STANFORD, Calif. -- There is a shoe company commercial out right now that has caused a high degree of controversy.
I do not remember what company it is for -- it does not matter anyway -- but it stars Latrell Sprewell. Sprewell, of course, is known for being suspended a record 68 games from the National Basketball Association for literally throttling his coach, P.J. Carlesimo, during a practice last season.
The commercial ends with Sprewell -- who is still paid millions a year and is now playing in the NBA Finals with the New York Knicks -- saying that he is "the American Dream." This statement, considering Sprewell's history, has upset some people. It has made people wonder if the American Dream really still exists, seeing as a renowned jerk like Sprewell makes millions while millions of good, hard-working people are struggling just to survive in this country.
Well, I know the American Dream is alive and well, for some at least. My example is one of my best friends, Edward Guzman, and his parents.
I met Ed my junior year at Stanford University. It was the first day that freshmen arrived on campus, and I was sitting at a table in the student union looking to hire students to work at a restaurant that I managed
As I chatted with another of the student managers, up walked this skinny, frightened-looking kid. He said he needed I job; I hired him.
Over the year, Edward and I learned that we shared an interest -- a love for baseball, specifically the Los Angeles Dodgers. We became good friends when I asked him, on the spur of the moment, if he wanted to accompany myself and some friends up to Candlestick Park to see the Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants. "Hell yes!" he responded.
After that, I learned that Ed lived in East Los Angeles -- Ed has discussed gang fights with me that happened in front of his house -- and is the only child of two Mexican immigrants. His mom is a housewife; his father works as a garbage collector -- two great people, who are very proud of their son.
It turns out that Ed and I also shared another interest -- journalism. He was the editor of the newspaper at his high school, a Massachusetts boarding school which he attended because a teacher helped him get a last-minute scholarship.
While my interest in journalism led me to news, Ed went another way -- into sports. He rose quickly at The Stanford Daily, to become editor of The Daily's football publication in his sophomore year. He would also serve as the sports editor and as a managing editor at the paper.
One of the reasons why Ed had such success is that he is, without a doubt, one of the best writers I have ever worked with. He has a quick wit and a sharp eye for facts -- after reading an Edward Guzman story, the reader is left simultaneously informed and entertained.
Because of this talent, Ed was awarded with a Sports Illustrated internship last summer. The interns, from around the country, attend a workshop and are then sent to various newspapers around the country to write. Well, a little newspaper called the New York Times wanted an intern, and because of Ed's east-coast high-school background -- and because nobody from New York was selected for the internship -- Ed spent last summer in New York writing for the best newspaper in the country.
This summer, he will be quite busy, too. He has an internship with The Sporting News and, after that, will begin a full-time job with The Oregonian in Portland.
Last weekend, Ed graduated with his degree in history from Stanford. While that was great to see, I could not help but notice his parents and how they were absolutely beaming the entire time. A dinner after graduation at a local restaurant, with reservations for 15, had 28 people show up -- his Mom and Dad kept inviting people. They could not help it. And most of those friends and family were sent home with a graduation Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal and some candy that his Mom got for everybody.
While Ed grumbled about how his Mom had gone overboard -- after all, some of Ed's friends ended up sitting almost two tables away from him -- I was absolutely charmed by the whole display.
Here were the Mom and Dad from East L.A., who have done nothing but worked hard for their son, ecstatic at seeing their hard work pay off in his overwhelming success.
Forgive me, Latrell. In my opinion, you are nothing compared to the Guzmans. They are the American Dream -- proof that it is alive and well.
Jimmy Boegle is a fifth-generation Nevadan. His column appears here Tuesdays; he can be reached via e-mail at jiboegle@alumni.stanford.org.