Before you read further, please pause for a moment and consider the discombobulated disconnect of our Nation's approach, guidelines and agreeable methods for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. The President appointed a medical team task force to study scientific evidence regarding this virus and then ultimately establish protocols for mitigating its spread. The task force did that, the President momentarily joined in concert with the game plan and then suddenly did a 180-degree turn because of the economy ills. Point: The American President called the coronavirus a hoax but has attendees at his rallies sign a waiver exonerating the President should they get infected by a phantom-virus.
Okay, let's fast forward...we are opening our schools if for no other reason but to have a babysitting place to secure kids under adult superivion so mom and dad can go to work. We got all kinds of return to classroom educational learning scenarios. Now when it comes to high school sports, we find everybody scrambling to cover their 'susable asses.' The IHSA recently sent guideline forms to state high schools outlining coaches' responsibilities to monitor and keep student-athletes safe from contracting the virus. Coaches are to check all athletes before all practices and before all games for 'symptoms.' If a athlete has just one symptom they are disqualified from participation and must see their healthcare provider.
Here is that check list: (Athletes are to answer Yes or No)
1) fever/cough/chills/muscle aches
2) sore throat/runny nose/loss taste or smell
3) nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
4) shortness breath/headache
5) close contact w/Covid Person
6) Temperature over 100.4 degrees
Teens will not answer those questions honestly. Does not make teens evil, it makes them teens who see no harm and believe that they are invincible. While coaching basketball at Edwardsville high school in the 1970's, I had a star player breakout with 'Chicken Pox' the morning of a game. He and a friend used talcum powder over exposed body parts to cover up the rash. He played the entire game, took a shower and walked into my office bare-chested showing an unbelievable rash.
So, Illinois is going to attempt opening schools in the fall amidst the pandemic. Lots of luck getting young people who have difficulty understanding the word 'No' to wear a face mask and social distance. They already refuse to put away cell phones during class, take ears buds out or take their cap off in the building.
Two Questions for the high school sport enthusiasts: Can it be rationalized that students wear masks and social distance in classrooms but it will be okay for football players, volleyball players and basketball players discordthe mask and be in extremely close contact? How many parents are going the sign that waiver card during a pandemic?
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Friday, June 26, 2020
The Turkey Tourney
I assure you readers that should you mention three words, 'The Turkey Tourney' to a Decaturite, they immediately can relate and give you some information about one of the most prestigious Illinois annual invitational prep basketball events. As all Americans, we wait with hope that the coronavirus, which has crippled nationwide sporting events will be negated thus allowing the 51st Annual 8-team roundball throwdown. The Turkey Tourney has produced over 85, Division I basketball players along with NBA notables, Shaun Livingston and Andre' Iguodala. There has also been a plethora of State Championship teams from the likes of Decatur High, Peoria High, Champaign Central, East St. Louis High, Springfield Lanphier, Harvey-Thornton and state contenders, i.e.,. Bolingbrook, Springfield Southeast and soon to be added Peoria Manual.
The week long Turkey Tourney is attended by some 11,000 fans enjoying a 'Homecoming' atmosphere. The event transcends high school basketball as yearly recognitions of Grand Marshals, Volunteers, Decatur Heroes is laced into games, shooting contests and halftime entertainment.
As Tournament Coordinator the past nineteen years, I personally have come to know and admire the goodness of so many corporate and business supporters. I recall the first time I met with our own Decatur administrators and sponsors when I asked them what kind of tournament they wished to have. The said, "The most competitive in the State." We've pushed for that yearly. When I met with Decatur School District's maintenance and custodial staffs I gave them ownership to the event and they spit-shine and put our best foot forward. Decatur Public Schools do the City proud!
I began this blog Series speaking about having a race conversation. I shall close by pointing to the cooperative efforts of our local law enforcement and a Decatur Volunteer group known as 'The Caring Black Men' who join efforts in mentoring and monitoring student-fan interaction and youth behavior during our Tournament Classic.
