I wish I had an answer....

Many a day and night, I spent on the hallowed courts of Misty Oaks Park. So many great battles. Made shots, missed shots, trash talk, sweat, blood and maybe the occasional elbow. Like most people who have picked up a basketball, I dreamed. How many times did I try to re-create the Iceman's finger roll, Magic's no look pass or Kareem's sky hook? And like all kids...who didn't dream of hitting the last shot? The shot to win the game. Jordan's jumper in 82 to win the National Championship, Sean Elliott's Memorial Day Miracle. The fellas and I back in the day had quite a few phrases we liked to throw around. One of them was "never leave the court on a missed shot". Seems maybe a little hokey now but when you are young and headstrong, it just sounds really cool. (I often wonder who came up with it. It was probably Salmans, he can be clever at times) Basically, we wanted to make sure that we left it all out on the court. To make sure we gave 100% every time. Recent events have given me another reason. What if it's your last shot?

Ever.

No doubt most of you have heard of the tragedy that befell a small town last Thursday. Wes Leonard, a 16 year old basketball player for Fennville High School in Fennville, Michigan lived out every player's fantasy. He hit that shot.

The scene was right out of Hollywood and right off of the playground. With less than 30 seconds to go in overtime, his team tied at 55, Wes drove to the basket and scored the winning layup. His fellow Blackhawks mobbed him as they celebrated the win which also secured a 20-0 regular season.

Every little kids dream....shortly turned into every parent's worst nightmare.

Minutes into the celebration, Wes collapsed on to the floor. Two hours later, he was gone. A family, a team and a community went from a soaring high to the ultimate low.

Wes himself seemed like he came out of Hollywood. 6-2, 215 pounds and described by Fennville Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer as "the quintessential all-American kid."

"Beyond his outstanding athletic abilities, Wes was a better person," Weeldreyer said. "His fellow students liked and respected him. Their grief speaks volumes about the high regard in which Wes was held."

He was the quarterback who threw for seven touchdowns in one game, he also at times played receiver and defensive end, a three year starter at those various positions. He played baseball too. Big ol' conceited jock right? Wrong. Chad VanHuis, who once umpired Leonard's middle-school baseball games, (the same ones where opposing coaches asking to see his birth certificate earning him the nickname "Big Man Wes")told ESPN "He was very courteous. He was the nicest kid. You'd think with his star potential, because he's so gifted, he'd be cocky, but he never really was that way,"

I have watched, played or coached some form of sport for almost 40 years. Many of those years coaching young men like Wes and I have to ask....

Why?

Why was this young man taken from us so soon? Now that I think about it...I can accept no answer. There is no good reason why Wes Leonard is gone. I mentioned in my last entry Brandon Gordon who was also taken from us so young after a fight with cancer. That was tragic and no less painful. I can't figure out what is worse...knowing your time is short and not being able to do anything about it or having your life cut short so abruptly with no warning. All I know is that losing these young men is such a horrible waste. You think our world couldn't use men like that in the future? The universe is truly a cold, unfeeling mistress and I have to admit, my faith is quite shaken.

All Wes Leonard did was be a kid. Well loved, someone who seemed enjoy every day and how does fate repay him? Blowing the whistle and declaring "game over".

Fennville has voted to play on and tonight they face Lawrence High School in the first round of the state playoffs. This story has taken on a national feel as dozens of media people have come to West Michigan to cover the game. The game has been moved to Hope College's DeVos Auditorium to accommodate the expected crowd of what should be approaching 3500. Kudos by the way, to Lawrence High School. They have been the ultimate good sports. Having to be the team who plays the team that the whole country will be rooting for is not going to be easy. This was supposed to be a home game for them. They first volunteered to donate all the proceeds to the charity of Wes' parents choice, then when they realized their gym couldn't handle the impending crowd, Hope College stepped in and donated the use of their building. The two teams will also be sharing a pre-game meal...something unheard of in today's sports world. Bo Kimble, who lost his best friend Hank Gathers 21 years to the day after Wes died, will be speaking to the teams as will Michigan State Basketball coach Tom Izzo.

I have played and coached in dozens of games and won a bunch of them. I have coached outstanding young men to victories and trophies. I was a small part of that group that dominated Texas DeMolay conclave from 02-06 in a way that had never been seen before or has been since.

I would give it all back for Wes Leonard to be leading his team tonight.

Kids like that deserve to be given a long full life to see what they can do with it. My heart goes out to that community and to his parents. I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through. I was never blessed with kids of my own but you don't have to be a parent to realize that the ultimate tragedy for a parent is having to bury a child. Which leads me back to my question...

Why?

I don't have an answer and no one else does either. God already has Pistol Pete and John Wooden...did he need Wes too? Oh and before anyone drops the obligatory "he's in a better place" don't. He was 16 for heavens sake. His place is with his family and friends and playing ball. He needs to be patrolling the fields and courts of Fennville...the sun on his face, dirt on his shoes and a twinkle in his eye.

I don't know what will happen with the Fennville Blackhawks this post-season. Will they rally around the memory of a fallen teammates and have the ultimate storybook ending? Just as possible is the burden being too much for young men and they are too emotionally spent to go on. It's not fair to ask so much of those so young. Personally, I hope for the former. I hope they go on a magical run that ends in the Breslin Center holding the trophy up so high that Wes can read the engraving.

God, fate and the universe owe the people of Fennville that much. You took one of their own way too early than was necessary. You have devastated a community and ripped apart a family. In your arrogance and selfishness, you robbed the world of a bright young man who may have made the world a better place. A championship is the least of what you can do.

I never met Wes Leonard and I mourn the wasteful loss of one so young but as someone who loves the games people play, I envy him this much. If you are a basketball player, is there a better way to leave this world? If you have to be cruelly taken from your family....you went out knowing your teammates will live to play another day. Wes gave his team one final assist. No one ever gave their all more than he and for that sir...I salute you.

One last thing....the official cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy...also known as an enlarged heart. Big Man Wes had a big heart. From what those who spent time around him have told us...that was no surprise.

Go Blackhawks.

Peace.