Where Amazing Happens

The Lessons of Nathaniel Jones

Chris Paul is doing something incredible and it has nothing to do with the NBA.

On the moonless night of Nov. 15, 2002, five young boys ran across a park, jumped a 61-year-old man, bound his wrists, duct-taped his mouth, and beat him with pipes until his heart stopped.

All for his wallet.

That man was Nathaniel Jones, the grandfather of future NBA star Chris Paul.

In this article, Rick Reilly shows us how Chris Paul may amaze us on the court, however the most amazing thing about Chris Paul is his compassion and ability to forgive the five boys who took the life of his grandfather, his best friend.

"Even though I miss my granddad," Paul told me, "I understand that he's not coming back. At the time, it made me feel good when I heard they went away for life. But now that I'm older, when I think of all the things I've seen in my life? No, I don't want it. I don't want it."

This is a great article that reaches beyond the lines of a basketball court and teaches us all more about life. If Chris Paul, one of the greatest basketball players on the planet can find the strength in him to forgive, then so can we. It shows us that there are bigger things in life than just a round ball and a basket. I already loved watching Chris play and respected the many things he could on the floor...but now, I respect him more off the floor as a human being. It will make me strive to be a better person and learn to find the strength to become a servant leader, just like Chris Paul.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6436820

Spoelstra bonded with LeBron in December

Good article on Erik Spoelstra and LeBron James relationship. It just shows how important the line of communication between a coach and a player is.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/news/story?id=6396468

Doing what you believe is right even though it may not be best for you

Andy Staples has a great article in Sports Illustrated about Arizona Associate Head Coach Mike Dunlap. It talks about how Mike passed on the interim head coaching job (when Lute Olsen retired) based on his principle and beliefs: "I said, 'If you give me or anybody else the interim label, you're going to lose four recruits that are high-end...That's not a good way to deal with things, and I believe in doing things right." Instead of worrying about the future of the program, Dunlap and Interim Head Coach Russ Pennell (right) quickly went to working on the present. They have gotten their players to buy in to the simple goals that they have set, and despite what the expectations may have been, the 'Cats now find themselves in the Sweet Sixteen. Looking back, Dunlap says he has no regrets: "If I were to have a regret at this point, it would be totally selfish about what the returns were...I'm a purist. I made my decision on principle." If we never allow ourselves to become a part of something bigger than oursleves, then we will never become whole.