Their Brother’s Keeper
On November 24, 2016, Mae Randolph, mother of Memphis Grizzlies’ beloved Zach Randolph, passed away. While her passing is certainly greater felt within the Randolph family, they weren’t the only ones affected by her passing. Something about death brings about raw emotions from people. The toughest person that couldn’t care less about just about everything can be shaken to the core by death. I’ve interacted with Randolph a few times as a fan or a part of media as a writer for All Heart, but it’s not like he knows me from a ham sandwich or a hole in the wall. And I had feelings about her death; so certainly the brothers that he plays with would.
It’s funny to me, in an ironic way, how fans of this franchise don’t seem to comprehend how Zach Randolph’s mother passing could affect this team. Yes, losing Randolph out of the line-up for an indefinite leave will cause an incredible void, but that’s not what I mean. What I mean is mentally it takes a toll on this team. You see…this isn’t NBA 2K17. These are real people with actual feelings. These are real people with real emotions. These aren’t just robots out here to do a show for us as fans. It’s not just as simple as toughing it out and doing your job.
As someone who’s seen them behind the scenes, this team loves each other, particularly the anchors of this team, The Core Four (Conley, Gasol, Allen, and Randolph). So, if one of them is hurting, they all hurt.
The game of basketball is just as mental as it is physical. Physically, they can prepare for a game and be ready. But if they can’t get into the game mentally, they’re going to struggle. They’re professionals, so they won’t use that as an excuse. As a fan of this team and the game though, I knew before I got to the game last night that they were going to have a hard time and possibly lose. And here’s why…
The team already isn’t 100%.
The Grizzlies already had 3 rotational players out of their line-up in Brandan Wright, Chandler Parsons, and James Ennis. Of the 12 players left, most of them have been together two seasons or less. Half of them have been in the league 2 seasons or less. So, there are some growing pains. Yet no one is going to show you any kindness or do you any favors because your team is a little disjointed right now. We should know that well from last year.
Coaching isn’t as easy as it looks.
I’m guilty of being a sideline coach too, but if it was as easy as me couch or arena coaching we all could be coaches. Coach Fizdale isn’t autonomous in his position. He has to answer to other people. So, it’s easy to sit back and say what Coach coulda, shoulda done. Who’s to say Coach didn’t want to do the very same things that we’re thinking he coulda, shoulda done?! I mean, let’s be realistic here, he doesn’t want to lose a game because his career kinda depends on it. Beyond that, he CERTAINLY wants to defeat the team that he came from…on the home court. It’s hard to do that when you’re a few men down, and one of the men that you’re down is a vital part of your bench and a crucial figure head on your bench and in your locker room.
This is their job, but they aren’t just co-workers.
Most people go to a job between 8-16 hours a day. You may eat lunch with someone or even hang-out with a co-worker beyond work hours. You’re not together all the time though. If you’re honest, most of you don’t even like your coworkers enough to work with them, let alone deal with beyond working together.
NBA players arguably spend more waking hours with each other than they do their families during a season. Think about it. You’re on and off the road. When you’re home, you have practices and games. They work together. Eat together. Hang together. They do this from September until at least April. When you spend that much time with a person, you’re going to either love them or hate them. There’s really not much room for an in-between. As someone who’s seen them behind the scenes, this team loves each other, particularly the anchors of this team, The Core Four (Conley, Gasol, Allen, and Randolph). So, if one of them is hurting, they all hurt.
ZBo’s presence is missed…on and off the court.
Randolph is a powerful presence for this team both on and off the court. He’s a catalyst of sorts for this team. The Core Four is a well oiled machine at the center of this team. Any time a piece is missing this team feels it. He’s not in the locker room. He’s not on the bench. He’s not on the court. They miss his leadership, his camaraderie, and his brotherhood. His absence creates a void. At the same time, the reason he’s absent creates a void.
Mae Randolph wasn’t just this figure head that no one knew.
This team was acquainted with Randolph’s mother. This franchise was acquainted with Randolph’s mother. Several people from the front office to the players have commented on the way that she hugged them and the closeness & genuineness that they felt from those hugs. They won’t feel those again. HE won’t feel those again. And that’s sad.
It’s easy for fans to say they should be able to separate their feelings from their job, but it’s not that simple to do. This isn’t just a job…THIS IS A FAMILY. And this family has a hurting member. There’s no timetable on his grief. There’s no timetable on his return. Meanwhile the season rolls on. They can’t help their brother grieve because they’re literally in and out of town all week long, including a trip to Canada to face Toronto. Yes this is their job. Yes they are professionals. They are also people, with feelings and emotions. They are their brother’s keeper, and as fans, we should applaud that and be happy about that because a connected team is a successful team!
We at All Heart In Hoop City extend our sincerest condolences to Zach Randolph and his family, and we stand in support of his brothers and coaching staff that must continue on while their brother grieves.
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BRAVISSIMO Carmen!!
Thank you for your continued support of AHHC, Helen! It is appreciated.
To be absent in the body is to be present with Lord. My peace, I leave with you. My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, but as I give. Let not your heart be troubled. There is no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Thank you for sharing!
So sorry to hear of passing of Ms Randolph. Praying for entire family.
Praying for the Family!! RIP MAE! To Zach, Even on your darkest days there is an angel by your side to guide you along the way…
Indeed. Thank you for sharing!
MAE RANDOLPH WAS AN AWESOME PERSON I NO BACK IN THE 80″S WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER DOING THINGS THAT WE BOTH LOVED. SHE WAS A VERY SWEET AND KIND PERSON TO ALL. MAE LOVED HER CHILDREN AND WAS A GREAT MOTHER.I PRAY FOR ALL HER CHILDREN ESPECIALLY ZACH,KEEP YOUR HEAD UP ZACH MAE WOULD WANT YOU TOO.CONTINUE DOING WHAT YOU DO BEST AND WATCH OVER YOUR SIBLINGS,WE ALL EVERYWHERE CARE ABOUT YOU ON AND OFF COURT. GOD IS EVERY WHERE JUST SEEK HIM HE IS RIGHT THERE. WE ALL HAVE YOU IN OUR PRAYERS.
Thank you for sharing your personal stories about Ms. Randolph.
Didn’t realy know her but my heart is with the family
Ours as well, thank you for sharing.
Zach you have my 100% support. Your mother and I go way back 39 years. We were very dear and close friends. We had our own special love for eachother. Zack she was so proud of you and appreciated every thing you done for her, from the biggest to the smallest. She loved all her children the same. She fussed a lot, she complained alot,she pretended alot. She hurt alot and she cried alot and she didn’t understand everything but she was an authentic jewel. Keep your head up. Sometimes you going to smile about her, and sometimes you gonna cry. God made her. I love you and the entire family. Glad I was a part of the fold.
Mae, was a great person and Mother she was a friend and classmate. When they moved from the south she was my neibor in south Marion,In.. Rest in Heavenly Peace my friend! And may God get you through this Horrific loss Zach… Always One!! !
Well said PRAYERS TO YOU ZACH AND UR WHOLE FAMILY. May THE LORD GIVE YOU PEACE AND HELP YOU GET THRU THIS TOUGH TIME. .