Royce White MIA to Rockets Camp?

[Roy H.]

I feel bad for the dude. If something as simple as going on a plane affects him that much, so much where it can ruin a career at something he's amazing at, and p--- off his employers, and make them probably regret drafting him, then I wouldn't want to be that dude.

He's probably trying his best. He's not a joke, and he's not a **** or anything like that. He has a real disorder, and at this point, it's possibly ruining his life.

The scrutiny and speculation, and how it seems so much is on his shoulders cannot help his anxiety...

The part that I find a joke is that he thinks the entire organization should bend over backward for him, while he can't even be bothered to attend camp.

If he can't make professional commitments, he shouldn't be a professional.  I'm sympathetic to his mental condition.  I'm also sympathetic to people who have a fear of heights.  That doesn't mean I'd support those people being a steel worker on a skyscraper construction job.

If the kid had gone into the situation with the Rockets trying his best, while asking for some accommodations, I'd feel better about him.  To avoid camp, and to start making demands while using language drawn up by his agent / lawyer tells me that the kid isn't ready for the NBA.

Roy, you of all people should know this is a lawyer talking.  The kid has a real issue, and he has always had this issue, and all he (and his agent/lawyer) are doing is trying to maximize his chances of actually getting paid, by laying down their case early.

Honestly, I bet White had very little to do with it, my guess is he is basically under orders from his agent and lawyer that he should not report until they agree to make the accomodations they are required to make for him. 

If he actually waited until an issue occured before doing this, he would be in a more difficult position, because it is his burden to tell Houston that they need to make the accomodations, and if he doesn't request it, then he could be fined if say, he missed a team flight because of his anxiety disorder.

Address it early the day after camp starts?

It sounds like it is something that they have been discussing.  It just became public the day after camp started.  It became public now, because White needed to explain his absence.

They've had several months to work this out, though.

And yeah, I'm sure White is acting under the directive of his handlers.  That doesn't absolve him of responsibility, though.  Sometimes you need to stand up to your employees and tell them that you're going to do the right thing.

The right thing would have been to resolve this before camp.  At this point, it would be to report to camp.

[Eja117]

Another thing that matters to me is how a guy handles being hurt. If he can't go with the team will he come into the facility and watch video and work out with coaches and go to therapy and eat right, or will he stay home and sleep? Because right now his whole team is together and he's at home.

[Chris]

White's fear of flying, he said, magnifies his anxiety disorder. So he's asked the Rockets to let him use a bus for some of the team's extensive road trips. White said he's willing to purchase the bus and assume liability.

Seems people have glossed over this part.

The problem is that there are only like 6 games on Houston's road schedule that are really within "driving distance". 

If he wants to travel on his own, and won't miss practices, games, or shootarounds, then I don't see a problem with it.  However, that still leaves 35 or so games to deal with.

I get the impression he will still fly when he needs to.  But, he just wants to be able to take a bus, whenever it's possible, to minimize the amount he has to fly.

And I also imagine that there will be times when he might be using the Bus on the extended road trips.  For example for a East coast trip, he will fly with the team to Boston, then take the bus instead of flying to games in NY, Philly, Washington, etc.  So instead of having to have say, 6 flights, he just needs to take 2.

[Eja117]

I feel bad for the dude. If something as simple as going on a plane affects him that much, so much where it can ruin a career at something he's amazing at, and p--- off his employers, and make them probably regret drafting him, then I wouldn't want to be that dude.

He's probably trying his best. He's not a joke, and he's not a **** or anything like that. He has a real disorder, and at this point, it's possibly ruining his life.

The scrutiny and speculation, and how it seems so much is on his shoulders cannot help his anxiety...

The part that I find a joke is that he thinks the entire organization should bend over backward for him, while he can't even be bothered to attend camp.

If he can't make professional commitments, he shouldn't be a professional.  I'm sympathetic to his mental condition.  I'm also sympathetic to people who have a fear of heights.  That doesn't mean I'd support those people being a steel worker on a skyscraper construction job.

If the kid had gone into the situation with the Rockets trying his best, while asking for some accommodations, I'd feel better about him.  To avoid camp, and to start making demands while using language drawn up by his agent / lawyer tells me that the kid isn't ready for the NBA.

Roy, you of all people should know this is a lawyer talking.  The kid has a real issue, and he has always had this issue, and all he (and his agent/lawyer) are doing is trying to maximize his chances of actually getting paid, by laying down their case early.

