Former athlete speaks of scoring points for God

Dave Jamerson made a successful transition from collegiate hoops to the NBA because he could shoot the lights out. Today he speaks with high school students, college and professional athletes to help them see the light.

Jamerson, a former Houston Rockets 1st-round pick, spoke last night at the Pollock Piano Lounge about life "After the Glory Fades".

Jamerson, also a current representative of Champions for Christ, said people's lives are incomplete without God. If people are living for themselves instead of for God, ultimately it will come back to get them.

"If it weren't for Jesus Christ coming into my life, I'd probably have AIDS, and I would have been married and divorced," he said.

With a new $3 million NBA contract, Jamerson, who played college basketball for Ohio State, thought his dreams came true.

"I had everything I ever wanted in life," Jamerson said. "I had success, fame, money and girls. I became very arrogant."

At this time Jamerson said he was living life for himself. During this period he engaged in adulterous behavior. Afterward, Jamerson realized God would not accept him if he continued living his life this way.

"I realized that God wouldn't be impressed with me just because I scored 15 points on Magic Johnson, or because Michael Jordan only scored 45 on me," Jamerson said.

Jamerson's old friend, who is a minister, helped him save himself.

"One day I just decided to get off the fence," Jamerson said. "When you have the power of God in your life, you can defeat anything. Your fate ultimately depends on the choices that you make."

Jamerson said students are at the age where most will decide whether they should walk with God.

"Sometimes people don't make a bold stand for the Lord because they're afraid of what their friends are going to think," Jamerson said. "If you allow other people to determine what you're going to stand for, then you're making a big mistake."

In regard to his own NBA career, Jamerson expressed some disappointment. But, he said, all players wind up back in the same place once their careers end.

"I don't care if you play 15 years in the NBA," Jamerson said. After that, if you want to keep playing, you've got to go to the 'Y' and call 'next game'."

Steve Grove (senior-philosophy) said he found Jamerson's devotion to Christ admirable.

"I think that he did a good job showing that you can be an athlete and live for Christ, not just nominally, but wholeheartedly," Grove said.