, I am limited. I need someone greater than me who has no limits."

Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It recognizes our need for the one who created the heavens and the Earth. One who is able to go on their knees in humility can stand before kings!

He's got a plan, you know...

This is Chuck Pagano, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Many of you may remember him from his first season under the headset in 2012 as he battled leukemia in the fall, which prompted the popular #Chuckstrong hashtag in showing support. Later that year the cancer went into remission and since then he has used that experience to help others. The latest example of that assistance took place yesterday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Rita Hay, who is 70 and has been diagnosed with liver and lung cancer, was given six months to live by her doctors. One of her final wishes was to visit the inside of the stadium, and through the help of Indianapolis Star reporter Bob Kravitz, Hay was able to visit the facility while the Colts were having open workouts. Along with her family, she was able to meet players such as Andrew Luck, but it was when Pagano arrived that a very special conversation took place. For full details visit the following link: http://www.wthr.com/story/29291331/kravitz-pagano-and-colts-make-a-dying-womans-wish-come-true

Below is an excerpt of the conversation. (credit: Bob Kravitz, Indianapolis Star)


"Oh, there's Chuck Pagano, there's Chuck Pagano!" Rita said.

Pagano leaned over Rita in her wheelchair, smiled.

"How you doing, baby?" he asked. "How you doing?"

"Oh," she said like a young schoolgirl. "I'm doing OK. I'm in Stage Four."

"He's got a plan, you know," Pagano said.

Rita nodded. "I know He does."

Pagano continued: Never give up, keep believing. I didn't know why when I got my set of circumstances, didn't know why He put me where He put me. But going through it and seeing where I am now, I understand it. I completely understand it. So that I could do this and help people going through tough times. ... You're an inspiration to all of us, Rita."

We all experience some rough patches in our lives. It could be the loss of loved one, an illness, loss of job, or a myriad of issues. However, we have to be reminded that in those circumstances we are given strength by God, and faith in God, to endure through those rough times. Is life fair? No, but it was never meant to be. However, that doesn't mean that bad times last forever. It becomes a test of faith and we have to remember that it is always darkest before the dawn.

Pagano's and Hay's respective battles are tremendous but they both understand that He's got a plan. If we hold true to that understanding then our own personal tests will become a testimony. The testimony will be not just overcoming the trial, but of the one who brings us out of it.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

A-Rod: A lesson in forgiveness

I was watching the Washington Nationals - New York Yankees game earlier today, and Yankee DH Alex Rodriguez stepped up to the plate. Normally that wouldn't mean a whole hill of beans to me, but then moments later during his at-bat they showed the photo above, and it was the night he hit his 661st home run, breaking a tie with the legendary Willie Mays for 4th on the all-time list. Look at the fans in the background, the adoration they thrust upon him as he comes back out for a curtain call.

This still photo says a lot about the sports fan in America. Before I get to that, a question that must be asked: do you think this type of reaction would've been possible for him at THAT stadium a year ago, when he was suspended for his role in the Biogenesis scandal? Even more, the thought of him receiving any type of cheers was wishful thinking at best. Upon his return there was a fan at Camden Yards in Baltimore that would turn his back whenever A-Rod would come up to bat. HIs name was literally mud, but a few home runs later, and everyone was (mostly) ready to cheer his historic home run pursuit.

Yes, the cynic can say "Well they're only supporting him because he's wearing pinstripes," but there's a larger point here. The point that Yankee fans were ready to forgive their prodigal son, even after he disgraced the organization and tainted his accomplishments by using performance enhancing drugs. Sports as a whole becomes a platform for the display of human character, and much like fans were ready to forgive Mark McGwire for his past indiscretions, it seems that people have moved on from the chants of "A-Fraud" in Gotham. This is the same organization that saw other players who have had their own personal struggles (Steve Howe, Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry) become beloved family members when they put on the uniform, but it shows that in essence, people are generally willing to forgive one another.

Forgiveness is not obviously just something Yankee fans do, but sports fans are willing to forgive and forget if a person is sincere about seeking redemption. This should be something that we should not struggle with doing, but be quick to establish rapport with everyone. It should be normal, and the sooner we learn to forgive the better off we'll be, because forgiveness is not for the person who offended us, it's about bringing release for us.

