Kevin Durant Helps Us to Recognize What Mother's Day is Really About

In his first NBA Most Valuable Player Award acceptance speech, Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Kevin Durant individually thanked every one of his teammates for helping him get there. I would personally like to thank KDTrey5 for handing me a perfect Mother's Day Sports & Spirituality posting.

People have asked me if I have seen his speech every day since it was awarded on Tuesday, May 13. 2014 (I've always thought its interesting that the NBA gives the award during the playoffs...long before the championship game). If you have seen it, you know why they ask. If you haven't, stop reading now and check it out.

The full speech, which is nearly 30 minutes features an emotional Durant who fights back tears as he shares a powerful message (that resonate with the words of Ryan Vogelsong and the movie Field of Dreams in the previous posting). Durant said 

I had so much help, so many people believe in me when I didn’t believe in myself. So many people doubted me and motivated me every single day to be who I am. I failed so many times and got back up. I been through the toughest times with my family, but I’m still standing.

And the person that believed in him from the start is the same person he said is the "read MVP"—his mother—Wanda Pratt. The 7-footer said to her,

I don’t think you know what you did. You had my brother when you were 18 years old. Three years later, I came out. The odds were stacked against us, single parent with two boys by the time you were 21 years old. Everybody told us we weren’t supposed to be here.

Pratt who received a standing ovation from the crowd said in an interview with the Washington Post "I would not allow him to quit. There were times when he wanted to quit, but he couldn’t quit in the middle of a season. You had to finish what you started. And I told him he would have to do something — a different sport, whatever he was interested in. There had to be an activity outside of home. But, once you become dedicated to something, there’s a process you have to follow through." 

Her son said she did much more than that. 

You made us believe. Kept us off the street. Put clothes on our backs, food on the table. When you didn't eat, you made sure we ate. You sacrificed for us. 

When something good happens to you, I don't know about your guys, but I tend to look back to what brought me here.

My goal wasn’t to get my son to the NBA; my goal was to push my son toward his dream.

Although what brought Kevin Durant to where he is today is much, much different and frankly a lot harder than the road many of us travel, the person who gets us there isn't. For many of us, that person is our mom.  

My mom made sacrifices for my brother, sister and for me. She continues to do so today. She believed in us; she has never made me question that belief. She wouldn't allow me to quit the important stuff (oh and she never let us stay home from school *sick* either). She is my MVP. I celebrate her today and the other mothers living and those with the Lord, birth, adopted, formal and informal. Thank you for your undying love and support on the journey to get us to achieving our dreams.

Credits
Excerpt from the speech, New York Post
Photo Credits. 

Emotional KDTrey5

Wanda Pratt

Ryan Vogelsong & Field of Dreams: the Power of Believing in Someone

There are many reasons to love the movie "Field of Dreams." For one, there's the sheer magic of a baseball field in the middle of an Iowa cornfield. It's so beautiful that it has all of us wondering "Is it heaven?" (Good for the Iowa tourism board for continuing to use that slogan). No doubt. I will remain ever grateful that I made the trek to Dyersville, Iowa. I set my own eyes on the hallowed ground reaffirming why we refer to a baseball field as a "diamond."

Based on a great book, Shoeless Joe Jackson by W. P. Kinsella

Furthermore, "Field of Dreams" integrates fact and fiction; Shoeless Joe Jackson and seven other Chicago White Sox ballplayers—banned from the game for throwing the 1919 World Series—reappear as ghosts in the field that Ray Kinsella is commanded to build. The Black Sox broke a lot of hearts—Chicago fans are loyal—and this team could be one of the best that never was.

But I've always thought an unappreciated component of this spiritual story is the relationship between Ray and his wife Annie. She knows that Ray is hearing voices. "If you build it..." She understands he must set out on a and follow this dream. In short, she believes in him. 

Ray and his daughter can see the ghosts; eventually Annie does...

I think believing in someone—truly believing in them—is one of the greatest things we can do for one another person. To believe in someone is to know their true self, to know what they are capable of doing, and what gets them out of bed in the morning. Often times we don't even know what is within our reach. Thank God for those people who help us to realize the gifts, talents, abilities and more that may become our destiny.

