Build ‘em up, so we can tear ‘em down.

A popular, if twisted little myth we hear too often in sports.

Truth is, gifted sports heroes elevate themselves to pedestals where success lives and fan love does too. Sports stars merely forget where they came from, how they got uptown, and the inevitability of falling back to earth.

The fall back is too often accelerated by tragic decision-making, a surrender to personal demons (dope, drink, and two dollar bets on a horse’s nose), loss of perspective on their human-ness, and media hero worship with an expiration date. (LeBron James, wait for it)

Fascinating part to me, media formula for re-invention of the fallen. For instance …

• Jerry Tarkanian, Ted Williams and Shoeless Joe Jackson have been.

• Jackie Robinson-haters never will be. Nor Ty Cobb.

• Pete Rose is still in purgatory.

• And, waiting in re-invention’s on-deck circle – Barry Bonds, Bob Knight and Adolph Rupp.

• Re-invention currently underway? Rex Chapman.

A King Humbled: Rex Chapman On His Addictions, Insecurities, chimed a Sports Illustrated headline July 27. Author Seth Davis provided the story for redemption of a fallen star, (presumably) on way back from Life’s dark side.

If there be a perfect synonym for Gifted, it would be Rex Chapman.

Early on, The Kid from Owensboro was star-crossed.

At 17, arguably the finest high school basketball player in Kentucky ever. But already The Kid was sewing oats, smoking dope with pals, Chapman told SI.

At 18, a dubious nickname guaranteed to get him more jaw-rattling picks than love interests, King Rex.

At 19, leading point-maker at Flagship U. too much celebrity and lots of prying into his private life.

At 21, a multi-millionaire. First player ever signed by Charlotte Hornets franchise, 1988.

I first laid eyes on Kid-who-would-be-King 30 winter times ago. Was February 1985, a high school basketball game on a Sunday afternoon in Brandenburg in Meade County.

With a basketball, The Kid was Larry Bird-cerebral, clever, instinctive. He was also a long-stepper who floated over and past defenders. And, he could score. A year on, against SEC opponents there was no drop-off.

Became easy to see, Chapman was indulged too much, idolized too much, left college too soon, was rich too soon. And, I believe, forgot too soon the values of where he came from. Amid the early fame he must have missed the old timers who would remind him “a basketball stops bouncing, kid.” And this: “a time will come, kid, when “Rex who?” will be a sentence.

In SI’s re-invention process, Seth Davis elevates his subject (shamelessly, I thought) with blamings: Father Wayne was not attentive enough … mother Laura tried to keep the peace … Eddie Sutton bemoaned his dating choices.

By year 2000, multiple foot surgeries and a doctor gave him OxyContin. “Within a week, it had me,” he told Davis.

Chapman retired that year and, without basketball, began to gamble. His marriage began to fall apart. Too quickly, 40-something was upon him and, led by noble sister Jenny whose loyalty and actions saved his life, we found it hard to be manage compassion for a star who had frittered away a fortune and was now a hero-turned thief.

Shocking to see a Scottsdale, Arizona police mug shot of Rex Chapman on the teevee screen? Arrested and charged with stealing $14,000 in electronic merchandise.

In 12 NBA seasons Chapman had earned more than $31 million and another $6 million off court, according to SI.

Incredibly, “most of that is gone,” Davis wrote, “but he has enough to live on for a while.”

That it must be written that this man who had everything no longer does, is more than sad. It’s disgusting too.

“ … he knows he needs to get back to work, not just to make money but also to re-establish a routine and re-engage with the outside world. Whatever job he takes, he’s pretty sure it will be something in basketball. “There’s not much else I’m qualified to do,” he says.

Here in Kentucky, as a people, in particular we who admired zealously his gifts and were so smitten 30 years ago, are obligated by our compassion to forgive Rex Chapman. His redemption is his burden and salvation. We bear our disappointment and put another notch on our cynicism about athletes.

Sports Illustrated has given The Kid a free platform from which to explain himself, and a hand-up on the way back to a good life.

Chapman must prove he deserves SI’s gift. Re-invention.

And so it goes.

You can reach bob Watkins at bob.watkins24@aol.com