The price of pride...

This is former Houston Rockets shooting guard Vernon Maxwell, better known in NBA circles as "Mad Max." His career was highlighted by his ability to hit 3 pointers as much as it was for his ability to create sudden and sometimes uncontrollable outbursts, on and off the court. Being transparent for a moment, he was must see TV in the 1990s, because I knew that every time he was on the tube, there was a chance he was going to do something either really exciting or really crazy. It was that unpredictability that kept me glued. My wife and I were watching "Clutch City" on NBA TV, which chronicled the success of the Houston Rockets' championship teams, and it showed yet another characteristic of Maxwell, one that he would eventually live to regret...pride.

Midway through the 1994-1995 season the Rockets were mired in a slump and traded for Hall of Famer Clyde "The Glide" Drexler. As he and star center Hakeem Olajuwon were celebrating their reunion from their Phi Slamma Jamma days, Maxwell was being sent to the bench in favor of Drexler. He began to sulk and pout and it all came to a head in the first round of the 1995 playoffs. After only playing 5 minutes he decided that he had enough, and left the team's locker room saying that he had enough and was going home. The Rockets had no other recourse than to deactivate him for the remainder of the playoffs. While Maxwell was home, the Rockets celebrated their second title in June of that year.

While watching the documentary, he stated that "leaving the team was the dumbest thing I've ever done in my life." He was right. Often in sports we have seen players who were at their wits end and they make the decision to leave the team. What they don't realize is that they are not just leaving their teammates, they're quitting on everyone who believed in them. There's a saying that goes "the lazy disrespects everyone who believes in them." As a basketball coach I often have to encourage the players that they are not just playing for themselves, but for everyone who goes on that court with them.

We have seen the spirit of pride create such a false sense of security in a person that they make choices not in spirit but in flesh, and it tears them away from the fabric of community. It happened to the church at Corinth, it has happened to great men and women leaders of the faith, and it's happened in families. If we allow pride to seep into our abodes, it can quickly establish domain and divide the home. Maxwell allowed his pride to get the best of him, and ended up watching his team obtain the ultimate accomplishment without him.

Every year I tell the team Proverbs 11:2 "Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
Pride is something we have to be aware of quickly, for it's as the old saying goes, "Praise is like perfume...okay to smell, deadly to swallow." If we find that we are taking in too much praise of our works, it's time to take a step back, and do what is best for everyone. Although Maxwell eventually made peace with his teammates, his walking out on the team is a reminder of what happens when we put self before others.

Jesus teaches us to be givers, as He was. When you are a giver, you don't have time to take in the spirit of Pride.

Where were you when...

Sports are all about creating memories. How many of you remember where you were, or what you were doing when Jordan hit "The Shot" in 1998? Or when President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium after 9/11? Or even today, when American Pharaoh made history and was the first horse in 37 years to win horse racing's Triple Crown? Do you remember the excitement that took place? The euphoria than rang throughout the room or arena when you saw that moment? It's something you never forget.

For me it was a special moment on Jan. 20, 1999, when my beloved Atlanta Falcons defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship to advance to their only Super Bowl. Watching Morten Andersen make that kick sent a wave of joy throughout the Reid household like never before. Not only was it surreal to see the Falcons of all teams get to football's penultimate game, the timing of it all was a reminder of why we love sports; sometimes it can serve as a healing moment.

If I may share a personal story for just a moment, it will explain everything. Just a few months earlier, my oldest brother Troy went home to be with the Lord, and we were still dealing with the pain of our tragic loss, especially with his only son just a few weeks away from being born. There wasn't much to be excited about during the latter months of 1998, but each Sunday the Falcons gave us, if for only a day, a welcome distraction, especially since we weren't used to them being so successful. When they won the game, everyone, including my mother, screamed in such exhilaration that it was something we always believed brought us together in a special way.

The reason I brought this up is that if you watched the interview after today's Belmont Stakes, there was the owner of American Pharaoh Bob Baffert, in tears, saying how he wished his parents were there to see that special victory. There was no talk of how much money he was going to make, or what it felt like to finally break the drought, but only of his family. It was a beautiful moment that was so touching.

