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SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
@Sports_Doctor2
May 1, 2023 • 17 tweets • 10 min read • Read on X
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EXCUSE OR STORY
(The Audacity To Dream Again…)

Isaiah Austin was not like any other kid, at the age of 12, he was already 6foot tall and was the star player of his school basketball team.

While playing one day, he fell after dunking the ball and immediately, he started seeing… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
He thought it was nothing and continued playing, hoping it would clear on its own.

His team won and they went home, seeing he was still unable to see with the right eye, he told his parents who immediately rushed him to the hospital.

At the hospital, it was discovered his… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
Austin’s family thought it was because of an incident that happened when Austin was 11 and was hit on the right eye whilst playing baseball and didn’t think much about it.

The family thought it would just be one surgery and after a while Austin would be back playing basket ball… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
He was devastated, how can he play basketball with one eye, how could he make shots with just one eye, he thought of quitting the game as he believed everyone would understand but his mum said something to him that changed his mind.

She said, "you can make this your excuse, or… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
He returned to the basketball court by High School, playing with a special prosthetic eye and wearing thick googles to hide the blind right eye.

He didn’t want to make his eye condition public, so he told only his coaches and a few friends who kept it hidden.

But it wasn’t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
He would stay back after practice each day to keep training with his condition, and he got better with time.

By his senior year in 2023, Austin was ranked as the NUMBER 3 BEST PLAYER in the country as he led Grace Preparatory Academy to back-to-back state titles and McDonald’s… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
He had so many offers from Universities but he decided to accept the offer from Baylor as they were near his home.

He became the highest ranked basketball player the university had ever signed. Austin told his coach about his condition but it didn’t matter because Austin was… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
He also went public with his eye condition and it made him more popular as scouts were circling around him.

His dream of playing in the NBA was close to coming to pass as the 2014 draft day was close and many tipped him to be selected in the first round.

Now before you’re… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
The first doctor noticed, Austin’s hands and legs were unequally long, he also noticed that his breastbone was curved outward and his joints seemed loose and flexible.

The doctor asked him, “Have you heard of Marfan Syndrome before?”, to which he answered no, not knowing he was… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
On June 12th, 2014, 5 days to the official draft pick, Austin came home to see cars belonging to his coach, agent, and his parents parked outside his house, he felt they came to celebrate with him.

He walked in and there was no music playing, no one was talking, he saw their… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
•MARFAN SYNDROME.

- It’s an inherited disorder that affects the “CONNECTIVE TISSUES”

- Connective Tissues are fibers that supports, binds, CONNECTS or even divides tissues and organs in the body.

• SYMPTOMS
- Tall and slender build
- Unequal long arms, legs and fingers
-… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
The NBA still invited him to come to the official NBA draft that they had something planned for him.

He picked his best suit he was supposed to wear when he would be drafted and flew to New York for the draft.

The NBA commissioner Adam Silver, announced that the NBA would be… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
He still believed he could still play basket ball as he said during an interview after the NBA draft, “It’s not the end, it’s just the beginning.”

He battled depression for a year, later went back to join Baylor as a member of the coaching staff but it didn’t fill the void… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Dr. David Lang, a specialist in Marfan Syndrome who examined him by checking his aorta (largest artery in the body that carries blood from the heart), he noticed it was just mildly enlarged.

After some time, with more tests and assessments, he was cleared to play basketball by… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
He didn’t give up, he got an offer from Serbia, FMP who had to sign a waiver that should anything happen to him whilst he’s playing, they won’t be held liable.

He had to live alone for the first time in Serbia, even though the money wasn’t as good as what the NBA offered, Austin… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… ImageImageImageImage
After playing for 4years abroad, he retired, he retired in 2021 aged 28 and got a job at the NBA front office.

You can imagine the hurdles he had to overcome in his 20’s just to be able to live his dream from being blind in one eyes to Marfan Syndrome.

It’s never over until you… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
I don’t know what you’re going through at the moment but I want you to know, it’s not yet over, don’t throw in the towel yet.

Start this new month as motivated as ever to achieve all you’ve set out to do irrespective of the hurdles that come your way.

HAPPY NEW MONTH GUYS!!! Image

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More from @Sports_Doctor2

SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Nov 30, 2024
“OKONJO-WAHALA”
(The Woman With Many Firsts)

She and her six siblings were raised by her grandmother whilst their parents were studying in Europe on scholarship.

By the time she was 9, she had learned to cook, fetch firewood, and manage the household.

The civil war in 1967 disrupted her education and exposed her to difficult times as she was eating one meal a day, saw children dying around her, and slept on the mud floor, so she had to learn how to live “economically” even as a kid.