Honestly, I bet White had very little to do with it, my guess is he is basically under orders from his agent and lawyer that he should not report until they agree to make the accomodations they are required to make for him. 

If he actually waited until an issue occured before doing this, he would be in a more difficult position, because it is his burden to tell Houston that they need to make the accomodations, and if he doesn't request it, then he could be fined if say, he missed a team flight because of his anxiety disorder.

Address it early the day after camp starts?

It sounds like it is something that they have been discussing.  It just became public the day after camp started.  It became public now, because White needed to explain his absence.

They've had several months to work this out, though.

And yeah, I'm sure White is acting under the directive of his handlers.  That doesn't absolve him of responsibility, though.  Sometimes you need to stand up to your employees and tell them that you're going to do the right thing.

The right thing would have been to resolve this before camp.  At this point, it would be to report to camp.

Something definitely went wrong. The Rockets almost certainly talked to his camp and to ISU before they drafted him. They must have asked ISU doctors "What worked best? What will we have to do? What won't work? How easy/hard was it?" and came away with the idea that this was doable. Now they get told "Oh no. It's not doable.  It's so not doable I'm not coming to camp for the time being"

I think that's what people don't get. How would that work for any of us? You get an interview in college. Then you sign an offer. Then you call up on the first day of work and say you can't come till they come up with a good commuting plan for you. 

I find this the most interesting sports story in a long time.

[Eja117]

White's fear of flying, he said, magnifies his anxiety disorder. So he's asked the Rockets to let him use a bus for some of the team's extensive road trips. White said he's willing to purchase the bus and assume liability.

Seems people have glossed over this part.

The problem is that there are only like 6 games on Houston's road schedule that are really within "driving distance". 

If he wants to travel on his own, and won't miss practices, games, or shootarounds, then I don't see a problem with it.  However, that still leaves 35 or so games to deal with.

I get the impression he will still fly when he needs to.  But, he just wants to be able to take a bus, whenever it's possible, to minimize the amount he has to fly.

And I also imagine that there will be times when he might be using the Bus on the extended road trips.  For example for a East coast trip, he will fly with the team to Boston, then take the bus instead of flying to games in NY, Philly, Washington, etc.  So instead of having to have say, 6 flights, he just needs to take 2.

I don't know. I think if it was as simple as that this would be a done deal.  He clearly wants things in writing.

[Lucky17]

White's fear of flying, he said, magnifies his anxiety disorder. So he's asked the Rockets to let him use a bus for some of the team's extensive road trips. White said he's willing to purchase the bus and assume liability.

Seems people have glossed over this part.

The problem is that there are only like 6 games on Houston's road schedule that are really within "driving distance". 

If he wants to travel on his own, and won't miss practices, games, or shootarounds, then I don't see a problem with it.  However, that still leaves 35 or so games to deal with.

Let's look at that stretch that eja cited:

Now take his new NBA schedule.  Take a look at Jan 8 to Jan 21

 Tue, Jan 8   
vs
Los Angeles
   
Wed, Jan 9   
@ New Orleans

Fri, Jan 11   
@ Boston

Sat, Jan 12   
@ Philadelphia
       
Tue, Jan 15   
vs
Los Angeles

Wed, Jan 16   
@ Dallas

Fri, Jan 18   
@ Indiana

Sat, Jan 19   
@ Minnesota

Mon, Jan 21   
@ Charlotte

He can skip the game in NO in order to make it to Boston in time for that game. Drive to Philly. Drive back to Houston in time for the next game, and can then continue on to Dallas. By rights, he should also make at least 2 of the following 3 games.

At most, he's missing 2 of those 9 games. That's not unreasonable.

I think what needs to be sussed out is what happens when White's issues prevent him from playing. Is he liable to give back 1/82 of his salary to the team?

[Eja117]

White's fear of flying, he said, magnifies his anxiety disorder. So he's asked the Rockets to let him use a bus for some of the team's extensive road trips. White said he's willing to purchase the bus and assume liability.

Seems people have glossed over this part.

The problem is that there are only like 6 games on Houston's road schedule that are really within "driving distance". 

If he wants to travel on his own, and won't miss practices, games, or shootarounds, then I don't see a problem with it.  However, that still leaves 35 or so games to deal with.

