The Story of Dick Leftridge

A Forgotten Pioneer or Simply Ignored

Quick by a show of hands how many of you ever heard of Dick Leftridge before today? I have to confess I too never heard of Mr. Leftridge until recently, when I was contacted by his son Jack Richard Leftridge Jr. The younger namesake is on a quest to have his father’s name and accomplishments remembered and properly acknowledged in the history books. The timing of this movement could not have come at a better time in lieu of the highly anticipated release of the Disney movie ”The Express” due to open in theaters. The Express is based on the life of the late Syracuse great Ernie Davis who was the first African-American football player to win the Heisman (1961).
Like Mr. Davis all accounts point to the fact that Dick Leftridge was a pioneer in his own right, according to my research and a synopsis received from his son, Dick Leftridge was the first African-American to receive a football scholarship to play for a major college in the south, after he signed with West Virginia University in 1962, which at the time played in the Southern conference, below the Mason Dixon line. The recruitment and signing of Dick Leftridge accompanied by the subsequent signing of another black player Roger Alford represented a shift in the culture at the university. According to Richard Leftridge Jr., WVU was not his father’s first choice despite being a hometown product (Hinton, WV), he wanted to attend Ohio State to play for the legendary Woody Hayes; however the elder Leftridge bowed to the pressure he received from boosters to local politicians all of whom wanted him to stay home and play at WVU. According to the document even the local chapter of the NAACP encouraged Leftridge to attend the local university and be the one who broke the color barrier at WVU. Dick Leftridge played for WVU from 1963-1965 during that time he put up some impressive stats he was the leading ground gainer and scorer each of his three years at WVU, in 1965 he was named Amateur Athlete of the year by the West Virginia Sports writer Association. Dick Leftridge was the first African-American to play for the south team in the North-South Shrine game in 1965, he was also the first African-American named to the University of Pittsburgh All-Opponent team, and Dick Leftridge was also the first African-American voted to the second teams all south conference.
A few of you older Pittsburgh Steelers fans may remember Dick Leftridge as the team’s first round pick in 1966 he was chosen third overall that year, he was also a fourth round selection of the AFL’s Miami Dolphins that same year. Unfortunately Dick Leftridge only played one unspectacular season for the Steelers and many fans and media personnel labeled him a bust. This is where the story gets interesting; there are varied accounts as to why an athlete with so much promise lasted only one season in the NFL? Depending on whose version you believe some say Dick Leftridge, simply didn’t have the desire and discipline to make it, there are stories that say he simply “ate” his way out of the league by putting on too much weight to be effective as an elite running back, according to one article on Mr. Leftridge written in the Hinton Daily News (7/19/66), the Steelers had a weight clause put in his contract, the fine print read that every pound over 230 he brought to camp would carry a $50 fine, however in an interview with a reporter of the Charleston Daily News (9/26/85) Mr.Leftridge gave a different account of the events, he is quoted as saying the “Steelers put in the papers that I weighed 300 pounds when I reported. Everybody believed that and they still do. I admit I was lazy sometimes, but I wasn’t fat. I weighed 242 pounds when I reported; Hell all I know is how to play football. That’s all I’ve ever done. I was just a poor boy from Hinton (WV). How could people think I’d throw away a chance to make a million dollars? I’d never turn my back on that”.
Controversy seemed to follow Leftridge from WVU through his short pro career he was dismissed from school in the middle of the semester of his senior year a few days after he played his last collegiate game and his eligibility was done, in 1976 he would return to school to complete his degree. The younger Leftridge is also quick to point out that his dad was no saint; he wrestled with his own demons once his football career finally ended. He shared details of his father’s checkered past this included time spent in Detroit working in the automotive industry, and making questionable decisions to get involved in the drug game as a dealer both in Detroit and upon his return to his hometown, as a result of being on the wrong side of the law, Mr. Leftridge was sentenced to a five year stint in federal prison (1987). According to his son while the elder Leftridge sat in prison there were a number of alleged verbal, mental and physical harassment of the family on the streets and places of employment.
He also shared stories of his frustration in getting his dad’s story told and published. “I’ve contacted a lot of people, especially the African-American celebrities I see and hear in the media and received little to no interest, I’m not sure if the story is too controversial or what? He’s also faced an uphill battle in getting WVU to properly acknowledge his father’s achievements and historic significance for the Mountaineers. According to Richard JR. the school didn’t really acknowledge his accomplishments until his death and even then the school just published a short blurb, to this day he still has not been inducted into their Hall of Fame. Now the critics will argue that being inducted should not be based on race as a criteria for selection, and you should be judged strictly on athletic achievements , on the flip side supporters can point out his stats and some of his awards (mentioned earlier) and in this case his being the first African-American player at WVU, during a time of tumultuous unrest (Civil Rights Era) in this country’s history, should be taken into consideration alongside his on field performance, he was and still is the schools highest ever NFL draft pick. Does Dick Leftridge deserve to be inducted in the WVU Hall of fame? I’ll let you decide. In my humble opinion I think the story of Dick Leftridge is one of intrigue, mystique and historical importance and one that needs further exploration, if any of you would like to assist the younger Leftridge on his journey to promote his dads story (he can be reached at jrljr63@yahoo.com), he would be very gracious, he is not seeking fame and fortune from this story, just a chance to share the legacy of a forgotten Pioneer.