It is in that context that the words of  San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong caught my attention. Vogey had a losing record of 4-6 last year and was sidelined due to injury for a fractured hand. At 37 years of age, Giants fan often wonder what he has left.

I write tonight because it's hard not to be excited about the answer to that. His ERA is 0.89, he pitched 7 1/3 innings in last night's game and had a solid stand up double. 

Quickly becoming many people's favorite Giant....hard not to like this guy

His take on things: “A lot of my focus is not to prove people wrong, but to prove people right that believe in me,” Vogelsong said. “I know there are certain people that had a big say in me coming back this year and I want to do right by them. There were people that wanted me back and people that didn’t. I want to reward the people who believed in me.”

He's exactly right. Anyone can be a nay-sayer. The world is already full of people to tell us we are not good enough—and a thousand more variations of that sentiment. But, there are those nutty, crazy, loving, kind and good hearted people who are different. They do the simplest thing in the world: believe. It's time we all proved them right. 

I have a lurking suspicion that my Mother's Day posting will thank those who #32 mentioned...

Photo Credits
Ray & Annie

Sports & Spiritual Halls of Fame: Welcome JPII

Coach Ladouceur:
To be inducted 5.6.14 with Tony LaRussa,
Bob Lurie, & others

I picked up the program for the Bellarmine College Prep Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, looked through it and said to my colleague "I wish we held our own one of these. I love these events."

Before he could comment I said "it's that time of year. If you're a sports fan and like digging deep into the hallowed history of high school, collegiate and professional sports, it's not just the NBA or NHL playoffs that might capture you're attention—it's Hall of Fame season! Old Time Athlete's Association of Northern California is one I just learned about last week!"

Tomorrow night, the great Bob Ladouceur will be enshrined in the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame with five other men. Among many other things, this means you will now see a bronze plaque of Coach Lad in SFO until it is placed at the venue of the honoree's choice. Knowing Lad that will be in the least conspicuous locale on De La Salle's campus. His life and story has been made into a movie to be released this summer. More on "When the Game Stands Tall" in another posting.

Instead of our own ceremony at St. Ignatius, we support the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame. I attend because I love hearing the stories told by a range of personalities about the coaches, athletic directors and athletes who have shaped the fabric of prep sports in "The City." It's that much more special when you know the man or woman being honored. 

For example, when John Duggan SI '92 was inducted just last year, it was as much fun hearing what his uncle had to say about his nephew as an athlete, competitor, and holder of four WCAL Basketball League records (that still stand!) as it was to hear those by John himself —sorry JD! For those who saw John play in high school and later at USF, it felt like it all took place just yesterday. And for those of us who never got the chance, we wish we had.

All that John learned to succeed in basketball applies to running a great business. San Franciscans love Original Joes's

Thus, it is in this seasonal context that I thought it appropriate for the Catholic Church to induct two remarkable men into a great hall of fame. One week after Easter—Divine Mercy Sunday—John XXIII and John Paul were canonized; they are Saints (capital "s.")

I woke up on that day with the same excitement and anticipation that I do for any great day—a dear friend's wedding, a playoff or championship game, embarking on a big trip, running a marathon (which a very close friend did! on this very day. Still so proud of him).

I opted out of playing golf with a friend that Sunday afternoon because I wanted to attend mass at my parish community—St. Dominic's. Why? The word "liturgy" means "celebration." I knew this community of faith would honor and give thanks in that spirit through the message of the homily, prayer and song. I was not disappointed.

Father Isaiah reminded us of the Gospel reading's message: the Risen Lord's first words to His disciples were "Peace Be with you" and St. John Paul II's were "Be Not Afraid." At his invitation, I started to think of the relationship between the two commands.

JPII was able to give his message—one that is echoed throughout all of scripture—because he lived with the Peace that only Christ can give. 

