8 Times Athletes Restored Our Faith in Humanity

By Victoria Robertson on October 13, 2015

It seems that nowadays you only ever hear negativity in the media: Athletes beating their significant others, increased suicides in adolescents due to bullying and even mass shootings all across the nation.

With such hopeless and upsetting newscasts day in and day out, it’s hard to have a positive outlook on the world, or on people in general, for that matter.

But even in dark times such as these, there are always stars that shine bright and give us that little bit of hope that keeps us going.

So while most athletes are negatively portrayed in the media, here are a few that stand out from the rest, and deservedly so. Whether they play in the NFL or for their high school team, these athletes know what it means to be good, and I pass along this information in hopes that their incredible gestures inspire you to make some of your own.

So without further ado, here are eight times that athletes restored our faith in humanity.

1. When these NC State football players enjoyed their friend’s company.

Photo Via: http://i.imgur.com

Not all gestures have to be grand, but even the smallest attempt at doing something good counts.

While many don’t know the real story behind this photo, the story is still touching.

The story most people know is that these two players saw a student sitting alone at lunch and joined him. However, in reality, one of these players is actually friends with this student, and this lunch is actually a regular occurrence.

So while the football players may not have spotted someone alone and joined him, they saw a friend in someone that most other people wouldn’t, and that in itself is admirable.

2. The dream makers at the University of Nebraska.

Photo Via: http://i.imgur.com

The Cornhuskers weren’t afraid to share their field, especially with someone so deserving of everyone’s attention.

Jack Hoffman, the then 7-year-old boy fighting off brain cancer, scored a 69-yard touchdown for the team during the fourth quarter of their Red and White scrimmage game.

The excitement of the moment is captured beautifully in this photograph, and it’s certainly a milestone that Jack and his family will remember forever.

Get the full story here.

3. The baseball player that went above and beyond.

Photo Via: http://cdn.rsvlts.com

Matt Kemp, player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was asked to sign an autograph after a Dodgers game for 19-year-old Joshua Jones, who was battling terminal brain cancer.

Kemp signed a baseball for the fan, but overcome with emotion, went beyond that. He literally gave Jones the shirt off his back, his cleats and his hat, leaving Jones with a moment that couldn’t possibly be described by words.

The best part, Kemp had no idea the moment was being videotaped, making it one of true selflessness. Kemp also flew Jones to another game, where he met more of the players.

Tragically, just a few months after the video was shot, Jones lost his battle to cancer at 19. But for those last few months of his life, Kemp was his friend, and that’s enough to put a smile on anyone’s face.

4. The real-life Santa Clause.

Photo Via: http://www.categoryfive.co

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Andre Johnson understands the true meaning of Christmas, and demonstrates it every year.

With the insane amount of money Johnson makes, it’s great to see it go to such good use.

Every year, Johnson takes 11 at-risk kids to Toys R Us and gives them 80 seconds (his jersey number) to run around the store and pick out the toys they want (and as many as they want). He, of course, picks up the tab.

Last year, his eighth consecutive year of this gift-giving bonanza, his bill was a whopping $16,000.

Every kid is hand-picked by child protective services (most are the victims of parental abuse), and every year, Johnson makes 11 more dreams come true.

5. The step-in dad.

Photo Via: http://bashny.net

Bears defensive player Nate Collins heard about the recent loss of the Marotti family through a mutual friend, and knew that he needed to step in.

Nadia Marotti, a then 10-year-old girl that had lost her father to brain cancer two years prior, had a father-daughter dance coming up.

Collins, who was supposed to host the NFL Draft Party that same day, knew that this milestone in Nadia’s life was far more important.

And I’m sure she’ll never forget that night either.

6. This completely selfless athlete.

Photo Via: http://media1.s-nbcnews.com

Cameron Lyle was a senior at the University of New Hampshire when he was just days away from a Division 1 gold medal in shot put, a competition that he’d never complete.

Instead, Lyle gave up the rest of his college athletic career to donate bone marrow to a complete stranger, a not only painful procedure, but one that would rob him of his final two championship matches.

While many are quick to dismiss this act due to the sport, or the fact that Lyle only had a few weeks left anyway, Lyle’s decision was one that most people wouldn’t make. And by making his choice, he saved a life.

7. This athlete’s inspiring friendship.

Photo Via: http://i.huffpost.com

Adreian Payne, a Michigan State Spartan, was with his team touring Sparrow Hospital when he stumbled upon Lacey Holsworth, a childhood cancer patient. From that moment on, they’d been best friends.

She had a wall of newspaper articles and pictures of his accomplishments, and he continually gave her tickets to his games and visited her in the hospital. The two even exchanged phone numbers and sent each other motivational texts.

He referred to her as his little sister, and she referred to him as Superman.

The above image is of the two at senior night, Adreian holding Lacey in his arms as his walks across the gym.

Unfortunately, Lacey succumbed to cancer last year at 8-years-old.

But even in such a short time on this Earth, Lacey had made a friendship in eight years that many others can’t achieve in a lifetime. And in the same way that Adreian touched her and kept her spirits up in such dark times, she was able to do the same for him.

And that’s worth noting.

Get the full story about Adreian’s life and relationship with Lacey here.

8. This team and its all-star sub.

http://www.standard.net

JP Gibson lived out his dream when the Utah Jazz allowed him to not only sub in their scrimmage game, in full uniform, but also signed the 5-year-old fan as a free agent guard for the day.

Gibson was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2012, and one of his dreams is to play his favorite sport: basketball. In October of last year, that dream became a reality as the Jazz helped him dunk the ball on a professional court.

And, in the best news you’re going to hear today, Gibson beat cancer this year! On May 5, there was a celebration in the young basketball star’s honor, but most importantly, his courageous battle against cancer was won, and has inspired many others to keep fighting as well.

You can watch the amazing footage of Gibson’s basketball debut here.

The truth is, we could all use a little more faith in our lives. Whether we believe in a higher power or just in the power of people to do good, having something to believe in forces us to strive for more than what’s in front of us.

So take these eight, fantastic athletes’ good deeds and keep them in mind next time you have a chance to do something good. We could all afford to pay it forward, and I think it’s about time that we do.

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