Seems like it was yesterday, but going all the way back to January, we sadly learned abt former NBA player, Delonte West, on the streets.
There was a lot that was messed up abt that situation – the way the media portrayed it as “the example” of what bipolar is, the way that some poked fun at a guy who’d fallen on hard times, etc.
Regardless of what anyone said/did, for those who followed the story closely, we know that Delonte was self-medicating. His fam told us so. His episodes came from non-compliance, & as is all too often the case w loved ones, he was refusing help.
You wonder – when it’s the member of a community of folks who have lots of $ & are offering to help, why someone refuses that help. Unfortunately this is nothing new. We hear these stories all the time. 2 things typically happen to change that situation: 1) the person hits rock bottom, 2) they find someone – fam (or someone who loves them & treats them like fam) – who they trust & are willing to get the help from.
Mark Cuban can be a blow hard. He runs his mouth a lot. But, we have also seen him have a BIG heart. What’s beautiful abt this particular story is – an Average Joe was in a gas station’s mini-mart in Dallas, saw Delonte walking arnd, got it on phone camera, & also captured Cuban coming TO the station, where he picked Delonte up. This was not a staged thing. Cuban didn’t deny it when asked, but he also didn’t ask for cameras/reporters to be there.
Delonte played for 4 diff teams in his 8ish yr NBA career. The last one he played for Cuban & the Mavs. Cuban’s a Billionaire who’s living the life. Delonte was at a pt where life was spinning out of control. Though not “fam” in the formal sense, Cuban treated West like fam, in picking him up & even offering to pay for rehab.
In pro sports we don’t see enough of this. Guys/gals have their careers, the team no longer needs their services, & they’re on their own. Maybe it’s justified by some bc they make large salaries & even have pensions. But when the cord is cut, it’s mostly final, & they’re out. Cuban is treating West like fam. We need more of THAT & not just in sports.