NFL

From a Dream to a Nightmare

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By Erich R Pilcher

“I know you won’t believe me when I say this, but I wish kids, especially black kids, didn’t dream so much about playing in the NBA”

-NBA Hall of Famer/Turner Basketball in-studio analyst Charles Barkley

Those are the words Barkley wrote in the introduction of the book Hoop Dreams, which acts as a companion to the landmark documentary with the same name (this was reviewed on Matt Connarton Unleashed this week). Barkley would explain that while it is good to chase your dream, he has seen so many that could have done anything because of how smart they were. However, because they were only focused on basketball, when that was over they had nothing to fall back on.

A recent picture of the two stars of the 1994 documentary Hoop Dreams, William Gates and Arthur Agee.
Photo Courtesy: Dallas Morning News

For the film’s two stars William Gates and Arthur Agee, they never made it to the NBA. But, due to the film were able to improve the lives of their families. If you have ever watched a college sporting event you have seen the commercial where the NCAA touts that “98% of our athletes become professionals in things other than sports”.

While that is accurate, it does not tell the whole story. Sometimes these youngsters chase the dream of playing professional sports and when it does not happen for whatever reason may be, their flameout is often as bright and explosive as their meteoric rise. There are these tales sprinkled throughout the sport’s lore of these athletes. I have selected some that will show when a sports dream is shattered, life sometimes is not far behind.

This cover of Sports Illustrated launched Sebastian Telfair’s hype into the stratosphere. Sadly, the hype was never realized due to many issues. Photo Courtesy: Sports Illustrated

Sebastian Telfair: Telfair was the number one ranked player in the country in 2004 and committed to play for the University of Louisville. However, following being on the cover of Sports Illustrated and a neighborhood shooting that claimed the life of a friend, Telfair turned pro. He was drafted by the Trail Blazers in the first round, despite his diminutive size (6’0 on a good day). He became a starter but was not able to produce at a pro-level. He played for 11 different teams in the United States and China over his 13-year career that was plagued with legal issues and questions about his maturity. On October 7, 2021, he was among 18 players indicted for defrauding the NBA health and welfare benefit plan. The case is still pending. 

Lawerence Phillips shortly after being drafted by the St Louis Rams despite a criminal history while in college. Photo Courtesy: USA Today

Lawrence Phillips: For three seasons Phillips was arguably the best Running Back in college football. While playing at the University of Nebraska he rushed for 3,102 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also ran afoul of the legal system. He broke into a teammate’s apartment and violently assaulted an ex-girlfriend by smashing her head into a mailbox. Despite this, he was drafted by the Saint Louis Rams with the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft. While he did show flashes of brilliance, Phillips could not avoid his legal demons. During his two years with the Rams, he spent 23 days in jail. He was cut after storming out of the team facility when he learned he was being demoted. Later he signed with the Miami Dolphins. They cut him after he assaulted an adult dancer at a club. Then San Francisco took a gamble, but his work ethic and attitude were so bad the team paid him to not play. Phillips was sentenced to ten years in prison in October 2008 for running three teenagers over with his car. Then in 2015 Phillips’ cellmate was found dead and he was charged with murder. On January 12, 2016, while in segregated custody awaiting, Phillips tragically committed suicide by hanging himself. 

The list could go on and on. The reason I bring this up is with the NCAA Tournament starting when rooting for our favorite players or teams, when their run ends, we cannot stop rooting for these athletes. We should root for their continued success after athletics. Because to live a stellar life is far better than having a shattered one because of an unrealized, narrow-minded dream that has manifested into a nightmare. 

Just Win Baby, a motto for the American dream

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Whether you loved or hated him, his death made you realize he was one in a million, the last of dying breed. Everyone should mourn the loss of Raiders Majority Partner Al Davis.

That is because Davis is the epitome of the American dream.

Al Davis, while serving a majorit partner of the Raiders led them to three Super Bowl championships and becomming one of the nations most recognizable sports franchises.

Think about it for a minute. Davis was a man that started in the National Football League as an assistant coach for the Los Angels Rams and from there rose through the ranks holding every position in the NFL ultimately becoming Majority Partner of the Raiders, a position he held until his death.

However, his most impactfull position he held was that of AFL commissioner. While serving that post he began to take the premier players from the National Football League, thus forcing them to merge and become the NFL we know today.
It was the shrewd businessman attitude that triggered many controversies surrounding Davis. He sued the NFL for not letting him move his team (he won), sued other teams (those cases never saw the courtroom) and was known to hold a grudge against anyone that crossed him or his “Rah-durs.”

Al Davis with his first of three Super Bowl championship. He enjoyed winning these and saw them as a way to defiy the NFL hierarchy

But, through all of the controversies Davis was a progressive man. He was the first owner to hire minorities as head coaches (he hired the second Latino coach in the history of the league and hired the first African-American coach) and was the first owner to hire a female for a front office position. He also believed in second chances often picking players that teams had cut for various reasons and giving them chances to play. More often than not these moves were successful.

What truly made Davis great was side that no one saw or knew until after his death. Davis always said “Once a Raider always a Raider” and he lived that quote. Whenever a former player, coach, front-office staff and even janitors needed help Davis was always there.

He coined the terms “Just Win Baby” and “Commitment to Excellence” and he held his team to those standards. Many will remember Davis for his disaster drafts of recent years and hiring and firing coaches at an accelerated rate. But I will remember his contributions to the game and the way he ran his team.

That is why owners like Davis are a dying breed. With the passing of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner there are only a few of these loud, ever present and successful owners. Now a day’s owners are content to be out of the spotlight and that is sad. So I implore those fans of sports remember Davis in a respectful way. Because his journey and his life is what the American dream is all about.