As many people know, on May 13, 1981 Mehmet Ali Agca tried to assassinate John Paul II "as the pope rode in an open car in St Peter's Square. The pontiff was hit in the abdomen, left hand and right arm, but the bullets missed vital organs." (The Guardian) Even my students know that John Paul met Agca in Italy's Rebibbia prison in 1983 and forgave him for the shooting. Truly, the Holy Father modeled for us the importance of forgiveness and the theological virtue of love enables us to do so. What many of us don't know however, is the the extent to which the Polish Saint preached and practiced the first three words of his papacy. 

It would have been very easy for St. John Paul the II to withdraw from the world and play it safe. He could have easily limited his travel and focus his efforts on writing and the ever demanding duties of administration. Instead, the Holy Father embraced a missionary spirit that drew him to places like Zaire, the Congo, Cuba and even San Francisco. He prayed in a Mosque and a synagogue, a jail cell with his assassin and in front of an armless musician, Tony Melendez in Los Angeles. He sought to bring the message of Christ to all people. When you have the peace that Christ has given to all of us, you need not live in fear. Be Not Afraid!

Our sports and spiritual Halls of Fame, remind us not only of the gifts and talents of special people, but what we can learn from their life's story. Keep your eyes and ears open for those around you. It's that time of year...

Photo Credits
Sports H of F
Two John Duggans

What We Wear and Why: Personal Not Private

Only problem here:
Ryan had this shirt long
before Martin came to town

I looked at my friend in his bright Tennessee Volunteer orange t-shirt and said "Are you wearing that shirt for Peyton Manning?" 

Of course I had the nerve to ask this midway through a set of reps at the 6:00 a.m. "Hour of Power" class. Slightly cruel on my part, I launched the inquiry while Ryan was on the burpee rotation; no one likes burpees. 

Ryan coughed out "No. I'm wearing it for the basketball coach."

Breathing much easier with a dead lift set, I responded "Oh. Pat Summit?" 

I thought this might be true. Ryan is the only man I know who has admitted to scalping tickets for an NCAA women's basketball game. When UConn came to town to play Stanford he took his three daughters to Maples Pavilion thinking he could make the purchase on site. Not true.

"No, in support the new coach at Cal. Cuonzo Martin came from Tennessee. I was hoping someone would ask me about that."

I looked at Ryan and his response confirmed what I already knew: here was a kindred spirit. That is totally my move. I wear shirts, sweatshirts and hats hoping that someone will ask a question that lets me launch into a story or anecdote about my allegiance. I love nothing more than the insider's guide to supporting one's school or team. This was a good one. Ryan is a indeed a Cal alum and a loyal Bear-backer. In response, I said the only appropriate thing to say, amidst the next set of push-ups. "Go Bears!" 

I wish I had picked up on his lead from the start. I already receive e-mails from the Cal Athletics department on a weekly basis. I wanted to know more about the 16th head coach of the men's basketball team. 

Martin has an impressive history as a coach and a former player. What I found most intriguing however is that "he returned to his alma mater where he earned his bachelor’s degree in restaurant, hotel, institutional and tourism management from Purdue in 2000." And let's be honest, it's a lot easier to wear a Tennessee shirt in support of Cuonzo Martin than it is to wear one for the former head coach Mike Montgomery, who came from Stanford. 

I left Ryan and others in class that morning by saying "Today is Good Friday. It's this big one. I don't know if you do anything on this day or celebrate Easter, but well....pause...a little silence....enjoy your weekend." A small part of me wished that conversation could have been as animated and natural as the one about a new coach, a college and our allegiance to it.

I try to live by the conviction that although personal, faith is not meant to be private. Providence Place Ministries says it well. "While our faith is a personal matter–a very personal matter–because it is about our personal relationship with God, it is not at all private, especially if we are Christians."

Why? because the Gospel is not something we are called to undertake by ourselves. No. Jesus said "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there." Living the Gospel is indeed a challenge, but it is also one that bears great fruit in public witness and public action.

