Antwoine Key. Have you ever heard of him? Probably not. This was a kid that flew under the radar. He probably preferred it that way. This was a kid who came out of tough circumstances and recently transferred from Southern Connecticut to Eastern Connecticut University. He was unpolished, as most players are that do not end up at Duke, Kentucky, or UCLA. He worked hard on his game during the offseason and earned a spot in the rotation this year. He just recently had the best games of his college career against UMass-Boston and had just hit a jump shot against Worcester State when he collapsed last Thursday. Unfortunately, attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he died at 7:15pm. Isn't is sad that the only reason we know about this young man is that he died on the court? Why is it that we live in a society where we know Kobe Bryant's daughter's name, but we never knew this young man? Why is it that we attentively listen to people like John Rocker who have nothing meaningful to say, but never pay attention to people who lives are full of meaning? We can easily blame this on the media, corporations, or whatever, but we must share some of the blame. We are a generation that needs to be shocked into paying attention. Some of our hearts have become clogged with the toxins of apathy and indifference, with the media holding the defibrillator. We have become complacent, yet at the same time extremely critical. Many people feel that it is ok not to do something about a problem, but yet complain that the problem exists. This is never more evident in our sporting behavior as fans. We moan and groan about the exorbitant salaries athletes get, yet we watch their games, collect their cards, and let them in ahead of us at the club. Shaquille O'Neal makes over $20 million a year and Antwoine Key had to work part-time at the Eastern Connecticut Recreation Center to make ends meet. It just doesn't make any sense. Hopefully, something good will come out of this tragic story. Martyrdom is a very strong force, and it can drive people to make change. I never knew this young man, but I know that it has compelled me to strive higher. I'm sure I will never forget his name. Antwoine Key