Defeating the Giant Within

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

What a powerful sermon the young pastor preached today about that four letter word that begins with “F”. That special word that has robbed so many of their dreams and evokes such negative emotions the minute you hear it. Of course I’m talking about the word FEAR. The atmosphere in the church was electrified as the pastor stood on the pulpit exhorting the congregation on ways to overcome their anxiety and how our lives would be greatly enriched once we mastered the technique of tuning out those negative voices in our head. You know that voice the one that comes as you are about to embark on something new and step out of your comfort zone. I’m referring to that nagging voice that penetrates your subconscious and is constantly discouraging you from taking action and moving forward to realize your potential. It suddenly came to me how often as a coach I’m often called upon to help the young athletes in my program get through this paralyzing emotion on a regular basis. In a competitive sport like basketball there are pressure situations that manifest throughout the contest, particularly during what is known as “crunch time” the end of game moments in which one play or lack thereof could determine the outcome. I think It’s amazing the time many of today’s athletes spend going through rigorous physical training to get their bodies in peak conditioning, yet, spend very little time preparing for the mental challenges of facing and handling pressure situations. Many of these individuals would rather not face the ridicule and scrutiny that’s sure to follow should their efforts fall short, (missed shot at the buzzer) the pressure to perform when it matters most, is scary and a situation many try to avoid.

Below are a few strategies I share with my athletes to help them prepare and overcome FEAR (on and off the courts)

1.At the beginning of the season I have the team write out specific goals they want to achieve for the current season this exercise helps them to set clear, concise and attainable goals it also helps to train their minds to focus on how they will reach their objectives. Many people can envision what they desire, but have difficulty in seeing how to get their dreams to materialize there’s something powerful and unlocking when they write the goals down. Utilizing visual images (a picture or physical sample) are also effective. For a team you could use a replica championship trophy or banner as the visual. At the beginning of each season I to write down specific goals for the team, This blue print helps me formulate practice plans complete with special situations, specific drills and exercises needed to help the team prepare to face challenges.

2. Another exercise I put the team through is to have them share their goals out loud in a group setting for accountability. I believe if you feel so strongly about obtaining something you want and desire, you should have no problem sharing it publicly. What I often notice is a growing confidence that emerges through this activity as individuals stand up in front of the group to share their goals at first with trepidation that quickly dissipates into strong conviction, after all if they don’t truly believe in what they are saying how can they expect others to? This is important as they begin to paint a picture for the audience to follow. It’s important to note that I also point out to them that not everyone will share their enthusiasm, or zeal. But they should not let that discourage them.

3. I encourage them to face Fear head on, you have to desire something so badly or develop an intense yearning to change your current situation that nothing will hold you back. If there is a particular team I know we have a difficult time matching up with, they may have better athletes or play a particular style that gives us problems (press style defense) I try to get the team to breakdown what they view as insurmountable into manageable parts and learn how to aggressively attack the GIANT. We still may not win the game, but the outcome won’t be as a result of being intimidated.

4. Lastly when all else fails in preparing them to confront their fears my goal is simply just getting them to start the process. You see many people become so paralyzed by fear that they never begin taking actions that will lead to the desired results. By taking some type of action toward a specific goal signals progress this could be as simple as starting an enhanced strength and conditioning program to the memorization of a document filled with motivational quotes or specific drills to improve their individual performance. Just by taking that first step helps quell those feelings of anxiety and doubt. A Large percentage of individuals never reach their goals and overcome fear, because they never take the first step!

©2008 Tony Price Unlimited LLC

“The Long Shots” (A missed opportunity)

Who would have thought, I became one of the country’s tallest cheer-leader for at least 90 minutes anyway, while watching this movie score a touchdown, unfortunately the point after was missed as the movie is going to fall victim to low receipts at the box office, hence it will continue to be an uphill battle to convince Hollywood to produce similar movies. The movie Long shots starring Keke Palmer & Ice Cube now playing in theaters should have been a can’t miss affair. I thought Kenya Yarbrough wrote a great article (www.eurweb.com/story/eur46442.cfm) on the making of the movie with interviews from the two main characters. This is a fantastic family movie a real PG-13 no one’s dropping the F-Bomb and there’s no sexual scenes or references. I didn’t think these types of movies still existed. The movie was the all too familiar story of the underdog who overachieves, but with a unique twist, the movie is based on the true story of Jasmine Plummer an African-American girl who at the tender age of 11 made history by becoming the first girl to play Pop Warner Football and lead her team to the national championship game. As I sat in the theater observing to see who like myself felt the movie was worth the time and money, I was somewhat surprised and disappointed to see that most of the patrons were Caucasian. Where were the people of color? How can we at this critical time in history thanks to the political race, and the call for people of color in particular African-Americans to be featured in prime time television shows, not come out in huge numbers to support this movie? Is it because the story line was not believable has our psyche and self love been damaged so badly to the point that we can’t see ourselves in roles like this and believe it actually happened? Shame on us as this movie will have come and gone without a whimper and the Producers in Hollywood will have the data and ammunition needed to justify not making movies such as this but continue to churn out classics like soul plane and Norbit.
The movie was far more than a sports movie, it had family drama, a strong black male character, who despite being down on his luck still had morals, ethics and values, showed how a town was hard hit by the closing of factories(sound familiar) and how a youth team brought a community together. I find it ironic that in a country that loves to root for the underdog, movies that star minority groups (African-Americans and Females) in leading roles outside of the usual stereotypical characters often does poorly at the gate. I’ll use both of Keke Palmer’s movies as examples (Akeelah & the Bee, Long shot) two powerful and moving projects that were mediocre at the box office. I love Ms. Palmer as an actress and I hope she doesn’t try to grow up too fast and shed her good girl image (Brandy, Keisha Knight Pulliam, and Kyla Pratt). We don’t need any more young sisters doing sex scenes to show their versatility for future acting jobs. Yes there were the typical clichés that played out in the movie , losing team turns season around going from worst to first making it against the odds from small town USA (think Bad News Bears,)but this movie was still a story that needed to be told, in my opinion if the main character had been based on a white female, the hype around the film would have been greater, played in more theaters, she would have been plastered on all the major print publications and done the entire talk show circuit, but alas this story was based on a young black girl who overcame tough odds to do something special, I guess that’s not interesting enough, maybe if she got pregnant along the way the movie would have been more appealing, oh that’s right as we recently found out on a national platform, black and Latina girls aren’t the only ones who have unprotected sex and become teenage moms, (Bristol Palin), if you don’t have the opportunity to catch the movie in theaters(hurry) at least purchase the DVD and show it to your children, they need to see that everyday people can also make history.
©2008, Tony Price Unlimited L.L.C

