Depression is murderer. It doesn't play fair and it doesn't care who it takes. It is a silent killer that sneaks up on even the best of people in America today.
We have seen it take the life of America's funniest man in August of 2014. No one knew he was battling it, but depression took away Robin Williams, an icon of our generation's childhood.
It took the life of a musician. A promising career with a new child, and a loving girlfriend, depression took the life of Kurt Cobain and left the band Nirvana in shambles.
It took the life of one of the greatest football players of our generation. Sure he took way too many hits to the head in his 20-year playing career, but a note, and a goodbye was all that was left of the great Junior Seau.
Now, another star battles for his life in a hospital bed. He lies unconscious with his family, players, friends and even enemies around him. He clings onto this world by threads, and is slowly falling into the next. His chances are slim of coming back, and his fight and road to recovery are part of a journey that might kill him along the way. Let's set the record straight: depression, not cocaine and hookers almost killed Lamar Odom.
In the late hours of October 15, 2015, Odom was found unconscious at a brothel in Crystal, Nevada. After checking his blood levels, doctors can confirm he had cocaine and several sexual enhancement pills in his system. Jokes came pouring in about how Odom was found at a brothel.
Yes, Odom was on a drug that has taken the lives of John Belushi, Chris Farley, Jimmy Hendrix and multiple other people in America today. But no, that's not how the story goes.
It occurred to me after seeing the tweet about this man, known as "Khole Kardasian's ex boo" that half of America doesn't know a thing about him. They know four things: he is black, he did drugs, he played basketball and he was on a famous reality TV show. They don't know about his life, his troubles, his past, his hardships and even more importantly: his triumphs.
Lamar Odom was drafted as the fourth overall pick in 1999 by the Los Angeles Clippers. His father was a heroin addict who most of the time would rather use drugs than practice ball with his son. His mother died of colon cancer when he was 12 years old. Odom's only stable figure was his grandmother, and when she passed away, he was alone.
At 6'10, Odom excelled in basketball, averaging 17.2 points a game. Unfortunately this is where his career began to fall apart. Odom was suspended twice over the next two seasons for breaking the NBA's anti-drug policy. He was then let go by the Clippers in 2003, and forced to find another home.
It would be two years before Odom was loved again. When he was traded for Shaquille O'Neal by the Miami Heat, he got a second chance to win back the hearts of the people who ran him out of town.
This is where Odom finally became one of the biggest names in the NBA. For eight seasons, Odom and Kobe Bryant, along with the rest of Lakers, kept the momentum going, winning two more championships for LA.
Odom was also named 6th man of the year, a prestigious award for the best player off the bench in 2011. He was on top of the world in front of the cameras. Behind closed doors, he was hurting.
While Odom would come home to his son Lamar Jr. and his daughter Destiny, he would visit the grave of his son Jayden. Jayden passed away in 2009, after complications with SIDS. Some things change you, this was one of them for Odom.
In 2013, Odom was arrested for driving under the influence. In December, he began his recovery in rehab. To throw this on top of an already stressful schedule, no team wanted him. They said he was too old, he couldn't play anymore, he couldn't keep up with the "youthful" or "skillful" players.
Then there was Khloe. Within months of dating, the basketball star became a reality star on one of the biggest shows in America. He would consonantly make appearances on his new bride's show, "Keeping Up with Kardashians," before E! Entertainment decided to give them their own show, "Khloe and Lamar." While the show did terrible, his marriage with Khloe was also on the rocks. In Decemeber of 2013, while in rehab, his rock, his bride, parted ways from him and left him alone.
Now, as many people sit around a Nevada hospital room, wondering if they will ever see their friend speak again, I ask them a question, "Where were you when he needed you?"
Sure, you were there when he was on top of the world and rich. Sure you were there when he was ready to go out and party. Of course you were there for every birthday, New Years, or anytime he was willing to open his pocket. But where were you when you saw him struggle. When he was a mess. When he was all alone. I hope you were there through it all.
Two of Odom's friends recently passed away, most media outlets won't mention that. Most media outlets haven't even mentioned that Odom and his father have reconnected since his childhood, instead they mention how he was alone.
They seem to forget that two young children are praying for their father to wake up and play with them, but they don't forget to mention about Khloe. They don't seem to mention about Jayden and how he's cooperated with that. See, that doesn't sell.
The happy truth is a what most journalists call "boring." But if someone gets a DUI, has a drug problem, has a death in their family, people can't wait to hear about it. They can't wait to hear about how someone more famous than them is having a crappy day, while their life is fine.
"Kardashian Ex-Husband found Coked out and Unconscious at Brothel," makes a hell of headline, and a juicy read for those who buy into it. "Troubled Basketball Star Fighting for Life," makes second page news.
Millions of viewers will watch the family be distraught, but yet will never question where they were during his struggles. The fact of the matter is, Lamar Odom's problem just brought his ex-wife another million.
If you make a promise in front of your families and friends, keep it. When the going gets tough, you can't lay down and call it quits just because "things aren't working." I'm not saying Khole or her family doesn't care for Lamar, but if she meant what she said in her vows, maybe Lamar would be alive and well.
Before you judge him, put yourself in his shoes. Your mother died when you were 12, your dad was too high to play with you, you buried your son, you buried two of your friends, every team told you weren't good enough, and your wife left you.
Would you be waking up smiling saying how incredible your life is? Probably not, so why should you judge him?
Most people want you to believe this guy was a sex-hungry, washed-up drug addict, who hurt his wife and was too far gone. The real story is depression once again might have taken the life of a human who had many hardships.
Depression is a killer in America and will continue to hurt people and those you love if you don't stand up and say something. If you or someone you know is battling depression, please call (212) 673-3000 and get help.
In the word of the late great Robin Williams "suicide is a permeant solution to temporary problems."
As for Lamar Odom, we don't know what will happen. One thing is certain, only those who truly know his story will understand his decisions.