When it comes to special victories and moments, how often do we go back to remember what took place? Joshua 4:21-24 does just that "²¹ He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ ²² tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ ²³ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea^[a] when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. ²⁴ He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

They remembered the great victory that the Lord provided the Israelites when they crossed the Jordan River on dry ground. How often do we take time out of our busyness to remember the victories that God has provided us in our lives? When was the last time we created a memorial to thank Him for that time we prayed for healing? Or a job that we thought was impossible to get at first?

If we can take time to remember the Miracle on Ice, when do we take time to remember the victories that the creator of miracles has given us?

No Control, No Peace

 

 

Yesterday a report came out from the Associated Press that the University of North Carolina was charged by the NCAA with five Level 1 violations in an academic probe. A 59-page report was released by the university, providing a detailed summary of the allegations ranging from student-athletes receiving access to courses that non-athletes did not receive. The two greatest allegations that occurred within the formerly named African and Afro-American Studies department were as follows (credit to ESPN.com)

 

 

• There was a lack of institutional control in failing to "sufficiently monitor" the interactions between the AFAM and the academic support departments, and athletes received "preferential access" to AFAM's irregular courses.

• Academic counselors "leveraged" relationships from fall 2002 to summer 2011 with AFAM faculty and staff to provide athletes with benefits such as suggesting assignments, turning in papers for them and recommending grades. In addition, 10 athletes exceeded UNC's 12-hour limit of independent study credits countable toward graduation between fall 2006 and summer 2011 due to misidentified "paper classes."


Although there were other charges such as a lack of cooperation from the staff, no coaches were involved in the transgressions. The key words that stick out for me is "lack of institutional control," because it suggests that those in charge were willing to compromise their core values in order to help these student-athletes get ahead in their academics. Now we know this is hardly the first time this has happened within an institution of higher education, but it seems that there is a common theme among these schools that suddenly find themselves in hot water with the NCAA (who isn't exactly a model organization, but that's for another day).

Whether it was from illegal payments to Michigan's "Fab Five", to the altering of grades at numerous universities, the theme that seems to take place is compromise. A compromise of doing what is immediately beneficial for what is best for the student. I remember the outcry when the school teachers in Atlanta were convicted for altering students' grades, and what has occurred here is even worse. As an educator, it saddens me to see when these administrators decide to sell long-term growth for short-term gain. When it comes to academics + athletics, some administrators are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure their ultimate objective. Not to ensure that the student graduates and becomes a productive member of society, but to gain a victory on the gridiron, the basketball court, or any other sporting endeavor.

Lack of institutional control is basically the result of forgetting this one Biblical command in Luke 22:26 "But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." Leaders have to understand that when they are given this special assignment, they must govern and rule as one who serves. History has been littered with stories of schools, churches, and government which has fallen due to lack of control. Therefore, an atmosphere of greed and short-sightedness becomes the standard, and everyone involved suffers as a result.

To quote Helen Lovejoy...



Dear NBA Fan...

Every so often I believe that instead of making a statement to the general audience in these blogs, a simple letter will suffice. In this instance, a letter to a particular group of people who sometimes misses the bigger picture, or in today's case, the smaller one. Consider it a modern day "Dear John" composition...

Dear NBA Fan,

I know that after what seemed for like an eternity that the NBA Finals takes place this evening out in Oakland. Over the past several days you have seen non-stop analysis and the breaking down of everything except which ticket ushers sport the best outfits. At this rate if I hear one more story about Riley Curry showing up at the post-game presser...but I digress.

Yes, I understand that you are all excited to see which superstar is going to come out on top. If it's Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors (who I'm picking btw) you all have your memes in queue about how LeBron James came up short yet again. If it's Cleveland I'm sure you are all set to (reluctantly) praise Cavaliers' owner Dan Gilbert for somehow pulling this all off and ready to label the Warriors as choke artists. Should the Cavs win, I'm sure ESPN will have weeks and weeks of photos showing Cleveland fans finally at peace that their city won a title.

