Magic & Bird Documentary

I had a terrible childhood growing up. Growing up without a father and having an abusive stepfather didn’t help matters. Needless to say, there were not a lot of pleasant memories. One of the few positives in my childhood was that I lived through and had the privilege of watching the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird/Lakers and Celtics rivalry, which “saved the NBA.”

I can’t remember the first time I started watching basketball and fell in love with the Lakers. I do remember watching the team throughout the 80(s) and remembering it vividly. I can’t remember anything I learned in high school, but I remember Kevin McHale’s clothesline of Kurt Rambis in the 1984 NBA Finals. I had a hard time with math, but I could tell you all of Magic’s career statistics from memory.

I hated the Celtics and I hated Larry Bird. Recently, however, HBO decided to do a documentary about Magic and Bird in “Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals.” I don’t have cable and was unable to watch the showing but by the Lord’s providence the vice principal at my school, knowing I was a Lakers’ fan, recorded the show and burned me a copy. It was like I was meant to watch this.

The DVD was burning a hole on my desk because I waited for the father-in-law (aka “Big Pappa”) to be available so we could watch it together. This is a man who nearly missed the birth of one of his children because Magic and Bird were playing in the Finals. Good thing the game didn’t go into overtime or one of his sons might still be emotionally scarred. Now that’s the type of guy you want to watch this with. For the record I would’ve missed the birth of my child if it were necessary and simply not tell him/her. My justification would be that everyone has children but how many people could say they saw Magic and Bird play in the Finals?

Now that I’ve effectively offended every mother in the world lets move on. The documentary gave insight into the human component of both Magic and Bird and gave me a newfound appreciation for both players. And no, I no longer hate Larry Bird.

There were three things that stood out to me regarding the documentary. First, I was wondered why Bird played with such a chip on his shoulders. It turns out that Bird needed to hate his opponents in order to perform well against them. I’m also reading the book “When The Game Was Ours,” which gives vivid insight into the heart and mental approach Bird took towards the game of basketball. I had to take a break from reading the book because I began acting like Bird by yelling at teammates at the local gym when they didn’t perform well (I’m not making this up).

Second, the racial tension during that time period hit an all-time high. Being a middle school student at the time, I was completely unaware of how the media tried to paint the racial picture of Magic vs. Bird as really Blacks vs. White. Interestingly, neither Magic nor Bird saw it that way. They just wanted to win basketball games and simply looked at each other as the main competition.

Finally, there was Magic’s HIV announcement. After a physical before the 1991–92 NBA season, Johnson discovered that he had tested positive for HIV. In a press conference held on November 7, 1991, Johnson made a public announcement that he would retire immediately. He stated that his wife Cookie and their unborn child did not have HIV, and that he would dedicate his life to "battle this deadly disease." Johnson initially said that he did not know how he contracted the disease, but later acknowledged that it was through having multiple sexual partners during his playing career. At the time, only a small percentage of HIV-positive people had contracted it from heterosexual sex, and it was initially rumored that Johnson was gay or bisexual, although he denied both. Johnson's announcement became a major news story in the United States, and in 2004 was named as ESPN's seventh most memorable moment of the past 25 years. Many articles praised Johnson as a hero, and former U.S. President George H. W. Bush said, "For me, Magic is a hero, a hero for anyone who loves sports.”

I remember being in high school when Magic’s HIV announcement hit me like a frozen sledgehammer. Some of my female friends couldn’t understand why I was so depressed over it saying idiotic things like, “You don’t even know him, why do you care so much?” I just gave them the “You’re absolutely dumb and it would be a complete waste of time to even try and explain it to you” look and moved on without saying anything.

How would they ever understand the connection of a fatherless boy and his sports hero, the only positive male role model he’s known (at the time)? How would they ever understand how the heart of a man yearns for the inspiration of other greater men? How would they ever understand that all young men desire to be great but need personification of that greatness to see what it looks like? How would they ever understand the heart of a man seeks advantage and we live that advantage vicariously through our sports figure? Given the historical context, HIV was a death sentence. There was little awareness of how the virus could infect a person or how they could even live through it. “My hero was going to die,” I thought to myself. No high school girl will have the ability to understand this. And I don’t blame them.