Reflections of A Father

Matthew 10:33 "Who ever denies me before men, I will also deny before my father who is in heaven"

The day has finally arrived the day my daughter finally left home for college,this time of the year thousands of young people are going through this same experience, but what make this case unique is that she's moving to the campus where I work. Not only will she be a student, but she will also play basketball, the sport her dad coaches, can you see the interesting dynamics that we both tried to avoid? I haven't coached her since she was 9 years old, but here we are facing a dilemma that is sure to be a challenge for both of us. I've already noticed how quickly she like her siblings at various times in the past is trying to distance herself from the connection to her dad. This is a very common occurrence for my children especially my sons, they want to prove that they got to where they are on their own merit and that I had nothing to do with it. The love of a father is critical for the development of young people and I know my children love me and I them even if the words are seldom spoken, and growing up the relationship between my father and I was vastly different than the ones I've developed with each of them. So I try to understand their perspective, however its perplexing at times to witness them make every effort to down play their association with their father.

My children have experienced some benefits as a direct result of being my child that others can only dream of, tickets to sporting events complete with locker room access, entrance into social functions, travel and the opportunity to attend one of the best private colleges in the country. My prayer is that one day they'll learn to appreciate the sacrifices endured to pave the way for them and the respect I've earned in doing so; took many years to achieve. This recent experience of helping my daughter move into her dorm room caused me to stop and reflect on the following, how many people are like my children when they experience blessings in their lives, get that opportunity they desired, the promotion at work or financial increase and yet try to distance themselves from the affiliation or connection to the "Heavenly Father". They place more emphasis on what others may think and crafting the perception of a self made person who made it by their own accord, through hard work , perseverance and talent with little or no assistance. I imagine at times God must feel like I do, proud to see his children mature, gain a sense of independence, enjoying the fruits of his labor and the burdens he bore only to have them do their best to keep their relationship with him private. As a parent it's my responsibility to provide for my children and I take that commitment seriously and if some perks come along with that, so be it. Hopefully as they continue to grow and develop into productive citizens and one day start families of their own they'll fully comprehend what it means to have a good name and how important the right associations are in opening doors for the next generation.

©2008 Tony Price Unlimited, LLC

The Magic of Black Men

"The Impact of seeing positive Black Men"those prophetic words kept ringing in my consciousness as I drove home after completing my second basketball clinic in 3 days. Over a 3 day span I had the pleasure of interacting with 200 inner city youths, teaching, speaking, laughing and having an overall great experience. A common theme ran as an undercurrent while teaching the participants the fundamentals of the game, the importance of them seeing black men in roles that counteracts the media's constant bombardment of negative portrayal and stereotypes. The awareness of this initiative is nothing new, but it's value can't be underestimated. As a basketball coach I was not surprised at the turnout of young people who came to the clinics, as I wrote in an earlier article "Sports The Unspoken Drug of the Black Community" about the powerful stronghold sports has on the community. The role of Sports in the black community is sacred, and too many of our future leaders and change agents think sports or entertainment are the only keys to unlock the doors of opportunities.

Yet there is something mystical that takes place when you are in the midst of these great minds. I can't really explain it in words, but there is a spirit coupled with a light of internal optimism and trust that shines within their eyes. This is the stage of their lives when they are the most vulnerable, receptive and influenced. I really treasure the girls and young woman who attend the clinics, there will never be a shortage of boys at sports clinic especially basketball, but the importance of having female participation can't be overlooked, our young sisters have to overcome a lot to participate in sports, many of them want to play but don't have the opportunities the boys have , they have to avoid the pitfalls of drugs,alcohol and pregnancy, often times they help raise younger siblings, can't find enough girlfriends interested in sports, not encouraged to play because it will make them too masculine, etc.
Quite a few of these young woman, have no meaningful relationships with their fathers or have been hurt by men they trusted including family members, not just the playa's, gangstas or thugs. So when I interact with them on the court I make a concerted effort to engage them with the balance of a disciplinarian to motivate them to work harder and not expect anyone to give them preferential treatment because of their gender, and blend that approach with the gentle touch and words of encouragement that comes from a father or uncle,(not ready to be a grandfather yet). This is an opportune time to show them that there are men in the community who love them unconditionally and not trying to "Get at Em"

The longer I'm in the athletics business the greater my appreciation grows and the realization of how blessed I am to be in a position to effectively change the lives of so many ,even if it's just for a day! I tip my hat to the hundreds of black men who are making a difference in the community with no fan fare or positive media coverage, keeping taking back the community one child at a time, when black men step up and give back the effects on young people are simply Magical!

T.P.C (3 Words to unlock your Destiny)

Proverbs 18:31 "Death & Life are in the power of the tongue"

Translation words that are spoken, written and received are powerful . As a coach no one understands the impact of words more than I. I have personally witnessed the impact words (positive & negative) can have, particularly on young people. All across the world coaches are either lifting up or tearing down someones dream, this is a great responsibility that should not be taken lightly. It should be noted that coaches are not just athletic personnel, they can be parents, teachers, supervisors, mentors, and older siblings. Over the next couple of weeks I will be sharing from a series I've put together over the years titled "A Coaches Words" this is a collection of motivational affirmations that I've come up with based on my own personal experiences, sermons, casual conversations and literature. I often share these with athletes, youth groups, ministries and others when invited to speak at events. Let me start off by saying that TPC doesn't stand for Tony Price is Cool or TP's Chill as the youngsters say.


