Well, I reckon y’all might be curious ‘bout them basketball players and how some of ‘em follow the Jehovah’s Witness faith, right? Now, I ain’t no expert on basketball, but I heard there’s a few folks in that world who belong to this Jehovah’s Witness crowd. And let me tell ya, it’s a pretty tight-knit bunch, with their own rules and beliefs that they stick to real strong. Let me give ya a little rundown on a few of ’em.
So, first off, we got this fella, Dewayne Dedmon. Now, he’s playin’ for the Miami Heat, I think, but the big thing here is that he’s the only one left in the NBA right now who’s openly a Jehovah’s Witness. Ain’t that somethin’? Born out in Lancaster, California, back in 1989, Dewayne came from a family that followed this faith. His mama, Gail Lewis, she’s a real devout woman in the faith, so she didn’t take too kindly to him playin’ sports when he was younger. I reckon she thought it wasn’t the right kind of life for him, what with all them celebrations and holidays in the NBA that don’t quite line up with their beliefs. But ol’ Dewayne, he stuck with his basketball dreams, and here he is today, still playin’ and representin’ his faith.
Now, I’m sure some of y’all wonderin’, “Well, who else in that NBA family follows the same faith?” I done looked it up, and here’s what I found. There’s a couple more names I reckon you might recognize. We got Danny Granger, who used to play for the Indiana Pacers, and Darren Collison, another fella who once played for the Pacers too. Both of ‘em are ex-NBA players, but they still hold onto their Jehovah’s Witness roots even after they left the game. It’s not so common to see NBA players stick with their faith, since the sport is full of celebrations, parties, and holidays that might not fit with what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in. But these fellas, they manage to walk that tightrope, balancing their love for basketball and their commitment to their faith.
Now, you might be askin’ yourself, “What’s it like bein’ a Jehovah’s Witness in a big ol’ sport like basketball?” Well, from what I hear, it ain’t easy. See, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t celebrate birthdays or holidays like Christmas or Easter, and that’s a big part of what they stand for. So, when you’re in a league like the NBA, where there’s a whole lotta hoopla ’round Christmas and other holidays, it can get tricky. But these folks, they stick to their beliefs, and they find ways to make it work. Like, they might not join in on the Christmas parties or birthday celebrations, but they sure know how to show up and do their job when it comes time to play ball.
And you know, a lotta people might not understand the Jehovah’s Witness way of life, especially folks who aren’t familiar with it. But let me tell ya, it’s all about living a life that honors their faith. They don’t believe in salutin’ the flag or any kind of national anthem, and they sure don’t take part in military service. It’s a strict faith, but it gives ‘em a sense of peace and purpose. It’s all about serving Jehovah, and they don’t mind standin’ up for what they believe in, even if it don’t always fit with the rest of the world.
So, while basketball might seem like a big ol’ world of glitz and glamour, for these fellas, it’s also about staying true to who they are and what they believe. And that ain’t always easy, but they do it. I reckon it’s a bit like that ol’ saying, “You can’t please everyone,” and these folks, they sure aren’t tryin’ to please the whole world, they’re just tryin’ to follow their faith and live right.
In the end, basketball and faith ain’t always the easiest mix, but Dewayne Dedmon, Danny Granger, and Darren Collison, they’ve found a way to make it work. They show us that no matter what kinda life you lead, if you hold onto what’s important to you, you can still make a big impact. So, next time you watch a game, maybe think about how these fellas are out there not just playin’ ball, but also livin’ their faith with pride. That’s somethin’ to think on, don’t ya reckon?
Tags：[NBA, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Dewayne Dedmon, Danny Granger, Darren Collison, Basketball, Faith, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Sports and Religion]
