Every young boy in America dreams of dancing. I’m not talking about the waltz or the cha-cha, and not even the opportunity to be on “Dancing with the Stars�, but rather to dance in the Big Dance. As we enter into this season, we find ourselves in the midst of the greatest three weeks in sports, where even the casual college basketball fan comes down with a case of Madness.

The NCAA tournament captivates us all, whether our team made it in the field of 65 or if we are just trying to win the office pool. Every year, there are thrilling upsets and incredible stories that take our breath and makes us a fan of schools we never knew existed before the tournament. Oh, how we love the case of the Madness.
For two men, the road to the dance has come down different paths. One is a big man, the other a shooting guard. The big man is a fan favorite to everyone because of what he has had to endure. The guard is the most hated player on the most hated team, unless you are a member of Duke Nation. Through all their differences, they still have two things in common…a dream of a championship and a faith in God.

The Warrior
Jason Fraser came to Villanova amidst much hype. He was a McDonald’s All-American and came to Villanova with the pressure and expectations of turning around the once prominent school that had fallen off the landscape of major college basketball. What happened next could be seen as tragic or character building, depending on how you choose to view it. Jason chooses the latter.

Jason’s career has been filled with struggles, suffering through seven different surgeries after his arrival at Villanova. The injuries have cut short most of his career, but from each one of these setbacks, he has grown in spiritual maturity. Rather than quit after the fifth or sixth surgery, Jason has persevered through the pain and rehabilitation and is more thankful now, because of the difficulties, for every chance that he gets to play basketball.
He told director of media relations Mike Sheridan, “There are times in sports when you hear players complain about going to practice. Well, I see how lucky I am to be able to practice each day now. I’m very grateful for that and thank God that He has given me the opportunity.� His coach, Jay Wright, said that Fraser is “a young man of great faith and resiliency.�

Jason also has learned perspective through the pain. He said, “We all have our trials and tribulations. My faith has meant everything to me in dealing with these things.� Without that lion-like spirit, Jason would have fallen by the wayside, buckling under the pressure and the disappointment of injuries. But he has faith, and those once painful knees are now going dancing towards a championship.

The Rebel
J.J. Redick is constantly in the public eye. That’s what happens when you are the leader of the nation’s top college basketball team. He is loved at home in the friendly confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium and hated everywhere else he goes. Throughout his career, J.J. has been subjected to relentless criticism and unrivaled persecution every time Duke hits the road.

He is one of the top candidates for the Player of the Year Award and projected to be a top pick in the draft, but more than that, one thing pushes J.J. to be more…his faith. He has two tattoos, one on his chest referring to Joshua 1:9 and one on his stomach which refers to Isaiah 40:31. He says that he decided to get the tattoos as a “reminder, everyday of what God has done and what He will do in my life.�

J.J.’s success came early in life as he was a McDonald’s All-American and was given the opportunity to play for Coach K at Duke. He excelled in his first two years, but was falling short of the potential his coaches saw in him. He was not in good physical shape and was making poor choices off the court as well. J.J. met his girlfriend and began to get his life and attitude refocused after a meeting with the coaches, which has led to where he is now. He has held tighter to his faith and has spent more time developing good eating habits and spiritual habits. For instance, he read the book Forty Days of Purpose and has shied away from the trash talk in order to be more humble in his life and his game.

As J.J. begins this final Dance, he is ready to show the world what he is made of. He realizes that the source of his incredible talent is God and J.J. is maximizing his potential now for his team and for his Savior. He has changed clothes, in a sense, from wearing an arrogant, prideful exterior to a new wardrobe that consists of wearing his faith.

The End of the Road
These two young men have started their dance and no one knows where it will lead. As we watch the drama unfold, we should all take time to thank God for these athletes and the thousands of collegiate Christian athletes who use the spotlight and use their voice for God’s glory. Whether or not you are a fan of Villanova or of Duke, we can all cheer on these two men as fellow brothers in Christ. There will be only one NCAA champion, but Jason Fraser and J.J. Redick are running for more. They run for the prize of God’s high calling. When that is your ultimate goal in life, you can never lose.

Credit â€" Nova Notebook, Jan. 20, 2006 and Nova Notebook Feb 4, 2005.
Pat Forde, ESPN.com, The other side of J.J. Redick.

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