There are many ups and downs in our lives. We’ve all had them and none of us are perfect, no matter how much we would like to think. We all make mistakes, but it’s who we become after learning from those very mistakes that is the most important lesson. Last week I had the privilege of interviewing Renardo Sidney. Yes, that Renardo Sidney. If you aren’t aware, Renardo has had a long, winding path to this juncture. He’s had his trials and tribulations like you and I, but it is time for us, as the “Bulldog Family” we pride ourselves in being, to embrace and welcome him back into our arms. I hope you will do just that after you read this. You don’t truly know the Renardo Sidney that I have had the pleasure of learning about the past few days, but you will by the end of this.

The New Renardo

I first spoke with Sidney’s agent Zachary Charles, founder and CEO of 3PT Sports Management, about his client. Zachary and Renardo first came in to contact with each other through Sidney’s friend and fellow former top recruit Jerome Harris. When I spoke with him about Renardo’s time with the Bulldogs, he gave me a picture of a Renardo that struggled with coming to grips with the hardship that fate had dealt to him in the beginning of his career in the Maroon and White.

“He said that it was a learning experience. Sometimes he wishes he was back there, but unfortunately being a highly talented kid all your life, sometimes people in your inner circle make bad decisions,” said Charles. “I think if he would’ve been able to come in as a freshman, it would’ve been a totally different outcome. Having to sit out an entire year and then nine games as a sophomore due to what someone in your camp has done, it obviously gets to you. He really likes the fans and unfortunately it didn’t play out as well as he would’ve liked.”

Charles and his agency have been working hard to shape an image of the new Renardo Sidney that they hope fans, media, scouts, and NBA franchises will see as a good person that has had some trials that helped mold him into the new Renardo Sidney. That Sidney, who is trying his hardest to get back to being a high-caliber basketball player he once was, he’s made great strides in his battle to lose weight, and has improved his mental stability to the point that he feels like the player he was in high school. That version of Sidney was a highly-touted recruit who dominated the California high school circuit at Fairfax High School, earning invites to the McDonald’s All-American and Jordan All-Star game.

Charles went on to explain that the Sidney he knows he made mistakes while in Starkville, and that he’s had to live with wishing that it had gone differently. Sidney hasn’t been arrested (nor has he ever been) and also hasn’t had any off the court issues since he left the program. Unfortunately staying out of trouble doesn’t always mean you get to live a perfect life.

“He got to Mississippi State when he was 18, he’s 25 now. He understands that he makes and has made mistakes. He regrets the mistakes that he made there and wishes his time went better,” Charles explained. ”He’s dealt with personal heartache and he’s dealt with watching people like DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall and James Harden, guys that he played against in high school, being in the All-Star Game and making big bucks, while he has to think about his next move.”

Then I had the opportunity to speak with Renardo’s mother, Patricia Sidney. Mrs. Patricia explained to me that she saw growth and change in her son when she got to see him this year when he was finally able to return from Canada to his native Jackson, MS.

“He’s grown up and he’s matured. He regrets what happened at MSU, but it happened and he’s grown from it. When he came home from Canada, he stayed here with me and just talked to me for nine straight days. I had been sick, and Renardo went and opened up the daycare for me. Besides that, he only left the house to workout,” explained Mrs. Sidney. “When he used to be at State, he would come home and hang out with his friends. Now, he wanted to go to church and he stayed around the house with his family. I could tell he’s humble and he’s changed. He’s a humbled spirit. He told me that now he puts God first in every that he does. He’s grown up to be a great, godly man.”

The return to Jackson showed Sidney’s family the new Renardo. His family could see that even through the difficulties there was perhaps a divine reason behind it. As he was home for nine days, the whole Sidney family was together at the house and they could tell Renardo was truly happy. This was the mother of a changed man, whom I could tell honestly knows her son is on the right path. I truly believe it as well.

The Interview

It was on Wednesday, March 18th, that I finally got my opportunity to interview Renardo. As I sat on my porch admiring the beautiful spring weather, I received a call from a number I didn’t recognize. It was the man himself. I was finally getting to interview the “infamous” Renardo Sidney, but the man on the other end of the phone was a happy and laughing fellow, not the guy portrayed as mean and having attitude issues. He immediately told he how appreciative he was since I was doing this and I told him I was thankful to get to hear from him. As we spoke to each other, Renardo told me about his journey since he left Starkville. He’s had some playing time in the NBA’s Developmental League (D-League) and Canada since leaving the court at the Humphrey Coliseum. But now it is time for the former consensus McDonald’s All-American to take on a far tougher goal, making a NBA roster. Sidney is ready to make that goal complete.

