Why Firebird Focus Had Been Stopped

You may be wondering why Firebird Focus was put on pause for a month and a half…and I’m here to explain that.

Aside from lots of busyness in my life, I’ve been putting the finishing touches on a project I’ve been working on for years. I’ve spent countless nights writing and editing, and many mornings typing away at 5:30 before classes. But now, the journey is finally over.

I wrote a 346-page book on basketball, and it’s officially published.

The book is called Overcoming Adversity: The 2010 NBA All-Stars, and it’s available on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and just about any other platform you could think of. It details the journies of 24 NBA All-Stars from the 2010 decade and the hardships they faced to reach the highest level of basketball.

Take John Wall for instance. He’s from Raleigh, having played at Broughton High School and Word of God Christian Academy (which is where the Firebirds play!). However, he was often dragged into the world of crime and gangs, had a major attitude problem, and was arrested. Still, thanks to sacrifices made by his mother and a will to be the best basketball player he could, he received a scholarship to play basketball at Kentucky and became the number one pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. His story is far more than those few sentences; the full journey is inspirational.

Each All-Star faced their own challenges. Jimmy Butler was kicked out of his home before he reached high school because his mom “didn’t like the look of him.” Carmelo Anthony’s vice principal withheld his report card so that he couldn’t play AAU basketball his senior year. Damian Lillard was robbed at gunpoint, Kawhi Leonard’s father was murdered…the list goes on. But, all of these players managed to make it through the hard times and kept persevering. If you enjoy learning about the NBA or want some motivation to make it through tough times, this book is for you.

I learned a lot writing this book, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

-Tex