Life's Isn't Fair!

Growing up I remember my Dad telling me repeatedly that life isn't fair. Sadly, here's a crystal clear example of him being right.

This is a picture of Robbie Hummel, last year's starting forward for the Purdue Men's Basketball Team. Led by Hummel, then a Junior, and Senior Chris Kramer, last year's team enjoyed win after win and top 10 rankings heading into the NCAA tournament. Then on February 24, Robbie Hummel came down awkwardly on his right leg tearing his ACL and ending his 2009-2010 season. Purdue Basketball fans mourned this loss and while other players stepped up in his absence to finish the season, the Boilers fell short of their NCAA tournament hopes.

Fast forward to the 2010-2011 season where the Boilermakers found themselves with a pre-season ranking of #2 the nation. High hopes surrounding this team and the return of Robbie Hummel, now a Senior with high school teammates E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson. That is, until the news broke, on an ESPN scrolling message during a college football game...in the 2nd practice of the season, after blocking a teammates shot, Hummel again came down on the right leg, tearing his ACL for the second time in 8 months.

Whether you are fortunate enough to be a Purdue Boilermaker alumni, fan or follower or even if you've just heard of them through this blog today, the sadness and disappointment for Robbie Hummel alone is tremendous. Why do bad things happen to good people!? Isn't one torn ACL in a lifetime enough? Of course we've all heard or lived similar stories of friends, family and acquaintances whose situations cause us to ask, "How can life be so unfair?" And we all wish we had the answer, as well as a way to make it better.

What we do know is that fair or not, life does go on, and we choose to make it whatever we want it to be. Will we choose to be better or bitter? USA Today reports that Robbie Hummel is attending classes, meeting with study groups and planning for surgery around Thanksgiving so as not to derail his education. Additionally, all Purdue Basketball fans hope that next year Grad School is an option for Robbie with a medical red shirt applied to this year. While none of this is ideal, it IS what it is. And my guess is that somehow, someway, Robbie Hummel will choose to be better. Better as a person, a student and an athlete because of this experience.

Today, whether you pause to appreciate your many blessings, become better due to unfair circumstances and go forward in a healthy way or help others to do the same, I hope you'll be the best YOU that you can be!