My Story
My grandma, who is an ordained minister, preached the Word to me early and often even though I didn't want to hear it. I use those same principles and disciplines in my every day life. Being a child of God is a constant struggle. No, I'm not perfect, but yes I try. That's all that matters - is you giving a constant effort to God and it will show through the rewards in your every day life. In Akron, we have something I like to call "big fish in a small pond syndrome". It's when you would rather be well known in a six to twelve block radius instead of going out and seeing the world. I've seen people with promising careers quit just to move back home like they were missing something. Your friends family and city are all traps. Friends be like "might as well come home and kick it with me". Family be like "we love you come back home." The city be like "you the man - everybody likes you come back home". But what are you going home to? What are your plans? Short term goals? Long term goals? If you cannot answer these questions you are in the wrong situation. Basketball saved me. I hit the genetic lottery, being 6'7". But there are other ways "out" - but you have to humble yourself. I say humble yourself before the world does it for you. Are you sitting around selling drugs or waiting on the next come up? That's no life at all. Risking your freedom for a few extra hundred, or maybe even thousand $? Let's be honest! You are most likely not selling kilos or making hundreds of thousands of $ a year. So the time you are risking for the money you making doesn't make sense! If you are making $5,000/month for two years that's $120,000. Seems like a lot but you have to re-up, pay bills, kids, Jordan's, popping botttles, etc - and you saved $10,000 of that. Then you get caught - get 3 years - and now you are making NO money. You are ACTUALLY in debt now because you calling begging people to put money on your books. You get out (of prison) with nothing but time wasted. In that same three years you could be a manager or your own boss, or at least time with your family if you work hard enough. Life is all about perspective (how you view things). Change your perspective, change your life! |
CAREER Akron St. V-St. Mary National Champion (2003) State Champion ('01,'03) All-State FB & BB Akron U. All-American. MAC Player of the Year. Israeli League Player of the Year (2012) Star in MORE THAN A GAME movie Summer Camp Coach Father of Two In Memory of Ronnie Travis (for his daughter) Eurocup Blog Akron Career Stats Akron Bio Star in "More than a Game" Movie 9 Senior Night (SVSM) Article 2014 Summer Camp w/ Dru Joyce III SVSM Hall of Fame Player of the Year - Israel 2012 Player of the Year - Mid Amer. Conf 2003 Pro Experience: Career Stats NBA Summer League (Cavs) Spain (2007-08) Germany (2008-09) Germany (2009-10) Israel (2010-11) Israel (2011-12) Israeli League Player of Yr All-Balkan League, BIBL champ Croatia (2012-13) MVP of week 4x Ukraine (2013-14) Russia (2014-15) Krasny (stats) France (2015-16) LNB-A Le Mans Strasburg France (2016-17) LNB-A Strasburg Russia (2016-17) BC Red October (In Volgograd) France (2017-18) LNB-A Le Mans ARTICLES Jumpshot 2012 Washington Post 2009 |