Talent- These are the gifts you were born with(you did nothing special to obtain them) you came pre-wired with them interwoven into your fabric. Your talent often lies within things that come naturally to you, things that others admire or have to practice for hours to become competent. i.e singing, organization and athletic ability. Your talents are often discovered when you engage in activities you have a passion for.


Purpose- This is the reason why you have the talent(s), they were meant for you to fulfill a plan and to share with the world. For instance let's take the talent of singing, there are lots of people who call themselves singers(some really can carry a tune, while others?). Once people discover they have the gift of singing, they must then decide what type of music they are led to sing (R & B, Soul, Country, Classical, Opera). It is here that they must ponder the impact they'd like for their musical gifts to have on those who hear, gospel singers realize their voices are instruments designed to create an atmosphere of praise and worship.


Calling- This is the place or physical location where you exercise and display your gifts for the reasons you have discovered. Your calling could be your place of employment, neighborhood, church, city, on a team, etc Someone who is gifted in teaching, realizes their purpose is to educate, enlighten and empower others in their specific area of expertise, the place where they display their talent for its purpose could be a classroom, board room, football field or a recreation center.


I conclude by explaining that the first 2 letters (T & P ) will never change, you will take them with you when you pass away, but the "C" calling is the area that requires the most flexibility, often times the place where you currently are may be temporary or not the location where you can be most effective. As you develop your talents and mature into the understanding of your purpose, you will experience a series of callings(places) Keep an open mind!

Basketball Courts: The great problem solver!

This topic is nothing new, the conversation around why it is that whenever a city or town perceives there is a major problem with the youths in their locations (code words for too many black youths are hanging out), the most often mentioned and accomplished solution is to build a basketball court? In fact the town that I reside in has just built a number of outdoor basketball courts, albeit with no programming, it's a simple case of "If you build it they will come" The intentions are noble, but the risk of failure is also high. Because all it will take is for one terrible incident to happen and the courts will be closed down. Yet with no programming in place we leave it up to the young people to police themselves and keep everything in check (risky) The proponents of this strategy for building basketball courts to address youth problems will argue that its a healthy way for these young people to channel their excessive energy in a positive manner, and law enforcement officials although many won't say publicly like the idea , because they can keep an eye on a large number of potential suspects especially if they are at one central location. On the flip side the opponents of such strategy will argue that not everyone wants to play basketball as a way to keep busy, and in some cases these courts can become trouble spots for all type of illegal transactions, and violence. Whose right whose wrong? As a basketball coach I know all of the benefits that are associated with playing the game, however as I wrote in a previous story (Sports Addiction) I also am very aware of the negative impacts of sports, particularly in the black community. I hear this statement all the time "The kids love basketball" no kidding, if you were bombarded with thousands of images and constantly brow beat with one option for success, would it be any surprise that you would have a passion for that field.

In my honest opinion I never saw building more basketball courts as a long term viable solution to address the issues and challenges our young people face today. In fact I think it furthers perpetuates the carefully crafted myth of blacks getting out of the ghetto by one of 2 means entertainment or sports. Yes I know its a popular game, amongst our youths, because its inexpensive to play, and kids really gravitate to it, but the focus on basketball is just a temporary fix, it does nothing in the long run to help them solve their problems of completing their education, obtaining marketable skills for employment, parenting, or learning to be wiser consumers.

Side Note:(Free of Charge)

I think its no coincidence that the leading recreational activity in the prison system is basketball, a system that's over populated by young Blacks and Hispanics; why because these individuals come from the same communities where they've been inundated with the idea of basketball being their only way to stay busy or handle their business. Its a viscous cycle!

When affluent communities feel the need to address a youth problem, they seek to build community centers, a place that offers a variety of options that will help their kids prepare for the future, there are job training courses, computer workshops, mentoring , college prep, financial education, etc. Yes they too offer sports and recreational activities, but they don't limit it to basketball, you'll find swimming, rock climbing, tennis, game rooms (for board games like chess) etc. You see they understand that what they are providing is what Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu calls a "Safety net" I know you're saying but they have the money to accomplish this task, and you are correct ,but I would argue that often times when a city or town builds a basketball court its usually more than one and they pay contractors from outside of the community a hefty price tag, I think if you must build multiple courts(maybe fear of gangs crossing other territories) why not build a simple enclosed structure or at least a structure with a roof and a few sections that can be drywalled or set up like cubicles. Areas that can be designated for classroom sessions around the basketball courts, it doesn't have to be elaborate, just something with a roof over top, rest room facilities , and the likes. You could include a clause in the contractors agreement to donate building supplies and or labor to set up the classroom sections . This would attract a larger population that has no interest in sports to the building seeking activities that will benefit them. If money is an issue then have the facility open for limited hours, I find it hard to believe that there is no money (grants, donations) available that won't support this type of effort. There are enough qualified and committed individuals in the community that truly care about the next generation who would gladly man the facility or volunteer their time, parents, teachers during the summer vacation, the elderly during the afternoons(we need to do a better job of connecting our youth with the wisdom of previous generations), off duty police, and so forth.

The suggestion I offered won't solve all of the issues, but it would be far reaching and have a longer lasting effect as we attempt to influence the whole person not just enhance their physical skills through sports this way our youths can keep pace with other young people from well off communities as we create our own safety nets to keep them out of the wrong GAME!

The $723 Billion Dollar Question : Poverty in the black community?

