Sunday, June 22, 2025 at 10:10 PM

I don’t like Oklahoma, don’t like their politics, have never been to that state, and I remember what they did to Black Wall Street; but I was rooting for their basketball team, the Thunder, and new NBA champions! Being as unforgiving as I am, I never forgot how Reggie Miller disrespected Michael Jordan and the Bulls back in the ‘90s, when da Bulls dominated basketball. And although they are a Midwestern team, I rooted against Indiana. Plus, they voted for Trump; oh, so did Oklahoma; but my grudge is limitless. Don’t disrespect black Jesus! Wat a ting!

At some point in all of our lives we have all been victorious, in my humble opinion. It is the most special feeling one can experience, to know that in that moment you were the best of the best. It is a feeling that never goes away; as long as you live, you know that you bested the best and came out on top, king of the hill. It doesn’t have to be in sports, but in life in general.

Now, imagine you are Jack Johnson, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Ali, Pele, Nicklaus, Tiger, Tom Brady, Mike Tyson, Jordan, Bird, Magic, Kobe, LeBron, Serena, Federer, and all the many that have excelled in their respective sports. Imagine how they all must have felt doing the impossible, over and over, until it became almost rote. Imagine the dedication and the sacrifice that they had to make to reach the pinnacle, to be the best, to be champions.

I believe that it takes a village to produce such talent. No one person can succeed without the support of family, of the community, that put their faith in these individuals. The colleges, the coaches, the teammates and the sponsors can all claim credit for the success. But the athletes are the ones who can either succeed or give up, who are willing to go through hell and sacrifice and deny themselves parts of their lives and youth to prevail, and be the best in their own right.

These are the special individuals who inspire the rest of us. They become demi-gods in our eyes. We put them on pedestals; we love and hate them and wish we were them. We make them rich and famous and live our lives vicariously through them. We respect and honor their achievements on the fields of glory. We all want to be like Mike.

I am happy for Oklahoma, the state. Maybe they will change from that rigid right wing conservative Christian culture, and embrace the diversity that is America. That the team, with mostly minority members, have lifted them out of the darkness they have built and lived in for most of their existence as a state. That they will acknowledge that there are so many ways and roads to travel, and not only that narrow road they have been trapped on, seemingly forever.

It is a beautiful thing to be a success in any field whatever. Sometimes we don’t recognize our own victories; we don’t see ourselves as winners and champions, when in reality we are. We do so without fanfare or recognition, but with the quiet determination to be the best at what we do. If we are recognized or appreciated for our efforts, that is topping on the cake. But in the end, we just want to succeed, as sons and daughters, as parents, and friends, and as human beings.

   We are all champions, if we want to be!

Glen