The Highest Priced Game

 

       “When’s he coming back…he’s done for the season…I found so much scar tissue underneath that boy’s knee that he shouldn’t have even been playing.“ “Oh wow, he never said anything to me about his knee pain,” replied Bud Kilmer after visiting his star quarterback Lance Harbor in the hospital after suffering a serious injury in the most recent game. For those familiar with that film and having played the game of football at the division one level or higher, it’s likely they have either been in that scenario or witnessed it before. A Coach willing to jeopardize the long-term health of one of his players all to be able to hang his next championship banner. We’ve all heard about these players being doped up on painkillers, getting injections prior to and during games, and a plethora of other treatments.

       As is typically the case, the chickens have come home to roost, and the leader of the revolution is a man by the name of Dr. Bennet Omalu played by Will Smith (a far cry of both time and maturity from his time as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). A man of courage. Someone who was willing to hold a $10 billion industry accountable for withholding crucial information regarding player safety. After the tragic 2002 passing of Michael “Iron Mike” Webster, Omalu performed the autopsy and made shocking discoveries about Webster’s brain. His desire to examine his deceased patient’s brain more in depth is met with harsh criticism and resentment by the Pittsburgh faithful. Despite this obstacle and its hefty financial costs, he continues with his work.

       Continuation with this work leads Omalu to conclude that while cardiac arrest may have been listed as the cause of Webster’s death, playing football for so long is what ultimately killed him in the form of CTE. He suggests the same thing with deceased players Terry Long (suicide), Justin Strzelczyk (car accident), and Andre Waters (suicide). As these deaths happen consecutively (2004-2006), the NFL is finally forced to acknowledge his research and give it some consideration. However, newly crowned commissioner Roger Goodell does not take Omalu or his research seriously. They display such sentiments by disallowing Omalu to even be in the room and requesting former Steelers team doctor Julian Bailes to present instead. While thoroughly distraught and still under great pressure to back down, (despite the stalking of his pregnant wife and a politically driven prosecution on corruption charges aimed at forcing his testimony), Omalu continues.

         The final straw comes when Dave Duerson, an NFL Players Association executive commits suicide due to growing cognitive problems and requests Omalu to examine his brain in a suicide note. Many will view this film and ask what makes it so great? The answer is clear. Concussion puts a mirror to all of our faces and forces us to take long hard looks at the ugliest parts of our inner selves. It’s not as much about why the NFL withheld such vital information about the long-term damage football could do to the body as it is why we as the audience find such pleasure in watching this barbaric game. It’s about why these players voluntarily step onto the field with injuries galore. It’s about why team doctors sometimes abandon their oath in allowing players to go back onto the field. While this entire film is important, perhaps the most telling part is when Omalu gives the demonstration of what happens to the human brain after repeated blows by using a fish in a water-filled jar and shaking it horizontally.

           Seeing that image and then picturing that happening to someone’s brain multiple times on the football field is terrifying to say the least. It’s enough to make you never watch a football game the same way again. The film also humanizes the NFL. It exposes their biggest fear. A fear that some guys will begin to say to hell with this game. A fear that some will follow the trends of young retirees like Jake Locker and numerous 49er players. Should such realizations continue, then slowly but surely, those billions the NFL brings in will start to dwindle. Eventually, that means no more high life, no more excessive luxuries at the expense of guys literally killing each other, no more ownership of an entire day of the week. Indeed that power is difficult to give up. While I don’t promise to discontinue watching football altogether, I certainly can no longer ignore the outrageous price it costs to play this game at its highest level. For those who can, may the good Lord have mercy on your souls.

Adonis delivers a knockout

            “If he dies, he dies,” says Ivan Drago coldly after watching an unconscious, mercilessly beaten Apollo Creed lying in the arms of rival and best friend Rocky Balboa. It was that day thirty years ago in 1985 that we saw former heavyweight champ Apollo Creed fight his final bout before being called home. In the eyes of many, that was the last time we would ever hear about the boxing legend. Then came a young, hungry raw talent carrying the name of a Greek God and the blood of the late Apollo.