Damn, not again I silently thought to myself as I watched this young black boy approach my truck with a can in his hand while stopped at a red light on my way home from work. Now I know what you're thinking times are hard these days and how sad it is for this child to be out begging to help his family make ends meet and I would agree except he wasn't collecting money to help his family, he was "Canning" to raise money for his track team , a common practice amongst many youth programs, one of my problems with this practice beside the safety factor of watching these youths dart in and out of traffic with little to no visible adult presence, and the increase in child abductions; is that I see the same teams on a regular basis. It got me to thinking is the community in which these kids live really that poor? the answer is HELL NO! Not when according to the University of Georgia Selig Center for economic growth blacks in this country had $723 Billion buying power in 2004 (the figure has grown since then) but adding a LARGER number will only illuminate the problem. In fact the numbers(billions) are too much for most of us to comprehend. So why then are our youth programs , educational systems, and other social services struggling for survival?

This is sure to offend a few people ,I think part of the reason is because like the rich history filled legacies, traditions, heirlooms and other recollections of circumstances that help us link to the past and appreciate where we've been and how we've overcome horrific situations , yet still managed to survive and excel, on the flip side we've also pass down a "Poverty Mentality". Hear me out , too many of our young people grow up in homes hearing these words "we can't afford it" or see if they have a sliding scale or a scholarship ; get it free or at a reduce cost (hook up & bootleg) Our young people are like sponges and they absorb whatever is around them and if they keep taking in the verbal assault of how poor the black community is, they grow up confused and with a distorted view of the resources we possess within the community, particularly when they see evidence to the contrary(play station, X-box, Benz) The sad fact is the adoption of this train of thought and how its continually passed on generation after generation. This mentality is detrimental and as a former Director of Youth and Recreation I was guilty of promoting it, when I ran programs I would never charge the parents enough to cover the true expenses of conducting a quality program, because I fell into the assumption of thinking their families couldn't afford it (I witness many programs today operating with this philosophy) ,so I would come out of my own pocket often time to make sure the youths didn't miss out on an opportunity. One day I came to the realization that I was doing these kids a disservice, I set up an imaginary world where they thought things were either free or everyone loves and is concerned about their welfare so they gave unconditionally(funders) or money just appeared magically , so they had no worry or real appreciation for that matter, often times when you offer something or a service for free the recipient doesn't take vested interest; nothing will make a person value something more than when their money is on the line. Don't get me wrong we must help those who truly need the assistance, and I have no problem with that, but often time we paint the entire community with the same brush stroke, and each case is different. These youths that I served came from some of the toughest neighborhoods and housing projects imaginable yet many of them had TVs (with cable) in their room, cell phones, computers with Internet, dressed in the latest gear, ate out at the local sub/pizza shop 2x a week, were bussed to suburban schools or attended private schools(where they paid full tuition or their parents had to volunteer to receive a reduction in costs) got dropped off and picked up by parents who had top of the line cars, etc.. How did the assumption they can't afford it come to life? it didn't make sense.

There is no way our youth programs should operate on a year to year basis due to lack of funding. Some of its poor management and planning on behalf of the leadership (make sure to charge enough and don't spend every dime you raised) let me park here for a moment; here's a free tip to the local Pop Warner teams in my community(if your team won the state title for their division last year and had to raise money to travel to the nationals,) plan for success(raise money) throughout the year this will cut down or eliminate undue stress in trying to raise the money at the final hour via the local radio stations and newspapers . I don't want to see any more newspaper pictures of our youths in their uniform posing for a picture asking(begging) for help(this is akin to those TV infomercials where they show starving kids from Africa) playing on emotions to make you feel guilty that you have so much and these poor little black kids don't, PLEASE! What a terrible ordeal to put those young people through, they've earned the right to compete for nationals, but may not be able to attend, because the program they play for didn't adequately plan and don't have the resources so they have to be paraded in front of the camera like show ponies. If the same community will come through for you at the midnight hour, why not approach them earlier? (my two cents take it or leave it)

How can a community that obviously has so much material wealth cars, jewelry, clothing , fast food restaurants along with other black community mainstays (liquor stores & taverns, law offices, hair & nail salons) that are profitable and often ran by people outside of the community claim to be poor? Maybe we need to look at our thinking and where we place our priorities after all its on the backs (finances of hard-working black folks)that have produced some of the largest churches(Mega church) in the world. I discovered long ago that people will find a way to afford things they really DESIRE, and for those who don't they find an excuse. I stopped seeing lack and what I noticed instead was the ignorance of the resources we held in our hands that we weren't taught how to manage. Remember it hasn't been that long since blacks had real access to wealth(I'd say the 60's) with a few exceptions. I also discovered that people will rise or bend to the level of expectation. When the bar is raised(no discount or scholarships) people will find a way to meet the challenge, especially if it means a better chance for their children, however when the bar is lowered they will stoop low enough to get by. I could go on , but space and time won't permit, besides I have to save energy to respond to the feedback I'll surely receive for this article, but my challenge to everyone who reads this post, find a youth organization in your community and write a check(any amount) YOU CAN AFFORD IT! and work on changing your thinking through the words you speak(sliding scale, hook me up, cost too much, is it FREE ?) We have the resources needed within the community to support all of these youth programs, besides it will go to a worthy cause and it will keep these kids off, oops I mean out of the street , BEEP BEEP!

Sports: The unspoken drug of the black community

Well here we go again, Don Imus has put his foot in his mouth again concerning black people(athletes) and we also have Shaq displaying mediocre at best free style rap skills, dissing a few people notably Kobe. As I was driving to return a rental from a long weekend trip, I listened to hours of talk radio sounding off on both and people were calling in to offer their views. A lot of comments made sense , while other callers just wanted to hear themselves on the air. However, the one thing know one seemed to mention was the issue beneath the surface of both of these events. A comment or two about the harmful effects sports has on the black community. In my opinion it's right up there with illicit drugs, and alcohol. I was reminded of a conversation I had about 15 years ago with a fellow parent at a pop warner football game, my sons participated in. Both my sons played on a inner city team and we were playing a suburban team, at their very nice field. We engaged in a serious conversation about sports, and the opposing views of our parent base versus the white faces staring directly at us from across the field.

