Natalie Zito still remembers the helplessness she felt 22 years ago like it was yesterday. But that didn’t stop her from recently confronting old fears and drawing roars of applause from a stadium full of supportive Portland Trail Blazers fans.
In 2003, 13-year-old Zito (Natalie Gilbert at that time) had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at center court in front of a sold-out crowd during Game 3 of the NBA’s Western Conference Finals between the Trail Blazers and the Dallas Mavericks. But it didn’t go as planned.
The young girl mixed up some words and stopped singing soon after she began the song. For a moment the crowd attempted to cheer her on, but she appeared to not know what to do next and began to look around for someone to rescue her. That’s when Maurice Cheeks, the Trail Blazers head coach at the time, did just that when he walked up to help Gilbert — who later said she felt completely “helpless and hopeless” at the time — work through her nerves and keep going. He put his arm around Gilbert, and they both began to sing as the crowd sang along and cheered.
The moment soon became a heart-warming memory for many fans and others. It was covered heavily by the media, and both Gilbert and Cheeks would appear together on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Gilbert would also go on to sing professionally in her 20s before eventually becoming vice president of her dad’s recycling company, where she works today.
Second chance
And on March 12, the 35-year-old Zito still had some unfinished business at center court during a Trail Blazers and New York Knicks game. This time, she sang the National Anthem flawlessly to a standing ovation — and also drew cheers from Cheeks, who stood smiling on the sidelines as an assistant coach for the Knicks.
The two would reunite before the game to exchange hugs, have their picture taken together and catch up. After reuniting with Cheeks and singing, Zito said during an on-court interview she wouldn’t change what happened back in 2003.
“This moment changed my life. … I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she told the sideline reporter.
The story serves as an example of how a simple act of kindness can positively impact a life for decades to come. These moments can be hard to come by in today’s world, but followers of Christ are challenged in Scripture to love their neighbor and go the extra mile for others.
‘Never give up’
Cheeks could have easily stared at the struggling singer years ago and decided to not do anything to help. Instead, he walked into the spotlight and helped a struggling young girl in a vulnerable moment. And as she noted, that decision changed her life.
“I can face all my fears, and I’ll never give up,” Zito said.
Hopefully, we all can learn a little something from her resilience and Cheeks’ kindness — and also to keep singing.
