PETER FRIED RICE my mother has a good friend who played professional basketball for the hawks and the cavaliers back in the late 90's. After retirement he was called to the ministry, and now he pastors our church. John battle is one of the realest most genuine guys i know. By holding a conversation with him, you would never catch the air that he's played with stars like Michael jordan and and dominique wilkins back in his time. To us, he's just plain old pastor john. even when we're at his home mingling, pastor is peaceful and even tempered. I use him as an example because i imagine most professional athletes are the same way when the cameras aren't rolling. I honestly don't see how athletes deal with america. on one hand, we love them and pay them millions of dollars to see them perform but in the same breath, we'll hate them for something they do to their own children? in a way, it's actually pretty hilarious. america places so much honor and emphasis on our athletes that we actually forget they have hearts, families, and feelings just like we do. so what impact can one's personal life have on one's work? the answer is a major one!