“It’s been an up and down three years since I left Mississippi State. I played with the D-Fenders (Los Angeles Lakers’ D-League affiliate) for a year, then I went to Canada. Right now, I’m currently trying get some NBA workouts this summer and I have a training camp in Chicago that I leave for at the first of the month. I’ll be there until June,” Sidney told me. “I’m trying to prove the doubters wrong and for someone to give me one last chance. It’s tough, the NBA itself is ‘no boys allowed’, so if you’re not ready for it, it will crush you. I’m just trying to get a fair shot and show everyone the real Renardo Sidney.”

As we spoke about his time at MSU, I could tell that Renardo was truly remorseful for his actions. He was a changed man who knew that he had made mistakes. The Renardo Sidney that I was speaking to was ready and willing to take responsibility for his transgressions that occurred while in Starkville. He knew he had made mistakes, such as believing that his talent would be all he needed to become a top draft pick. When the NCAA ruled him ineligible for his freshman season and an additional nine games his sophomore year, he felt he took a turn down the wrong path.

“At MSU I had some childish things that I did. I was hard-headed and I didn’t want to listen anyone,” he explained. “I thought my talent would just get me to the NBA and that wasn’t the case at all. I lost myself when I got to college. Once I was ruled ineligible for my entire freshman year, I was like why are they doing this to me? I stopped listening to my coaches and going to practice. I was doing what Renardo Sidney wanted to do and that was the wrong thing to do. That kept me out of the league. I feel like I let God down because he blessed me with so much talent.”

Although he has grown into the new Renardo, the stigma from his past is still attached to him like a proverbial scarlet letter. Although it will be tough, Sidney believes that he can prove that he’s a new man, especially to those who matter most in deciding whether or not he gets to fulfill his dream of being a professional.

“I want to talk to scouts one on one. Nobody has really gotten to know me,” he said. “They know me as the guy that got in the fight or that guy from high school that was a top recruit. I just want them to give me a chance, to show them I’m not the same Renardo of three years ago. I’ve grown up and I’m mature. This is my shot. I’m physically and mentally prepared, I just have to prove myself.”

Though it’s been tough, he credits his family and friends supporting him at every turn. This was especially tough when he was over 2,000 miles away in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Though his family and friends were worlds away, the big man found support from his teammates and coaches on his team, the Island Storm of the National Basketball League of Canada. As we spoke about his time there, where Sidney posted double digit scoring numbers in every game for the squad, he was grateful for the chance that head coach Joe Salemo had given him by allowing Sidney to play for his team.

Though many are unaware, Sidney lost his first child last year. Instead of having a beautiful baby girl like planned, he had to cope with the heart-wrenching loss of a child. Another difficult part of his journey, Sidney used this as a moment to get closer to his Lord. He now reads his Bible everyday and prays to God about his life. Since getting closer to God, he is happier than he ever has been and relies on God to guide him in his life. He is very thankful for the ability God has blessed him with.

“After my daughter died, it was like a light cut on in my head. I started putting God back in my life. I pray everyday and read my Bible everyday,” he said. “I’ve changed my life. God blessed me with so much talent and I’m very thankful for that.”

Now that he’s changed his life for the better, the former Bulldog still has to cope with seeing NBA stars that he once competed with on high-level stages like the McDonald’s All-American Game. Stars that now shine on the global hoops stage like James Harden, John Wall, and DeMarcus Cousins. When you once were being touted as the next big star similar to those same guys that are now dominating the league, it can be tough on you mentally, and Sidney is no exception to that.

“It’s a hard pill to swallow. Seeing those guys I played against on TV, I get emotional seeing them on there,” he explained. “Since I was friends with those same guys that are dominating the league, it’s tough, really tough.”

As our conversation came to a close, I asked him if he could speak to a room full of MSU supporters, what would he say to them. His response was straight from the heart. I could truly tell that this wasn’t the Renardo Sidney that caught so much flack during his career as a Bulldog. This was the new Renardo Sidney that his mother and his agent spoke so highly of.

“I would tell them I would love their support. I enjoyed my time at MSU. I would like to tell them that I would like to apologize for what I did to the school’s name itself,” Sidney said sincerely. “From the fight to getting in the trouble with the coaches. I was very childish and immature. I want them to know I’m a nice guy. I want them to give me one more chance to show them who I really am. I apologize and I want to move forward and have a chance to show them I’m a new Renardo Sidney.”

I hope that you now have learned more about the new Renardo Sidney. I honestly learned so much about him, not just a basketball player, but as a person. The new Renardo Sidney is a Godly, genuine, remorseful man who would be truly thankful for being blessed with your support. We all make mistakes, but it’s what we learn from those mistakes that make us better people in the long run. Renardo made mistakes and he’s accepted responsibility for his actions and has grown from those mistakes. Now that you know the real Renardo Sidney, it is time to accept him and support him on this journey, because I truly believe in his life the best has yet to come.