My Apologies "Uncle Drew"

For the past 2 weeks everyone from writers and bloggers, to tv and radio personalities has been DRAGGING Kyrie Irving for going AWOL from the Brooklyn Nets. Perhaps we ALL owe him somewhat of an apology. ESPN's Malika Andrews wrote in her article that during Irving's press conference after participating in Tuesday's practice he said "When things become overwhelming in life, you've just got to take a step back and realize what's important," I love to play it's never been a question. I've committed myself, when this (basketball) wasn't even a thing for me." Irving also went on to say he was dealing with a "family matter"

Now, as a family man myself can I honestly blame him to stepping away to deal with the issue? Can I continue to call for his retirement and dismissal from the league for manning up? There are things in life that are BIGGER th

an basketball. In my humble opinion, if we (as a sports community) can't look past him putting the ball in the bucket or crossing up a defender then we are no better than Laura Ingraham who told and other athletes to "shut up and dribble"

In the 2 weeks that Irving was away (and while dealing with the family issue) it's been reported that he donated $300K to meals for NY families, donated 50K makes and 17 pallets of food to the "Standing Rock Sioux" (a place where Irving has chased his roots and is a place of refuge for him) reservation, paid $1.5M of WNBA players’ salary who opted out of the bubble and purchased a home for George Floyd’s family.

We might not understand the reason why a decision is made. but, there is a lesson to be learned by watching how this Kyrie situation has unfolded. At the end of the day we have to stand before the good Lord at judgement day and give account for OUR actions. As long as our actions are good and help others we need to be pursuing them. Basketball gave Kyrie the means to not only help his family but impact the lives of THOUSANDS of others. At the end of the day what more can we ask of him?