| For the last 14 years I've worked as a TV analyst covering college and pro basketball. Prior to talking about the game, I played the game.
I was a McDonald's All-American in 1979 at St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1982 I earned Big Ten MVP hours while at Ohio State University, and in 1983 I was unanimous All-Rookie team selection in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers. Unfortunately, a promising NBA career was cut shor due to chronic knee trouble.
In August 1987, after three knee surguries between November 1984 and December 1986, I was forced to retire as a player. At age 26, my dream was over.
But thanks to a decision I made in December 1986, a new life already started to take shape.
During the monts of rehabilitation after my surguries, I didn't play much basketball. I would rehab, attend home games and practices, but I did not travel with the team. As a result, I had time to think.
In 1985 a young minister named Bryan Chapman began holding pregame chapel services for the Pacers. I resisted the invitation to attend at first and was rather neutral on the idea of "religion." I had been raised in a God - acknowledging household, and my parents did a good job of provideing me and my four younger siblings with a loving, disciplined home. We didn't go to church much, but we were raised with Judeo-Christian values.
For all I knew, treating others with respect, being a morally upright person, trying your best, and not being involved in any "major" wrongs or sins would lead to God's approval. That's how I was attempting to live. In my eyes I was okay with God...or was I?
Several factors caused me to question that. First was the peaceful, persistent presence of the Bible-toting minister. Second, I was challenged by my wife, Rosy, to consider the idea of finding a church home. She desired something spiritual in our lives. Third, my knee injury caused me to start thinking about life from a broader perspective. What's my purpose in life? How do I relate to the God I claim to believe in? These converging circumstances led me to attend chapel and to sit down with Bryan and discuss the Bible.
Over an eight month period starting in April 1986, Bryan shared God's Word with Rosy and me. We talked about many things in the Bible, but the most important was that our sinful nature keeps us from having a personal relationship with God. And we learned the good news that God, because of His great love for us, has provided a way for us to have a personal relationship with Him.
We found out that the way to that personal relationship with God is through faith in God's son, Jesus Christ. Christ served as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He died for our sins and was raised to life by God so that whoever would believe on His name would enjoy the promise of abundant and eternal life!
In November of 1986, after being on teams most of my life, I joined God's team. Here's what I did...
I admitted that to be in right relationship with God I needed a Savior.
I believed in my heart that Jesus Christ is God's son and died for my sins.
I confessed with my mouth that I wanted Christ to reign as Lord of my life.
The Bible says that if I admit my sin, believe in Christ, and confess Christ, I would become a new man at that moment. Not perfect. Not super holy. Not without flaws and troubles. But new in relationship to the God of heaven and earth.
Because of God's grace, and by faith in His Son Jesus, I now enjoy fellowship with God and the joy, peace, and security that He promises to all His children. And so can you.
Reprinted with permission from Sports Spectrum magazine www.sportsspectrum.com
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