I can attest to the fact that when people of any and all stripes come together in a shared committed cause, 'they get it right,' and it's always more important to do right and get it right than to be right! If people come together for conversation with such a mindset then true productive conversation will yield significant and meaningful change Good for our America.
The week long Turkey Tourney is attended by some 11,000 fans enjoying a 'Homecoming' atmosphere. The event transcends high school basketball as yearly recognitions of Grand Marshals, Volunteers, Decatur Heroes is laced into games, shooting contests and halftime entertainment.
As Tournament Coordinator the past nineteen years, I personally have come to know and admire the goodness of so many corporate and business supporters. I recall the first time I met with our own Decatur administrators and sponsors when I asked them what kind of tournament they wished to have. The said, "The most competitive in the State." We've pushed for that yearly. When I met with Decatur School District's maintenance and custodial staffs I gave them ownership to the event and they spit-shine and put our best foot forward. Decatur Public Schools do the City proud!
I began this blog Series speaking about having a race conversation. I shall close by pointing to the cooperative efforts of our local law enforcement and a Decatur Volunteer group known as 'The Caring Black Men' who join efforts in mentoring and monitoring student-fan interaction and youth behavior during our Tournament Classic.
I can attest to the fact that when people of any and all stripes come together in a shared committed cause, 'they get it right,' and it's always more important to do right and get it right than to be right! If people come together for conversation with such a mindset then true productive conversation will yield significant and meaningful change Good for our America.
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Leaving Coaching But Not The Game
When I accepted the Stephen Decatur High School basketball position in 1998, I did so amongst rumors that one of the three remaining high schools would close due to declining enrollments. I was told that the city's namesake school would certainly not be closed. It was announced that Stephen Decatur High would close. Why? Local Politics, my Dear Watson, local politics.
I was ready to walk away from the coaching sidelines. When I expressed these intentions to District Administrator, Elmer McPherson, he asked in a sincere and well serving manner that I stay on during the transitional year to avoid turmoil that would come in recruiting wars between MacArthur high school and Eisenhower high school seeking to entice Stephen Decatur High School players. The request was simple, I was to protect Decatur High players returning that were to attend Eisenhower thus avoiding a talent load-up with all going to MacArthur High. I agreed. That first and final year coaching Eisenhower was rather uneventful. I do recall being told that the Annual Decatur Turkey Tournament would be canceled the next year so I telephoned Lincoln Coach Neil Alexander and got the Eisenhower Panthers in their Thanksgiving Tournament for my successor the next year. Within days, I was informed that Decatur garnered enough financial help to save the Tourney one more year. I called Coach Alexander to thank him for offering to 'take us in' but looks like the Decatur folks are okay for one more year. I thought, 'Whatever!'
At the close of the 2000-2001 season, I tendered my resignation letter putting a period behind a thirty-nine year coaching career. It was a wonderful journey and one I would do over in a heartbeat. I was fortunate to have my motivational speaking engagements still viable and my wife, Gerry and I looked forward to that State and National travel. I also conducted three or four IHSA coaching certification clinics annually and that kept me engaged with the coaching profession. Leaving the gym would be fine...so I thought.
It was sometime that late spring when Superintendent Elmer McPherson telephoned asking me to come to his office for a chat. When I arrived at McPherson's office, I was surprised to see School Board Member DR Roberts was also in the mix. Get ready for the 'double-team.' The 'chat' centered around a proposal for me to assume a never before role of Decatur Turkey Tourney Coordinator. The charge? Get eight teams every year and raise local monies to cover tournament cost. My initial answer, "No Thank You." Of course, they asked me to think it over and talk to my wife and I said I would.
I told my wife about the proposal and much to my surprise she said, "Do it. But do it with your conditions." I thought about her comment. 'May conditions?' Umm, money stays in Turkey Tourney account and is spent on boys and girls basketball needs in the School District. We try to help high school coaches with additional revenues. So, I'm suggesting to the school administration that 'if I create a situation, which produces profit, I get to control the expenditures. I had a follow up meeting, offered my proposal and it was met with smiles and agreed upon. Perhaps they believed they were smiling at a fool who thought money could be made off a high school tournament.