Let's look at that stretch that eja cited:

Now take his new NBA schedule.  Take a look at Jan 8 to Jan 21

 Tue, Jan 8   
vs
Los Angeles
   
Wed, Jan 9   
@ New Orleans

Fri, Jan 11   
@ Boston

Sat, Jan 12   
@ Philadelphia
       
Tue, Jan 15   
vs
Los Angeles

Wed, Jan 16   
@ Dallas

Fri, Jan 18   
@ Indiana

Sat, Jan 19   
@ Minnesota

Mon, Jan 21   
@ Charlotte

He can skip the game in NO in order to make it to Boston in time for that game. Drive to Philly. Drive back to Houston in time for the next game, and can then continue on to Dallas. By rights, he should also make at least 2 of the following 3 games.

At most, he's missing 2 of those 9 games. That's not unreasonable.

I think what needs to be sussed out is what happens when White's issues prevent him from playing. Is he liable to give back 1/82 of his salary to the team?

I don't see missing games as a reasonable option. Sorry, but I don't. A lot of these guys have all sorts of issues. Tough divorces. Arrests. People stealing their money. We just saw Torey Smith play within 12 hours of learning his brother died. Brett Farve played the night after his father died. Look what Kobe dealt with.  And it's not just pro athletes. It's cops, teachers, lawyers, presidents, CEOs, social workers, etc. 

If this guy misses 2 out of 9 games (25% of games?) then I don't see him as a viable pro athlete. I just don't.

[saltlover]

I wonder if the rumored "promise" to Royce White was just a Danny Ainge smoke screen. Maybe he was hoping to get someone else to take a flyer on him before we picked. Because Boston was the team leading up to the draft with arguably the most interest in him. If so, another great move by Ainge.

I certainly was fooled. I didn't see White missing any of training camp. I thought this was all a none issue and greatly exagerated by the media for a good story. Guess i was pretty wrong there.

I am still convinced there was no promise, and it was a tactic by the agent.  And a genius one. 

What I think happened is White's anxiety was acting up from traveling to all the workouts...so, he shut it down, and the agent leaked that he had a promise, so teams would both think they need to pick him higher, and not worry so much that it was his anxiety.  He could have even taken it far enough to get someone like Danny in on it as a favor, to help teams think that it was the C's.

Sounds plausable to me Chris. I was on the rockets site.. Definatley a mix of emotions over there about it. I feel for the kid and the fans, but to me it looks like Morey took a huge swing and missed.

If they could close the book now and that'd be the end of it, yeah. But I think that writing off White now..its just such a terrible awful idea.

Change aggravates any psychological condition. When he went to Minnesota, do you think he was less affected? Someone (Iowa) finally took the right approach with him, and look how it paid off. It is a journey by steps with him, the Rockets need to pretty much hold his hand, and treat him with kid gloves, get him in a routine, feeling safe, feeling secure. He's gonna have setbacks, Houston needs to ensure that he can get through them.

But Royce White's talent and ceiling are far, far above anyone taken after him, excepting maybe PJ3, but even then, PJ3's injury concerns are pretty significant.

I agree.  His talent and ceiling are above a few of the players taken before him as well.

A lot of people on this board are glad that the Celtics didn't get him.  For the most part I share that sentiment, because I am very high on Sullinger, and think that Fab Melo was worth the risk given positional need. 

But let's compare Sullinger and White: Sullinger has the potential to be a solid, if not spectacular, PF/C.  Royce White has the potential to be a game-changing 3/4.  Sullinger has a chronic injury issue, that you hope with treatment you can limit such that he doesn't miss much time.  However, if/when his injury issue flares up, you will have little advance warning.  White has a chronic mental illness that you hope you can limit with treatment.  Howeever, if/when his illness flares up, you will be somewhat prepared, because it will occur on road games.  White could reasonably be expected to be available for home games, as well as games at NY, Brooklyn, Philly, and perhaps Washington.  If the schedule gods are nice, maybe there are a few games in a row at Cleveland/Detroit/Indy/Chicago/Milwaukee that he can get to.  You can hope that you find the right treatment, and that he can travel with the team a few times.  If you hit the jackpot, you find a treatment that allows him to make most or all of the trips.  With Sullinger, you similarly hope you can find the right treatment such that he doesn't miss any extended time, and if you're successful, you've again hit the jackpot.  Now maybe you feel more comfortable with your ability to manage a back issue than an anxiety issue, and I would find that reasonable, if not debatable.  But I think this "I'm glad the Celtics didn't get him" might be misplaced.  I'd rather have a game-changer for half the year than a guy who can't crack the rotation for all of the year.  (Note: I already said I prefer Sully/Melo to White.  But if White were available and one of those two were off the board, I don't think the C's would have been crazy to take White.)

