We're all going to go through it one day...

A few years ago, while Lamar Odom was being interviewed by CBS' Ken Berger, he was asked about how he was able to overcome dealing with such adversity. Here was Odom's response to Berger:

"Jesus went through a lot," he said. "This is easy for me, you know what I'm saying? Basketball?"

"He didn't have your handle," I said.

Odom appreciated the joke, and didn't miss a beat.

"No, he didn't," he said with a smile. "No, he had his hands around the world. But we all go through a lot. We're all going to go through it one day."

Right now he's going through another difficult obstacle, and while no one knows what will happen, one thing is for sure, it's tough to see this happen to someone who has a well-known reputation for being one of the NBA's nicer guys. I've read his background of how he lost his mother at 12 and his son to sudden infant death syndrome, two years to the day after losing his grandmother, who had raised him during his early years. He persevered to become one of the league's best jack-of-all-trades players who was always in demand for his skills. 

This isn't about what took place in Nevada, or to bring condemnation on any of his previous decisions. It's about what he said in the interview. Like it or not, we are all going to have to go through it one day. The question is, what will you do when "it" happens?  The money, the skills, the accolades, none of that will help sustain you as a Christ-centered foundation rooted in God's Word. I don't know if Odom has a personal relationship with Jesus, but my prayer is that in whatever condition he's in, he will come to know Him. 

If there is one lesson to take from Lamar Odom's life, it's that being knocked down is only one part of the equation. The other part is how quickly we get back up. We are all rooting for him to get back up.

#PrayForLamar

A second chance to make a first impression...

Remember the last time someone gave you a second chance to get it right? It could be a boss, giving you a chance to re-submit that project, or the wife letting you stop sleeping on the couch after one too many nights out with the boys. Either way, you were very careful about what you said and did, desperate to change the perception, and at no time would you ever mention anything about "the incident" or give others a chance to do the same. Someone should have given that memo to Dallas Cowboys' defensive end Greg Hardy, who is set to return from a year-long suspension on Sunday against the New England Patriots.

Hardy, who was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 after registering 15 sacks with the Carolina Panthers, spent 2014 on the Commissioner's Exempt List after his ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence and throwing her on a couch covered in guns during an altercation. The charges were dismissed when the accuser did not show up for the hearing. Whether guilty or not, Hardy has developed a reputation for being one of the league's most volatile players, and his recent comments in regards to his return Sunday did little to change those views. According to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News in an interview, Hardy responded to how long it would take for him to get back into his Pro Bowl shape with: "I hope I come out guns blazing."

Like it or not, life is about perception, and right now Hardy's is one of no contrition, as if his 'Kraken' persona will be enough to make people forget about past transgressions. Does he deserve a second chance? Absolutely, but when we've been forgiven we must do whatever is necessary to make it right. Now, I don't expect him to be a Rhodes Scholar, but at the very least he should be mindful of why he spent the past 19 games away from the gridiron. He should have a conversation with Michael Vick about how to take advantage of another opportunity to live out his dream, before it's taken away from him again, this time permanently.

The sacrifices we must make...

As I've learned in my Economics class, life is all about making rational choices once we realize we can't have our cake and eat it too. Should we really buy that luxury sedan when the kids need braces? What about taking that job that may give you a 25,000 dollar up-spike in salary yet move your family across the country? Is messing with that secretary during the weekend worth ruining 20 years of a great marriage? What are you willing to give up for complete piece of mind in the short term for the big picture?

Recently New York Yankees' pitcher CC Sabathia decided to make his own rational choice when he checked himself into a rehabilitation facility for alcohol on Monday, the day before his team was scheduled to take on the Houston Astros in the AL Wild Card game, which they were eliminated from as of yesterday. There were numerous reports of Sabathia showing up inebriated at the Yankee clubhouse on Friday, unable to notice reporters and asking teammates to "take a sip" of a brown liquid in a paper cup during a workout. He was then ushered out of the building and into a cab by another teammate. Other reports were that he arranged for the "magnums of champagne" that were drank in the clubhouse celebration of Alex Rodriguez's 3000th hit. He went to management and asked them for help with his alcohol problem.

This goes beyond baseball, this is about life, and credit Sabathia for doing what was best for he and his family. Would his presence have made a difference in the Yankees' quest for another title? Should it matter? He could've just waited until after the playoffs, but he focused on the long term healing and didn't allow the pressure of being there in the lights of October to get in the way. Can we honestly saw we can make the same choice? Thoughts and prayers to Sabathia that he receives the healing and peace he needs in his life, and that he overcomes an opponent that can't be beaten with a 95 mph fastball: his inner demons.

Who are our enemies?

The history of sports has been littered with feuds between athletes and the press. Whether it was former New York Met Bobby Bonilla threatening to fight a reporter outside a locker room, or the infamous Jim Rome-Jim Everett "fight" (to this day I still think that was staged) the relationships between the stars who play the sport vs. the ones who cover it to make a living has always had this various shades of grey that escalate to the surface whenever someone feels they have been misquoted, or in the case of ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, called a straight-up liar.