Archbishop Carlson said "We are baptized into a family of faith, the Church, and we live out our Christian discipleship in communion with all our sisters and brothers (living and deceased) who make up the one Body of Christ. The social, or communal, dimension of Catholic belief and practice is every bit as important as the individual, or personal, dimension of Christian life." 

Later that same day, I went into my bank and the teller who helped me was wearing a beautiful cross. I looked at her, knowing she must be a Christian. I also knew that she would understand the significance of Good Friday.

I wish I had said something to her about it. For some reason, I held back and kept our interaction strictly professional, but I wished I hadn't. When we wear the cross we bear public witness to what we are a part of yesterday, today and forever. After all, He is Risen! 

Indeed, what we wear is often an invitation to a conversation about who we are, what we believe and what we value. It can help us understand those we live, work and play with. It reminds me that who we are isn't meant to be private but shared with others—even if we are different. In fact, that's what makes life so vibrant and interesting, in spite of our differences we share much more that we realize. 

Photo Credits
Cuonzo Martin
TN shirt
Signing

Roll Tide...Eastertide

Almost as good as "Go Irish"

Only 53% of students at the University of Alabama are from "the Yellowhammer state." 42% are from elsewhere in the US. With their success on the football field, I understand why students who are sports fans are drawn to a big time college experience like "Bama." And that is why a number of my students will be studying in Tuscaloosa this fall (talk about culture shock). 

This is not typical. Cal Berkeley, another Jesuit University like BC, Gonzaga and Fordham seem to be a norm. I celebrate when I hear of a senior who is going to Notre Dame. This spring when three young men told me where they are going to college, there's only one thing I could say in response: "Roll Tide." And the reaction is always the same: a big smile.

Alabama's rally cry garners a lot of attention. What does it mean? Why is it so fun to say?

UA's athletics website explains both the history and meaning of its mascot and their slogan. 

In early newspaper accounts of Alabama football, the team was simply listed as the "varsity" or the "Crimson White" after the school colors.  

The first nickname to become popular and used by headline writers was the "Thin Red Line." The nickname was used until 1906.  

The name "Crimson Tide" is supposed to have first been used by Hugh Roberts, former sports editor of the Birmingham Age-Herald. He used "Crimson Tide" in describing an Alabama-Auburn game played in Birmingham in 1907, the last football contest between the two schools until 1948 when the series was resumed. The game was played in a sea of mud and Auburn was a heavy favorite to win. 

But, evidently, the "Thin Red Line" played a great game in the red mud and held Auburn to a 6-6 tie, thus gaining the name "Crimson Tide." Zipp Newman, former sports editor of the Birmingham News, probably popularized the name more than any other writer. 

According to Connor Adam Sheets,  "'Roll Tide' was said to illustrate the Alabama varsity running on the field. It was said the team looked like the tide was rolling in thus gaining the chant 'Roll Tide.'"

It's not surprising to me that their catchphrase is as ubiquitous as it is. My student informed me that "every letter I get from the University is signed with the closure Roll Tide." ESPN capitalized on this truth with one of my favorite commercials. I think the best humor is born from observation—observing humanity, our quirks and quibbles, our experiences and delights. Certainly, Roll Tide (and the love for one's school) is no exception.

So this Easter Monday, I couldn't help but notice when a colleague signed a letter "Enjoy Eastertide." This was a new phrase to me. Eastertide? I like it!

Eastertide is the Easter Season—the 50 days of celebration of the Lord's resurrection. It concludes with Pentecost. And I think it's important to note that this liturgical season of 50 days trumps the sacrifice and discipline of the 40 days of Lent. A victory in Jesus Christ.

The notion of "tide" has impelled me to think of the enthusiasm by which I should say "Happy Easter." Living in a secular city like San Francisco, I have noticed I held back from saying "Happy Easter." I even said "Happy Easter...or er..Happy Spring." 

But for those with whom I share a common faith tradition, it's time to say it loud and clear. "He is Risen! Alleluia!" We ought to let our lives and our words reveal that death hath no victory. The joy of the season is in the Risen Lord." Eastertide. 

Photo Credits
Roll Tide
Eastertide