            Enter Adonis Creed, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan in his second lead film role and known by many as 16-year-old drug dealer “Wallace,” from hit HBO drama, The Wire. Along with a cast of veterans such as Sylvester Stallone and Phylicia Rashad, professional boxers Tony Bellew and Andre Ward, and Tessa Thompson, Jordan still manages to shine in the lead role as Apollo’s illegitimate son. It all starts with the first name matching Jordan’s noticeably ripped physique. A tribute to the discipline he shows in his craft for bringing fictitious characters to life much the same as he did when he was Vince Howard on Friday Night Lights.

            Aside from Jordan’s quality portrayal, the film scores well by giving a sense of reality and legitimate human emotion to it. When Adonis decides to turn down a promotion at a very steady job at a securities firm to pursue boxing full time, the decision is met with much scrutiny by his boss and current legal guardian, Mary Anne Creed, Apollo’s widow who agreed to take Adonis in 17 years earlier. As the audience, we can feel her pain as we recall Apollo’s death and hear her speak about the tough nights where she had to walk him up the stairs or bathe him because he was too battered and bruised to do it himself. Against her wishes, Adonis moves from Los Angeles to Philadelphia in search of Rocky to receive formal training.

            We’re hit with reality once again as Adonis attempts to step out of his late father’s shadow by taking on his late mother’s last name, Johnson. At one point, Rocky suggests if Apollo were alive today, he would attempt to talk his son out of taking on the life of a fighter. This parallels how the legendary Michael Jordan has been vocal about not exactly wanting his kids to play basketball because of the scrutiny they will face as a result of his legacy. Like most kids, they played anyway, and so does Adonis. While carrying the Johnson name works for a short amount of time, it isn’t long before a jealous trainer in the Philly gym does some checking and finds out who Adonis really is.

            When he brings this to Rocky’s attention, Rocky pleads with him for confidentiality that we all know won’t last long. When word finally gets out, and Adonis’s love interest, Bianca discovers the full truth, she has mixed emotions. We also get an ESPN connection as we see PTI cohosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser discuss Apollo as if he were a real athlete. Adonis is confronted with the name issue once again when the trainer for current champion “Pretty” Ricky Conlan requests a fight but demands that Adonis go by Adonis “Hollywood” Creed for better promotion. Adonis is hesitant at first but eventually gives in after the love and motivation from Bianca convinces him that he has earned the right to use the name and shouldn’t be as concerned about being in someone else’s shadow.

            Once he comes to grips with the fact he cannot escape his father’s legacy, we see a mentally renewed Adonis. One who is ready to live out his dream. One who is ready to take on whatever challenges come his way both in and outside the ring. We get to witness the final transformation of a young raw talent to a professional fighter ready for the big time. Perhaps the most admirable trait of Adonis is the willingness to trade in the big bucks and secure job in order to pursue what’s in his heart. Something so many people, especially Americans, want to do but either aren’t able to because of circumstances or lack the courage to go forth in their journey. He represents someone who understands that no matter how much money you make, it is all temporary and getting spent eventually. But something that gives you a passionate feeling and stirs your soul, that’s way more valuable than money.

            We also admire him for having the humility to recognize the need for formal training. While his raw talent is undeniable, he is humble and smart enough to realize talent alone won’t take him as far as he wants to go in the boxing world. For pursuing his dream and remaining humble, Adonis becomes an onscreen hero who both inspires and teaches us at the same time. We are inspired to pursue our passions with all our hearts, and we are taught to never give up. Impossible is merely a state of mind. While the Rocky series has always been inspirational dating back to its original film in 1976, I must say Creed takes the cake as the best one. And for being the seventh one in line, that says quite a bit about this film.   

Farewell to a Legend

     Times like these always remind me despite the inevitability of the end to all things, we’re still never truly prepared for it. We’re never truly prepared to say goodbye to the college days, step on that field or court for the last high school basketball or football game, or say our last good-byes to a loved one in their final days. We know all of these moments and more are going to get here one day, yet we still are unable to be fully prepared for them. That’s exactly how I’m feeling right now as I think about one of the greatest to ever step on the hardwood, Kobe “Bean” Bryant, announcing he is retiring at the end of this season.

