Charita Goshay: LeBron James followed right path, Ethan Liming's killers didn't. Why?
It's hard to ignore the juxtaposition between the report that LeBron James has just become a billionaire and the news that a 17-year-old boy's badly beaten, dead body was found near Akron's I Promise School.
James' foundation helped launch the school in partnership with Akron City Schools.
You could call it a city of two tales, a stark and tragic reminder of how choices can inform trajectory. In this case, two groups of boys got into a fight on a basketball court, which is normal.
But the incident went far beyond a fight. Someone chose to inflict grievous harm upon Ethan Liming, resulting in his death.
Police say Liming's injuries went far beyond an accidental fall, describing them as "not remotely reasonable or justified," according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
What could possibly have precipitated such violence?
Human nature being what it is means that James, who has been famous and privileged since he was a teenager, has been the object of resentment.
'Just a kid from Akron.'
When he uses his voice to speak on matters of justice, he's essentially told to "shut up and play" though no such thing is said to Aaron Rodgers or Curt Schilling.
Even now, someone, somewhere, probably is searching for a way to blame him for this incident.
How was he able to choose the harder, more narrow and better path?
Plenty of talented and gifted people don't.
America's playgrounds are dominated by what-might-have-beens; young men blessed with extraordinary gifts which, in the case of sports, demand dedication and discipline.
So why doesn't some of that same discipline transfer over to personal choices?
James' global success, and a killing near the school he helped to found, underscore how life boils down to twists and turns and choices; a cumulation of the kind of small decisions that form one's destiny.
James, who describes himself as "Just a kid from Akron," grew up poor, Black and fatherless in Akron public housing — all the ingredients needed for a life of lashing out in anger, yet he somehow was able to grasp as a child that his talent was the ticket out for him and his mother, Gloria, who had him when she was just 16.
Hard-knocks narrative
Now, it would be disingenuous to pretend that James isn't one of the most talented athletes ever born. We won't see another of his like in our lifetime. His talent, and those of mere mortals, can hardly be equitably compared.
James clearly understands this, which is what motivates him to devote his time and money to give a leg up to children and families with whom he shares a hard-knock narrative.
More Charita: LeBron James made some news ... and nobody noticed
However, everyone is on equal footing when it comes to making choices.
Someone chose not just to fight Ethan Liming, a student at the Firestone Community Learning Center, but to beat him to death.
Why?
Teenagers in Akron and Canton are going down like flies. Shootings and other acts of violence committed against them and in many cases, by them, have peppered the news for months.
More: 16-year-old Cleveland boy accused in shooting deaths of two 19-year-old Canton men
More: Masked, gun-toting Tuscarawas County teen arrested near Perry Local schools
No doubt many of these teens idolize James, but obviously not enough to use him as a role model for manhood, productivity, responsibility and community involvement.
James' life began on a basketball court. Ethan Liming's life tragically ended on one.
Why?
Charita M. Goshay is a Canton Repository staff writer and member of the editorial board. Reach her at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Charita Goshay questions why Ethan Liming was killed
