Monday, May 9, 2011
He thought his two years at the University of Kansas would be defined by all the people he let down.
The most important things in a man’s life — family, friends, significant others — were thrown to the wayside so he could make a name for himself.
His desk and its drawers aren’t filled with cards from the father or great-grandmother who never got to see him. And there are no pictures or memorabilia of any loved one. Those were trashed or packaged long ago.
Instead, there are piles of pointless papers. From the top of the dresser to the insides of drawers and shoeboxes, there are enough sheets of paper to recreate a forest. At one point, these were very important documents. As he looks at them today, they hold no meaning.
“04 Collins, Sherron…. g 5/7 1/1 5 12 2”
That was Sherron’s stat line from the game against Memphis last year. The box score doesn’t talk about how he came back from an injury to heroically lead Kansas to a 57-55 victory. That was a fun night. The story had to be done in 15 minutes after the press conference.
Those were the days.
After each game, Kansas Athletics gave him access to pages upon pages of notes and stats needed to write his story. Those stories were written and filed ages ago, or at least that’s how it seems. He has every box score and press pass, but they will never hold the same value.
Nothing will ever have the same surreal sentiment as getting hired as the men’s basketball beat writer the first time he stepped on the University’s campus. The chills he received from stepping onto the Allen Fieldhouse floor at the 2009 Late Night in the Phog remain unrivaled to this day, and it never got old. And though the heartbroken locker room after a second round loss to Northern Iowa isn’t a fond memory, it was a valuable lesson: seize the opportunity when you have the chance.
One day, it might be gone.
He thumbs through his press passes to recall all the places he has been: L.A., Dallas, Philly. He opens his laptop. Some people collect sand from the places they visit. He collects Wi-Fi connections.
Now what? At age 21, he has experienced more than some people do in a lifetime: the Lakers’ locker room at the Staples Center, Dick Vitale telling his life story at Washburn University, an interview with his idol, Jason Mraz, during an impromptu visit to campus.
There just wasn’t anyone to share it with. At least he was having fun.
He is less than two weeks away from graduating and all this regret consumes him. While he was having fun interviewing NBA players, his best friend broke off his engagement with the love of his life. His grandfather was constantly in and out of the hospital because of health complications. His family, who lived only 40 minutes away, wondered when they were going to see him next.
On Sunday, he forgot it was Mother’s Day. He scurried home to see his mother amid all of his last-week-of-school projects and tried to convey his sorrow for not being there for those who needed him most.
She understood. It wasn’t selfishness that led him to this success, but rather the support of his home and everyone around him. It changed his whole perspective on his college career. Don’t regret a thing you do here as long as you are doing it for them.
Those people matter. These tangible artifacts of a past life don’t.
Somewhere in Lawrence there is a recycling bin in an elementary school filled to the brim with box scores and game notes.
I am grateful for everyone who has contributed to the greatest to two years of my life.
I hope that I have made you all proud.
— Edited by Marla Daniels
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