Iran

I received a call today from Henry Abbott at TrueHoop asking about what was going on with our trip to Iran. It seems Iran is on the minds of many of us right now. With all of the unrest over the recent elections there are plenty of reasons for concern.

Last summer when the NBA called to ask if we would host the Iranian National Team we jumped at the opportunity. It was a pleasure getting to know the guys and the coaching staff. What ended up being seen as a great opportunity to reach out was initially met with ridicule. When the story first broke one of the local radio stations took the time to put together a lengthy piece that highlighted the intolerance that has been common between our two Nations.

In the end I believe all agreed it was a great experience.

I have always believed that sports can help to soften differences. At the age of 11 I moved to Bordeaux, France. I did not speak French, which made getting to know people and making friends very difficult. That all changed when I started playing basketball in a French league. I was no superstar, but as an American who played basketball I quickly made friends. My luck continued at school when I joined school teams. There was no political agenda on the court or on the field. I ended up making friends with kids from all over the world. This happened when I lived in France, it happened when I moved to Switzerland and in the US. In almost all cases these forged friendships started with a mutual love for sports.

Struggle often brings improvement. I hope that the struggle in Iran is one of those studies. For now the Flash will have to wait on our trip to Iran. Postponed but not cancelled.