            The announcement came as no shock as Bryant is certainly a mere shell of himself from his prime. However, that hasn’t stopped me from watching a popular vine of some of his spectacular highlights over and over again. Or looking at replays of some of the magic he and Shaq created as a dynamic duo in Los Angeles. Or looking at him compete in the dunk contest as a bald-headed teenager. That nappy afro would do wonders for him later in the pros. LOL. Despite his phenomenal career and being the closest player to the legendary M.J. we have ever seen, it hasn’t been without its share of controversy.

            He was immediately perceived as arrogant and ungrateful when originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets (New Orleans Pelicans), claiming it was an “impossibility” to play for them. It was because of this perception that many took pride in his early pro career struggles that included four straight air balls in a playoff matchup against the Utah Jazz. While he made the NBA All-Rookie team and won the 1997 dunk contest, many fans chose to remember the final minutes of the season. After Los Angeles’ three-peat from 2000-2002, many accused Kobe of single-handedly running Shaq, the number one option at the time, out of town in order to cement his status as the team’s Alpha male. He was also falsely accused of sexual assault in 2003 and even talked about leaving for either Chicago or Washington due to disagreements with the front office.

            Yet in the midst of all this, he overcame all the drama and had enough success to make those same people who held up signs saying, “Hey Shaq, I don’t like Kobe either,” sing a completely different tune. He proved that he could be the number one option in LA, leading them to three consecutive trips to the finals resulting in two victories against Orlando and longtime rival Boston to give him five rings and the Laker franchise a total of 16 championship banners in Staples Center. He defeated all of his rivals to include Allen Iverson, T-Mac, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, and several others. Mind you, many people, but not me, once deemed A.I. and T-Mac as better than Kobe. It was worth debating, but I never thought they were at any point, and in the end Kobe outplayed both of them.

            Here’s a snapshot of his 20 year career: 5x NBA champion (2000-2002, 2009-2010), 2x Finals MVP (2009-2010), NBA Regular Season MVP (2008), 17x NBA All Star (1998, 2000-2015), 4x All Star game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011), 11x NBA All First Team (2002-2004, 2006-2013), 2x NBA All Second Team (2000-2001), 2x NBA All Third Team (1999, 2005), 9x NBA All Defensive First Team (2000, 2003-2004, 2006-2011), 3x NBA All Defensive Second Team (2001-2002, 2012), 2x NBA Scoring Champion (2006-2007), NBA Slam Dunk Champion (1997), NBA All Rookie Second Team (1997), Lakers All Time Leading Scorer (A franchise that includes the greatest point guard of all time Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Wilt Chamberlain, James Worthy, and Jerry West among many other notable names), and third on the all-time scoring list behind only Kareem and Karl “The Mailman” Malone. 2nd most points in a game at 81 behind only Laker legend Wilt Chamberlain at 100. Damn good company right there.

            And to think when he first came out of high school, there were people who didn’t think he belonged. People who thought the Lakers made a mistake. People who thought his selfish antics would ruin him and whatever franchise he played for. Those same people weep for his departure. Not to mention he remained in Laker purple and gold is entire career. Only a small amount of legendary professional athletes can say that. They include Tim Duncan, Reggie Miller, and Magic Johnson. Other legends such as Kareem, Wilt, even M.J. can’t say that. Brett Favre, Emmett Smith, and Peyton Manning can’t say that.

            Kobe wore a Laker uniform through thick and thin, with and without Phil Jackson. He consistently gave us an excellent show on the court. He inspired a competitive spirit within anyone who watched him, athlete or not. He showed us what it meant to strive for perfection almost to the point of unhealthy obsession. He showed us what it meant to have heart. He has done this and more now for twenty years come the end of this season. With that in mind, I must say it has truly been an honor to watch him go from teenage Phenom to NBA All Star to full time starter and number two option to future Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal to Alpha male to the greatest Laker of all time and the closest we’ve ever had to Michael Jordan. It is for providing such performances and inspiration, I must say thank you and congratulate Kobe on a once in a lifetime career. May you prosper to the fullest in all your post basketball endeavors. While we may not ever see you lace up the sneakers and step on the hardwood again after this season, rest assure we will never forget everything you have done for the game of basketball.