CHRIS HERREN DOCUMENTS HIS FIRST DAY
By Nick Smith
Chris Herren was a hero, a legend, an embodiment of limitless possibilities in human form, a kid who loved basketball, got picked up by college teams, went pro. A Massachusetts boy who got to play for the Boston Celtics, living a dream come true.
Chris also courted controversy. Arrests. Drugs. Felonies. Painkillers. Four overdoses. His dream became a nightmare.
It was bad, so bad that he had to drop his career as a professional basketball player and focus on his recovery.
Since then, he has used all the determination that got him in the sporting spotlight in the first place. In his 14 years of sobriety, he has shared his story with over 1 million people across the country. He has mentored players and spoken to many teams in basketball and beyond, including Florida State and the Florida Gators.
Chris’ film, The First Day, is an emotive 47-minute documentary directed by Jonathan Hock. It’s a continuation of Unguarded, the 2011 ESPN 30 for 30 film that featured Chris’ fall from grace and subsequent healing.
Recorded at high schools over the course of one year, The First Day chronicles Chris’ incredible life and the connections he makes with students, giving a no-punches-pulled account of the hell he went through as a self-described ‘basketball junkie.’
Chris has noticed that most anti-drug messages focus on final stage of substance use. Nobody wants to end up a dying addict. ‘But no one asks about the beginning,’ he says. ‘You don’t think we start somewhere? You think we look like that from day one? We focus on the worst day and we forget the first day… if we understand the beginning, we can help change the ending.’
Chris says he has dedicated his life to sharing his story nationwide. ‘Anybody can drink in basements,’ he says. ‘Anybody can smoke blunts. Not everybody can walk away though… I couldn’t.’
The kids are listening – Chris has visited countless schools and he is a powerful storyteller, often moving listeners to tears with his honest message, which boils down to communicating with friends and loved ones and finding the strength to tell someone when you face emotional difficulties. He speaks plain truths in a rough-and-ready timbre that gets through to his audience. There’s only one thing missing – parents. He wishes more of them would attend his talks and hear his message.
Last year Chris sat down with Rilee Justice and Alexander Moore, students from Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs, Florida and answered their questions. ‘Adults need to be involved with people struggling with substance abuse,’ he said. ‘It’s critical to get people who are equipped, educated, and know how to handle certain situations. Unfortunately, today too many kids shoulder the burden of their friends’ secrets and their struggles, when adults should be the ones intervening.’
The documentary uses an unusual and effective distribution method. It’s available for rental in multiple tiers – individuals pay a different amount from schools, community groups, businesses, and recovery centers. Screenings can be tied in with Chris’ talks and there are supporting materials and resources, such as a discussion guide has been created in English and Spanish with conversation starters. This method of delivery is as fiercely independent as its outspoken subject.
The First Day is more than a cautionary tale. It examines substance use, other harmful behaviors, and mental wellness. ‘Hopefully one day wellness will be a core class in all school systems,’ Chris told the Walton students. ‘It’s something that is underserved… I can’t believe it’s not something we focus on, on a daily basis.’
Beyond the film and his motivational speaking, Chris has founded three organizations with programs and services to help people overcome setbacks and navigate life’s obstacles. He is one adult who is making a difference.
For more information, visit thefirstdayfilm.com