Research Paper 30 For 30 Chris Herren

911 Words2 Pages

Thomas C. Harris
Instructor: Wendy Ansley
Personal and Community Health: Section 2361
March 19, 2014

30 for 30: UNGUARDED

The documentary from ESPN details the disturbing and ultimately redemptive story of a young high school basketball player from Massachusetts who succumbs to drugs. His early marijuana and cocaine abuse led to a heroin addiction that would destroy his career and devastate his family. Unguarded (or unprotected) would certainly define the life and career of former NBA basketball player Chris Herren.
Christopher Albert Herren (born September 27, 1975) from Fall River, Massachusetts, was the Durfee High School basketball superstar. His family’s basketball legacy at Durfee included his father, grandfather, two uncles and his older brother who Chris would drink with as a freshman in high school. His brother said that it was normal to drink, drug, fight, and play hard. Recruited by Boston College after turning down offers at the University of Kentucky and Duke University, Chris was featured in magazine articles including a Sports Illustrated cover story, hyping his success. In 1994, Chris broke his wrist playing his first game at Boston College. He took a year off from playing basketball to “not study and do drugs”. Within three months of his injury, Chris failed two drug tests and was subsequently kicked off the team and expelled from college. Drugs took everything away by the time he was eighteen years old.
No college wanted anything to do with Chris Herren, except coach Jerry Tarkanian at Fresno State University. Chris got a chance to start over, however was reluctant to leave his family and friends and move over three thousand miles away. His fiancé Heather talked him into the offer,...

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...could not be there and to go back to the treatment center or don’t come back. He spent the next 20 days in a tiny, windowless room at the center called the “pot sink”. Washing dishes in that little room…Chris found the courage to recover.
30 for 30: Unguarded is both difficult and impossible not to watch. The film is like watching a “jump ball” at the beginning of a basketball game, over, and over again. Cutting back and forth from images of his beautiful family to the hard-core faces of addiction. Chris was talented, good looking, and smart. He outwitted everyone to get his high. It is sad that he could not feel the same high on the basketball court, yet found it on the street. Chris teaches young kids basketball and shares his story of recovery. He has been alcohol and drug-free since August 1, 2008. He has found peace one day at a time.

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