“ADVERSITY IS ONE OF LIFE’S GREATEST TEACHERS”
#OdogwuTalesImage
Her 3-year-old sister became sick with malaria, and she had to carry her for 3 miles to the clinic, push through a crowd of 600, and climb through a window to get her the treatment she needed at the local clinic.

When she was finally reunited with her parents who were both lecturers at the University of Ibadan, the bond was close, and like all daughters, she always wanted her father's attention and this led to several “coincidences” that shaped her life.

“LET YOUR PAST EXPERIENCES TEACH YOU AND NOT TORMENT YOU”Image
Her father, Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, a mathematical economist was working on a paper and didn't want any disturbance but the young girl wanted her father's attention, so he picked a book from his shelf and gave it to her.

He told her to read the first chapter, and that he would ask her questions when she was done.

She loved reading and coupled with the fact, that she got his attention, she settled down to read but guess the book she was given to read, was a book on “Economics”.

COINCIDENCE 1

“SOMETIMES COINCIDENCE IS A PLAN IN DISGUISE”Image
Read 10 tweets
SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jul 29, 2024
“FELIPE”
(The Boy Who Kept His Promise)

Douglas Sousa pursued a career in football as he played amateur football in Brazil, traveling to several small clubs to play football but wasn’t successful.

While he traveled, his wife and kids stayed at an orphanage until he returned and had to start working as a bricklayer assistant to support his family.

During his playing days, he introduced his first son, Endrick to football, taking him to his games where Endrick was the mascot of his team.

That was where it all began…

“EVERY STORY HAS AN END, BUT IN LIFE EVERY ENDING IS A NEW BEGINNING”

#OdogwuTalesImage
As Endrick grew up, he started training with his father, Douglas who would make videos of him performing silky skills and upload them on YouTube.

He was so poor that one day, young Endrick asked for food, he checked the cabinet and the fridge and there was nothing to give him.

He told Endrick, “my son, I have nothing” and broke down in tears and Endrick gave him a long hug and made him a promise saying, “Pai, don’t worry, I will be a football player and I will bring you out of this trouble.”

“DON’T EVER PROMISE MORE THAN YOU CAN DELIVER, BUT ALWAYS DELIVER MORE THAN YOU PROMISE.”Image
Douglas started visiting football academies showing off Endrick’s YouTube videos and there was a lot of interest from top scouts.

At first, São Paulo FC accepted Endrick and advised Endrick’s family to move to the region where their football academy was located.

Endrick’s father wanted the club to help cover some of the costs of them moving to a new city or provide him with a job as he didn’t want to stay far from his son but São Paulo FC could only offer them 150 Brazilian Real per month ($28.5) and that wasn’t enough.

After São Paulo FC refused, he made more videos of Endrick and uploads them on YouTube.

“A REJECTION IS NOTHING MORE THAN A NECESSARY STEP IN THE PURSUIT OF SUCCESS”Image
Read 10 tweets
SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jul 22, 2024
“RUSPA”
(The Kid Who Never Gave Up)

Riccardo Calafiori was only 6 years old when he was scouted by Roma because of his exceptional ability and physique.

He was nicknamed “Ruspa” which means “The Bulldozer” by his father because of his playing style at the age of 9 joined the Roma Academy and at the age of 16 signed his first professional contract with Roma.

Just when he thought he had achieved his dream, it turned into a freaking nightmare!!!!

“DON’T STOP DREAMING BECAUSE YOU HAD A NIGHTMARE”
#OdogwuTalesImage
In October 2018, after he had just won the Italian Youth Cup with the Roma Under-17s, they were to face Viktoria Pozen who was visiting Rome for the UEFA Youth League match.

The match was evenly poised at 3-3 late in the second half, Calafiori was with the ball when he was tackled by a Viktoria Pozen player with a high boot on his knee immediately injuring him, leaving him in severe pain!!!

He suffered what was termed, a “Once In A Decade” injury and had to be stretched out. An injury that had first-team Roma players in shock!!!

“PAIN IS INEVITABLE, SUFFERING IS OPTIONAL”Image
Image
Image
His dream of playing was over as his best chance was being able to get back on his feet and walk.

He suffered a COMPLETE TEAR of ALL the ligaments in his knee. He tore his ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL, and everything was torn.

Dzeko held up his jersey when he scored a hat-trick against the Viktoria senior team, his idol De Rossi came to visit him in the hospital, and his teammates too.

