(Originally posted in 2016)Coming on the heels of the tragic events in America this week (Minneapolis, Baton Rouge and Dallas), I thought I would share with you a feel good story, to let you know that there’s still some good in this world.
I’m not sure why there’s so much hate in this world, but I do know that there’s an awful lot of love is well.
This past week, myself and former NBA player, Eldridge Recasner, both of us Board of Directors with the National Basketball Retired Players Association, took it upon ourselves to go out and visit one of our struggling comrades, former NBA player, Joe Pace.
Joe’s story has been well chronicled over the years, Joe Pace Article , Joe Pace Article #2 , Joe Pace You Tube Video , after a short and brief stint in the NBA, he then played overseas for several years, he soon found himself battling substance abuse issues, making a series of wrong decisions, and ending up homeless in Seattle. I actually played against Joe in the European leagues, when we were both upstart young professional basketball players, trying to make it to the NBA.
Eldridge and I went out to visit Joe, on behalf of the Retired Players Association, thinking that there has to be a way for our association to be able to help him and others like him who find themselves cast aside by society. I first met Joe several years ago, in person, when I heard about his story, and found him at this current state, seemingly much better off than he was when I first met him. He was very cognizant, coherent, able to carry a conversation, laughing at all the little jokes that Eldridge and I were running by him, and also very straightforward and honest with his situation. Joe is genuinely a very nice guy, with an easy-going personality and mannerisms, and a great laugh and sense of humor. Of course he feels hurt that people still “hold things against him” for the poor choices he made years ago, but also, in a way that fuels him to stay on track and continue doing the right thing.
As board members with the National Basketball Retired Players Association, Eldridge and I are two of the more vocal board members when it comes to speaking up about benefits for the retired players. We are constantly fighting and pushing for more benefits and opportunities for our former players, especially in light of the greater sums of money that our association is now receiving from the NBA. Sure, we have several programs, but many of those programs require the player to pay a fee of some sort, which many of the players cannot afford to do, and so most of the programs go underutilized.
Joe mentioned to us that he’s quite the handyman and craftsman, where he makes children’s toys, walking canes and several other items that he really enjoys making. When we asked Joe what it is. If he really needs and to give us perhaps a top three list of things that he would appreciate from our association, he told us that he really could use (1) a new bed and mattress (the current mattress he is using has springs popping out the top of it, which he has to cover with a heavy blanket, (2) a portable toolshed/workshop, that he can set up outside of his home and do a lot of his handiwork inside of out of the elements, (3) perhaps a food gift card from his local Safeway grocery store, (4) and, perhaps a little bit of financial assistance with him paying his rent.
The first order of business that Eldridge and I wanted to take care of, was to check with our association, to see if we can grant him a complimentary membership to the Retired Players Association, and with that, he would be able to access some of the benefits that there come with being a member. For all of our members, such benefits include, the opportunity to enroll in an online university, the opportunity to apply for financial aid and assistance, and the great camaraderie that we all have with each other twice a year at our various conferences.
We finally were able to make some progress, and after a board conference call this past week, the board voted to grant Joe a complimentary membership. That was something I was long fought for, but well worth the effort!
I wanted to share that with everyone because in light of the partisan bickering, bitterness, and outright hatred that is so prevalent sometimes in our society, there are still some good things going on. It’s so easy to “dehumanize” those who are not quite as fortunate as the rest of us, whether they be homeless, jobless, addiction issues, etc., but we ought to guard against that type of thinking and realize that as the old saying goes, “if not for God’s grace….. there go I”.
If anybody out there reading this has an extra bed set and mattress (especially here in the Seattle area), we will make arrangements to come by and pick it up and deliver it to Joe’s house.
Thank you very much for allowing me to share all of this with you, I want to thank Eldridge Recasner for taking the lead on this a few months ago, bringing it to our Board of Directors attention, and I also want to thank our board for voting and “doing the right thing”.
All the best everyone out there, have a blessed day!
James Donaldson
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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