The Pursuit of Job (Fred Jones)
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009Thank God, Fred is back to NBA.
Fred Jones woke up a little earlier than usual. The Clippers had cancelled their morning shoot-around, so he could have slept in.
But it’s been hard to sleep soundly of late. Like too many of us these days, he’s worried about losing his job.
On this morning, there were another set of bags to pack. Where he’d be taking them was still to be settled in a discussion he would not be invited to.
Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls marked the end of Jones’ second 10-day contract with the team. By league rule, the team had to either let him go or sign him for the rest of the year.
Jones had been around the NBA long enough to most guys in his position heading to wherever home is when their second 10-day is up, so he prepared himself for the worst.
“I hadn’t heard anything,” he said. “So I came to the game open-minded and felt like I needed to have a good one.
“I packed up all of my stuff either to go on the road trip or to go home.”
His wife Kia tried to help him stay positive, as she always did.
But every time he looked at her belly and thought about the day this June when she’d give birth to their son, he couldn’t help but worry.
This wasn’t just about basketball or holding on to a dream anymore. (more…)