Now that we’re more educated on the subject, with proper treatment people could go on living a normal and healthy life. The part that was most interesting was seeing it from Larry Bird’s perspective. He said that there were only two times in his life when he cried, the first time being when his father died and the second when Magic announced he had HIV. Bird went on to say, “For the first time in my life I didn’t feel like playing basketball.” I never knew how much Magic pushed Larry to greater heights and how much Larry pushed Magic. As a result, a mutual respect and a bond were formed. From two hated rivals to a kinship that cannot be explained.




Anyone who loves the game of basketball needs to know about Magic and Bird and how they saved the NBA and pushed each other to greater heights (You can bet this will be a lesson in the Jamreonvit household when Junior Jr. arrives). I admire men who are completely devoted to their craft and Magic and Bird were two of the very best. You know someone has accomplished something special when years after those accomplishments are done people still talk about it and stand in awe of it.

It was a great documentary. It reminded me of the great basketball legacy of two of the all-time greats. I have always appreciated what Magic has done for the game and I have come to appreciate what Bird has done as well.

… but I still hate the Celtics.

In Memory of Emily Haager

Emily Haager was a friend from Biola University. I had the pleasure of meeting her through some mutual friends. I remember making fun of her size (4’11) before I found out she had Cystic Fibrosis (In some cases it’s been known to stunt growth). Good job. I didn’t know much about CF before I met Emily. Apparently, at the time of her birth, the doctors said she would not live to graduate high school.

Emily had around-the-clock treatment for her breathing. As the time passed she would lose more and more of her ability to breathe. You wouldn’t know it if you were around her. She always had a joy that illuminated a room. She never played the self-pity card despite all of the suffering she had to endure on a daily basis. It makes me wonder how joyful she would have been without CF. I get grouchy when I my back starts to hurt or when I don’t get enough to eat (according to me).

I only had a handful of conversations with her but that doesn’t mean she didn’t touch my life. I have many friends who were much closer to her. You could always tell how special a person was by how much their friends loved them. And Emily was deeply loved by her community of friends and family and the spheres of influences she created by her proactive life-style.

Here’s an excerpt from the program at her memorial:

“Emily Haager lived her life to the fullest – through adventure, fun and challenges. As an adult living with Cystic Fibrosis, she viewed her life’s purpose as using her infectious joy and her battle with cystic fibrosis to positively impact the world. She volunteered regularly as a speaker and mentor with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Mauli Ola Foundation to help spread awareness of CF. For the past two years, she has been the ambassador of Pipeline to a Cure, a gala event to bring the surfing and CF communities together to raise awareness and funding for research to find a cure for CF. Emily worked for Mt. San Antonio Community College as group leader and interpreter. Emily held a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Disorders from Biola University where she was actively involved in campus life as a resident advisor. Emily loved the beach and grew up swimming competitively, singing in choirs and loving life. She leaves behind a legacy of hope, her loving family and an incredible community of close friends.”

One of my pastors said this regarding funerals, “One of the most important things I've done in my life is to attend funerals of saints who've lived for what lasts (even if I didn't know them personally). This has always helped me to be more sober, hopeful, intentional, and grateful. The gospel of the cross of Christ always looms larger and more wonderful after a going away party for someone who died, but is alive in Christ.”

Yes, that’s what Emily’s memorial service did for me. It’s always sad to see a friend die but it's hopeful for friends who are in Christ because of the way they lived. With all her efforts to help spread awareness of CF, she would also mention the one thing that was closest to her heart- the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a disease that plagues all of humanity, namely, the disease of sin, which separates us from a loving and caring heavenly Father. Although there is not yet a cure for Cystic Fibrosis there is a cure for Sin. The cure is faith in the person and work of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Emily believed this with all of her heart and she would want you to believe this as well.

Emily was asked once if she had one wish what would it be. She replied, “…to live one day without Cystic Fibrosis.” She wanted to experience one day of life without the around-the-clock treatment, the suffering, and the limitations that CF brings. The Lord granted her not just one day but all of eternity without CF and more importantly, a glorified life without Sin and eternal fellowship with her heavenly Father. These are the things that she lived for.



Emily,

Thank you Emily for your laughter and infectious joy. You never let the Cystic Fibrosis bring you down. You were still able to worship our God beautifully in the midst of all your suffering. You never once wavered on the goodness of our Lord. You’ve touched a community far more than you could have ever realized this side of heaven. I have no doubts our heavenly Father is showing the fruits of your labor now in eternity. I regret not knowing you better but I do appreciate the few conversations we did have and the godly legacy you now leave behind. Thank you for showing us how to “drink the wild air” of life and embodying the joy that surpasses understanding. Although you had a short time here (27 years) you lived with a purpose and impacted peoples’ lives that will go far beyond your years. Thank you for living life to the fullest and inspiring us to do the same.