Next: Goal: A Prestigious Tourney With Homecoming Atmosphere...19-years Running!
I was ready to walk away from the coaching sidelines. When I expressed these intentions to District Administrator, Elmer McPherson, he asked in a sincere and well serving manner that I stay on during the transitional year to avoid turmoil that would come in recruiting wars between MacArthur high school and Eisenhower high school seeking to entice Stephen Decatur High School players. The request was simple, I was to protect Decatur High players returning that were to attend Eisenhower thus avoiding a talent load-up with all going to MacArthur High. I agreed. That first and final year coaching Eisenhower was rather uneventful. I do recall being told that the Annual Decatur Turkey Tournament would be canceled the next year so I telephoned Lincoln Coach Neil Alexander and got the Eisenhower Panthers in their Thanksgiving Tournament for my successor the next year. Within days, I was informed that Decatur garnered enough financial help to save the Tourney one more year. I called Coach Alexander to thank him for offering to 'take us in' but looks like the Decatur folks are okay for one more year. I thought, 'Whatever!'
At the close of the 2000-2001 season, I tendered my resignation letter putting a period behind a thirty-nine year coaching career. It was a wonderful journey and one I would do over in a heartbeat. I was fortunate to have my motivational speaking engagements still viable and my wife, Gerry and I looked forward to that State and National travel. I also conducted three or four IHSA coaching certification clinics annually and that kept me engaged with the coaching profession. Leaving the gym would be fine...so I thought.
It was sometime that late spring when Superintendent Elmer McPherson telephoned asking me to come to his office for a chat. When I arrived at McPherson's office, I was surprised to see School Board Member DR Roberts was also in the mix. Get ready for the 'double-team.' The 'chat' centered around a proposal for me to assume a never before role of Decatur Turkey Tourney Coordinator. The charge? Get eight teams every year and raise local monies to cover tournament cost. My initial answer, "No Thank You." Of course, they asked me to think it over and talk to my wife and I said I would.
I told my wife about the proposal and much to my surprise she said, "Do it. But do it with your conditions." I thought about her comment. 'May conditions?' Umm, money stays in Turkey Tourney account and is spent on boys and girls basketball needs in the School District. We try to help high school coaches with additional revenues. So, I'm suggesting to the school administration that 'if I create a situation, which produces profit, I get to control the expenditures. I had a follow up meeting, offered my proposal and it was met with smiles and agreed upon. Perhaps they believed they were smiling at a fool who thought money could be made off a high school tournament.
Next: Goal: A Prestigious Tourney With Homecoming Atmosphere...19-years Running!
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Player Suspended Racial Tension High
The 1999 summer basketball play of my second Stephen Decatur squad showed great promise. We returned most of the squad from the year before and players' familiarity the coach's system was finding the much needed comfort zone. We handledvsome better Illinois teams that summer including a highly regard Rock Island squad. Things would take an unfortunate turn at a September 17, 1999 Decatur Inter-City fooltball game. No it wasn't an injury but of all things a fight in the stands...not a very good fight at that. I saw a hellava lot better fights at Parsons Field East St. Louis in 1956. However, when a bunch (seven) Black teenage boys run around amongst White fans throwing wild punches and kicking at each other folks get upset and rightly so. Had the fight taken place in the parking lot it would have been a non-issue.