But you don't see Sully saying since his long term health is most important he needs a bus to drive him to all games so he can sit in a hot tub and ice tub the whole way cause that's what's best for his long term health

Plus White is still subject to all the physical injuries that are out there too.

With regards to physical injuries, Sully is still subject to all the other non-back physical injuries as well, such as knees, ankles, shoulders, concussions, etc, so I think that's a wash.  If Sully tears an ACL, some people will probably try to link it to his back, but more likely it will be a freak injury that can occur when large, strong men run, jump, and crash into each other a lot.

Sullinger is certainly going to try to play every game.  I think that White will too.  Panic disorder sucks, and I'm sure White would rather not have it.  (And also, try telling someone who's heart starts pounding, is hyperventilating, and is dizzy from watching the room spin around him that it's just in his head.  But I digress.)  But Sullinger doesn't have to make an issue out of his back (other than, like White pre-draft, saying it's a non-issue so that he can get drafted as high as possible) because the CBA gives him a process to make certain that he's being properly treated.  The CBA doesn't address White, but the ADA does, and so he's using it.

But really, the point I was making in regards to comparing White and Sullinger was how sensible it was, or wasn't, to draft either of them in the first place.  And if you believe in the talent of the player, there's going to be a certain point where you say "I'd rather have that guy for 50 games and hope he's able to play more than this other guy for 80 games."  Neither pick may pan out, or both may, but at some point in the draft both players were going to be risks worth taking.

[Eja117]

I wonder if the rumored "promise" to Royce White was just a Danny Ainge smoke screen. Maybe he was hoping to get someone else to take a flyer on him before we picked. Because Boston was the team leading up to the draft with arguably the most interest in him. If so, another great move by Ainge.

I certainly was fooled. I didn't see White missing any of training camp. I thought this was all a none issue and greatly exagerated by the media for a good story. Guess i was pretty wrong there.

I am still convinced there was no promise, and it was a tactic by the agent.  And a genius one. 

What I think happened is White's anxiety was acting up from traveling to all the workouts...so, he shut it down, and the agent leaked that he had a promise, so teams would both think they need to pick him higher, and not worry so much that it was his anxiety.  He could have even taken it far enough to get someone like Danny in on it as a favor, to help teams think that it was the C's.

Sounds plausable to me Chris. I was on the rockets site.. Definatley a mix of emotions over there about it. I feel for the kid and the fans, but to me it looks like Morey took a huge swing and missed.

If they could close the book now and that'd be the end of it, yeah. But I think that writing off White now..its just such a terrible awful idea.

Change aggravates any psychological condition. When he went to Minnesota, do you think he was less affected? Someone (Iowa) finally took the right approach with him, and look how it paid off. It is a journey by steps with him, the Rockets need to pretty much hold his hand, and treat him with kid gloves, get him in a routine, feeling safe, feeling secure. He's gonna have setbacks, Houston needs to ensure that he can get through them.

But Royce White's talent and ceiling are far, far above anyone taken after him, excepting maybe PJ3, but even then, PJ3's injury concerns are pretty significant.

I agree.  His talent and ceiling are above a few of the players taken before him as well.

A lot of people on this board are glad that the Celtics didn't get him.  For the most part I share that sentiment, because I am very high on Sullinger, and think that Fab Melo was worth the risk given positional need. 