Now, I don't know Mr. Smith personally, but I listen to his show 'First Take' as well as his show on Mad Dog Radio Sirius XM on a daily basis. He has been known to express his statements with a wide range of emotions, whether it's on the performance of athletes or on social issues such as the Black Lives Matter movement. He doesn't shy away from saying what he feels is on his mind. However, I believe that what he said on today's episode of 'First Take' crossed a barrier from which it may be challenging to recover.

By now we've all heard the rhetoric of his report that sources close to Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant mention that at the end of this upcoming NBA season he was "considering" signing as a free agent in Los Angeles as his preferred destination, along with Miami and Washington DC. Durant responded by saying that none of his friends and family spoke to Smith, and closed it by saying he was a liar. Smith, who has had feuds with NBA stars before, most notably Stephon Marbury during his days with the New York Knicks, didn't take too kindly to what was said and responded thusly...

Let's look at this from three points of view: Durant, Smith, and then the proper way to respond. Kevin Durant has profoundly expressed his faith in Jesus Christ for years, and was lauded by many for how he carried himself on and off the court for athletic brilliance as well as being a stand-up guy. Granted, he may have been perturbed at what was mentioned, but to go out and brand Mr. Smith as 'he's lying' is to question the man's credibility, which is the foundation for his career as a journalist. It's one thing to question a statement, but what Durant said went further than that, and in essence went after the integrity of Smith's work. He is engaging himself in a battle with a presence that he just can't win, go back to what happened during All-Star Weekend earlier this year. His expletive-laced rant at the media regarding his former coach Scott Brooks' job status was not the proper way to handle the situation. If we claim Christ as the head of our lives, then our speech should not be coarse to the point where it makes non-believers question us. A simple prepared statement would've prevented this issue from escalating.

Now to Mr. Smith. There is a fine line between professionalism and personal accountability, and making a statement to challenge KD was unprofessional at worst. I know he has also in the past claimed a relationship with Christ as well, and even praised Durant's character on the show, yet he apparently has forgotten what the true term 'enemy' really means. It is described as someone who opposes your lifestyle, and while certain temptations (money, power, success) can be viewed as the opposition, our true enemy is Satan. Smith was wrong in taking this approach, and the Bible tells us to strive to live in brotherly love with one another. Durant isn't his enemy, just a person that sees things from a different point of view.

When two people disagree and claim Christ as the center of their lives, they should look to solve it internally, not through the blogosphere or on national television. It creates unnecessary divisions and worse, affects our witness. I pray that they will come together in private and resolve this manner quickly. Also, we must be careful who we call our enemies. We don't wrestle flesh and blood, and there's nothing more that our true enemy would love nothing more than to let a simple misunderstanding create a lifetime of schisms.

If I were commissioner...

As the 2015 baseball season comes to a close, there are a myriad of storylines that one would look forward to as the postseason approaches (not for me though, as I'll be spending October watching the DVD of the Atlanta Braves' 20th Anniversary of their only championship). The Amazin' Mets return to the playoffs, albeit at the expense of the vastly underachieving Washington Fightin' Nationals, our neighbors to the north finally get to experience the thrill of a postseason series for the first time since "In Living Color" graced our television screens, and the Chicago Cubs will yet again try to get rid of the Steve Bartman curse.

As the chase for October is one of the great thrills a fan can watch, there is this overwhelming feeling that baseball has lost the majority of the American viewing audience. Granted, the advent of the second wild card has given fan bases of average teams another reason to turn away from football for at least yet another Sunday, but the dwindling numbers are threatening to make baseball as well known as "World Series of Poker" re-runs on ESPN2. Credit to new commissioner Rob Manfred who is working hard to make the sport more fan-friendly, not to mention quicker, but in this "gotta-have-it-now" society, I felt the need to help him make his job a bit easier.

So, without further ado, here is what I believe needs to happen on my first day as commissioner of MLB (drumroll please...)

1. Drop the season to 150 games. Face it, the season drags on way too long, and who really needs to see Red Sox-Yankees for 19 games a year (more on that in a bit)? The expanded playoffs pushes the postseason too close to "The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" episode. Get back the month of September and push up the season finale the week after Labor Day. Statistics don't carry the same weight they once did, except for historians who have nothing better to do with their time.

2. Add a pitch clock. This was proposed in the minor leagues earlier this year, but it needs to finally make its way towards the big stage. A 15-second pitch clock would help move the game along, and eliminate those unnecessary time outs. A little added anticipation goes a long way.

3. (and this one should be fun) Two words: Radical Realignment. This sport is on the path towards becoming more regionalized, so why not go all the way with the process? One thing this sport has going for it is it's ability to have rivalries dominate during interleague play, yet take it one step further. Since the American and National Leagues no longer have the same meaning (no more league presidents, Milwaukee and Houston switching leagues), you could put the following into a new series of division to add more intrigue.