The punitive fall out was devasting to our basketball fortunes. We (Stephen Decatur High) lost one of our better senior players. Actually, had the player been a junior he would have missed two years because the expulsion for the fighters was two years. Rev. Jessie Jackson seized the moment as he often did to get involve. Jessie was coming to town bringing a bus load of protesters to make a point about excessive penalties. At that time our basketball team under IHSA rules had started practice. The Decatur school administration made a wise choice 'locking-down' high school campuses during Jackson's visit. STOP and put yourself in a coach's shoes. I have a group of Black players who are picking up pieces after losing one of their teammates to a suspension. You got a known prolific hell raiser in Rev. Jackson coming to town. Emotionsvwould be running high and I was not going to let my guys go withoutbsome upfront cautionary mentoring comments. I broke the rules. I called a practice for 6:00 AM during the lock down. Actually, we didn't practice. I had no intention of practicing. Instead I sat my guys down in the bleachers and painted a picture that would soon be in living color that afternoon and evening. I told my players that I understood if they wanted to go to the rally and listen to what was expressed. BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should they lose control of their emotions and do something foolish that could compromise their personal academic and athletic standing. These kids needed guidance during this highly emotionally charged moment. Well, I got called out by the administration for 'ignoring' the lockdown edict. How do you plead, Coach? Guilty, Guilty & Guilty, your honor. And sometimes it feels rght to be guilty when those in need benefit.
At the end of the month, I was touring the East Coast with a couple of speaking engagements. I recall an administrator at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts asking me if it was commononplace for Illinois schools to suspend students for two-years? I answered, "I can't say, but I hope not."
Next: Close the City's Namesake School, Protect Eisenhower & Turn the Page.
The punitive fall out was devasting to our basketball fortunes. We (Stephen Decatur High) lost one of our better senior players. Actually, had the player been a junior he would have missed two years because the expulsion for the fighters was two years. Rev. Jessie Jackson seized the moment as he often did to get involve. Jessie was coming to town bringing a bus load of protesters to make a point about excessive penalties. At that time our basketball team under IHSA rules had started practice. The Decatur school administration made a wise choice 'locking-down' high school campuses during Jackson's visit. STOP and put yourself in a coach's shoes. I have a group of Black players who are picking up pieces after losing one of their teammates to a suspension. You got a known prolific hell raiser in Rev. Jackson coming to town. Emotionsvwould be running high and I was not going to let my guys go withoutbsome upfront cautionary mentoring comments. I broke the rules. I called a practice for 6:00 AM during the lock down. Actually, we didn't practice. I had no intention of practicing. Instead I sat my guys down in the bleachers and painted a picture that would soon be in living color that afternoon and evening. I told my players that I understood if they wanted to go to the rally and listen to what was expressed. BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should they lose control of their emotions and do something foolish that could compromise their personal academic and athletic standing. These kids needed guidance during this highly emotionally charged moment. Well, I got called out by the administration for 'ignoring' the lockdown edict. How do you plead, Coach? Guilty, Guilty & Guilty, your honor. And sometimes it feels rght to be guilty when those in need benefit.
At the end of the month, I was touring the East Coast with a couple of speaking engagements. I recall an administrator at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts asking me if it was commononplace for Illinois schools to suspend students for two-years? I answered, "I can't say, but I hope not."
Next: Close the City's Namesake School, Protect Eisenhower & Turn the Page.
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Control Your Response and Mentor
I did not enter the initial year as Decatur High's basketball coach with my head in the sand. I was born at night but it wasn't last night. The year is 1998. I had introductory contact with my team during the summer before the fall semester. Our guys played twice a week in the Lincoln Summer League. As mentioned, my team was comprised of all Black ball players. Their coach is a 58-year old totally whiteheaded White guy. I sensed during early contact that I would be tested...I could not wait. It was a fun honeymoon during the summer but things soon changed as a rigid highly intense formal practice routine began. That's when the first opportunity to establish parameters and non-negotiable expectations.
At no time in my coaching career did allow my players to run-off at the mouth in practice. I've always believed you will play as you practice and I'm convinced there will be game-slippage so keep your damn mouth shut and play hard or leave and take your trash-talking bullshit elsewhere. It took one lecture and several suicide-runs to stop the calling one another "nigger." I spell out that word once and once only because I want you to look at it and see it for what it is. I'll explain my belief: The two greatest forces in the world yesterday and today remain the same, they are Hate and Love. Not money, not power. Nothing is so strong as Hate and Love. That said, I truly believe the "N" word is one of the words, which profoundly expresses hate. My players were never permitted to use the "N" word in my presence. I find it self-loathing and used by people with low self-esteem. I don't buy it that the use of the 'N' word between Blacks is 'just their thing.' Bullshit. It's disgusting and perpetuates self-loathing and hate. It needs to be eradicated.
