Being that you’re the same age as my son, this is what I would say to you in regards to this Kevin Durant situation as per Nick’s ceremony. Go high and make a gesture of public kindness to Kevin Durant regarding his presence at Nick Collison’s ceremony. I’m assuming since you met Michelle Obama on her book tour in Denver you read the book. You know what the Obamas would say, right?
“When they go low, we go high.”
I read the book.
Why ruin a beautiful opportunity to restore a friendship over something this petty? Maybe a letter to the sports page to the Daily Oklahoman from both you and Nick explaining why it’s time to let this go and move on could be a nice touch. Lord knows, that newspaper could use some clicks given the fact they’re on their third ownership group in the past five years in the internet age. Maybe you could help them appear relevant since apparently their writers can’t.
Why not make a gesture of public kindness to Kevin Durant?
Why not take the opportunity to nudge this city along? To show decency, kindness, and human empathy to the guy who by his own words admits he wishes his own life as a man were more on track like yours? Apparently none of that is taught in all these churches these angry white people attend every Sunday. The New Testament must not be that big of a deal in the era of Trump Christianity.
But why not?
Lord knows, nobody better than you knows what a complete pain in the ass Berry Tramel can be at times– so why not do something in which all of this can be put behind all parties and everyone can move along with their lives?
You don’t think Durant would love to be Uncle Kevin?
Here’s another book for you…The Last Pass by Gary Pomerantz. Why don’t you pick up a copy and read it. It’s about friendship. About a friendship between Bob Cousy and Bill Russell. And the lifelong regret Bob Cousy carries insidefor not helping his friend come to terms with the fans in Boston or maybe himself as well.
Granted, Kevin Durant left and it hurt. But at the end of the day when neither one of you will be playing basketball any longer maybe restoring your friendship wouldn’t be a bad thing for either one of you.
Take it from someone twice your age, while trophies and rings and such are all okay—as you get older you realize the most important things in your life are the relationships–both family and friends. I know you already know that. But you’re in a completely different situation here in that you can help an entire city grow up a little and take a step forward as one. You’d think with all these friggin’ T-shirts they put on the seats for playoff games one shirt might say, “Touch Someone With Kindness Today.”
That’s it. That’s my avuncular life lecture.
Why not?