Your Brother in Christ,

Junior J.

“live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.”
- Ralph W. Emerson

Yet, Another Class

As some of you know that I am currently working on my teaching credential in Special Education through National University. I’ve already written about how education classes have to be the most useless classes anyone could ever take. Of course, in order to become a teacher, legally, you need these useless classes. They’re as pleasant as a prostate check.

This current class is on Special Education Assessment in which you learn how to test students to see if they are eligible for Special Education services or testing students to see how they’ve made progress (if any). You know, something I’ve already been doing for the pass three years.

At the beginning of the class the professor wants each of the students to introduce themselves. This of course doesn’t go without some groaning. There are always plenty of people who want to talk about their life story or other things that are completely irrelevant to the course. It was a looooooooonnnnnnnggggggggg 45 minutes.


Interestingly, when the other students were introducing themselves there were several who said how much they loved working with Special Education students, I repeat LOVED their involvement in the Special Education profession. We need people with hearts of gold in this world. Sadly, I’m not one of them.

There are also a few business people wanting to get out of the business profession in order to do something “more fulfilling” and Special Education is the direction they are headed. Ironically, I was wondering if I should go into business (financial advisor) instead of staying in Special Education. The reason being is $$$$$$. Also, I wouldn’t say that I hate my job but I certainly don’t love it.

In any case it made me appreciate my job a little bit more. I always need little reminders every so often to appreciate the things I have, especially my job. Okay then, I’ll attend class with a smile and at least pretend I am enjoying learning about assessing students. It probably wouldn’t be as hard if . . . you know . . . I haven’t been doing this for the past three years.

PS - If you notice me posting a new blog on Tuesday nights for the next six weeks you know that I'm in class.

Guy Time

My Grace Group (home bible study) came up with the idea of emphasizing a new spiritual discipline each month. This month happens to be “building relationships.” You don’t normally consider fellowship as a spiritual discipline but it is (a discipline I excel at by the way). We decided to throw all our names in a hat to be paired up with another member of our group. The pair that was matched up decided when and where to “build the relationship.” Good call, of course whoever drew me was going to the Lakers game. And the winner is? Jared Miller. We’ve been friends for several years now but we hardly spend time outside of church and grace group.

First, Jared and I are in the same life stage; young, married, just a few years into our careers, looking for a house, and completely terrified of having kids. It was going to be a great time on different levels. We talked quite a bit about the things I just mentioned. What was interesting to me was how different we are personality-wise but how similar we look at things. Even our dogs get along with each other.

Second, we talked about our Grace Group (home bible study from church) and he offered some good insight into how the group is going. I don’t think I would have gotten it out of him in any other context. It made me think about all the people who attend our church who probably have great ideas and only need to be heard.

Finally, we went to a Laker game and had a blast. We decided to get to Staples Center early in order to get free parking and have some dinner. Jared is determined to eat Fish'N Chips at every single place that serves Fish N’ Chips in order to be a Fish'N Chips expert. The only problem is that he’s had so much Fish'N Chips he doesn’t remember which FNC is served where (We went to Rock'N Fish for dinner – good times). I like to keeps things simple, cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory. I don't need to eat cheesecake everywhere, although I might go on a cheesecake binge one summer and maybe blog about it, right before my ensuing heart-attack of course.

As I mentioned before, this is why I have season tickets. Yes, it’s a beautiful game. But even though you don’t have Laker tickets you should consider going outside your inner circle of friends at church (or any where else for that matter) and attempt to make some connections. Some of you might be thinking “I barely have time for my close friends why would I try and connect with other people?” Yes that is a valid point. I feel the tension there as well. Here’s my counter argument, some times with your close friends you tend to keep the “status quo.” What I mean by that is you go through your normal conversations (e.g., How are the kids? How’s work?) but you don’t go any further than that. When you make a connection with someone else outside that close circle, it reminds you that you should be talking about more important things because you realize there is limited time with this person so you cut through some of the shallow things. Hopefully, this will spill over to your other relationships. The amount of time spent isn’t always the most important thing but how you spend that time is (and have some Fish'N Chips while doing it).