The Stephen Decatur High School floor plan was perfect with the secured foyer adjacent to the gym. Athletes could wait after practice in the area for rides home out of any inclement weather. For whatever reason, those athletes were told to avoid that area and leave the building after practice via the South end. During the fall sports seasons, I observed this rule loosely enforced if enforced at all. Come winter time, I got repeated administrative notes that my players were NOT to wait in the galleria-gym foyer. I got tired of the obvious call out of my guys after seeing what took place in the fall and asked the administration if there were also certain water fountains and restrooms my guys were not to use? The administration got my message and stopped puting notes in my mailbox about my players exiting the school after practice from the foyer.
That first season, we lost a one point game on the road against an all white school. The three game officials were white. As I entered our locker room after the game, I noticed one of my players beating the locker and screaming in anger. I approached him and spoke. He was complaining that our team was cheated because of 'color.' I would not argue the fact that close calls went the other way but I was concerned with how my player was processing. I sat him down and reviewed the game stats pointing out various missed opportunities that could have changed the outcome. Opportunities 'in our control.' I told him that regardless of racial factors when you play on the road you are looking at a six point deficit at the start. I admonished him for reaching for that 'color-crutch.' It's too easy, too convenient and too crippling. Don't do it.
Next: Heartbreak loss of a player to suspension and mentoring my players to cope with emotional racial issues.
At no time in my coaching career did allow my players to run-off at the mouth in practice. I've always believed you will play as you practice and I'm convinced there will be game-slippage so keep your damn mouth shut and play hard or leave and take your trash-talking bullshit elsewhere. It took one lecture and several suicide-runs to stop the calling one another "nigger." I spell out that word once and once only because I want you to look at it and see it for what it is. I'll explain my belief: The two greatest forces in the world yesterday and today remain the same, they are Hate and Love. Not money, not power. Nothing is so strong as Hate and Love. That said, I truly believe the "N" word is one of the words, which profoundly expresses hate. My players were never permitted to use the "N" word in my presence. I find it self-loathing and used by people with low self-esteem. I don't buy it that the use of the 'N' word between Blacks is 'just their thing.' Bullshit. It's disgusting and perpetuates self-loathing and hate. It needs to be eradicated.
The Stephen Decatur High School floor plan was perfect with the secured foyer adjacent to the gym. Athletes could wait after practice in the area for rides home out of any inclement weather. For whatever reason, those athletes were told to avoid that area and leave the building after practice via the South end. During the fall sports seasons, I observed this rule loosely enforced if enforced at all. Come winter time, I got repeated administrative notes that my players were NOT to wait in the galleria-gym foyer. I got tired of the obvious call out of my guys after seeing what took place in the fall and asked the administration if there were also certain water fountains and restrooms my guys were not to use? The administration got my message and stopped puting notes in my mailbox about my players exiting the school after practice from the foyer.
That first season, we lost a one point game on the road against an all white school. The three game officials were white. As I entered our locker room after the game, I noticed one of my players beating the locker and screaming in anger. I approached him and spoke. He was complaining that our team was cheated because of 'color.' I would not argue the fact that close calls went the other way but I was concerned with how my player was processing. I sat him down and reviewed the game stats pointing out various missed opportunities that could have changed the outcome. Opportunities 'in our control.' I told him that regardless of racial factors when you play on the road you are looking at a six point deficit at the start. I admonished him for reaching for that 'color-crutch.' It's too easy, too convenient and too crippling. Don't do it.
Next: Heartbreak loss of a player to suspension and mentoring my players to cope with emotional racial issues.
