We know what happened -- I am not going to reiterate the unfortunate situation of professional basketball player Lamar Odom. The coverage of the events, though, is what really bothered me. Enough of the Kardashians.
I understand that part of Odom's fame came from the reality television shows. His and Khloe Kardashian's marriage was clearly a huge part of his life and deserves some kind of acknowledgement. My issue is that Odom's coma is about him and his health, not the Kardashians' sudden trip to the Nevada hospital. Upon waking up from the coma, the headlines mostly consisted of how he talked to Khloe. It almost seems like the media is trying to write some kind of estranged love story for these two. That is not fair to him or his name. It almost seems like their desperate attempt to prove that they are good people.
As a journalism major, I understand digging to find a story that will stand out. For some, like People Magazine, their angle is through the Kardashians. Fox News, though, can find another story in there. Honestly, look at where and how he was found; I can find a million stories in that alone. It raises the bigger issue of brothels and drug abuse or even the heartbreaking downfall of Odom himself.
CNN seems to be sticking to this "story" like glue, digging up every angle and reiterating the same facts along the way. However, one opinion article by a woman named Roxanne Jones solidified my views. My biggest question was how does a man who seemed to have it all end up in this state? Jones answered.
Odom wanted what he set out for when he was young, not what was thrown on his path along the way. He set out for stardom on the basketball court and set out for a better life than the one he had. His father was a heroin addict and his mother died from colon cancer when he was 12. Contrary to what we all thought, his life was never easy for him. Even in college, he struggled with grades, the law, and NCAA rules, leaving him ineligible to play for many seasons. At the University of Rhode Island, he was named the most valuable player after he led the team to their first Atlantic 10 title. After playing his freshman year there, he signed for the draft and was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers. Most of his NBA career was spent with the Los Angeles Lakers (2004-2011), a place we now know he did not necessarily want to be.
If, or when, Odom recovers, he needs help. He should not be thrown back into the reality stardom that led him to that point. His claim to fame started long before the Kardashians dragged him down. I pray Odom finds peace within himself or on the basketball court again and not with our society's favorite superficial family.
