I suppose we will never know...

"You think you know me..."

These were the opening lyrics to Adam Copeland's theme entrance. Oh, you better know him as Edge, former WWE World Champion superstar and now actor. These words would echo throughout the arena as a testament to the character he portrayed week in and week out. However, the same can be said for many of us, and this is never more true than when Toronto Raptors All-Star DeMar DeRozan revealed his struggles with depression and anxiety. 

During a recent interview with the Toronto Star, he mentioned in a tweet about his battles and how basketball helped him deal with these issues. Despite growing up in rough conditions in Compton, California, he was able to stay away from the temptations of drugs and alcohol addition. He saw how it destroyed the lives of those he was close to, but learned that in the midst of everything, he had a support group that helped him through those dark times.

DeRozan told the paper, "It's one of them things that no matter how indestructible we look like we are, we're all human at the end of the day. We all got feelings...all of that. Sometimes...it gets the best of you, where times everything in the whole world's on top of you."

We sometimes forget that in the heat of the battle, these athletes are human just like you and I. They suffer from loneliness, depression, fear and anxiety as well. As sometime who goes through his own anxieties, I realize that it is not an easy thing to deal with day in and day out. Much like DeRozan, I have learned that it is important to have people supporting you, no matter what you may be going through. 

It took a lot of courage for someone who is in the spotlight constantly like DeRozan to speak up about his vulnerabilities. We need to do the same, because you never know who else is going through the struggle alongside you. Be an encouragement, or seek encouragement from someone who has overcome their obstacles. 

Besides, it's when we open ourselves up, is when we experience true freedom. You're not alone...

What Are Your Norms? Pt. 2

By now everyone has probably read on the Sports Illustrated article on the horrific allegations of sexual harassment, domestic violence and employees watching pornography at their cubicles. As one person put it in their words, it was an "animal house," essentially meaning that the inmates were allowed to run the asylum. Many of the employees involved, primarily former team president Terdema Ussery, are no longer there. This morning, owner Mark Cuban, who was not named one of the perpetrators, fired the head of Human Resources and quickly denounced the actions.

Obviously many people want to ask, "What exactly did Cuban know?" He went to the defense of not knowing that this was going on, and despite reports to the contrary, has stood by that statement. Now, in this era of the #MeToo movement, that is open for debate, but the issue here is what we can learn from this situation.

Often there are times in which we may not be aware of the issues going on around us. Whether you're a parent, teacher, vice president or CEO, there are times in which the culture you attempt to establish may go awry, and people begin to go their own route. Think of the children of Israel once Moses went up to the mountaintop. Disaster strikes, but how you deal with it is the real answer. It demonstrates your character and willingness to step in and make it right.

Look at what happened to Rick Pitino and Louisville earlier this year. He had an opportunity to right a wrong and instead decided that he was going to allow things to continue. He is now persona non grata in college basketball, a legacy destroyed. Do you have the ability to stand for what is right when all you see around you is wrong?

If you don't believe in Cuban's knowledge of what happened, that's one thing, but applaud him for doing what was best for the organization and for those who were unnecessarily harmed.

When Fans Become Fanatics

This is why LeBron cannot just "Shut Up and Dribble."

Not when, during the NHL's promotion of "Hockey is for Everyone" month, one of its players is subjected to racially-charged taunts in the middle of a game. Not when, as Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly told the press afterwards, "it's really lonely."

As sports fans who pay the exuberant ticket prices, we do have rights. We have rights to cheer, to boo, to put up crazy signs to distract the free throw shooter. We can yell out "Darryl" or "Who's Your Daddy?" and see if our most hated opponents can handle the chants.

What we cannot do, however, is display the horrific behavior that took place in Chicago on Saturday night, when fans began chanting "basketball" at Smith-Pelly. Fortunately they were removed from the stadium (and hopefully banned) but for anyone to have to deal with these types of disgusting taunts show that there are still some fans in 2018 who refuse to grow up.

Athletes are human too, and in spite of the incredible feats of strength, speed, and agility they display on a daily basis, we tend to forget that. They bleed just like we do, and deserve the same respect. What we have seen in today's social climate is nothing new under the sun. This is the same type of disrespect that black athletes received back when Willie 'O Ree was integrating hockey on the ice, or Jackie Robinson on the diamond.

However, some fans take it upon them to disgrace themselves and for what? It's one thing to get under another person's skin with a good nature ribbing, but to intentionally go after their culture and attack them is another. It's a line that cannot be crossed; and it seems that people forget those lines and decide it's OK. I understand that there is no way to legislate morality, but in each of us there should be some level of human decency to just allow people to enjoy the game, and for those who dedicate their lives to playing it at the highest level, to do what they do best.