Monday, June 22, 2020
Shifting Gears..Same Challenges
Twenty-one coaching years at Jacksonville was an incredible 'run.' I was blessed with a perfect alignment of stars: a wonderful supportive administration, loyal assistants, dedicated/talented/trusting players and a community that loved its basketball. I had peripheral opportunities such as serving the athletic director, serving the IHSA as Television analyst for the State Basketball Tournament, serving as the IHSA as National Liason for the ASEP Coach Certification Program and hosting WLDS Radio programs all of which, promoted the Jacksonville community, Jacksonville high school and myself. Did I say, I was blessed?!
In 1998, I believed it was time to retire from the coaching sidelines. My wife, Gerry and I were looking to re-locate in a city environment, which felt like home, 1950's, East St. Louis. You ask why not East St. Louis? Simple. I can't go home. It's no longer safe for anybody. The National Council for Home Safety ranks East St. Louis as America's most dangerous city. The last time I drove through my old neighborhood and down my memory lanes, I was greeted with looks of hate and contempt. Sure it pissed me off. Nobody there knows my story. But nobody there cares because to them I represent 'White Flight' and just as so many 'Whites' racially profile Blacks, I was also being racially profiled. I was being looked at as something I am not. And so it is that some things 'cut both ways.'
The Blacks that occupy East St. Louis today and my generation that inhabited the city years past are both victims of East St. Louis being the bastard child of St. Louis as deemed so by East Coast money men who built St. Louis but designed the East Side city for its dirty factories, stockyards, railroads, race tracks, gambling parlors and whore houses. Our town was the sin city for St. Louis.
In 1998, I was doing many speaking presentations in State and nation wide. My wife and I liked the interstate connection choices in either Springfield or Decatur, which still kept us at reasonable travel distances from our three married children and grandkids. I was contacted by a Decatur school administrator and asked to visit about a basketball vacancy at Stephen Decatur High. Obviously, it triggered an interest so I interviewed. Driving into Decatur, I noticed a sign at the city limits, which read "Racism>Not Here." I pointed it out to my wife and said, "Decatur has racial issues." She replied, "Well, don't most cities?" The Decatur position had opened under unfortunate circumstances, which created more racial tensions, at least within the school district. Sure the hell intrigued me...find a place to call home. We did just that and 22-years later, we still call Decatur home.
I knew immediately that there would be interesting coaching challenges that first Stephen Decatur basketball season when I placed in the school announcements that our first week of practice would be
held at 5:30 AM all week. My assistant coach told me that SOME faculty members were making fun of me saying "those"'kids won't show up at 5:30 in the morning. I immediately called two mothers of Black players and shared the perspective. The mothers' response, "What time you want the boys there, Coach? "5:30AM." 13-players (1-White & 12-Black) were on the floor five straight days at 5:30AM. I sure do like facing challenges, bridging gaps and callin' out crap.
Next: equality of scrutinization.
In 1998, I believed it was time to retire from the coaching sidelines. My wife, Gerry and I were looking to re-locate in a city environment, which felt like home, 1950's, East St. Louis. You ask why not East St. Louis? Simple. I can't go home. It's no longer safe for anybody. The National Council for Home Safety ranks East St. Louis as America's most dangerous city. The last time I drove through my old neighborhood and down my memory lanes, I was greeted with looks of hate and contempt. Sure it pissed me off. Nobody there knows my story. But nobody there cares because to them I represent 'White Flight' and just as so many 'Whites' racially profile Blacks, I was also being racially profiled. I was being looked at as something I am not. And so it is that some things 'cut both ways.'
The Blacks that occupy East St. Louis today and my generation that inhabited the city years past are both victims of East St. Louis being the bastard child of St. Louis as deemed so by East Coast money men who built St. Louis but designed the East Side city for its dirty factories, stockyards, railroads, race tracks, gambling parlors and whore houses. Our town was the sin city for St. Louis.
