Imagine for a moment, the dream you
always chased, worked hard for and settled your heart on, was ripped from under
you at any given moment. Imagine, having the reality of your dream in the palm
of your hand, and having to watch your opportunity be given to someone else
because of something beyond your control. Now imagine, if that dream had
millions of dollars attached to it. Would you feel like you were robbed? Would
you feel like you robbed yourself? Would you risk it all and pursue your dream
anyway? What if it meant life or death? Isaiah Austin is a 7’0” tall basketball
player for Baylor University. He had a dream of entering the league and playing
professionally. As a 7’0” athlete who wouldn’t want him on their team?! He would
have entered the draft but for severe medical conditions. Austin played
basketball his entire life; he has practiced and trained for the moment to be
evaluated by professional teams. Fortunately, this moment came, a moment he had
always dreamed of. Unfortunately, the results would change his life forever.
Austin has played basketball for as
long as he could remember, and even with impairment he continued to work hard.
Rather than taking self-pity on himself he decided to use his disadvantage as
motivation. At the age of eight, Austin was hit in the eye with a baseball.
This ruined his retina that permanently damaged his eyesight. After undergoing
multiple surgeries, he was completely blind in his right eye and ultimately
lost his eye entirely—even this did not impede his passion and love for the
game of basketball. Austin continued to work hard and fight for the dream he
knew he could accomplish.
Recently, Austin entered the NBA draft
and after medical testing, he was denied his dream. The doctors report stated
that he has a rare condition called Marfan syndrome that interferes with his
body tissue. However, if he over works himself his heart may rupture. His dream
is over, he may never be able to fully play the game of basketball that he once
cherished so much. In a sense this could be considered a blessing in disguise
because had he not gone to the draft this year and continued to play for Baylor
University, he could have overexerted himself and the results could have been
tragic. This disappointment has saved his life and for that, Austin and all of
his fans, should be eternally grateful.
Austin is extremely and undeniably
talented; it would be very disappointing to allow his talent to go to waste. I
propose that since he still has intercollegiate eligibility Baylor University
should honor his scholarship so that he may continue his education. Upon
graduation, he should be offered an assistant coaching position this would
ensure that he still has the ability to affect the game of basketball without
putting his own life at risk. Being a coach would put him on the other side of
the game, teaching what he has been taught and inspiring athletes to persevere
through adversity. The good news for Austin is that he has his talents insured
and since he is unable to play not because of his loss of eyesight or his
shoulder—but because of Marfan syndrome—Austin can cash in on his million
dollar policy, for his lack of a basketball career. Some may be thinking its
great that he’s making a million dollars and does not have to play another day
in his life, but it seems that the love of the game is more important to him
than a million dollar insurance policy—that’s passion. When no amount of money
can alter the love you have for the desired dream.
The moral of this story is to
always strive for your dreams, regardless of what you may be facing; continue
to work hard and remain positive. When you have a passion for something, use
your downfalls as a mechanism that ignites a motivating force to propel you to
another level you never knew you could reach. Sometimes God does not give us
what we want—in this case the opportunity to play in the NBA—because we deserve
something better—the gift of life.
Queen Tut
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