So I present the following:

American League
EAST: Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, Pirates
ATLANTIC: Orioles, Nationals, Braves, Rays, Marlins
NORTH: Blue Jays, Tigers, Indians, Reds, Brewers

National League
CENTRAL: Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Royals, Twins
MIDWEST: Rockies, Astros, Rangers, Diamondbacks, Padres
PACIFIC: Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Athletics, Mariners

Imagine a Mets-Yankees series in late September with a playoff berth on the line, or Dodgers-Angels...

4. Which brings me to the last change...everyone gets the DH
5. Oh, and reinstate Pete Rose, enough is enough.

Friday Night Fights

Friday nights across America are filled with the sounds of cheers from fans all over as their favorite high school teams meet on the gridiron in spirited competition. Young athletes compete against their arch rivals to conclude their week, with some dreaming of the day they can play on the collegiate level, or in the case of 1.2%, in the pros.  While high school football can bring a level of passion and excitement among adolescents, when emotions run high it can also lead to everlasting pain, which is what took place a few weeks ago in San Antonio.

The photo above highlights referee Robert Watts, who was blindsided in an attack by two players from John Jay High School. Michael Moreno and Victor Rojas were given instructions by an assistant coach to hit the referee after he missed some calls and, according to the players, used racial slurs directly towards them. The assistant coach, Mack Breed, has been placed on administrative leave. The players are now suspended from the football team, with possible assault charges pending.

This goes beyond whether or not Breed ordered the "Code Red" (go watch "A Few Good Men" for that reference), and it's not about whether or not the referee actually used any epithets. This is about accountability, plain and simple. As a former athlete, I understand that you must follow the direction of the coaches, but only when it's in the best interests of the team. How is any of what these young men have done justified? It is not, and ultimately, the decision to carry out the attack rests on them.

Whether it's government, our occupations, or even with coaches, our first and foremost obligation is to do what is right and just. We are to obey the precepts of God above those of man, and in this instance, there is an accountability that must be upheld, and it is something that the athletes have to comes to understand.

When it comes to making the tough choices in times of high emotion, it is the foundation on what we believe in that will force us to make the right decision, or else.

Who is to blame?

This time of year is a time of great anticipation into America's great pastime, and it's football (no apologies to baseball fans, in 10 years it'll be a niche sport that will battle hockey for ratings). Whether it's parents getting their children ready for their Pop Warner games, to the NFL fantasy drafts that are being conducted as we speak, everyone is excited for the action to begin on the gridiron. No more so do we see the passion of the sport than on the collegiate level, where you can see more than 100,000 fans fill the seats on any given Saturday. Students are displaying the colors of their alma mater with pride, thinking that this is their season to finally break through and win it all. In Champagne, Illinois, however, those students are simply wondering who will be the head on the sidelines after the news broke that former football head coach Tim Beckham was fired this afternoon among allegations that he mistreated former Illini offensive lineman Simon Cvijanoic. 

Once other former players informed the Chicago Tribune that Cvijanoic's claims are true, and the university performed an internal investigation, they released their coach of three years a week before the season starts against Kent State. Granted, the Athletic Director would've been justified in releasing Beckham after comprising a 12-25 record, but once these claims were released, they had no other choice. Cvijanoic stated that when he sustained injuries in 2013 & 2014 that Beckham urged him to continue playing, even after dealing with psychological problems due to shoulder and knee injuries that ended his career. He also mentioned being pushed to play after tearing his labrum, with Beckham's offensive line coahc telling Cvijanoic that the injuries were in his head.

This isn't about wins and losses, and forget about scholarships, this is about a person's livelihood vs. the old adage of "win at all costs." The latter mentality is what led former Ohio State Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes to hit a player during a game, or current Washington State coach Mike Leach to get fired in 2009 after claims that he mistreated a player while at Texas Tech. Coaches who are being paid top dollar are in this quandary of doing the right thing by their players vs. getting them out there, healthy or no, to get that win against Rival U. We see it all the time, a coach allowing players who have questionable actions being allowed to play, but this is on a completely different level. This is short-sighted thinking at worst, treating the player more as a commodity and less as an individual. 

Parents entrust their children to these coaches to attend their program with the belief that they will train up their child to become successful on and off the field. These players should not feel as if they are unable to express their challenges for fear of not being allowed to play the game their love. We have seen some coaches show compassion in these types of situations, but then this is the opposite end of the spectrum, in which the seriousness of an ailment goes beyond a simple "tape him up." 

We teach children to be tough and handle pain, but there is also a time to use discretion and wisdom to deal with a delicate injury. Coaches must understand that when left untreated, the greatest harm to a student-athlete isn't the physical pain, it's the mental scars that remain long after they hang up the helmet.