In 1998, I was doing many speaking presentations in State and nation wide. My wife and I liked the interstate connection choices in either Springfield or Decatur, which still kept us at reasonable travel distances from our three married children and grandkids. I was contacted by a Decatur school administrator and asked to visit about a basketball vacancy at Stephen Decatur High. Obviously, it triggered an interest so I interviewed. Driving into Decatur, I noticed a sign at the city limits, which read "Racism>Not Here." I pointed it out to my wife and said, "Decatur has racial issues." She replied, "Well, don't most cities?" The Decatur position had opened under unfortunate circumstances, which created more racial tensions, at least within the school district. Sure the hell intrigued me...find a place to call home. We did just that and 22-years later, we still call Decatur home.
I knew immediately that there would be interesting coaching challenges that first Stephen Decatur basketball season when I placed in the school announcements that our first week of practice would be
held at 5:30 AM all week. My assistant coach told me that SOME faculty members were making fun of me saying "those"'kids won't show up at 5:30 in the morning. I immediately called two mothers of Black players and shared the perspective. The mothers' response, "What time you want the boys there, Coach? "5:30AM." 13-players (1-White & 12-Black) were on the floor five straight days at 5:30AM. I sure do like facing challenges, bridging gaps and callin' out crap.
Next: equality of scrutinization.
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Dispelling Street Myths
I think it is reasonable that a racial minority individual representing less than 6% of a community population of 20, 000 people just might be subjected to a defeatist, 'what's the use,' attitude. An attitude supported by some real events from the past and mythical unsubstantiated beliefs whispered over the fence and perpetuated by crutch-passing-out street talk.
Regardless of race, ethnicity or religious beliefs, adults are wise to warn their children/young people about cultural and social realities. However, often times those warnings are distorted over time because of the embellishment of unsubstantiated beliefs. Let me share two examples, which came to light during my Jacksonville coaching tenure: A young adult Black man who had played basketball years before at Jacksonville high school became comfortable with our friendship and one day surprise me with a question. "Coach, he asked, I'm going to ask you a question and I hope it doesn't offend you. Do some White parents offer Jacksonville coaches money or perks to play their son?" Pause and consider the fact that this notion of 'pay-to-play' from White parents had to be a street perpetuated message yet how the hell can one automatically dismiss it as never happening. I don't know the real history of any school's coaching-parent relationships. And furthermore just the social closeness parents and coaches might have certainly could present a picture of suspicion. On a personal note this is the very reason I refused house party invitations during the basketball season except from my coaching staff members, administrators or the team support professionals, i.e., medical personnel. Why? Because I am everybody's coach in a community and I wanted not to give the impression that some people had greater access to me than others.
I can support my belief that Street talk can be a hurdle for a minority to negotiate with the following: Jamie Berkeley and Randall McGee were two Black players who were nurtured through our elementary program into the high school arena. They were traveling with me to a summer basketball event when Jamie said to Randall, "Doc, I'm gunna tell coach want we were talkin'' about earlier." Doc (Randall) said, "Go ahead, he should know." Then Jamie spoke, "Coach, as a Black boy growing up in Jacksonville it takes to about your junior year to find out that the White coach ain't gunna do you wrong." A sad reality readers...a very sad reality. My response to Jamie and Randall,
"I wish everytime that statement was made to a young boy by an older person that the person making that claim had hard proof along with a playing background." I was glad to have this kind of input from my players because it helped me in future communications.
Let me dismiss an old coaching myth: 'I treat all my players the same.' No, I didn't! Make no mistake I had the SAME expectations and rules for all my players but I purposely got to know their individual background so I could better engage each player. I suppose conducting nearly 4,000 practices, I've taped over 10,000 ankles. Each time I had that taping moment with a player I asked questions; not basketball questions but inquiries about family; mother, father, siblings and grandparents. Those answers gave me insight and a blueprint for individual engagement. Not every family goes on vacations, own automobiles or live in big houses. Some households are in turmoil and I needed that information to better understand my guys and communicate with them.
