Unless you do not have access to the internet, or you live in a bubble, you have heard about the tragic circumstances with former NBA star Lamar Odom. On Tuesday night, Lamar Odom was found unresponsive in a Nevada brothel. According to sources, Odom had been partying there for days. Since, the story broke, there have been numerous news reports stating there were boatloads of drugs in his system, his heart and organs are failing, in addition, he may have brain damage.
Lamar’s long time ex-love, Khloe Kardashian as well as ex-teammate Kobe Bryant rushed to his side. The sports and entertainment world have imploded on social media with prayers and well wishes desperate for his recovery. Odom’s ex Liza Morales, who has known Odom since his childhood growing up in Queens and their two children are en route to Lamar’s bedside.
Per usual, TMZ is exploiting this tragedy for everything it is worth. There have been reports that the Kardashian’s had camera crews at the hospital filming, but nothing has been confirmed. All the while, this remarkable talent and kind human is lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life.
There have been reports for quite sometime highlighting Odom’s ongoing drug use. It is no secret Odom has demons. More recently, he lost two of his friends to drug use, Bobby Heyward from a drug overdose and Jamie Sangouthai from a flesh-eating bacteria obtained from a dirty needle. Reports say he suffered from depression. He had a troubled relationship with his father and he lost a son Jayden in 2006 to SIDS. Lamar confessed that he had his son’s laughter saved on one of his phones that he listens to on occasion.
A couple of months ago, Odom unloaded on media rag TMZ for “ruining his life”, stalking him, trashing him , exploiting him. Odom was suffering. Where were all his supporters when he needed an intervention? Not fair to say, maybe friends tried, we will never truly know.
Along with the outpouring of love, there is criticism. Unless you have trekked a mile in someone’s shoes, don’t pretend to know or discern their life and struggles. Basketball fans have watched Lamar Odom light it up on the basketball court or fall in love with a member of the most famous reality family, however, that is all we see. We see what is put out there for us to see. We are not there behind closed doors witnessing the pain he endured, nor do we have any business doing that.
In 2015, too many people are consumed with a facade. The money, the cars, the fame….put all that aside, these people are human beings, some great, some not so great. Who are we to judge?
Lamar Odom by all accounts is one of the great ones.
In a society where praying is invariably criticized, I spurn those hypocritical souls. Instead, I say a prayer for Lamar Odom today. He is a father, a friend, a teammate and a loved one.
“What most people don’t realize about Lamar Odom is that he’s a better person than he is a basketball player. Every year Lamar Odom was with the Lakers, he would buy the rookies their first 2-3 custom suits, that’s what type of guy he is.” Magic Johnson
“…everyone will ask why or say how could he do this or that. if you’re not walking in life thru his eyes you will never know what it’s like. I pray ths morning for my brother. Dear God he’s one of the good ones. PLEASE watch over him and listen to his heart speak.” Dwayne Wade
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