Daily Sports Affirmation 6/19/13

I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.
-Frederick Douglass

Being LeBron is like the Kobayashi Maru. Or for those of you who are not super nerds, a no-win scenario. With 3 quarters complete in game 6, sports writers across America had their knives sharpened to bring down King James. How he had choked away the finals, been too passive and now was staring at a team destined to be broken apart.

But just then a funny thing happened. The NBA allowed the 4th quarter to be played. And without even discussing it with the media. The nerve! And in that 4th quarter and on into overtime, LeBron lost his headband and was fantastic. Huge shots from he and Jesus Shuttlesworth, coupled with some faulty free throw shooting and rebounding by the Spurs, led to the Heat "staying alive" for game 7 on Thursday night.

And even still, the haters gonna hate. Ridicule on sports talk radio rained down on the King's reign throughout the day today. And while I am by no means a LeBron or Miami Heat fan (how can you be with that fan base),  you gotta give the man some credit. He provided anyone willing to stay up and watch an amazing game of basketball. My hat's off to both the Heat and the Spurs for a fascinating game and series and I can't wait for game 7. All we as fans can hope is that both team's give their all and the result leaves no doubt.

So today, when you complain about others and their efforts, look in the mirror at your own deficiencies through the compassionate lens of others. Are you giving your all? Are you being unfairly ridiculed? The lessons we learn by watching sports are important, but only if they are applied with brutal honesty.

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.
-Frederick Douglass