The most recent quote is he is fine once on the plane, but the whole ordeal is stressful for him, so to perform on his job the best he can do (like any person) is to explore reasonable means to avoid those situations. He is negotiating a healthier means of travel on short flights that don't interfere with his work schedule. On long flights he says he will deal with it. But on short flights, he says another means of travel keeps him healthier and more prepped for the next game. A positive attitude on this is once he feels comfortable with the team the airport stress of travel won't affect him because he's comfortable travelling with his teammates. But right now, he probably doesn't have that comfort level, yet. Let him do his short trips in comfort so he can perform his best, and expect the long flights that he agrees to do will be his "facing his fears" and let it work out over time. This pessimism is identical to when the GARM freaked out about Yao's pre-draft negotiations. chill people. like Royce wants to do.
No right now, because it is an excused absence "for personal reasons." Let's just not go there now unless the Rockets make a formal demand to show up...then the Union gets involved...ugh.
Im really supportive of him and really hope for the best. But White not being there at training camp will def. affect his rookie campaign. The part of training camp is for the coaches to see what type of plays they should use and all the players strength and weaknesses. Also for the players to get into NBA shape, practice time with their teammates so they can be able to build chemistry on and off the court, learn the coaches system like offensive plays and mainly defensive plays. Honestly I believe training camp is really important, especially to rookies. Its not that easy translating their games into the NBA without the preparation of the training camp. It prepares them and gets them ready. I really hope he resolve these issues quick because he really needs to be in training camp.
I just dont understand why he'd face his fear and fly to 26 other cities...but with Dallas, SA, Nola, he would need or want a bus. The bus thing seems unnecessary when he's able to avoid it 98% of the time. Also, using the bus for the short trips prevents him from facing his fears 100% of the time and getting better quicker. He's not helping himself. If he needed the bus for every trip, then yes, he has a severe problem that would require more attention and care. But in this case, it just seems like a pointless and unnecessary request. What was he going to do if he got drafted by a team that isnt close to other NBA cities? Like Miami for instance. Would he request a bus to Orlando and thats it? That would make no sense. How about the Nuggets or Jazz? No bus would get him to a nearby NBA city. Twolves and Suns? Same thing. This guy needs to take a year off and get help. Then play in the NBA if/when he is ready for it.
I suppose it's nice he didn't wait till October 31 to talk about this. Is there any reason why it started so late? I don't remember, when did he sign his contract?
Pre-draft:[rquoter]In sit-downs with White, however, NBA officials have warned that the pros will be less accommodating. The Heat told him that he wouldn't be allowed to drive even the four hours to Orlando. "It's understandable," White says. "But in my head, I'm going, You want me to drive. You're paying me millions of dollars to perform.... We're not all alike." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1200858/2/index.htm [/rquoter]
I don't know if this video has been seen but here the link for an ESPN interview with Royce White on his current issues he is going through. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8459655/royce-white-absent-houston-rockets-cites-mental-health
The best thing for both Royce and the Rockets would be for the Rockets not to accommodate his requests. Even if they were possible to do, it is not doing him any favors in the long run. Part of anxiety disorders is that you will do anything to avoid facing what you are afraid of, so that is exactly what White is trying to do now and maybe he thinks he can do it because he's a good player and has been pampered up until now. If the Rockets give him a choice to either fly with the team or not play, then the limits are set and White would need to deal more directly with his anxiety.
Hey guys. I've been playing a lot of NBA 2k and it doesn't seem that his anxiety will be a problem. Simulation basketball to it's finest and so far he's had no issues or panic attacks. Dudes a beast.
I have a fear of heights and hated flying when I was younger. It doesnt bug me in the least any longer. Man the **** up.
Interesting and kind of reinforces what I've been thinking. Interesting that he talks a lot more about the OCD now which I think he might be emphasizing because of its strong biological basis. He may have a stronger legal stand to make work environment requests because of OCD. I think he also mentioned that this came out of a conversation with his general Dr. which I think is kind of strange it wasn't with a mental health professional.
