Its not Easy

The recent article on ESPN.com regarding the sexual orientation of former Villanova standout, Will Sheridan, got me thinking about how players cope with the mental stress of life while juggling their everyday role as a Gonzaga Mens Basketball player.

You can read the article on Will Sheridan HERE

Most players come into the program as teenagers, still learning what it is to be a man and what they ultimately will strive to achieve. Like the infamous NCAA commercial says, there are over 400,000 student-athletes, and almost all of them will be going pro in something other than sports. Basketball may not ultimately be their career, but while at Gonzaga they will become the man that eventually starts a business or maybe even a family. We as fans should examine our favorite players with a grain of salt. Sure that last three pointer missed badly, but what was on the players mind? We analyze that shot or their play with a microscope looking for some flaw or issue that needs their attention. Worse yet we curse at the television and blame the player or coaching staff for poor decision making, when at the end of the day there could be so much more than basketball on their mind.

Think about guys like Steven Gray who so epitomized the role of the student athlete with his forays into acting and his trip to Africa. He began his career in 2007 full of so much potential. His hair no more than an 1/8 of an inch long. No tattoos, nothing but a clean cut face that didn't look a day over 16. By the end of his freshman season we watched as he went toe to toe with Stephen Curry, matching the future NBA star shot for shot and looking like a future pro in his own right. Then he became a sophomore, and I'm sure many of us wondered what happened, he didn't look interested at times, almost disappeared on the court, his inconsistent play would continue throughout his career. We all screamed when he would miss shots that we just knew he could make. We all watched with glee as he dominated games with his defensive prowess in the passing lanes. Time after time i would shake my head, as he always seemed to have an uncanny ability to find the ball. At the end of the day, NBA scouts would leave the Kennel with the same feeling, shaking their head. I read a quote recently from an NBA scout who said Gray used to be considered a sure fire lottery pick, but has since become something of a pariah and as such his stock has noticeably fallen. He now sits somewhere near the back end of the second round as a fringe NBA player.

But, how does Steven feel about this? With his dread-locked hair and tribal tattoos, Steven was always more interested in Life than with Basketball. He went to Gonzaga to shoot the ball, and left ready to experience life. I wouldn't be surprised if he made an NBA team and found a niche, or even if he decided to take his talents to Europe for a few years. But at the end of the day, Steven will find his way, he will rise above Basketball and live life to the fullest. I am inspired by his take on life, I see Steven and i think about how much potential he has in Life. He will become something special, no matter what the NBA scouts say. I think Steven said it best when he said, "I've really enjoyed being a part of this program, They've taught me a lot, not just on the court, but in being a man." Next time we are watching a game, lets think about the players not just how they play, but who they will become.