Rick_Garcia's Blog

It's the best kept secret in sports. But why?
 I was at Staples Center not long ago doing an interview with Lakers center Andrew Bynum. During the interview I heard some noise coming from an adjacent room that sounded almost like motivational speaking. After I wrapped up with Andrew I went next door and met a man who now was alone in the room. His name is Rick Harville. And he is the Lakers' Chaplain. Heck I didn't know there was a team chaplain. I'd heard of prayers on the basketball court. I'd even heard of prayers from fans. But players actually praying?
Now I'm not naive. I was raised Catholic and I'm familiar with athletes who are religious. I guess I just didn't expect to hear it first hand less than an hour before a Lakers game. When I played sports in high school many years ago we often said a team prayer before a game. But that seemed more symbolic than anything else. They actually really do hard core praying before the game. With a team chaplain. With a bible. It's casual but it's a service.
It's strictly voluntary. Rick Harville sees anywhere from one to six players on a given night. And the Lakers opponents are invited.
Back in the day Harville went to Europe to play pro ball but suddenly turned down the offer and came back home even though he didn't know why. Then one night Harville saw a preacher on television and knew at that moment that he had a higher calling. He has been handling the services at Staples and before that at the Forum for the past 23 years.
Back to the players.
I decided to do a story on Lakers Chapel. I thought it would be a positive story that would show a different side of pro athletes. What I learned however is a lot of players aren't comfortable talking about their faith. Our camera wasn't allowed in dressing room three where they hold chapel.  And most of the players didn't want to talk about it.. Now that didn't make a lot of sense to me. But we did the story anyway and we were lucky to get Lakers guard Derek Fisher to talk. Derek regularly attends chapel. He'd better. His mom attended church, as Derek put it, "Sunday to Sunday". He leaned heavily on his faith when his daughter was diagnosed with cancer last year. She is now in remission. Derek explained that religion is a personal thing. Something players just aren't comfortable talking about. A.C. Green who played forward with the Showtime Lakers has a different take on things. He wore his faith proudly on his sleeve as a player during the 80's. He says he's disappointed with athletes who aren't afraid to go wild in public at a nightclub at all hours of the night  but when they are in church look around with embarassment to see if anyone notices them praising God. A.C. says going into that little room before every game gave him the strength to go out and do his job mightily.
I don't think athletes are any more prone to trouble than the rest of society. And the truth is nothing can start an argument faster than discussing politics or religion. But as I talked with those involved in the services, whether they be current or former players, all I could think of is boy I wish their fans could see them now. Nobody hitting them up for autographs. No courtroom scenes. No silly antics. There they were humble and vulnerable. And at that moment Real human beings.
Fancy that!
Lakers Chapel. Coming soon on your FOX 11 10PM and MY13 11PM News.