Sure the Capitals lost the game 7-1, but it was those fanatics that were the biggest losers of all.

Hart of Gold: My Meeting with the "World's Fastest Human"

The 1972 Munich Olympics were one of the most tragic events in not only athletic history, but in human history. It was the disappointment of the U.S. Men's basketball team being outrageously short-changed out of a gold medal that rightfully belonged to them. It was the sadness of the late Jim McKay of ABC sports having to tell millions of viewers on that fateful September day, "They're all gone," as the lives of the 11 Israeli athletes were taken by terrorists. There were many others, including a story that was the epitome of brokenness as a young man's dream turned into a nightmare.

This is the story of Eddie Hart, who at the time was called the "World's Fastest Human," for his breathtaking ability to win the 100 meter dash with a 9.9 record time. He knew that since he was 13 that is what he wanted to be called, and he accomplished that feat at the U.S. Olympic trials, one week before his team was scheduled to go to Germany.

Though I will not give away all of the details here, it was a coaching error that caused him to miss out on the event by a few seconds, disqualifying him from running the race he had dreamed about since he was a child. The heartbreak he experienced was like none other, as he witnessed someone else go off with the title that he gave his blood, sweat and tears for. It was a moment that will remain with him always.

I recently had the opportunity to hear him speak to a group of local youth, as he shared with his sensational charm and energetic vigor how he knew what he wanted to be, a runner. He would tell the stories of how one year he ended up in 5th place, went home crying, but did not give up. Hart would keep going, only thinking of what he told his father he wanted to be. He mentioned how he got his speed from running away from his mother after hitting her. As he said in the session, "She's 82 years old and I'm still scared of her!"

Let's get back to Munich, and the aftermath of where he went from there. He had a choice: remain bitter about what his coach had done, or forgive him. He took the road we all need to travel, and that was one of forgiveness. He sought out his coach soon after and let him know that he had let it go, and that his coach no longer had to live with the burden of costing Eddie his dream. He goes around the country now speaking to young people about achieving their goals, all while teaching us that you cannot go around in life not forgiving one another. At some point we have to forgive, because forgiveness is not about that other person. It's about releasing the pain that you feel inside, and moving on to enjoy your life.

So you're probably wondering, did he win anything at the Olympics that year? Well, to put it simply, he washed off the tears, joined his teammates for the 4 X 100 Meter Relay, and without a shadow of a doubt, established that he can always refer to himself as Eddie Hart, Olympic Gold Medalist.

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When Will It Stop?

If you expected a sports blog discussion, today will not be that day...

I always said that I would write this blog from the heart, and anything that you read is not going to be some manufactured sports hot take on whatever is the big topic of the day. There are nationally syndicated shows for that. So if you are one of the "just stick to sports" crowd, I'll be back tomorrow with a sports topic, but I need to get this off my chest, and a simple Facebook post isn't going to do it justice.

Sandy Hook, Columbine, Las Vegas, on and on, and now Parkland, Florida. The horrific tragedy that occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School still stings at the heart. I think of the pain of losing my oldest brother to the gun violence of an 18-year old assailant. I think of the tears my family and friends shed of having to attend the funeral of a soul gone too soon.

No, I won't get into an anti-gun rant, blame the NRA, the GOP, or whomever. Policy cannot legislate the heart. What I will say is this, we cannot let the life of these young people and the heroic sacrifice of football coach Aaron Feis be in vain. So what do we do?

I dedicated my life to education and to youth so that there wouldn't be another young person who thinks that a gun is the answer to their problems. I believe in the motto "Each one, teach one." No matter how busy our lives are, and we each have our own situations to deal with, we can still be a positive force in the lives of at least ONE young person.

My wife and I make it a point to sow into the lives of children each day. No, this is not to pat ourselves on the back, but to each of you, I encourage you to find someone you can pour into. Whether it's your own children or someone else, make a difference by setting an example. It doesn't require a degree or even to be a parent. Just be someone that has a heart for others.

You never know when that one act of love and compassion could turn a life around, and save the lives of others.

What Do You Love?

Let's face it, sports can be frustrating at times. It can drive us crazy to see our favorite team come up short in the championship game (as an Atlanta sports fan I know that all too well). It can pain us to see our team in the midst of a long rebuild. Sports brings us such emotional agony and despair that we wonder why we keep investing in our favorite teams/players season after season. 

