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Guard admits needing finally to admit trouble with mood, depression
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Oct 18, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: Cavaliers guard Delonte West knew something was wrong the first week of training camp.
He should have been on top of the world. The Cavs are a favorite to challenge for the Eastern Conference title. He received a new contract. Training camp began well for him, and he was assured a prominent role mapped out for him by coach Mike Brown.
But he wasn't happy. In fact, West, who returned to action for the Cavaliers on Thursday night against the San Antonio Spurs, said he was angry. It all culminated on the last day he was in camp when he let that anger spill over, taking it out on a high school referee who was calling an intra-squad scrimmage.
After that he knew he had to
get help for what he called depression and mood swings that he'd battled throughout his life.
''I removed myself from the team so I could get myself together, so I would not be a distraction to the team and what we are trying to accomplish,'' he said Friday at the Cavaliers training complex. ''Before you can help out a team or help out an organization, you have to be able to help yourself first.''
That's what West decided to do, seek help. He plans to participate in group therapy sessions and in-patient treatment, if necessary. He confessed that doing it wasn't easy because of the stigma, even though, according to a study, about 9.5 percent of the country's adult population suffers from some form of depression.
''In a sense, you feel like a weaker man because you have to raise your hand and ask for help, but I found out over the last week that that made me a stronger person,'' he said. ''And I came back focused, and with the help of some medicine and talking to people on a regular basis, I'm back in good spirits. I'm back here 100 percent.''
West said his celebrity helped him to mask what ultimately affected his life in general. He said that he has had a history of sabotaging his success. Right now, he just wants the mask to come off.
''At this point in my life, you just want to hide behind the personality that's created by the fans, or the media of who you're supposed to be as a professional athlete, but we're still people too,'' West said. ''Besides the fame and finances, we still have to deal with emotion and family and those situations on a daily basis just like everybody else.''
The Cavaliers stood by West throughout his absence, declining to talk about West's departure. Brown consistently said that when he returned he would be welcomed back.
''One thing Danny Ferry and I want to preach — and not only preach — when you preach something your actions have to speak louder than your words,'' Brown said. ''And one of the biggest things is we're a family organization and we value every one of our players and we value every one of their family members like they're ours.''
The support also came from his teammates, West said.
''Everyone's been supportive — everyone from Danny Ferry to coach Brown on down to LeBron and all the players on the team called me, texted me during the two weeks and expressed their concern and expressed how much they miss me, my joking and my personality around the locker room,'' he said.
West only scored seven points on 2-of-12 shooting against the Spurs, but he said the game was the most fun he has had on the court in years. When asked to critique it, he said it left a lot to be desired.
Brown, for the most part, liked what he saw. He said West had a decent floor game, led the younger players, including rookies J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson, well and he especially liked the way West worked his way into the lane, sharing the ball in the process.
As for the missed shots — they just didn't fall. Brown doesn't view it as a concern. West isn't worried about the shots either. Nor is he bothered by the possibility of backlash surrounding his situation.
''Only God is my judge. Everybody has an opinion, negative and positive stuff about me all day, but I don't allow that to determine my character or how I feel about the other person,'' he said. ''Like I said, I only have one judge. If you don't like the way I play basketball, write about it all day, man.''
Having faced his problem, he reveals a pragmatic attitude toward his situation: ''I want to enjoy being in the NBA. I want to enjoy being successful and I want to enjoy my life.''
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net Read the cavs blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/
INDEPENDENCE: Cavaliers guard Delonte West knew something was wrong the first week of training camp.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 04:34 AM, 10/18/2008
Delonte is setting an excellent example.
We wish you well, both in your recovery and during the season.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 08:22 AM, 10/18/2008
Bravo, Delonte. There's no shame, no guilt. Only false pride and macho posturing. It takes a strong man to face his weaknesses. You've shown that you have that strength, and you're making everybody arond you strong.
I hope all the Ferry and Mike Brown haters remember this moment.
Posted 09:23 AM, 10/18/2008
Way to go, Delonte!
It takes guts to try and change yourself. You are responsible for your own happiness, not anyone else.
If something is bothering you, "You can whip it!"
