In the spring of 2012, I was watching one of the NCAA championship's game (March Madness) with fascination. I was witnessing a 6'8" 260 pound bruiser of a forward bring the ball up the court and masterfully facilitate the offense for Iowa State. His basketball skill set is very unique, but what first attracted me to Royce White is now an after thought.
To me now, White is an outspoken, impressive individual who truly advocates for mental health awareness, legislation, and education. Not many professional athletes are as open about their mental health as White is, and never has a professional athlete risked as much as White has to advocate for his position. White was drafted with the 16th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. He suffers from generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, a phobia of flying, along with a bevy of other mental ailments. These conditions are detrimental, not only for an ordinary citizen, but even more so for a professional athlete who must withstand pressures to perform as well as a grueling flying schedule. It is safe to say the NBA lifestyle, or any professional sports lifestyle for that matter, is not built for a mind like White's. That may be so. The bulk of what White has heard his whole life centers around that central idea. But White is not looking to conform, he is looking to revolutionize. He frequently references the "American with Disabilities Act," a bill signed in 1990 which prohibits the discrimination of those with physical or mental impairments (as defined more specifically in the bill) in the professional world. It is his right as a victim of an "emotional or mental illness" to be accommodated to in the work place. For White, it means to work out a busing option to games to substitute for the frequent flights. It also means having a mobile mental health professional for him at the ready in order to offer prognosis and counsel. White stresses that this professional cannot be team affiliated in order to eliminate any conflict of interest and to give a neutral diagnosis. As a whole, this would be changing the way the NBA does business. According to White's self declared humanistic approach, professional athletes must be treated as individuals, as opposed to commodities solely judged by face value.
There are those who call White lazy, irresponsible, and high maintenance because he did not suit up for a single game as a Houston Rocket in the entire 2012-2013 season. Instead of contributing, White was refusing to agree to the Rockets' terms concerning his mental health and travel arrangements. From many angles, mainly the business angle, this looks bad. The Rockets have an employee who hasn't worked at for them at all and is causing conflict within the organization on how to handle his novel situation. White reflects that he wouldn't be surprised if he was let go and he wouldn't take it personally, but would continue to advocate for the awareness of mental health. This idea of a professional athlete risking all that he is risking (millions of dollars and a career that would set him up for life) to bring to light a very delicate and personal issue aimed at aiding the greater good is unheard of. There are also those who call White a hero, a role model, and a pioneer. He is a figure with publicity using it for the good of not only those who suffer from mental illness, but for society as a whole to become tolerant and educated.
On July 5th of this past summer, Yahoo! Sports reported that the Houston Rockets traded Royce White to the Philadelphia 76ers for a draft pick and future draft considerations. Does this move mean the Rockets have tried with White and can't agree? Does it just mean they made a business decision? Can this possibly symbolize the attitude toward mental illness in America? White is extremely well read and displays incredible self assurance judging by his interviews. However, he just turned 22 years old and left college early with less than two full years under his belt. For him, there is still much to experience and learn. He will continue to grow as a person and as an advocate, making his influence down the road even more impacting.
Royce White labels himself a humanist, meaning he believes every individual holds free will and the power to make personal decisions independent from their external environment. Through unrelenting adversity, he exemplifies just that.
-Ryan Scanlon
Recommended works:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8890734/chuck-klosterman-royce-white
http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/5/9/4312406/royce-white-living-and-working-with-anxiety-disorder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe21L3EnDdE
Referenced works:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Helpline1&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=47065
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/22651671/report-royce-white-traded-to-the-76ers-for-future-pick
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