What have you done for me lately?

The full page headline in The Oklahoman, Kevin Durant's home town newspaper, read "Mr. Unreliable". Seriously, you write that before an elimination game? Of course the paper has back pedaled some and stated the headline was just talking about his play this series against Memphis. Let's look at a few career stats for Kevin Durant:

• Averaging 32 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists this season
  
• Shooting 50% from the floor, 39% from 3 and 87% from FT
• 5 time NBA All-Star and and 4 time scoring champ
• Hasn't averaged less than 20 points in any NBA season
• Career playoff average of 28 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists
• Donated $1 million to tornado clean up in Oklahoma last year
• Outspoken Christian and positive role model

When asked about the comment by ESPN, KD replied: "As a competitor there's going to be good and bad days. They're going to build you up, they're going to break you down. You just have to stay even keeled, and that's what I am. It's all about what have you done for me lately, and I understand that."  Durant handled it like the professional. My entire life I have heard my father say that in sports, the only thing that matters is what you have done for me lately. Any athlete who plays at a high level understands that, but it doesn't mean fans and media can say whatever they want. Athletes understand that most reporters and commentators want to create a buzz and therefore write or say things that elicit emotions. But for the home team newspaper to put out a headline like that is in poor taste and bad judgement. Kevin's teammates and coaches spoke out about it, but I sincerely hope the local fans will as well.

For the record I am a huge Kevin Durant fan. Not only for the way he plays, but because of how he carries himself and what he stands for. Last night, KD dropped 36 points and pulled 10 boards while leading the Thunder to a game 6 road win. The series now will head back to OKC for game 7. If the Thunder win, The Oklahoman should run a big headline on the front page reading "Apologies to Mr. Reliable". Regardless of what happens, kudos to KD for how he handled the headline as well as his teammates and coaches for speaking out on his behalf.

I love quotes and I will leave you with one of my favorites which fits perfectly for this situation:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt

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