Wednesday, April 22, 2009

No More Finger Wags


I've only been watching this game for a few years, but twice already I've witnessed extremely disheartening occurrences. I was watching live when the career of Alonzo Mourning ended with a blown knee under the basket, and I was watching last night when the career of Dikembe Mutombo ended in a similar manner.

As professional athletes, there is an understanding that you are putting your career on the line every time you clock in. Your body let's you do the amazing things that you do, but by doing them, you could cause harm that will reduce or remove that very ability. It's a risky way to make a living. Knowing that these men acknowledge and accept that risk does not make it any less tragic when the gamble goes in the wrong direction. Mutombo was playing the game at an age that most guys have already stopped. He wasn't doing it because he wanted more money and he wasn't doing it because he felt that his career was somehow incomplete in achievement. He was playing because he loved the game. He was playing because that's who he was.

Like Mourning, Mutombo has used the money he's earned to help many people less fortunate than himself, and I have no doubt that he will continue to do so with even greater dedication now. In the grand scheme of things, that part of his life will have more positive impact on the world than smacking a ball and shaking his finger in denial ever could.

But we'll all miss that finger wag.

No comments:

Post a Comment

If you leave an email address, I'll write you back!