Basketball and peace

Days before the UN General Assembly adjourned for the holidays, the Philippines embraced one profound moment as a bearer of peace. Peace came in the form of basketball, echoed by a legend and reaffirmed by speakers whose impassioned love for “the world’s greatest game” is beyond measure.

“Happy World Basketball Day!” reverberated in the jam-packed room as we joyfully greeted each other. It was a celebration of the fulfillment of a resolution proclaiming Dec. 21 as World Basketball Day as initiated by the Philippines and co-sponsored by 76 other countries. That we ardently advanced the commemoration of a worldwide event and received its stamp of approval at the UN speaks so much of what basketball legend Julius Erving said about basketball: “Sports and music bring people together.”

This was corroborated by our Deputy Permanent Representative Ariel Peñaranda who, in his message on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo, spoke of how “basketball, transcending borders, cultures and languages has emerged as a unifying force globally” and how it is “deeply embedded in our national identity.”

“Basketball and peace: a conversation with Julius ‘Dr. J.’ Erving,” was organized by the Philippine Mission to the UN to commemorate World Basketball Day. It unified, inspired and ignited much hope among the audience, especially it happened when events of Oct. 7 remain fresh and amid ongoing struggles elsewhere in the world. It was a momentous dialogue among famous figures in basketball: Julius Erving, the original “Skywalker” and Philadelphia 76ers legendary small forward; Prof. David Hollander, author and clinical professor with the Tisch Institute for Global Sport at NYU; John Doleva, president and CEO, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and diplomat-enthusiasts, who livened up the interaction and revealed the huge basketball fans in them.

Prof. Hollander spoke of how he is “forever grateful to the Philippine government” for spearheading the efforts which led to a landmark occasion. He believes that basketball is “anti-hierarchical” and he treats it as “a philosophy.” In his exceptionally instructive and engaging book, “How Basketball Can Save the World,” Prof. Hollander looks at his 13 principles on how basketball can save the world as “13 values that are so aligned with the UN’s SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).”

I read the professor’s book and I understand why he is so passionate in maintaining that the much-loved sport can help save the world. I agree with his principle of “cooperation” because “basketball is intrinsically about humans sharing a physical space” and it is within this space “where empathy develops.” Prof. Hollander suggests basketball is “gender inclusive,” an “antidote to isolation and loneliness” and provides a “sanctuary” because even its founder, Dr. James Naismith, felt the need for “safety, refuge and retreat.”

Knowing how it is like to sometimes feel scared, solitary and discriminated upon or mystified by why peace is so elusive, I think of how essential these philosophies are if we indeed want to become bridges of peace and wish to make our world a better place.

At a post event chat, Prof. Hollander, in true basketball fashion, looked back at how, as if in a game, he passed the ball, i.e. the World Basketball Day resolution idea, to the hubby, who in return explored the proposal with the Philippine Mission to the UN team, to the DFA and eventually to the UN body that eventually said yes, we see basketball as an instrument of peace.

The 73-year old, 6 feet 7 inches Julius Erving is literally a giant in the eyes of the barely five-footer me. To our delight he arrived 30 minutes earlier because, as the hubby warmly welcomed him to the venue, my children and I felt the great honor of shaking hands with and briefly chatting with him. Moved by his graciousness we relished the moment of having our family picture taken with him. Behind his sporty persona is a kind and compassionate man, one that is full of wisdom. He conveyed valuable lessons that would hopefully leave an imprint not only among the audience but among those who saw the event on live stream or watched the replay.

Dr. J was born in an era of a segregated society and experienced a family tragedy. But he soared and scored against the odds and channeled his grief through basketball. “A tragedy doesn’t kill you but makes you stronger,” he said. Quite interestingly, his first international trip was to the former USSR and recalled how “the gift of connection” of bonding with players from other countries left a lasting impression on him. Connection, he thinks, “is a language the world needs, a common language,” thus he encourages everyone to “engage in cooperative exercises” and look at the playground as “the last communal space on earth.”

I ponder on Mr. Erving’s inspiring ideas, especially when asked about his message to young people: “Don’t teach yourself, listen to someone.” He said this as he acknowledged his coach and his whole team. In basketball and in life, “you don’t have to be the best player,” he added. He trusts in the power of a team. He thinks that they who belong to the previous generation are responsible to “teach the next generation and expand to do better.”

In the chapter “Making it Global” of his book, Prof. Hollander cited that basketball was conceived more than 132 years ago while Dr. Naismith “stood in a United States still traumatized by the death of thousands in the American Civil War” and armed conflicts.

Perhaps it was not a coincidence that the light-hearted, philosophy-packed and totally gratifying conversation happened at a time when our world is aching for peace. It is also definitely not by chance that Julius Erving spoke of the enduring power of memories.

“Memories are forever,” he said with conviction. And we are grateful to Mr. Erving and the men and women who created those wonderful memories of basketball and peace – even for just one remarkable day.