He Loves It

Team in Dubai

As I was sitting in the basketball gym here in Dubai last night, waiting for the game against Al Riyadhi, a team from Lebanon, to begin, I reflected back to all of the gyms and games I have attended with Chris. I have understandably lost count, but it started when he was in 3rd grade at the Boys and Girls Club. And I have loved every single game. And, at this point, now have to travel half way across the world to watch him play again. Thinking about all of the places he's played as an international professional basketball player, gives me pause because I honestly would never have been able to see these extremely unique and fascinating faraway lands if not for Chris playing there. 

One example is Australia. I loved seeing the Sydney Opera House, Cairns, Crocodile Creek, and Wollongong where the arena sat right on the water. Or Seoul, Korea where the Mormon missionaries there told me that Chris playing there was good for their missionary work. Istanbul was spectacular, and Ken and I would have never ventured there on our own, but with Chris playing basketball in that very historic and ancient city, we were able to go. 

Australia was also fun where seeing the posters in the gym that read "Burgess, Fries and Coke" on the McDonalds signs made me smile. Loved Puerto Rico both times, especially the salsa dancing cheerleaders, and seeing an entire village show up to the championship game there to see Chris' team win it all was heart-warming. The radio sports commentator said that the fans called Chris "the gentle giant," because of how kind he was on and off the court. Exciting times. And although basketball is pretty much unknown here in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, due to the entire country ga ga over soccer, Chris loves it and plays with the same passion he had in high school and college. Why? Because he loves it. And ya gotta love it to be successful - at anything in life.

Three of Chris' Girls

When I teach my network marketing distributors or voice students about goal-setting, passion and vision needed to be successful, I always talk about my son, Chris. Plagued with injuries in college, Chris never gave up. Debilitating injuries that would have stopped anyone else from continuing to pursue their goals with basketball, Chris didn't stop or give up. He worked harder, went through months of rigorous exercise therapies at Egoscue Clinic in San Diego, California, and special training facility, IMG Academies, in Bradenton, Florida to just repair the damage done to his body from playing the game he loved. From bulged discs in his back, bone spurs in his ankles, bad knees, and a torn plantar fascia, a small piece of tissue on the bottom of his foot, he kept his focus on his dreams. After so many injuries at one point Chris asked me, "why me?", but he continued to do whatever it took to play. And nothing has stopped his resolve and commitment to play basketball. And he never lost his passion and love of the game. 

After all of these years (now his eleventh internationally), Chris' love for the game is still reflected in how he plays. He is currently playing on a team here in Abu Dhabi, but was brought in by Al Ahli, a team in Dubai, to replace an injured player in the Dubai International Cup. He had one practice only to get ready to play with this team, but it didn't show in his performance. As soon as he ran onto the court the passion, energy and spark was felt by all in attendance. Coaches from other teams came to me after the game had finished and in their limited English said, "he played a great game!" And although the ruling here wouldn't allow more than one American on the floor at the same time, and Chris had to keep coming in and out, he never lost that fire and focus in his eyes and energy to play the best game he could. He blocked shots, scored, and kept his man from scoring. He, as he said, "did his job." And although the entire country was celebrating a huge soccer win, it didn't matter to Chris. Chris played with the passion of a winner and showed everyone how much he loves it.

"Beckham...daddy needs to rest up for the game."

Chris saying goodbye to his family.

Right now Chris is juggling being a student at the University of Utah, Primary teacher in the Abu Dhabi 2nd LDS ward, pro basketball player and single dad. Let me explain. Chris has very few classes left to take to graduate from the University of Utah. So here in Abu Dhabi, in between practice and games, he is studying for the two online classes he is taking. Besides basketball and schooling Chris is also taking care of his 18 month old son, Beckham. His wife and the other four children spent December with Chris here, but have since returned to Utah. Chris kept Beckham and both "boys" love to hang out. Dawn, along with the Islamic "interesting" broadcast of prayers hitting the airwaves at 6am, Chris is up changing, dressing and feeding Beckham. Beckham and the Flintstone character, Bam Bam, are two in the same. In essence, Beckham is a wrecking ball. Darling, but a handful. And Chris doesn't miss a beat. His love for his family, the gospel and basketball make him an incredible man. And as a mom, that makes me happy. I'm here to cheer him on, and side benefits of seeing this incredible city and having a full month with Beckham is a dream come true!