We'll watch even when we know that at best our team, whether high school, college or pro, have no chance at winning it all. We'll watch even when the team's owners decide to put up a big sign that says, "Will trade for food," (ask Florida Marlins fans how that feels). Finally, we'll still buy the jerseys and the hats, and will frequent the team's social media sites to fire the coach after each loss.

And then, I was watching the MLB Network special last night on the 1990's Atlanta Braves, and it brought me a reminder of why I love sports...

While watching the documentary on how the "Team of the 90's" finally won the World Series, my wife asked me, "Do you remember where you were when all of this happened?" You're doggone right I do! I remember almost going into tears when Gene Larkin drove in Dan Gladden at the end of the 1991 World Series in what was considered the greatest series ever. I remember screaming my lungs out when Sid Bream slid into home plate in '92, and how even my mother, who never sat down to watch a single game in her life, was jumping up and down when Marquis Grissom caught that ball in October 1995 to bring the title to Georgia. I still get goose bumps just watching the celebration, and I never collected a single paycheck from the Braves.

But see that's the thing about sports. No we may not be on the field, the ice or on the court, but there's a special connection that keeps us coming back. We may abhor some of the violence on the field, but we are also attracted to the spectacle, the drama, and the excitement of knowing something special can happen at any moment. We mourn when they come up short, but we always know that one day, it will come together. 

Imagine the feeling Chicago Cubs fans had in 2016, or the city of Cleveland earlier that year. At least those teams were expected to compete. We experience it every spring when Cinderella crashes the ball during March Madness. We remember names such as Bryce Drew and Lorenzo Charles. 

Sports brings the greatest battles and we marvel at the fact that these grown men and women bring their very best of their craft for our enjoyment. So sure, we never know if or when they will get that celebration parade, but what we love most about sports, is that we can enjoy the ride. 

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Let Kids be Kids...

Just one question: what were YOU doing at age 17? All I remember about that age was trying to get out of high school, figure out which Cross Colors outfit was still in style, and wonder how many tables I'd have to bust in order to get a Mustang. Whatever it was, I sure it wasn't focusing on getting an Olympic Gold Medal. (Note: Apologies to those Olympic hopefuls who are reading this blog, best of luck to you.)

However, that is exactly what 17-year-old Chloe Kim was doing as she won the gold medal in the women's halfpipe in Pyeongchang. Wasting no time in dominating and making her presence known, Kim is enjoying every moment of it, even taking time to tweet during the event about making an ice cream run.

OK, I get that you traditionalists may have a problem with this. "Where's the focus? What's wrong with these kids today?" You might say, but understand this is the world we live in. We live in an era in which athletes will Periscope during the game. We as fans have always asked for the athletes to be more transparent, and when they do, we grill them for it. We can't have it both ways.

Besides, anyone who can own an Olympic event the way Kim can has earned the right to tweet whenever she feels like it. Now all I'm waiting for is the Lifetime movie in a couple of years.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr allowed players Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and David West take over the clipboard and lead their squad to a 46-point win over the Phoenix Suns. I know that a lot of people call that being disrespectful to the Suns. Hey Phoenix, how about respecting the game and actually showing up?

What we need to take from this is that it is rare when players actually take accountability for their actions and encourage one another. This could be the spark that leads this team to yet another championship. Sometimes, we need to allow the young ones to lead themselves to greatness.

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Hate Will Never Win...

We've seen the NFL players who took a knee to protest brutality. We've seen the unity in NBA players wearing hoodies to support senseless violence. We've seen the players who refuse to visit the White House to voice their beliefs against divisive rhetoric. Those acts were displayed on a national level.

Then there is what happened in Lincoln...

While everyone was caught up in the spectacle of the Winter Olympics or perhaps wondering how the new members of the Cleveland Cavaliers would mesh, what was going on in the heartland of America speaks to what continues to be the central issue that tears at the fabric of freedom everywhere. University of Nebraska student Daniel Kleve made a disturbing video (warning: NSFW due to explicit language) on how he wanted to shoot a Nigerian co-worker and was a part of the white supremacist rally this past summer in Charlottesville, Virginia.

There were protests to have him expelled on the campus, but the men's basketball team responded in their own way. Instead of not participating in games, they took the court wearing t-shirts that had the slogan "Hate Will Never Win" and creating a public service announcement to be displayed before their home games.

It's easy to dismiss this as a problem that is happening in one centralized area, but we now know better. Romans 12:21 teaches us "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
College is challenging enough, it's doubly tough when having to balance out academics with athletics. Now imagine having to be in the midst of a racial storm that no one asked for. These players took the high road, and found that others stood with them.