We talked about the role of sports in the respective communities (White/Black) as we watched the pint size gladiators clash, as we concluded, the brother I was speaking with summarized what we spent the whole time verbalizing in one short profound statement " in the white community they raise their kids to use sports as a vehicle to access higher educational opportunities, learn team work, run an organization, network , etc, but in the black community we try to raise pros". I never forgot that statement.

So playing the role of an attorney I will present my case as to why I say sports should be classified in the same category as drugs and alcohol for the damage its done to the black community.

When you look at the impact of sports on the black community and the tight strangle hold it has on the community, tell me what have been the overwhelming positive effects? Yes it has provided a few opportunities for employment , chance to attend certain colleges and universities, others would argue it's a healthy activity, kids are learning character( I don't agree with that philosophy) I think sports reveals your character, but that's for another time. A few of our athletes have made it out of the ghetto and financially can help their family and friends, sports can take you around the world, sports does brings people from different racial , social and political backgrounds together for a common purpose(root for the home team) and these are all true statements, but do the positives outweigh the side effects? consider if you will too many of our young people think the only way to make it in life is through sports( insert entertainment) , many of the athletes that do go on to college, never finish their degree requirements, despite using up all 4 years of athletic eligibility, we spend an absurd amount on clothing(sneakers, shorts, etc), church attendance is down on game days, thousands of young men put all of their stock in making it to the league, and once the dream ends, they often suffer from depression, shock, guilt, and withdrawal. Many of these young men if they had the opportunity to play major college ball lived in a world (illusion) created by the universities, one in which they lacked for nothing, they stayed at the best hotels, traveled first class, ate at the finest restaurants, access to high powered people, groupies, tv exposure, and the best medical attention that money could buy. But once they exit those doors and leave the friendly confines of the school they gave their hearts and souls to what happens to them next? Many will end up right back to the place they started, broken, demoralized, sometimes chemical dependent ; how else will they get the same pain meds that helped them run for a touchdown or make the big hit at the Sugar Bowl, when they are back on mama's couch with no medical insurance these are just some of the ill effects of sports dependency.

Additional arguments to support my case,

Exhibit A: go to any basketball court or playing fields and you will see hundreds of guys out there playing not just for the love of the game or to stay in shape(health conscious) many are there trying to recapture past glory, or play in countless semi-pro / recreational league in hopes of maybe catching someones eye or receiving one more invitation to a free agent camp. Ive witnessed this vicious cycle first hand, when I dreamt of playing pro-ball NBA, CBA, USBL, Europe anywhere, (coming from a small college, I knew the odds were stacked against me) I attended quite a few free agent camps of semi-pro and start up leagues in hopes of catching on. While at one free agent camp in Atlanta, I saw something that became a sobering reality for me as to how powerful the world of sports had become, first off there was a long line of people registering more people than I ever saw before, there were 2 ex NBA players trying out. One of them was an NBA scoring legend( he was playing when I was a small kid) and the other was just a year or two removed from winning a NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, yet here they were in a camp with the rest of us, trying to live that dream. Something else profound also happened during this camp experience, myself and a couple of friends who traveled down to the camp for the experience were at the motel, it was here that we had a chance encounter with the wife of a young man who had just come from a basketball camp in Indiana and had at least 6 more lined up after the Atlanta camp all to chase the dream of becoming a pro ballplayer. This young sister needed to vent and we were the unsuspecting audience, she shared her frustrations and it was visible how much she had become worn down, she wanted to support her husbands dream, yet she was getting sick and tired of the traveling and staying in motels and small no where towns for days on end. The picture of the powerful addiction of sports was starting to become clearer.

Drugs, alcohol and sports have a lot in common they are there to take your mind off daily pressures, there are dealers and pushers (for sports its the media and the carefully crafted images of black athletes who appear to have made it) they make you feel good for a moment, but you eventually come crashing down from the high, they are addictive, they are used for entertainment purposes and its no coincidence that when you have a large number of people living within or below poverty, the one thing you can count on is that they will spend just about every dollar on entertainment . The people on Madison ave know this(check out the type of commercials that air during sporting events), so don't all of the so-called shot callers, the poor are preyed on, look around your community what type of businesses do you see? most of them have something to do with entertainment: hair and nail salons, fast food, Liquor stores, easy access to check cashing, pay day loans, furniture rental companies, (because you just have to have the Big screen HD TV to watch the games)etc. Sports is interwoven into our daily lives, especially in this country but it must be kept within the proper context, too many lives have been ruined by its pursuit. The prosecution rests!

Brotha's Gonna Work it out (The rise of an endangered species)

As I awoke this morning a huge sense of pride greeted me along with the arrival of the bright morning sun. The Boston Celtics are the 2008 NBA Champions. However this pride had nothing to do with the fact that I live in Boston, its much deeper than that. The sense of overcoming and heart felt jubilation stems from the recent success of Black men demonstrating to the world what many of black Americans knew far too long. That if given an equal chance and with the proper resources and support, we can be successful. This country has never witness such a time as this, with the recent victories of men like Tony Dungy, Doc Rivers and Barack.

Yes, there have been other brilliant black leaders in the past in a vast number of industries and organization's, however this is a special time in history, particularly because of the role sports serves as a microcosm of the country. We have seen in the past few years, 2 black men make history by leading their teams to the Superbowl, and a coach (Doc) do what hasn't been done in 22 years in a league made up of over 95% of black males. And the icing on the cake , we have a black man who is months away from becoming the president of the United States. People are learning that there is nothing inferior about black leadership. These brothers are flying in the face of perpetual stereotypes and myths that black people(particulalry black men) can't perform under pressure or somehow less capable of leading large organizations, sports franchises, political establishments and the country.

