Journalist Asks Coach Why He Let His Star Player Attend His Child’s Birth During Semifinals, Regrets It Immediately
All major professional sports teams face one recurring issue – childbirth. Most of the players on the courts are in their twenties and early-thirties, a time when a lot of families are having babies. In the case of Augusto Lima, Zalgiris Kaunas star center, the birth of his daughter occurred at the same time as his team’s semifinals match. Deciding whether or not Lima should miss the game was left up to the head coach, Sarunas Jasikevicius.
Coach Jasikevicius, a father of two, allowed Lima to go attend the birth of his first child, and Zalgiris still won the game, gaining a 2-1 lead in the best-of-three series. During the press conference, however, one “youngster” reporter, who is not a father, persisted questioning Jasikevicius about Lima’s absence. The coach defended his player from criticism and perfectly schooled the reporter about family values.
As for Lima, he posted on Instagram on Sunday, introducing his daughter, Alba to the world: “It is undoubtedly the best gift of my life,” Lima wrote in Spanish. He also publicly thanked Jasikevicius on Twitter: “There are a lot of different people and different coaches, but this man is so great… both on and off the court. Thanks, coach.”
Here’s the transcript of the exchange:
Reporter: Coach, what do you think about Augusto Lima going away in the midst of a series to attend the birth of his child?
Jasikevicius: What do I think about it? I allowed him to go.
Reporter: But is it normal for a player to leave the team during the semifinals?
Jasikevicius: Do you have kids? When you have kids, youngster, you’ll understand. Because that’s the height of human experience. Wow, that’s a good question really. Do you think basketball is the most important thing in life?
Reporter: No, but a semifinal is important…
Jasikevicius: To whom is it important?
Reporter: The team.
Jasikevicius: Which one?
Reporter: Zalgiris.
Jasikevicius: Did you see the number of fans at the game? Important? When you see your first child, you will understand what the most important thing in life is. Because nothing can be more majestic in the world than the birth of a child. Not titles, not anything else. Augusto Lima is now in heaven, emotionally. I’m really happy for him.
We need more sports members who can see beyond the game. I don't know this team, but I like them already.
I don't usually hold an opinion in sports, but this is my new favorite team
Load More Replies...Same here. Thought it was pretty obvious that someone would rather attend the birth of their child, even if the team is in for the semi-finals or whatever :P
Load More Replies...Being a father is the greatest adventure...and it lasts your whole life.
(^•^) Being my father's daughter was the best adventure of my life. He may not be with me anymore, but he is on my mind and in my heart - EVERY DAY 😄
Load More Replies...Eternal values. Depth & understanding of the value of new family addition over the fleeting, often shallow values within the world of sports - family over profession! Hope the idiot reporter comes away with something ...
The coach shouldn't have control over whether the player gets to see his child being born or not anyways.....
Seems everyone has their priorities straight but the stupid reporter. All reporters are good for these days is trying to stir up s**t.
What's better? Being a father, raising your kids, having an outside life of sports have a companion for life, or go to a game, never know
I don't even know the team, I'm not big in sports but people have an outside life
Load More Replies...I like how he asked the reporter if he has kids. I like how he painted perspective in what really matters. Amazing man, that coach is!
Lost a child is highly incomparable with losing a game... Get to see the child birth for a father is the most important thing for father mother and the baby forever.... Love this coach...
You should read the article before posting. Yes, they did.
Load More Replies...We need more sports members who can see beyond the game. I don't know this team, but I like them already.
I don't usually hold an opinion in sports, but this is my new favorite team
Load More Replies...Same here. Thought it was pretty obvious that someone would rather attend the birth of their child, even if the team is in for the semi-finals or whatever :P
Load More Replies...Being a father is the greatest adventure...and it lasts your whole life.
(^•^) Being my father's daughter was the best adventure of my life. He may not be with me anymore, but he is on my mind and in my heart - EVERY DAY 😄
Load More Replies...Eternal values. Depth & understanding of the value of new family addition over the fleeting, often shallow values within the world of sports - family over profession! Hope the idiot reporter comes away with something ...
The coach shouldn't have control over whether the player gets to see his child being born or not anyways.....
Seems everyone has their priorities straight but the stupid reporter. All reporters are good for these days is trying to stir up s**t.
What's better? Being a father, raising your kids, having an outside life of sports have a companion for life, or go to a game, never know
I don't even know the team, I'm not big in sports but people have an outside life
Load More Replies...I like how he asked the reporter if he has kids. I like how he painted perspective in what really matters. Amazing man, that coach is!
Lost a child is highly incomparable with losing a game... Get to see the child birth for a father is the most important thing for father mother and the baby forever.... Love this coach...
You should read the article before posting. Yes, they did.
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