Think about that the next time someone puts up a tweet or a racist post on social media. Will you stoop to their level, or will you stand for what is right? To quote Harrison Ford's character Branch Rickey in the movie 42, "I want a player who's got the guts not to fight back."

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Defeat Before Dishonor...

While I'm still trying to figure out how to pronounce "Pyeongchang..."

We enjoy the spectacle, the glamour and the suspense whenever the Olympiad comes to a tiny remote village like Lake Placid or a metropolis like Los Angeles. For two weeks the world turns its attention to the greatest in athletic feats. We marvel at the speed of the downhill slope, amaze at the elegance of skates on ice, and pretend to be invested in whatever curling is. While we are drawn to the individual stories that forever capture our hearts, we also know that the intense competition for gold, silver and bronze brings out the best and sometimes worst in people. (Cue obligatory Nancy Kerrigan video).

However, this recent competition had nothing to do with performance on the ice, but to who holds the right to carry the United States flag during the always-spectacular Opening Ceremonies. The distinction was given to luge star Erin Hamlin. While it is noteworthy in itself that she was bestowed the honor, it was the manner that she was selected that set off speed skater Shani Davis. Davis discovered that the decision, which was deadlocked at a 4-4 tie vote, came down to a coin flip (something Two-Face would never object to i'm certain), and did what every mature adult would do when they've been wronged in 2018:

Let's take it to Twitter!

He decided to channel his inner John Carlos and Tommie Smith with getting off a "dishonorable" blast and mentioning that it just so happened this decision took place during Black History Month. Does someone want to get this guy a calendar? The Winter Olympics always occur in February!

However, that is not the point. What Davis did was take a very beautiful moment and make it into his own version of "Black Lives Matter." I understand that he might be upset at how the process resulted, but at the very least show a level of humility and congratulate your countryman on such an esteemed honor. Blow off steam in the locker room and then as my mom used to tell me "fix your face before we get in this place!"

We all have had situations in which we felt wronged and things may not have gone our way. Sometimes it comes down to one vote, the boss forgets to give you credit on a project, or you get passed over for a promotion. That should not change the fact that we should always remain professional and respectful. I don't know what he thought by allowing 140 characters to express his emotions, but he should have skated around the ice a few times to really cool down.

As it stands, regardless of how many medals Davis wins this month, he will have suffered the biggest L of all.

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Not so fun while it lasted...

I'm guessing there won't be a tribute video when Isaiah Thomas returns to the Q...

There have been celebrity marriages that lasted longer than IT's career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a career filled with uninspiring play and enough locker room drama to be its own show on Bravo. There were rumors of Thomas calling out Kevin Love for checking out of a game due to an illness in a team meeting. Also, Thomas insinuated that the team needed to make some adjustments after a recent loss to Orlando, a suggestion that Coach Tyronn Lue vehemently denied.

Was it just the fact that he was still recovering from a hip injury? Was it the fact that he just did not click with LeBron James and not being the go-to guy that made him a beloved icon in Boston? Whatever the case was, there's something to take from this, and it is a cautionary tale of how we need to understand our lot in life.

Ever been in a relationship that you knew within a couple of weeks it wasn't going to work out? Ever been at a job that you knew was not the one for you and you needed to get out as soon as possible? There's no shame in admitting that something isn't just what you thought it was. Organizations, especially in sports, make horrific decisions but allow ego and fear of embarrassment to keep them from making the right choice.

We sit on gifts and talents because we make decisions that pleases others. There is a time to compromise, but not at the cost of hindering our own development. Credit to General Manager Koby Altman for understanding that this relationship was D.O.A and made the right move.

Thomas will have the chance to regain what little credibility his career still has, and the Cavs can now focus on getting swept by Golden State or Houston come June, but with a little less reality show-based entertainment. Lesson to be learned here when the ship be sinking, and that is not to be the guy still re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

What are your norms?

They say that to each choice there's a consequence. Sometimes, those consequences are minor, and in other cases, those same consequences can become so severe that its impact far exceeds the choice. In the case of Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, there's one choice that will have far lasting consequences. Super Bowl Sunday was the perfect example of the latter. 

You might remember the gentleman in the above video as New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, best remembered for his game-saving interception against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 49 (with cries of "Run the Ball! still echoing in the greater Northwest) and now known as the guy that Coach Hoodie demoted to special teams the day of last Sunday's Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, while no one can say for sure why Darth Belichick did it, because no one knows what is going on inside the hood, but the stories of missed curfews and bad practices are circling the media rounds trying to find the root cause.