These brothers have met the challenge of dispelling the negative images of black male intelligence, fatherhood, leadership etc, they have inspired a new generation of believers and they have done so with class, dignity and honor. The time is now for all of us to shout with joy, while at the same time keeping our eyes and ears open, for we know that the majority(white America) will not relinquish power and control that easily, expect the unexpected as there will be calculated attempts to discredit the recent successes of these men, after all if these men and others continue to rise and shine on the biggest stages and platforms of their respective industries, they will inspire the next generation of young black males to become positive and productive citizens and assume the rightful role as protector and leaders of their families and communities, who then will be left to fill the jails, do countless studies on, or discourage from seeking higher education and better employment opportunities. The success of these 3 brothers will have a larger impact than the million man march(no offense). Well done my brotha's , well done !

Michael vs Kobe (alike or different?)

At the start of the NBA Championship series between the Celtics & Lakers, there was a lot of comparison and discussion about Kobe measuring up to the greatness of Michael Jordan and his taking the rightful place of securing the mantle of greatness. If his Lakers can some how come back and win this series, the comparisons an debate will only continue. A lot of people have weighed in on this topic and depending on your personal opinion you fall into one of two categories Yes they are one in the same or No way ,there will never be another Jordan!

Below are my Top 5 Reasons why I say they are more alike than different:

5. Both men have a competitive nature that thrives in crunch time, its that something special that separates them from the rest and packs arena's , people expect to see something spectacular and witness history each time they step on the floor

4. Both are can't miss Hall of Famer's , who in their prime are or were the most feared and respected player in the league and have captured multiple championships

3. Both men are media icons and have generated lots of revenue for large corporations(shoe companies, menswear, personal products, etc) question I wonder how many people of color(in particular black) have they helped to employ at those companies?

2. Neither of them has ever publicly come out in support or endorsed any causes(political , economical or social) that effect people of color

And the number 1 reason why I think they are both cut from the same cloth:

They both cheated on their beautiful wives or in Jordan's case ex-wife with some homely looking women, these sisters are fine why go elsewhere and settle for less? ( yeah I said it)

All Hail Doc Rivers ( A Class Act )

OK all of you Doc haters (you know who you are) the ones who would chant "Fire Doc, Fire Doc" with all of the lung capacity you could muster. Has he earned your respect yet? coming into this series most of the experts gave the coaching edge to the Lakers and the Zen Master Phil Jackson, after all the man just happens to own double digit championship rings. But I've been observing Doc Rivers during this final series and if I didn't know better I'd think this was Jackson's first trip to the big dance instead of Rivers. He has done a masterful job of motivating the troops to play harder, smarter and with more passion than the boys from LA(this is a good old fashion we are tougher than those pretty boys mentally at its best). Rivers is relaxed, jubilant, enjoying the moment, and doing one hell of a job of keeping the pressure off the players.

His dealings with the press have been open and honest, yet respectful no sour grapes or sending messages to the referees about the discrepancy in foul shots. And should the Celtics close out this series on Sunday, you can expect the same humility and class that Doc has always shown to shine through, oh yes he could stick it to his critics, but you see he's not that type of person. It's because of all these things that he has positioned his team to within one game of the NBA championship. If he pulls it off he will be the first African-American coach to lead his team to victory since KC Jones did it in the 80's. While I'm praising individual, let me give a big shout to Danny Ainge for getting his coach the tools(players) he needed to be successful. Any coach will tell you that he or she is only as good as the players they have to work with. You don't win Championships with mediocre players, you may pull off the occasional upset, but in the long run the clock will strike midnight. Doc has always been a good coach, he kept that terrible team of a season ago at least competing until the end and that takes more coaching than when you have talent. But this season his true mastery of the X's and O's are shining through, and his ability to manage and get players to buy in, is a Large reason why the Celtics are on the brink on winning their 17th championship.

is the Sports Media creating a perpetual Racial Division?

As we prepare for Game 3 of the Lakers vs Celtics championship match up and the continual hype machine that tried to link this series back to the classic series of the 80's. I've noticed something taking place that's ever so subtle, its the way the media is playing up the affair. Of course there's the endless showing of the Mchale close line of Rambis and Magic is getting lots of face time ,as well as former players of the 2 squads, however I've noticed an increasing pattern, when the news media interviews or wants to get fan reactions , notice whom they select for each team, the Celtic fans are almost always white, and the Lakers fans are either brown or black. Don't take my word for it, do your own informal poll. From here on out count the number of times you see this transaction take place and send me your count. Maybe its just my imagination?? or is it Holla back!

One down, 3 to Go (Score 1 for the Good Guys)

Well after all of the hoopla leading up to Game One of the NBA Championship, it was good to start the actual games. Overall I thought the game was well played(these late night starts are brutal) you could see a lot of time was spent on both teams getting familiar with each other. Kobe wasn't his normal aggressive self until late in the contest, and if you are a Celtic fan , you can live with his philosophy of getting others involved first, he made some really nice passes, I'm not sure , but it looked to me that he was going out of his way to show the world on the biggest stage the evolution of his game, from being a me-first , to the consummate team player. I'd much rather see him playing the role of PG than going on those huge scoring bunches he's capable of. Game 2 will see a more aggressive Kobe(bank on it), I'm sure Phil will put a bug into his hear to set the tone from the opening tip.

