Whats going on everyone! Apologies for the article not going out last week but, I tried to help ease that pain of missing out on an article with a podcast! Be sure to check it out and let me know what you think. If you have any ideas on future podcast episodes that I should do, feel free to let me know!
Kevin Durant’s Busy Summer
NBA fans love to debate- it’s just a fact that’s part of fandom at this point. Topics such as the best scorer, best shooter and the infamous GOAT conversation always seem to bubble up. One name that is frequently mentioned in many basketball conversations is none other than Kevin Durant. Durant is something like out of a comic book of sorts. He’s seven feet tall, can dribble like a guard, and is probably a top 5 shooter in the league today. I mentioned his run this Sumer with team USA basketball and how he pretty much carried the team to a gold medal in a previous post.
Most infamously he has been known for his stint with the Golden State warriors beating my beloved Cleveland Cavaliers two seasons in a row for the championship.
The Warriors and Durant had a chance to win a third consecutive title together, however injuries played a significant part. Another key moment in that season was when Durant and former teammate, Draymond Green got into a verbal altercation during one of their games.
After the season, Durant went on to team up with Kyrie Irving and later James Harden in Brooklyn. Almost three years later Green and Durant decided to patch things up in and exclusive interview on Greens new show called “Chips.” You can watch the full 24 minute interview here.
An interesting point that came out during the interview is that Green and Durant seemed to blame the organization and upper administration for the fallout. I’m a much more explicit way of saying this, both players felt like ownership should have sat the team down and addressed it together. Instead nothing happened to Kevin Durant but Draymond was suspended for a game.
In all fairness, I do believe that the suspension was unbalanced. Both players were in the argument. There was no physical altercation. Perhaps having the team sit down and talk would have been best but that also requires leadership in uncomfortable situations which apparently they did not have.
Durant is also very active off the court too. He was caught with a burner account on Twitter where he stirred conversation and often praised himself. He has since deleted his burner accounts (that we know of) and instead “says what’s on his mind” on his actual account. This be leads to some sharp and sometimes comical clap backs on Twitter.
Most recently, Durant in his off court ventures has partnered with weedmaps. Weedmaps is a tech company aimed at the destigmatization of cannabis and marijuana in the public eye. This is a unique deal as Kevin Durant is the first active player to partner with a marijuana company.
The topic of marijuana has been somewhat controversial in the history of the United States. At first a drug that was heavily criminalized is now seen as acceptable and legal for recreational use in many states. Despite the acceptance of the drug, there are still an estimated 400,000 people incarcerated for weed related charges. The social impact of the drug has been alarming as well. While using at about the same rate, blacks are four times as likely to be arrested and incarcerated for marijuana related offenses.
The impact of this new deal that Durant has signed cannot be understated- it’s huge. To have a player of his magnitude sign with a company that many of their products that they endorse would result in fines or suspension in the very league that he plays in is a bold move.
However bold the move may be, I still have some issues with it. To set the record straight before I get into it, I do believe that use of marijuana of medicinal (doctor prescribed) could be useful however, should not be the first option to go to. I have had many conversations with doctors about this very topic of marijuana and without question the overwhelming response has been that there are better drugs that can be prescribed to help with pain. The social popularity of marijuana has led to many patients request of their first choice to relinquish pain. I do not believe that marijuana should be as heavily penalized legally as it is now.
Despite the medicinal benefits I do not support the recreational use of the drug. This is a tough stance for me to take because of the pushback that inevitably comes with the territory.
In Christianity, the standard that we are to pursue is holiness. Paul writes right Peter in a letter:
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:13 ESV
We are to stay sober minded. In the practical sense, what does that mean and why?
Being sober minded can mean many things but, in the context of the verse mentioned it means to not be intoxicated with things of the world. These can include- drunkenness, envy, fame, pride, lust, and idols we create. The category of idols is where marijuana could and frankly should be placed. If Christians are to pursue holiness or to be more like Christ, we can’t possibly do this if we have another idol in our life distracting us from the ultimate prize of being with Jesus.
From a more rudimentary argument, too much consumption of alcohol results in drunkenness. As a society, we have committed to the fact that a person intoxicated is not fit to make wise decisions and in that state should be barred from many social privileges. On the contrary, as soon as a person inhales, ingest, or intakes marijuana into their system, they can immediately be considered “high.” Their brain would be in an altered state for a period of time. Using the same rationale as alcohol, I believe that a person in an alternate state of mind should not have access (for that temporary time) to many of the social privileges we receive until they’re back to a normal state.
I don’t believe that it is permissible for believers to openly support marijuana legalization for recreational usage. I wrote about this topic in a previous post and still hold that many people use the drug as a form of escapism. I do believe that eventually it will become legal in all 50 states. When that day comes, we must use wisdom in avoiding the drug to not be a stumbling block for someone who might struggle with their usage.
What do you all think? Let me know in the comments below!