Handicap can be defined in so many ways. In
today’s world, women getting paid less than
their worth is a handicap. Not going to college
because financially you don’t qualify is another
to be considered. There are so many things
one can point out that makes an underdog.
So, why is the world so adamant on pointing
out the difference for everyone to stop, stare
and take notice? “I had to believe even if no
one else did” - says Kevin Laue, star of the
documentary A Longshot which chronicles
Kevin’ life of pursuing a basketball career as a
Division –1 player with only one hand. “I felt
like no matter how hard I played there was
never going to be a fare offer from a school.
No coach was going to give me a fair chance
to play because of my disability.”
In all fairness, everyone falls short of
something. How can one person or a group of
decision-makers say what something is? It is
not the failure of an organ or ability that is
handicap. It is the minds of the people who
see the glass half empty when in fact it is so
totally full. “Perseverance became a daily ritu-
al of mine. I needed to break free of a failures
INSPIRATION
IN ALL FAIRNESS
K
EVIN
LAUE
50
NOVEMBER 2012
WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM
mentality every day in order to overcome
what was considered impossible. Some of this
hope was inspired from Philippians 4:13 from
the Bible.
I can do all things through God who
strengthened me.
I was born on 4/13.”
If we all sat back and let ourselves be
what someone thought we were then we all
would be falling victim to what others perceive
as ‘not good enough’. It’s not just you having
to try… try again. It’s more. It’s you deciding
that you won’t take no for an answer. And
that you are not what
they
say you are.
“
Maximize your potential and goals in order to
be as successful as they can” - says Kevin. “I
want to inspire a sense of perseverance even
through the toughest of times in order to
achieve something remarkable. I want a mes-
sage to spread like wild fire. That anything is
possible with a little time, passion, and faith.
If you don’t believe in yourself, who is going
to believe in you?”
Words to live by. Let hate and bigotry
be your motivation. “Never go a day in your
life with an excuse” - says Kevin. “Whatever
your disability may be, use it to your ad-
vantage, not your disadvantage. You get the
opportunity to push through a barrier bigger
than most, and it’s not going to be easy, but
you are capable. That’s just one benefit of be-
ing a longshot” -
Tonisha L. Johnson
WWW.THEKEVINLAUESTORY.COM
link