Many disagree with what Belichick did in benching a guy who played approximately 98% of the defensive snaps this season. They say, "Why not just bench him for a series, or at least a half? But the whole game? Especially when the Patriots defense was getting lit up?" Then again, if they knew who Belichick was, and what he stood for, they'd easily understand that this decision was the right one.

I learned in my management class this week about norms. They are defined as "beliefs about how members are expected to behave. What norms do is establish a standard of behavior up a team’s members and produces guidelines for what will be accepted and what will not be tolerated."

Essentially this is how the Patriot way has been established. Call it a deliberate act of defiance by a coach who has won 5 Lombardi's, but I see it as a man who lives by a norm and will not deviate from it, regardless of the consequences. I respect him for it, because a lot of coaches tend to look the other way (hello again, Pete Carroll) when players break the rules just so they can win a game.

You may hate the Patriots, and as someone who has a lifetime of "28-3" jokes to endure, I certainly have my reasons. However, one thing that cannot be disputed or disrespected is a man who has a standard that everyone is expected to abide by. Whether it's on the field of play, boardroom, or in your household, there comes a time when rules must be followed to the letter. There comes a time when there are clear black-and-white lines that cannot be crossed. Perhaps instead of blasting Belichick, how about Butler doing his job and not doing whatever-he-did to deserve his benching? 

I know that we live in a society that abhors rules, but at some point there has to be a choice to demand more from people and rightfully hold them accountable. Are you willing to live up to the consequences of your choices of principle?

Philadelphia Pride

It wasn't supposed to be like this...

Nicholas Edward Foles was supposed to be retired by now, perhaps off being a pastor of a church, or maybe coaching high school football. His career highlight was supposed to be best remembered for having that incredible 27 TD 2 INT season in 2013 under former Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly. He was supposed to be a perennial backup at this point in his career. Then again, Trent Green was never supposed to go down in 1999, paving the way for Kurt Warner and the "Greatest Show on Turf," or Mo Lewis was never supposed to hit Drew Bledsoe, paving the way for some guy named Tom Brady.

Then again, much like life, sports never follows the script. The Eagles were the class of the NFC, but when franchise QB Carson Wentz went down with a torn ACL, there was no way Nick Foles was supposed to win against Atlanta (much to my chagrin), or defeat Minnesota (especially considering the Vikings would have had a virtual home game for the Super Bowl). There was NO WAY they should have taken on the G.O.A.T and won a staredown with the mind of Belichick.

However, here they are, and though we could explore the different moves made by this organization, at the end of the day, it came down to a "backup" QB who did not blink when the lights were brightest. This happened last month with Alabama with a true freshman quarterback thrown in the last minute, and what we are seeing is the end result of perseverance, when we never give up on the dream.

Psalm 121 says, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from which comes my help." Each of us reach that point when we don't know where the next step will be. That's when we need to look to something greater than ourselves. It takes a great level of faith to do what seems impossible, but it can be done.

The City of Brotherly Love is about to be lit, let's hope those light poles remain lit after tonight...

Who is in your likeness?

I'm going to be honest. This was the first Super Bowl since "Da Bears" that I planned on intentionally not watching. At least back in 1986 I had an excuse since we were on the road (ironically they were playing the Patriots that day too. Something about New England and Super Sunday...) but this was for a totally different reason.

Maybe the wounds were still fresh from the whole "28-3" thing. (Note: If you don't know what I'm referring to, Google is your friend). Perhaps it was because I was burned out from a season filled with kneel down controversies to seeing superstars such as Aaron Rodgers to OBJ go down with injuries, I just felt...indifferent to what is about to happen in Minneapolis. But then, Philadelphia Eagles Tight End Zach Ertz had his media session and well, I'll just let him take it from here...

Matthew 28:19 says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Whether it's on the gridiron, the classroom, the boardroom, or on the streets, we are all called to make disciples, people like us, everywhere we go. Each of us are given a platform, and with that platform comes a great responsibility. Who are you pattering after yourself? Who is the Timothy to your Paul? Perhaps there is someone that is mentoring you. If so, take in every word and deed to heart. 

The greatest mark we can leave on this planet is shaping someone from the next generation to carry on our legacy. It doesn't have to be family, it could be that wayward child that the rest of the world has ignored, or it could be someone close to you. Whomever that is, discern how you can bring them up to be the leaders of tomorrow. 

So with apologies to all of my Falcons faithful, for today it's #FlyEaglesFly!