AS Roma wanted to have his surgery done in Italy but his agent, late Super agent Mino Raiola refused, insisting on him going to the United States.

Why?

“WHEN THE WHY IS CLEAR, THE HOW IS EASY”Image
Read 7 tweets
SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jul 20, 2024
“THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS”
(Kweku The Traveler)

Inaki Williams, the elder brother of Spanish wing sensation and Euros 2024 winner, Nico Williams had just turned 20 when he asked his mum, “How did we come to Spain?”

His mum told him, “Sit down, I think you’re ready to hear the story of papa and me now.”

For years, nobody knew that side of Inaki Williams who was now an Athletic Bilbao star with his brother, and his parents refused to tell him the story until he turned 20.

His parents, Maria and Felix left Ghana shortly after they got married, they crossed the Sahara desert without food or water.

“EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL, BE WILLING TO HEAR IT BEFORE JUDGING”
RT!
#OdogwuTalesImage
They were being smuggled into Spain so they had to be light as ever, with no luggage, they walked barefoot across the Sahara desert sand of about 40-50 degrees hot.

Many couldn't make it and to make matters worse, Maria discovered she was pregnant with Inaki Williams.

You can imagine a pregnant woman trekking barefooted through the Sahara Desert for days without food and water.

They finally got to Spain, she had to climb the fence into Melilla, Spain’s north African enclave, and immediately got arrested together with her husband, Felix.

“TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO”Image
They didn't have papers, so while in prison waiting to be deported back to Ghana, a lawyer from a Catholic NGO who understood English saved them.

He told them, the only way they could avoid being deported back to Ghana is to lie and say they were from a country at war.

They immediately tore up their Ghana papers and said they were from Liberia to apply for political asylum.

The Liberian Civil war was still ongoing and that was how they were allowed to stay in Bilbao, Spain.

They got state housing and met the priest, Inaki Madones.

“REAL STRENGTH HAS TO DO WITH HELPING OTHERS”Image
Read 10 tweets
SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jul 5, 2024
“DIBU”
(Just Wait!!!)

As a child, he would watch his father cry because he couldn't pay their bills. He would see his parents starve so he and his brother could have something to eat.

Emi Martinez was playing for Independiente and was living in Buenos Aires and could only see his parents twice a month because they couldn't afford to come to see him play always.

Martinez didn't just see football as his passion, he saw it as an escape route from poverty for himself and his family.

“POVERTY IS A GREAT MOTIVATING FACTOR”
#OdogwuTalesImage
He was only 16 when Arsenal invited him to come for a trial and when he got a call a week later from the Gunners offering him a place at the Emirates, his mother and brother were crying, begging him not to go but when he remembered his father crying, he said “Yes for them” because it wasn't easy for him.

He was alone in a new country where he had to learn a new language as he couldn't speak English and an entirely new culture as a 16-year-old!!!

“SOMETIMES THE HARDEST DECISIONS AND THE RIGHT DECISIONS ARE THE SAME”Image
His English was so bad that Arsenal put a clause in his contract that if he passed his English exams in Cambridge, they would pay him £20,000, and he did!!!!

He wanted to play but didn't have any game time at Arsenal, at one point he was the 3rd choice but Arsene and Arsenal offered him a contract meant for the 2nd choice goalkeeper and Arsene Wenger told him, “Just Wait, you will be my first choice” and he waited!!!!

“BETTER THINGS ARE ON THE WAY, JUST WAIT!!!”Image
Read 11 tweets
SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jun 22, 2024
“THE PSR TRANSFERS”
(The Mini EPL Transfer Deadline)

On the 6th of June 2024, it was reported that 6 EPL clubs would have to sell a player or 2 before June 30th to be able to comply with the “PSR” rules.

The clubs mentioned were Chelsea, Aston Villa, Everton, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City.

Since then, we've been seeing some “funny moves” among these clubs but what is “PSR” and how does it affect these clubs?Image
PSR means “Profit & Sustainability Rules”. They're financial rules and regulations aimed at making sure EPL clubs don't overspend or accumulate excessive debt.

EPL clubs are allowed to make a loss of up to £105Million over a 3-year period or less if they spend some time outside the EPL like Leicester City recently got promoted but anything more, you will be breaking the PSR rules.Image
So these clubs are now signing players from each other to be able to get around and make a profit reducing their annual loss.

Let me break it down with Aston Villa signing Ian Maatsen for £37.5M and Chelsea signing Aston Villa’s Omari Kellyman for £19M.

Now these two players are “ACADEMY PLAYERS” so they will represent “PURE PROFIT” on each club's balance books.Image
Read 6 tweets

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