Below is David Beckham’s message for Neymar Jr. posted on Twitter:
Tag Archives: 2014
The NBA Sent a Powerful Message By Drafting Isaiah Austin
Adam Silver and the NBA made an incredible gesture by drafting the former Baylor Bears standout center, Isaiah Austin. Austin has been rated quite highly by NBA scouts and was expected to be picked last night. However, a few weeks ago, he was given a career-ending diagnosis of Marfan Syndrome (what is Marfan Syndrome?).
The NBA draft could have carried on without Silver’s tribute to Austin, but he did it anyway. Silver and the NBA has at least fulfilled Isaiah’s dream of being drafted, even though he will not be able to play a single competitive basketball game again. It speaks volumes on how the NBA wants to be on the forefront of promoting positive attitudes towards everyone in society. We can all remember Adam Silver’s press conference during the heat of the Donald Sterling controversy, right? That and last night’s gesture is an amazing display of compassion, inclusion and a move away from the old, horrible attitudes.
I love it.
Thank you, Mr. Silver!
And the Top 10 Picks of the 2014 NBA draft are…
So the wait is over. Andrew Wiggins has been confirmed as the NBA’s Number 1 Draft Pick this year. He was picked by the Cavaliers but will he stay there? I don’t know…
Jabari Parker was picked no. 2 by Milwaukee. Parker is exciting. He’s my favourite player out of all the draftees this year. I hope he does well.
The Sixers then selected Joel Embiid, who I thought would be the number one pick. He is very highly rated but his recent foot injury puts a huge, huge question mark on his future. He’s out for at least 4 months. Goodness knows when he’d be healthy and productive. I wish him well, too.
The Orlando Magic selected 6’8″ forward Aaron Gordon. Gordon’s a world-class athlete who can run and defend any position. He’s a bit of an enigma for me.
The fifth pick by the Jazz was the 18 year-old, 6’6″ Autralian point gurad, Dante Exum.
The 6th pick, Marcus Smart , is going to Boston to play for the Celtics. Smart is a point guard that drives harder than anyone. He has a 6’9″ wing-span, he is a great defender, but a bad shooter. Would he be a good fit with Rondo? Hmmm…
Julius Randle joins the LA Lakers as the 7th ovrall pick. He’s a great rebounder who kind of reminds people of Zach Randolph in the way he works in the paint.
Nik Stauskas goes 8th with the Kings. Stauskas is a great, great shooter.
The New Orleans HORNETS (no longer the Pelicans, remember!), selected Noah Vonleh as the 9th pick. He has a 7’4″ wing-span!
The 10th pick (Philly) pick was Elfrid Payton.
GOOD LUCK TO THEM ALL!!!
I Am Not The Hype
NBA 2014 Draft teaser:
Luis Suarez is not Autistic
Luis Suarez, an accomplished footballer who plays for Liverpool in the UK’s Premier League and for Uruguay’s National team is in the middle of yet another media storm because of his actions yesterday. In Uruguay’s World Cup match against Italy yesterday, Suarez bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in the shoulder. Suarez has a terrible history of biting players during a football match. Today, the Mail Online reported that Suarez has been charged by FIFA for biting an opponent and could potentially be slapped with a two-year ban.
As if this story isn’t disturbing enough, I have found that my blog has been viewed hundreds of times yesterday when people entered the search terms, ‘Luis Suarez Autistic’. I find it offensive that some people would quickly assume that someone who displays inappropriate behaviours that Suarez did, is autistic.
Why would they? Is it because they have encountered someone with Autism who has the tendency to bite when they are angry? Yes, some people with Autism may have that tendency, but not everyone with Autism does so.
Is it because Suarez has been doing this exact same thing and he seems not to have learned? That’s not a sign of Autism.
Is it because he is unable to control his emotions whilst also not understanding social norms? Those may be signs of Autism but one needs to look at the whole picture and observe individuals in different contexts to see whether the behaviour and understanding are constant.
Even though I am extremely offended, I understand that I may be over-reacting. I am here to educate and not moan. A diagnosis of Autism requires a lot of tests, conversations and observations. Observing someone on a football field is not enough to warrant a diagnosis. Also, inappropriate behaviours are caused by a lot of factors, which makes it impossible to pin it down to a specific condition.
I hope this clears things up somehow.
Kevin Durant’s Inspirational MVP Speech: A Lesson in Gratitude
KEVIN DURANT– NBA scoring leader and Most Valuable Player. Greatest basketball player in the NBA this season.
Jeff Caplan wrote that Durant is the first player since Michael Jordan to:
1. Score at least 25pts in at least 40 games (MJ in 1987-1987)
2. Average 32.0 ppg, 7 rpg and 5 apg (MJ in 1988-89)
And he’s the first to have at least 35pts, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in 3 consecutive games since Larry Bird.
Most of us see the highlights, the exceptional shots, dunks, assists and game-winners. We see the wins and the losses, the rise of a leader. The rise of KD.
In his acceptance speech, KD emphasized that he did not do it alone. He had help and inapiration. He singled out his mom and each teammate. He thanked everyone who helped him reach his dream.
Winning an MVP trophy is seen as a celebration of an individual’s brilliance. An individual’s amazing effort and success. But Kevin Durant set the record straight. He became an MVP because of the people around him. He is still standing despite all the adversities that have happened to him as an individual, to his family and to Oklahoma- the city which his team is based.
He thanked the veteran players in his team who inspires and sets an example for him. He thanked the young players for looking up to him and thus made him consciously elevate his game. He thanked OKC Thunder’s management for believing in the team.
Kevin Durant is a supremely talented basketball player and a great leader. But what sets him apart from everyone else is his appreciation of the people around him. His speech showed that he does not take anything for granted.
We could all take a page from Kevin’s book. Let’s start (or continue) to appreciate what people do for us. As Kevin implied, we cannot succeed on our own.
Understanding and Embracing Diversity 