But let's compare Sullinger and White: Sullinger has the potential to be a solid, if not spectacular, PF/C.  Royce White has the potential to be a game-changing 3/4.  Sullinger has a chronic injury issue, that you hope with treatment you can limit such that he doesn't miss much time.  However, if/when his injury issue flares up, you will have little advance warning.  White has a chronic mental illness that you hope you can limit with treatment.  Howeever, if/when his illness flares up, you will be somewhat prepared, because it will occur on road games.  White could reasonably be expected to be available for home games, as well as games at NY, Brooklyn, Philly, and perhaps Washington.  If the schedule gods are nice, maybe there are a few games in a row at Cleveland/Detroit/Indy/Chicago/Milwaukee that he can get to.  You can hope that you find the right treatment, and that he can travel with the team a few times.  If you hit the jackpot, you find a treatment that allows him to make most or all of the trips.  With Sullinger, you similarly hope you can find the right treatment such that he doesn't miss any extended time, and if you're successful, you've again hit the jackpot.  Now maybe you feel more comfortable with your ability to manage a back issue than an anxiety issue, and I would find that reasonable, if not debatable.  But I think this "I'm glad the Celtics didn't get him" might be misplaced.  I'd rather have a game-changer for half the year than a guy who can't crack the rotation for all of the year.  (Note: I already said I prefer Sully/Melo to White.  But if White were available and one of those two were off the board, I don't think the C's would have been crazy to take White.)

But you don't see Sully saying since his long term health is most important he needs a bus to drive him to all games so he can sit in a hot tub and ice tub the whole way cause that's what's best for his long term health

Plus White is still subject to all the physical injuries that are out there too.

With regards to physical injuries, Sully is still subject to all the other non-back physical injuries as well, such as knees, ankles, shoulders, concussions, etc, so I think that's a wash.  If Sully tears an ACL, some people will probably try to link it to his back, but more likely it will be a freak injury that can occur when large, strong men run, jump, and crash into each other a lot.

Sullinger is certainly going to try to play every game.  I think that White will too.  Panic disorder sucks, and I'm sure White would rather not have it.  (And also, try telling someone who's heart starts pounding, is hyperventilating, and is dizzy from watching the room spin around him that it's just in his head.  But I digress.)  But Sullinger doesn't have to make an issue out of his back (other than, like White pre-draft, saying it's a non-issue so that he can get drafted as high as possible) because the CBA gives him a process to make certain that he's being properly treated.  The CBA doesn't address White, but the ADA does, and so he's using it.

But really, the point I was making in regards to comparing White and Sullinger was how sensible it was, or wasn't, to draft either of them in the first place.  And if you believe in the talent of the player, there's going to be a certain point where you say "I'd rather have that guy for 50 games and hope he's able to play more than this other guy for 80 games."  Neither pick may pan out, or both may, but at some point in the draft both players were going to be risks worth taking.

I totally agree that at some point they were a risk worth taking...maybe with the top pick in the second round so there's no guaranteed contract.

[Chris]

White's fear of flying, he said, magnifies his anxiety disorder. So he's asked the Rockets to let him use a bus for some of the team's extensive road trips. White said he's willing to purchase the bus and assume liability.

Seems people have glossed over this part.

The problem is that there are only like 6 games on Houston's road schedule that are really within "driving distance". 

If he wants to travel on his own, and won't miss practices, games, or shootarounds, then I don't see a problem with it.  However, that still leaves 35 or so games to deal with.

I get the impression he will still fly when he needs to.  But, he just wants to be able to take a bus, whenever it's possible, to minimize the amount he has to fly.

And I also imagine that there will be times when he might be using the Bus on the extended road trips.  For example for a East coast trip, he will fly with the team to Boston, then take the bus instead of flying to games in NY, Philly, Washington, etc.  So instead of having to have say, 6 flights, he just needs to take 2.

I don't know. I think if it was as simple as that this would be a done deal.  He clearly wants things in writing.

It HAS to be in writing.  They need to have a formal, agreed upon plan, that lays out what Houston's expectations of White are, and what accomodations the Rockets will make to allow him a reasonable chance to meet those expectations, given his disability.

I think both sides are waiting to get this in writing.  But I also imagine this is a bit of a process, because it needs to go through the lawyers. 

I am really curious when this was officially brought up by White.

[indeedproceed]

I totally agree that at some point they were a risk worth taking...maybe with the top pick in the second round so there's no guaranteed contract.

I think that there is a fantastic set of reasons Rockets fans, players, coaches, staff, and management should still be excited about the kid.

But I imagine they'd be lying if they said they saw this coming, and I doubt they would've still selected him if they knew he'd be like this coming to training camp of all places. Not a game, not a practice, training camp.

[Bombastic Jones]

There seems to be a lot of speculation about White's demands or requests.  That would be fine if we were just discussing this nuetrally, but to portray him negatively as a result of that speculation is kind of unfair.