Here it is... Royce White talks with ESPN.com's Myron Medcalf about his decision to miss the start of the Houston Rockets' training camp while he tries to work out a deal that would allow him to travel to some games by bus. Tags: Houston Rockets, Royce White Before he's willing to start training camp, Houston Rockets rookie Royce White wants the team's permission to travel to some games by private bus, the former Iowa State star told ESPN.com on Wednesday night. 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. White Busing to games, he said, is a vital component in the treatment of his anxiety. White, who missed the team's media day on Monday and the start of training camp in McAllen, Texas, on Tuesday, said he hopes to reach an agreement with the team soon. He said he expects to join his teammates within "a week," if talks with the Rockets continue to progress. "What it's going to look like is every game that's drivable, I'm going to get a bus for myself," White said. "And I'm going to make that bus feel like home so that there's a level of consistency in a job where inconsistency is very apparent because of the schedule. I'm going to try and level that out and make sure that my stress levels stay low and that my rest is regular and that my meals are regular and that as much as I can, draw consistency from a very inconsistent schedule. ... "People with mental illness, one of the most important things is that they have that consistency and routine. The girth of (my request) was, 'Can I travel by bus to close enough games?' " “ People with mental illness, one of the most important things is that they have that consistency and routine. The girth of (my request) was, 'Can I travel by bus to close enough games?' ” -- Royce White Earlier Wednesday, White released a statement that detailed his refusal to join the team until a plan to address his "long-term health" was in place. "There are often negative consequences to mental illness when not given the proper support," said White, according to a statement released through his publicist, California-based China Myers. "Often, those consequences are more severe for the surrounding people than the sufferer him/herself. I am not willing to allow those consequences to befall on myself or others close to me. "It causes me anxiety to know that serious consequences could happen if I do not express what I deal with, or if I am not truthful enough to ask for what I need to be healthy. For me, hiding is no longer a healthy option in treating my anxiety or OCD, so I have asked for some help from the organization to ensure long-term health for myself. "It has been determined that without a specific plan in place, the current workplace is not healthy for me. I feel that it is essential to formulate the right plan for a better chance of execution, despite other timelines or agendas. The most important agenda to me is a plan that is healthy. Therefore, a plan has been requested that will support a healthy work environment. In addition to this, it has been requested that the standard requirements for players in regards to this plan be voided because it is not a standard situation. "It is regrettable that I cannot be currently present, but long-term health obviously should be the most important thing. I will continue to champion the cause for mental illness being met with understanding; if not, the ramifications are dangerous. "Mental illness is a very individual-based disorder -- very unique for each person. So for those who come forward and ask for help, a very unique support plan should be the solution, given the nature of mental illness. "No blame is being placed on the Rockets organization." White said he's unsure if he'll start training camp sans a written agreement with the team. When White, the 16th pick in the 2012 draft, failed to appear at the squad's media day on Monday and the start of training camp on Tuesday due to what the franchise termed a "personnel matter," many assumed the former Iowa State forward's anxiety disorder was the culprit. White confirmed as much when he told a local TV station in Houston that he was working with the team to prepare the proper plan for the treatment of his anxiety disorder. The team backed White on Tuesday. "We are committed to Royce's long-term success and we will continue to support him now and going forward," said Daryl Morey, Rockets general manager, through an official statement released by the team. The absence of any NBA first-round draft pick from the start of training camp and media day would create a buzz. The absence of an NBA first-rounder with a history of anxiety and prior legal issues, which affected his collegiate career, magnified the response when White was deemed a no-show earlier this week. White, a Minneapolis native, started his career at the University of Minnesota. But he was suspended before he ever played a game for his involvement in a shoplifting incident. An investigation of a theft in a campus dorm and a trespassing charge kept him off the floor for his entire freshman season. But White found success at Iowa State, where he led the Cyclones to the NCAA tournament and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last year. That rebirth, however, included an admission of his anxiety disorder, a condition he discussed at length with ESPN.com in January. Some viewed White's challenge with anxiety as a red flag. The Rockets grabbed him midway through the first round but some projections predicted he'd drop and possibly miss the first round because of his anxiety disorder. White said he recognizes his request might be viewed as a demand for preferential treatment. But the people who've experienced some form of mental illness will understand, he said. "I don't really worry about that because the perception, I think, is just not valid, all around," he said. "If somebody has a broken leg, you give them crutches. And even though mental illness is different in the way it looks than a broken leg, it's not really different in theory. Conceptually, it's the same thing. And I don't think getting a bus is actually any more convenient for me. ... It's actually more inconvenient for me to take a longer trip, but for me, specifically, it works well."
They would look totally inept if they did that. His anxiety issues were well known and they drafted him anyways. Surely, they must have had a plan on how to deal with this issue if it cropped up. Right?
Exactly. Personally, I have been diagnosed with OCD and know that the best way to overcome it is to do the stuff that stresses me out. If you are allowed to avoid what you are afraid of even 10% of the time it makes it a lot harder to recover than if you are never allowed to avoid it.
The only logical choice is to listen to a good doctor. If it's necessary, do whatever is needed to get him going. I don't think such an illness can be overcome by any simple means. In this unique case, don't judge by imagination. Everyone fears something in life, and I wouldn't want to do certain things even if paid millions. Sometimes I thought I can overcome it before actually facing it real time. It doesn't matter if he's a bust, and it's stupid not to fully support him if he's a future star. Show some unconditional support will also make other players more comfortable knowing this is an organization cares about its players(even if they are 'assets').
It isn't that simple. It isn't just about being afraid of flying or heights. People who have anxiety disorders do not see something like flying as just being scared of heights. It has little to do with that. There are hundreds of anxieties associated with flying, the airport for instance. There are so many people, so much stimulation, it can be mentally exhausting before you even get there because you're so nervous. John Madden used a bus to do football games for decades. We're talking about an issue of travel here, and he should be doing what makes him comfortable as long as he assumes responsibility for it (which he is).
Using his disability as a crunch now...y'all need to stop making excuses for a grown man...why can't he still be at camp and working with the team while they work this out....Y'all roasting me and the real reason comes out and y'all turning on him as well
Most of the fans here will agree with you. Gosh, at first we all thought he had a genuine anxiety attack, and some even bashed McHale for his uncompassionate words. It was a calculated move on his part. But now we know better and do some of you have the same feeling he is using his disease to hold the Rockets organization hostage? What's going on with him (not showing up for Media day and training camp) should be strictly between him and Rockets. He doesn't need to make it public with his tweets and now ESPN interview!
