Erik Haynes: Now Or Never
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 10:06 am
Erik Haynes: Now Or Never
It was 3:30 a.m., and Erik Haynes still couldn't fall asleep as he tossed and turned in bed, eager with anticipation for the theatrics that awaited him tomorrow. As one of the highest-touted prospects in his draft class, his life was about to change forever: His dreams of becoming a professional basketball player were about to become a reality, as a PBSL franchise would be selecting him in tomorrow's draft. But for the 7'2", 271lbs big man out of Central Michigan, that dream almost never came to fruition.
Rewind to January 20th, 2017. Donald Trump had just assumed office as the 45th President of the United States and Erik Haynes was a freshman in college, uncertain whether he should pursue a career in basketball or chase after his dreams of becoming a political activist, fighting for what he believed to be right. As a child, his mother instilled in him the values of compassion and selflessness, urging him to fight for just causes whenever possible. "My mother was one of those strong, independent women who had campaigned for Bill Clinton during his first run for President," Haynes would later recall. "She was always eager to help the less-fortunate, and I guess that rubbed off on me as a young child."
His mother, Rebecca Haynes, was a single mother. She worked two jobs to afford just enough food for her and her children, and often times had to make immense sacrifices to ensure their survival on the rough streets of Greenville, Missouri. No matter how difficult times got, however, she always remained true to her beliefs: After campaigning for Bill Clinton in 1992, Rebecca would later spearhead the campaign that forced the WWF (World Wrestling Federation) to change their name to World Wrestling Entertainment out of respect for the World Wildlife Foundation. A steadfast woman, she never forgot her roots nor abandoned her principles. However, as life became increasingly difficult, she had to make the ultimate sacrifice of curbing her political activism to ensure that young Erik would have a bright future. She worked harder than ever before and urged him to pursue athletics as an escape from the troubles of everyday life; she also felt that athletics may open the door to career opportunities in the future, as Erik was immensely athletically-gifted as a young child.
"Ever since he was a young boy, he'd be outside playing with friends, playing with family members. Sometimes I would come home and he would be dunking on his young brothers and sisters, often slamming the ball in their face and mocking them with the 'you can't see me' John Cena hand gesture. His siblings would be in tears, but he'd have the biggest smile on his face. It made me feel so alive to see him happy. I would do anything for him," Rebecca would later recall.
As Rebecca worked multiple jobs and her activism took a backseat, Erik spent most of his teenage years playing basketball. He was undoubtedly talented, and it wasn't long before he was the tallest student on the team. Anchoring the paint, he quickly became a dominating defensive center, grabbing rebounds and blocking the shots of anybody who dared to shoot within his proximity. He was, by all means, a basketball juggernaut.
"I've never seen anybody like him before," Coach Crapper recollected. "He was just enormous. His penis was practically the length of my forearm!"
But everything wasn't as perfect as it had seemed for the young stud. As he matured in high-school, he came to realize how toxic the world had become—especially in regard to politics. He saw how this upcoming election had divided his friends at school and it sent him into a deep depression. Growing up in a conservative neighborhood such as Greenville, it was hard not to be overwhelmed by the amount of political propaganda that had seeped into his community. But as the son of a liberal political activist, he found it increasingly difficult to remain quiet as political tensions only continued to rise as the upcoming Presidential election loomed in the distance.
"It just became too much. I had to get out of there. I needed to escape the madness that had become the Trump campign," Haynes told us as he sipped from his orange juice. "I needed some sense of stability, emotionally-speaking. Then, on one cold and dreary day in 2016, everything changed. I had found my calling."
It was a Tuesday, and Erik was in Washington, D.C. for a school field-trip. As the school bus approached the U.S. Capitol building, they were quickly overwhelmed by a crowd of political activists, holding signs and singing songs in unison. As the students evacuated the bus, Erik found himself lost in a sea of activists. Bewildered, he searched for his classmates, but alas, they couldn't hear his cries through the sound of the raucous crowd. As he pushed and pulled his way through the flock of protesters, he eventually found himself in the heart of the rally—and that's when he ran into a gentleman wearing a boot on his head.
Vermin Supreme, U.S. Presidential candidate"I ran into this guy—this giant f*cking weirdo wearing a boot on his head. He looked up at me with these big, beautiful blue eyes. He touched my cheek and told me, 'son, everything is alright. You're amongst friends.' And that's when I first met Vermin Supreme, then-candidate for the U.S. Presidency," Erik recalled with delight as his face lit up.
Upon finding his classmates and completing his field trip, Erik returned home and immediately sought to learn as much about Vermin Supreme as humanly possible. Although he had been there only briefly, the captivating man had made an obvious impression on the confused youngster, who was still searching for his calling in life. After extensive research, Erik found himself reaching out to Vermin Supreme's camp—and boy was he surprised when Vermin himself responded to his e-mail.
"Vermin actually responded to my e-mail. I told him all about my life, my pets at home, and how I've been searching for meaning and purpose in life. He told me that it was vital for me to remain in school, complete my studies, and pursue a career in basketball because it would open up doors for me. Then he promised to give me a pony when he was elected President. That was what convinced me. I was 100% on board with his campaign after that moment," Erik would later remark.
Erik spent the next few months campaigning for Vermin Supreme, challenging the conservative views of his hometown. He wanted to become the change he hoped to see in the world. But he knew that he couldn't do this for the rest of his life; he knew there were more important matters at hand than the immediate future of the United States Presidency. He remained committed to basketball, earning his worth of the court. It wasn't long until he received an offer to attend Central Michigan, and he immediately accepted. He simply had to get out of Missouri.
Erik's freshman year at Central Michigan was one to remember: As the team's back-up center, he made an immediate impression as he'd average 5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 17.5 minutes per game. In 2018, he became the team's primary starting center, and that's when scouts became enamored with him. But as he quickly became a college sensation, Erik still couldn't shake his memory of Vermin Supreme.
"Sometimes during a game, I'd look up, and in the sea of faces in the crowd, I'd see Vermin Supreme sitting there, eating popcorn with that signature boot on his head. He'd point at me and wink," Erik reminisced. "That's when I knew I was doing something right. That's when I knew I was on the right path."
Erik would continue to wreak havoc on the college-level throughout his tenure at Central Michigan. After opting for the upcoming PBSL Draft, he'd receive the phone call that would change his life forever: The Sacramento Kings were considering drafting him with the #1 pick. He was in shock.
"After being drafted #1 overall, I was overcome with emotion. I could barely control myself, not only emotionally but physically as well. I nearly sh*t my pants," Erik half-jokingly suggested. "But when I went up there to greet the Commissioner, I took a long look at the crowd that was applauding me. And right there in the midst of everything was Vermin Supreme. He was standing there, applauding, with a tear rolling down his cheek. He must have been so proud of me. None of this would have been possible if it weren't for Vermin, to be honest."
And proud he was.
"Maybe, just maybe, one day I will return to the world of politics and activism—but as for right now, I think I'm in the right place. For now, at least."