I agree with the thought that he should be in camp right now, and the thought that the Rockets should not have to do anything unreasonable to accomodate him.  Since there are a lot of missing pieces to the story I would stop there and say he still has incredible upside and potential. Hopefully he and the Rockets figure this out quickly.

He is the rookie I am cheering for the most after Sully, Fab, and Kjo.  It should be interesting to see this play out.

[saltlover]

White's fear of flying, he said, magnifies his anxiety disorder. So he's asked the Rockets to let him use a bus for some of the team's extensive road trips. White said he's willing to purchase the bus and assume liability.

Seems people have glossed over this part.

The problem is that there are only like 6 games on Houston's road schedule that are really within "driving distance". 

If he wants to travel on his own, and won't miss practices, games, or shootarounds, then I don't see a problem with it.  However, that still leaves 35 or so games to deal with.

Let's look at that stretch that eja cited:

Now take his new NBA schedule.  Take a look at Jan 8 to Jan 21

 Tue, Jan 8   
vs
Los Angeles
   
Wed, Jan 9   
@ New Orleans

Fri, Jan 11   
@ Boston

Sat, Jan 12   
@ Philadelphia
       
Tue, Jan 15   
vs
Los Angeles

Wed, Jan 16   
@ Dallas

Fri, Jan 18   
@ Indiana

Sat, Jan 19   
@ Minnesota

Mon, Jan 21   
@ Charlotte

He can skip the game in NO in order to make it to Boston in time for that game. Drive to Philly. Drive back to Houston in time for the next game, and can then continue on to Dallas. By rights, he should also make at least 2 of the following 3 games.

At most, he's missing 2 of those 9 games. That's not unreasonable.

I think what needs to be sussed out is what happens when White's issues prevent him from playing. Is he liable to give back 1/82 of his salary to the team?

I don't see missing games as a reasonable option. Sorry, but I don't. A lot of these guys have all sorts of issues. Tough divorces. Arrests. People stealing their money. We just saw Torey Smith play within 12 hours of learning his brother died. Brett Farve played the night after his father died. Look what Kobe dealt with.  And it's not just pro athletes. It's cops, teachers, lawyers, presidents, CEOs, social workers, etc. 

If this guy misses 2 out of 9 games (25% of games?) then I don't see him as a viable pro athlete. I just don't.

I think a court would find that as a reasonable option, however.  Plenty of NBA players will only be able to play in 50-75% of games this year, or many years.  Now, the Rockets may be pushing back on treatment requirements, because they want some assurance that White is giving a good-faith effort to control his anxiety such that he makes it to as many games as possible.  But White's deal is guaranteed for only two years, and if he screws the pooch, he's going to be forgotten about until some ESPN documentary in 20 years, because he certainly doesn't have that many other career options.  It's in his best interest to play almost every game, and show the Rockets that the reasonable accommodations they made were enough, because that will keep him employed for longer, and at higher salaries.  And if the Rockets believe in White's talent and potential, it's in their best interest to have him succeed as well.

[saltlover]

I totally agree that at some point they were a risk worth taking...maybe with the top pick in the second round so there's no guaranteed contract.

I think that there is a fantastic set of reasons Rockets fans, players, coaches, staff, and management should still be excited about the kid.

But I imagine they'd be lying if they said they saw this coming, and I doubt they would've still selected him if they knew he'd be like this coming to training camp of all places. Not a game, not a practice, training camp.

As an above poster said, information is obviously incomplete.  But to protect himself, he needs to get things in writing early.  The Rockets may not have seen this coming, but that's either because their legal counsel gave them bad advice, or they ignored that advice.

[the_Bird]

Didn't T-Mac only play home games in his rookie season?  Doesn't it seem like that's what White ultimately wants? 

Feel bad for the guy, but the comparison to a skycraper worker with a fear of heights is valid.  Not everyone had the makeup to be a professional athlete; for 99.99% of the population, it's a physical thing but it sure seems to me that White's anxiety disorder is doing that to him.

But, if he can't play because he can't get to the games...  nobody has the *right* to be an NBA player.  If he can't play professional sports, he can't play professional sports.  That's no discredit to him.  I just hope that if he can't overcome this, he can find something to do with his life that will be emotionally and financially satisfying.

Or, maybe the Rockets need to hire Ricky Davis as a "special assistant," in charge of getting White sufficiently "relaxed" so he can fly.