The heroics of Paul Pierce returning definitely gave the game a dramatic story line, but I agree with Doc Rivers, I was more impressed with how the team stepped up when Pierce went to the locker room. LA had some great runs, but to me they just seemed a step behind or out sorts, which allowed the C's to take control of the game down the stretch. If we learned anything from last nights game its the importance the supporting cast will play for both teams. It was good to see the Big 3 all score in double figures, but it was a welcomed site to see Rondo come out looking for his shot, Pj Brown and Sam Cassell each made significant contributions off the bench. And in case many people didn't notice one key sequence in the game that set the tone for the C's game plan to be the more physical team , was Posey's hard foul on Kobe's drive down the lane in the first half, the Lakers bench and staff erupted, that was a huge indicator of what the C's were thinking and they pounded the Lakers every chance they had. The Lakers will come back strong in game 2, and maybe this time they won't worry too much about how pretty they looked for the camera (many of them had fresh cuts and shaves did you check out Turiaf's dreads ? ) and will focus on playing the style of ball that got them to the finals. Will See,

Go Celtics and while we are at it, Good Job Coaching Doc, if nothing else I hope you finally get some credit for being an outstanding coach

Celtics vs Lakers , This time I'm rooting for the Home team?

Well here we are just a few days from the start of the 2008 NBA Championship series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Something strange has happened since these 2 teams last met over 20 years ago, I've become a fan of the home team, something I swore I'd never do. Growing up in Boston during the glorious days of the Championship run of the 80's I found myself rooting for every team that stood in their way? I was a Detroit Pistons fan, Laker fan, 76er fan(much love Dr.j), Houston Rocket supporter, you name any team besides the Celtics and I was their biggest cheerleader. But it's funny what two decades of time can do to a person, now I find myself yelling at the TV set with a passion and voracity that was solely reserved for the opposing team when they'd do something stupid to blow the game (Think Isiah Thomas ill fated pass). What changed, (I don't know maybe I've grown fonder of this City, or maybe I've just embraced the old style tradition that Bostonians are famous for) yeah right and maybe we should all just hold hands and teach the world to sing!

What changed is a greater appreciation of the make up of the current team and coaching staff, they are predominately African-American. Something that I thought I'd never see in this City. I was too young to remember any of the Celtics Championship teams that were so dominant during the Bill Russell era, but I heard and read stories of how disenfranchised Russell became with some of the narrow minds of the area's local sports fanatics who despite having the player many regard as the greatest ever in their midst, many of them could not see beyond the color of his skin to welcome him as a neighbor. That fact that an African-American man was leading a team aptly named the "Celtics" I imagined was tolerated, but not beloved. In my opinion, I think it would be years later that people truly appreciated what Russell and his teammates accomplished.

Many of today's fans don't remember the Celtics of days gone by, the teams that drums up all kinds of nostalgia are the Larry Bird led teams of the 80's. What's the difference between the two era's (take a good guess) that's right Bird , who had multiple skills a little "Flash" and was considered an over achiever from small town USA, just happened to be White, and in a City with a deserved or not reputation for being a tough place for people of color, it was easy to see why so many people packed the Old Boston Garden to see the man who delighted in letting his defenders know they were in a for a long night. There's no denying the fact that Bird is one of the greatest players ever to lace them up, but his championship run pales in comparison to Russell, yet Birds face became and still is for those who like to reminisce the face of the organization. Be honest how many people remember that K.C Jones Coached a couple of those teams? K.C an African-American former player was never given real credit for being a good coach (much like Doc Rivers today) it was widely considered that he won because he had TALENT!

I use to hate the hype that those Celtic teams and their illustrious leader would generate, I'd swear there were times in the game that if you even breathed on Larry it was a foul. And no matter how much the team won, I couldn't bring myself to root for them, maybe it stemmed from my deep seeded animosity I harbored from witnessing turbulent times when forced busing was implemented and Blacks could not venture into certain neighborhoods for fear of their lives. (Boston still remains one of the most segregated Cities in the US) or maybe that despite my young age, it always bothered me that the fans never revered Bill to Birds status or maybe it was just reverse racism. It just seemed everything was great in the City as long as the Celtics were led by a White Superstar. Whatever the reason, I just couldn't stand the Celtics, I never attended any of the victory parades, never wore a shamrock shirt or hat, nothing with Green and black would adorn this physique, with the exception of my high schools green uniform( I had no say in the matter). If you think I was alone on this boat , you are sadly mistaken, I recall a Boston Globe article that was written during that time, when the Celtics were facing the Lakers and it touched upon the split facet of the fans and their rooting interests in the respective teams, it came as no surprise that an overwhelming number of blacks and perceived liberal whites interviewed were pulling for the Lakers, who were led by Black Superstars (Magic Johnson and Kareem).

The Lakers represented Fast break basketball a style that's commonly associated with inner-city youths, they had the bling, and all of the glamour, style and sizzle your heart could stand, plus all of the celebrities from Hollywood would pack the Forum for a chance to get free face time from the CBS TV camera's while sitting at court side.The Celtics were polar opposites, their style of play reflected the characteristics of the Blue Collar worker , deeply rooted in Old World tradition of hard work, getting your hands dirty, doing the little things to get the job done without all of the hoopla and although we certainly know that this description is without racial classification, it was more widely associated with white America.

Flash ahead twenty plus years and the aforementioned description of the 80's Celtics, is exactly what you could say about today's team and coach. Maybe that's the reason I am cheering for the men in green. Because I truly want to see them win the Championship, I LOVE KG's intensity that he brings every night, I've become a legit Paul Pierce fan and have learned to appreciate his game and skills(not flashy or a sky walker) and I'm pulling for Doc Rivers(how many coaches have been raked over the coals more than him win or lose?), and lastly as I get older and realize these type of parades come few and far between, I'd like to make up for lost time and attend a victory parade to exclaim that the Celtics are the best and attest that Boston has come a long way.