TINAPON ANG LAHAT

"It’s all about decisions. Last year, I made a bad decision," pag-alala ni Jay Williams, second pick ng Chicago Bulls noong 2002, matapos makuha ng Houston Rockets si Yao Ming. "I did a lot of great things in college, won a national champion-ship, played for Duke University (19 points, 6 assists, 3.7 rebounds career average), won three National Player of the Year awards, was coached by the greatest coach you could ever want, had great teammates. I had all my dreams come true."

Buong buhay niya, ginusto ng 6’2" na guard maging NBA player. Bilang sophomore, hinatid niya ang Duke sa NCAA championship, at naging unang manlalaro ng Duke na manguna sa bansa sa scoring mula 1989. Hinirang siyang "Point Guard of the Year" ng ESPN Magazine. Gusto niyang sumunod sa yapak ni Michael Jordan, at sinuot pa niya ang number 22 sa Bulls. Kinilala rin si Williams bilang got milk? Rookie of the Month noong Disyembre, 2002 nang magtala siya ng 11.6 points at 6.3 assists.

Maganda na sana.

"One day, I was faced with a decision. As you know, it’s in our contract that we can’t ride motorbikes, jet skis and things like that," paliwanag niya. "We got up at 8, had practice at 9, and by 11, our day was over. So we had a lot of time to be involved in things we shouldn’t be involved in. I had a lot of friends in the Chicago area, they had bikes. You know, have some fun, the season’s over. So I got a bike."

At doon nagkagulo ang buhay niya. Sa pag-aakalang ipinasok niya sa neutral ang motor, nirebolusyon niya ang makina. Humampas siya sa poste.

"My body was all twisted in different ways. I was scared," pagsasalarawan ng rookie. "The first thing I said wasn’t I’m gonna die." The first thing I said was "I threw it all away." I kept screaming, I kept crying that out."

Kakahirang lang niya sa NBA All-Rookie Second Team. "It’s like everything you didn’t want to happen, happened to me."

Isang taon siyang di nakapaglaro, nilagyan ng bakal ang balakang niya.

Pinutol ng Bulls ang kontrata niya, at ilang milyong dolyares ang nawala sa kanya sa kita.

"Maybe some of you guys are just content to be here. This is a dream come true for you guys. I was in awe with all those coaches there. I looked at the guys on either side of me, and I said "I’m gonna take it from you."

"That’s the way it’s always been for me. So when you guys are out there playing, nothing’s guaranteed to you guys. Not just basketball. It’s easy to be done. This is about your life."

At ngayon, naghahanap si Jay Williams ng pangalawang pagkakataon.