Sport Prophesy
It has been a sad off-season for the NBA. The deaths of Reggie Lewis and James Jordan have, unfortunately, been the major stories. Jordan’s case was disturbing because it reminds us all that anyone could be the victim of violent crime. Lewis’ case, however, was in some ways more disturbing to me.
As I understand it, Lewis was told by 12 doctors that he had a serious heart problem and his life was at risk if he continued to play basketball; he was also told by one doctor that he had a less serious neurological condition and could be put on medication that would allow him to play without risk.
When I first heard about Lewis’ death, I asked myself why he would take that one doctor’s advice (advice, it now appears according to more recent news, given without benefit of relevant information about a heart murmur that Reggie experienced as a boy) when it could mean his life? When I tried to put myself in Lewis’ situation, however, I began to come to a better understanding. I am no All-Star and I don’t get paid millions of dollars to play basketball (in fact, I sometimes pay to get in a gym), but I love to play; if someone told me that I could no longer play, it would be very difficult for me to accept. Any persons who have a favorite hobby they really love can put themselves in this position. Add to that the fact that basketball was not only a favorite avocation for Lewis but also his career, and it is much easier to see how he could make such a choice, as tragic as the result was.
From all accounts I have read, Lewis was a good person who was loved by those around him. He left behind one child and his wife who was pregnant with their second child. Lewis will be greatly missed by his family and friends — and also by all of us who love the sport of basketball and can identify with the difficulty of his choice.