Some people won't get on board with a cause until it directly affects them. All across the spectrum, from minor sports rules changes to major political causes, this holds true. I was on board with the NFL beginning to heavily fine and suspend players for vicious helmet-to-helmet hits. While I cringed at the sight of some of those hits in previous weeks, particularly those delivered by James Harrison, last night it hit a little closer to home and I found myself hoping that no NFL fan would have to experience that feeling. Hopefully it doesn't take more of these types of hits for every fan, player, and coach to get on board with the way the rules are being enforced.

Sunday night, I watched in horror as Roy Williams took a shot to the back of his helmet from Nick Collins. Everything was wrong with that play: the sound of the hit, the way Williams fell lifelessly onto the field, and the way he stayed with his head down in the seconds after the collision.

This hit home because I've met Roy Williams and I've interviewed him several times. I don't say that to name drop or to make myself sound impressive because, quite frankly, all that means is that I lived in Odessa for two years and it felt like Roy was always there. On his off-weeks during the season, he'd spend Friday night at Ratliff Stadium watching his alma mater Permian Panthers play. During the spring and summer, he volunteered to help coach the 7-on-7 teams and spent a lot of time with the kids. When he was in town, he'd have barbecues that everyone was invited to and was always glad to welcome questions from the local media. Before he ever graduated from high school he gained the nickname "The Legend" and kept earning that nickname at the University of Texas and then as a Detroit Lion.

The station I worked at in Odessa was literally inside of a local mall. I remember seeing him there Super Bowl week, just walking around. When I asked what he was doing there, he said that he had just been named to the Pro Bowl roster and was working with the local NFL store to hold a raffle to take two people to Hawaii with him, with proceeds going to charity.

I was working in El Paso when Dallas traded for him, but I know that the town had to go nuts when news came that he'd be playing for the beloved Cowboys. It killed them when he torched Dallas for two touchdowns and a rare Lions win in the 2006 season finale at Cowboys Stadium. The Legend put up the "Hook 'em Horns" sign after each score, but the West Texas crowd couldn't root for them. When I talked to him after the season, he said it was the most memorable game of his career.

All of this rushed to my head when I saw a replay of Nick Collins leading with his helmet, not even making an effort to tackle with his arms or shoulder and just launching himself helmet-first, right at Roy Williams.

I feared the worst when I watched him lying there. Is his season over? Did he suffer a concussion that could affect him for the rest of his career? Luckily, right after the commercial break, he got up and even returned to action later in the game.

Is there a guy on your favorite team that you have a personal connection to? Is there a player that you watched in college and still root for no matter what team he's playing for? Or have you ever just watched a story about a guy that does some charity work that really touched you, to where you don't really root for him, but you're happy that there are some genuinely good guys in this league?

Imagine hearing that helmet-to-helmet sound and then seeing that guy lie face-down on the turf. How would you feel about the enforcement of the NFL hit rules then?

I ask you to imagine it because I'm worried you're going to see it and it's something I hope I never see again. I probably will, but with the new enforcement of the rules, hopefully it'll cut down on the times we have to see that image.

Lebron James is off to a rough start. And I know this not because I watched him struggle in his first two games (10 assists to 17 turnovers, 45% shooting), but because I saw this commercial before the season started:

What Should I Do?

I've got your answer Lebron. You should cross over to the dark side.

All the attention is getting to him. When I watched that "What Should I Do" commercial and watched what he said and the way he acted in the offseason, I can see that he's still struggling with the way a lot of NBA fans feel about him. A recent poll (as reported by ESPN) has Lebron James' approval rating below 30 percent, while nearly 40 percent view him in a negative light. He said at one point that he was "keeping mental notes" of everyone taking a shot at him. In August, he held an event in Cleveland where he thanked the fans for their years of support.

Stop caring about people's opinions, Lebron. Join the dark side. Your anger will give you focus. It will make you stronger.

Of course, you can't become a super-heel. This isn't professional wrestling where you can insult legends, stab people in the back and spit at the fans. You can't come back from that. But you can be defiant. You can stop trying to be the good guy and play with attitude on the court while carrying an extra amount of swagger off the court.

You've helped form an empire in Miami with two all-stars and several role players willing to take virutally no money (how empirical) just to play with you.

You can't be the the good guy anymore, the Jedi that we all root for. When you were with Cleveland, you took on the Celtics. They were the Big 3 and you were the underdog. We saw signs of the dark side in you because you had to dig deep and play with anger and hate. One of the greatest plays you've ever made was the dunk over Kevin Garnett in Game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals.

Garnett tried to shove you away from the basket, but you used so much force that you powered through like he wasn't even there. And the look on your face said it all. You were unstoppable.

You were the chosen one. We saw you battle Boston the way Michael Jordan had to battle Detroit on his way to his first title. But instead of staying home in Cleveland, you left it in darkness.

You don't know the power of the dark side. But to succeed now, you must embrace it, play with passion and anger, and defy your critics. Only then will you fulfill your destiny. Appropriately, when you accept your role as the villain, you will be known as Darth Malus.

Being known as the greatest of all time is something only one has achieved, but if you learn the powers of the dark side, with the backing of your empire, you can achieve it.

But who knows... maybe there's just too much good in you.