Do What Is Right For You: A LeBron James Lesson

LeBron James continuous to take a tremendous amount of heat for leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to play for Miami. After he left the Cavaliers, they too have taken tremendous beatings as well, from opposing teams.  And James has nearly single-handedly turned the Heat into a serious title contender.  Before he joined the team, the players badly needed help to get back to the championship level.

Still James has been called by sportscasters and writers "the most hated athlete in American sports."  Why?  When he left the Cavaliers many felt he betrayed the team for spoils, and that he is a "sell-out."
“Fans are passionate,” James said. “They believe that you should live your life and your career through them, and when you don’t do that, they automatically turn. I know that personally.”

I am not going to pass judgement on whether LeBron should have stayed with the Cavaliers.  However, I do want to say this.  You cannot make life decisions based on what others want you to do.  Could you honestly say you would stay on a job and pass up a more lucrative career because others felt you should? 

Life is too short to live for others, even fans.  And, if you are a basketball player, you know that life on the court is one of the shortest careers you could possibly have.

So whether you believe that James should have stayed, or gone on to Miami like he did, remember in your own life, live for what you feel is best for you, not others.

This Inspirational Coach Gives the Ultimate Gift

The Wake Forest baseball coach Tom Walter who has donated a kidney to a freshman player, has also given the gift of inspiration to players, and to others hearing about his incredible, selfless act.

When Walter learned his outfielder, Kevin Jordan, suffers from a disease that can lead to kidney failure, he stepped up to offer his own when there was no match in Jordan's family. 

How many times have you heard coaches say their team is their family?  Walter not only says this, but takes it to heart making the ultimate sacrifice, most would only give for blood relative, if at all. 

Walter feels Jordan was courageous having decided to enroll at Wake Forest despite his illness, not knowing anyone on campus, and becoming a sick teenager away from home having to be in his room on dialysis.

Imagine the scene when the coach walked into the locker room one day to inform his players that he was about to donate a kidney to Jordan,  a 19th-round draft pick of the New York Yankees last June. The team broke out into applause, astonished the man who tells them they are a family, shows them beyond words.

"I wanted to help this young man," Walter, 42, said.  "When we recruit our guys, we talk about family and making sacrifices for one another. It's something we take very seriously.  

The lesson of compassion and selfless giving Walter has shown Jordan and the team, is something they will never forget not only playing baseball, but in the game of life.