Sometimes, in the midst of hardship and tragedy, an simple act will occur that puts it into perspective. This can be a difficult proposition in the modern world.
After another deadly tornado ripped through Oklahoma on Monday, nearly everyone sent news crews and cameras down to capture the story. We need to see it, right? Have to make fun of the people wearing inappropriate t-shirts who didn’t know they’d end up on camera. We must move each other to tears with images and first-hand reports of the horrors.
We’ve got to have every pundit on TV turn this into either a commentary on global warming or sequestration funds or any other number of political issues, all in the name of ratings and driving up the mass consumerism of other people’s misfortune.
Even kindness must have its moment, put on some make-up for the cameras and give details about how it’s here. The whole spectacle is enough to make our stomachs turn. The news is enough – we don’t have to over-produce our coverage of it.
So in a world full of cynicism, full of foreboding entourages, fake glasses and fashion statements, leave it to a professional athlete, of all people, to momentarily restore my faith in humanity.
Kevin Durant of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder donated $1 million in relief funds to victims on Tuesday.
It only got out because the Red Cross announced it. It would have anyway because it was such a large sum of money. But the point that anyone in professional sports can donate without making a scene about it is nearly as remarkable as the donation itself.
Then again, this is Kevin Durant. He’s different and always has been.
Durant doesn’t draw attention to himself. He doesn’t preen, boast or brag. He doesn’t whine about why the breaks don’t go his way.
Time and again, Durant tells you everything you need to know about him just in the way he carries himself. Often without saying a word. And the words he does say are measured, well-thought out and only convey what wants projected. He insists on being Kevin Durant, not a global icon or caricature.
It’s as simple as accepting blame and deflecting praise. Durant has always done both well, which is kind of opposite how the rest of the sports world works.
Last year, in a crucial Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals, Durant had a chance to put LeBron James and the Miami Heat in an 0-2 hole. He had a chance to put all the pressure on James and the Heat as he drove the baseline and pulled up for a jumper. Durant and James got tangled up a bit, Durant kept shooting form.
Durant missed.
It was clear Durant had been fouled, but he either had not sold it well enough or had not earned enough stature in the game to go toe-to-toe with the league MVP and get the fouled called. James and the Heat escaped, and went on to win the series.
But in the aftermath of Game 2, reporters crowded around Durant. Time for the barking. Time for the gamesmanship of gathering the league and referees attention to this most grievous act. Time to at least acknowledge he got fouled, deserved free throws and that the rest of the series needed to be officiated a little more toward the middle instead of serving the King’s court.
Nope.
“I missed the shot, man,” was all Durant would say at the time.
With microphones jammed in his face, Durant simply shrugged it off and blamed himself. Maybe he didn’t want it that way. Maybe Durant wanted the foul called on its merits, not based off who’s wearing the other jersey.
In many ways, it’s a stark contrast to many of Durant’s superstar contemporaries around the league like James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.
Howard’s got teams from coast-to-coast fawning for the services of a player who seems less mature today than he was in 2009. Chris Paul seems nice enough, until you remember he did push behind the scenes to leave New Orleans and he had that nasty incident in college for stomping on another player. Then there’s Anthony, who prima-donna’d his way out of Denver, only to shrug off his team’s lackluster playoff performance and deflect any sense that there’s pressure growing on him to live up to the hype he’s had since joining the Knicks.
Durant chose to re-up with the Thunder. He wants to stay in Oklahoma City. It’s about as middle as mid-market comes. Aside from lamenting briefly that he was tired of being No. 2, Durant’s bore the full burden of losing the playoffs without a sidekick and being questioned how good he really is on his own.
Just last week, the topic de jour was about how Durant maybe now understands why LeBron left Cleveland. Maybe he could, can and will learn what James learned during his time with the Cavaliers.
Speaking of James, he’s different, too. He also seems just a little less greedy than everyone else.
We’ve largely forgiven the traveshamockery that was “The Decision” – mainly due to the fact that James gave a large, multi-million dollar donation to the Boys and Girls Club.
But maybe this is where James could learn from Durant.
Kevin Durant didn’t need a national TV audience and primetime special to do something for the great good. Durant didn’t need to do some self-promotion to raise the money and donate a portion of the proceeds to charity.
Durant simply cut a check – and probably went back to the gym.
Durant gave $1 million dollars, of his own money, to people he’s never met, that probably have relatively few, if any, ties to the Thunder or sports in general. And he did it without announcing it on Twitter. Did it without going on television or having Jim Gray come to his house.
Much like in the day of an average American, we meet people and know little about them, the same is true for professional athletes. And we’re always wondering, whether it’s a co-worker or some HD face on TV, if they are who they purport themselves to be. Why? Because we still care about being genuine. We like people who have no agenda, no hidden motives or greater plan, but simply do because it’s right.
We could use a little less talking. We could do without the political agendas, sidebars and just the moments when people need a moment to catch their breath lay silent in humility and honor.
Thanks to Kevin Durant, there’s still hope for that.
This time, Durant wins Most Valuable Person. This time, Durant isn’t No. 2.
This time, Kevin Durant made the shot.
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