However, I'd like for you to take a look at what will be the major reasons either team has a chance to win the Larry O' Brien trophy. Those reasons are: Festus Ezeli, Shaun Livingston, and Matthew Dellavedova. If these guys don't exactly ring a bell to all of you casual fans, I ask you hearken back to yesteryear to names like John Paxson, Avery Johnson, and Kenny Smith (the last one of TNT and reality show fame). These guys were central figures in helping Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, and Hakeem Olajuwon in winning championships, yet how often do they get mentioned as playing such a pivotal role?

Yes, we know that it's the stars that get all of the glory and commercial fame when their teams win it all, but for all of you who are going out on your local blacktop and shouting "Curry" every time you jack up a 3 pointer, I wonder how often you think about the role that the lesser known players have in helping these guys accomplish their penultimate goals? I'm a basketball coach, and I've yet to hear one of my players yell out "Shumpert" when making a shot. Yet I tell them after each successful play, make sure you tell that teammate who made the pick for you 'Thanks' or the guy who hustled for the loose ball on the floor while you were running around looking to get open.

Do we ever take the time to think about those who may not have a glamorous role yet play an vital role in the success of the overall operation? Have you thanked that janitor that always makes sure your office is clean, or that overworked and underpaid assistant who stays late to make sure your presentation is successful the next day? I'm reminded of what it says in 1 Corinthians 12:12 "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ."  Each of us has a role to play, and instead of worrying about someone else's role, let us focus on our own, that God may be glorified.

To the NBA fan who thinks it was Jordan alone who won those titles, where would he be without Paxson, Steve Kerr, Trent Tucker, and Bill Wennington among others? A guy who scored a lot of points but had no rings to show for it. Everyone has to play their part in life so that the goal can be reached, and I hope you take a more sincere look at those guys who aren't looking to fill up the scoreboard, but making sure they do their job so that the stars to theirs.

Maybe, just maybe, my fellow NBA fan, one day you go onto the court, hear someone make a pick, and yell out the words "Mozgov!"

The Real Lessons In Life...

Today there was an article that came out on the Bleacher Report that was entitled 'Life Lessons we can learn from Sports.' While I won't dispense the entire list here (lest I get a nasty email from the fine folks in Atlanta), there was one particular lesson that made me stand up and applaud:

3. Get Up, Dress Up and Show Up



The photo you see above is the GOAT (no, not Scottie Pippen, the other guy) after his famous 'Flu Game' in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against Utah. Michael Jordan was running a high fever the entire day (now whether or not he was poisoned with food in a Salt Lake City hotel will go down in history as one of sports' greatest conspiracies) and there was doubt if he would even show up. However, he did show up and it resulted in an all-time great performance.

Now, I know a lot of people will go back to last year's infamous 'Cramp Game' in which LeBron James left Game 1 of the Finals against San Antonio with leg cramps and say he should've stayed in there. None of us know the conditions of the human body better than the person themselves, and every athlete knows when they can go and they can't. I don't fault LeBron for what he did, so let's move on.

Back to MJ, and he believed that it was best to leave it all on the court that night and deal with the consequences later. Much like with Willis Reed back in 1973 for the New York Knicks, just showing up did more for the Chicago Bulls' psyche (and probably damaged Utah's) than anything else. They needed every last one of his 38 points too, but it was the lesson from above that is prevalent here.

Like it or not, we have a responsibility to someone, whether it's our boss, our spouse, our children, our co-workers, and even to those who we may not realize look up to us. Total transparency, I've had to realize this lesson a few times in my life as well. As we've discussed in the previous blogs, what we do impacts the lives of others. If we are able to get up (major injury notwithstanding) then we shouldn't be afraid to dress up and show up. I recently heard of a radio show host who took off sick after more than 50 consecutive years of doing his show on the air. Imagine the discipline it takes to do such a thing!

I'm reminded of a young man Timothy who was just starting out in the ministry, and was battling a lot of inner strife in the church where he was a pastor. His mentor Paul had to step in and give him a Scripture-based version of 'Win One for the Gipper' (Notre Dame fans will get that one) basically encouraging him to 'Get Up, Dress Up and Show Up." Basically, Paul gave it to him as such in 1 Timothy 6:20...

"Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge."

I don't know about you, but that alone would've been enough for me to get up and do what must be done. Whatever you do in life, remember that even in the tough times, someone is looking up to you to make the right decision.

With Great Power...

Yesterday I discussed the consequences of poor decisions by leadership, and no sooner than the first blog went out that news of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter resigning just days after winning a fifth term in office hit the airwaves. The Twitterverse was ablaze with reactions ranging from glee to utter disgust that it took so long, with rumors of bribery and corruption running rampant over the organization for years. After all, when it comes to the world's most popular game (except in the States) countries consider it a privilege to host the World Cup once very 4 years, and would sacrifice whatever it takes to have them.

Whether it was South Africa in 2010, the 2016 Copa America, or the highly controversial selection of Qatar in 2022, reports that they won the bid based on bribery accusations began to surface after the arrest of 7 FIFA officials took place last week. While there was an attempt to push back the vote for the presidency of FIFA, it was ultimately denied as Blatter won once Prince Ali of Jordan withdrew after the first round of voting. A myriad of questions arose after the arrests took place, namely how long would it be before Blatter's name came up as a possible conspirator by lower-tier officials quick to paint him as the mastermind? Also, would newly appointed Attorney General Loretta Lynch have gotten involved if it didn't benefit the US in some way? As of this post, there has been no decision to remove the World Cup from either Russia in 2018 or Qatar in 2022.

Should it have even come to this point? Bluntly speaking, no, and while Blatter has yet to be accused of taking any bribes himself, his leadership has been in question for years in regards to shady dealings, especially after his long time assistant Jack Warner, former president of CONCACAF, left the organization. Qatar was the biggest question mark as it was considered the worst country out of all the bidders going into the vote, with temperatures reaching upwards of 122 degrees in the summer. Worse yet, hundreds of workers have died due to the extreme conditions while building the stadiums in Qatar. There are workers from Nepal who have reportedly been unable to visit their families and are instead forced to stay there to complete the project.

This all could've been prevented had Blatter and the other members of FIFA took the time to consider the risk in putting the games in a country with such a poor environment. Another result of poor leadership but even worse, it's due to the love of money, which is the root of all evil. It creates corruption when left unchecked. It can poison the minds of even the noblest of people when the love of money becomes greater than operating in common sense.

Power when used correctly can be a benefit to the community, but when decisions are based on greed, it has dire consequences, and in some cases, death.

UAB Football is back...but at what cost?

Today University of Alabama-Birmingham President Ray Watts made the decision to reinstate the UAB football, bowling, and rifle programs. Citing a lack of financial solvency back in December as his reasons for disbanding the programs, he stated that the change of course came as a result of the private support of businesses and the community. While there is no exact timeframe as to when the programs will actually begin playing, it could be as soon as 2016, with the football program not being eligible for a bowl game until 2017.

Let's place the focus there, on the football program, since that was the story that created the biggest protests (no disrespect to bowling or rifle programs, but I didn't exactly see an ESPN "Outside the Lines" special on those teams). Did he really count the costs before making the decision just a few months ago to disband the program after what was its best season since 2004? It's not just about the modest success, but did he not realize after seeing the tears of those student-athletes who were forced to transfer, or the players who wore their football helmets to graduation that there was more to this than just the dollars? That it was about the players who now had to finish out their collegiate careers elsewhere. What President Watts failed to realize was that sometimes the best decisions are the ones we don't make. We sometimes make decisions without realizing that it impacts people that we never meet. 

David made a decision without counting the costs in 2 Samuel 24 when he took a census of Israel. The problem with taking a census was that it was done with the preparation of drafting an army. David did this anyway and focused more on the physical numbers instead of realizing that this was the wrong choice to make. As a result, the Lord's anger rose up against him, and gave David the choice of which punishment the people would incur due to his pride. Over 70,000 people died over a three day span during the plague.

The connection? In both cases a number of people, innocent ones, were affected by the foolish choices made by leadership. We often make decisions based on the current costs but have to understand that with every choice there is a consequence, even if we are not the ones who suffer those consequences.