As a faculty member, I was called out once by an assistant principal as the instructor who has not written a student referral in three years. I did not feel the need to defend my record because I was comfortable with my philosophy. Most student rules-offenders are borderline academic students and really don't want to be in school. Whether the student was White or Black if I caught them offending, I called their parent or guardian rather than write a referral, which would lead to a suspension. Sure, you take a chance that some parent will be defensive but I was loaded for that push-back...never happend. My approach, 'keep'em in school and make do right!'
My great good fortune in Jacksonville was the administration and the media. I envisioned from day one in Jacksonville to see four things become a school staple: 1) The establishment of a All Sport JHS Hall--of-Fame Induction, 2) A Hall-of-Fame Room at the JHS Bowl, 3) A West-Central Illinois All-Star Annual Basketball Charity Game and 4) A West Central Illinois Student-Athlete Scholar Awards Program. As I shared these ideas with administrators and enlisted the support of media all was accomplished and stand today as Annual staples. Each event brings folks together to celebrate our shared goodness. Talk about winning!
Ps. During my twenty-one year-tenure in a community of approximately 6% Black, some 41% of Jacksonville varsity basketball teams was comprised of Black players.
Next: Going to Decatur Like Going Home ..."Racism? Not Here! Yeah, Right!"
Regardless of race, ethnicity or religious beliefs, adults are wise to warn their children/young people about cultural and social realities. However, often times those warnings are distorted over time because of the embellishment of unsubstantiated beliefs. Let me share two examples, which came to light during my Jacksonville coaching tenure: A young adult Black man who had played basketball years before at Jacksonville high school became comfortable with our friendship and one day surprise me with a question. "Coach, he asked, I'm going to ask you a question and I hope it doesn't offend you. Do some White parents offer Jacksonville coaches money or perks to play their son?" Pause and consider the fact that this notion of 'pay-to-play' from White parents had to be a street perpetuated message yet how the hell can one automatically dismiss it as never happening. I don't know the real history of any school's coaching-parent relationships. And furthermore just the social closeness parents and coaches might have certainly could present a picture of suspicion. On a personal note this is the very reason I refused house party invitations during the basketball season except from my coaching staff members, administrators or the team support professionals, i.e., medical personnel. Why? Because I am everybody's coach in a community and I wanted not to give the impression that some people had greater access to me than others.
I can support my belief that Street talk can be a hurdle for a minority to negotiate with the following: Jamie Berkeley and Randall McGee were two Black players who were nurtured through our elementary program into the high school arena. They were traveling with me to a summer basketball event when Jamie said to Randall, "Doc, I'm gunna tell coach want we were talkin'' about earlier." Doc (Randall) said, "Go ahead, he should know." Then Jamie spoke, "Coach, as a Black boy growing up in Jacksonville it takes to about your junior year to find out that the White coach ain't gunna do you wrong." A sad reality readers...a very sad reality. My response to Jamie and Randall,
"I wish everytime that statement was made to a young boy by an older person that the person making that claim had hard proof along with a playing background." I was glad to have this kind of input from my players because it helped me in future communications.
Let me dismiss an old coaching myth: 'I treat all my players the same.' No, I didn't! Make no mistake I had the SAME expectations and rules for all my players but I purposely got to know their individual background so I could better engage each player. I suppose conducting nearly 4,000 practices, I've taped over 10,000 ankles. Each time I had that taping moment with a player I asked questions; not basketball questions but inquiries about family; mother, father, siblings and grandparents. Those answers gave me insight and a blueprint for individual engagement. Not every family goes on vacations, own automobiles or live in big houses. Some households are in turmoil and I needed that information to better understand my guys and communicate with them.
As a faculty member, I was called out once by an assistant principal as the instructor who has not written a student referral in three years. I did not feel the need to defend my record because I was comfortable with my philosophy. Most student rules-offenders are borderline academic students and really don't want to be in school. Whether the student was White or Black if I caught them offending, I called their parent or guardian rather than write a referral, which would lead to a suspension. Sure, you take a chance that some parent will be defensive but I was loaded for that push-back...never happend. My approach, 'keep'em in school and make do right!'
My great good fortune in Jacksonville was the administration and the media. I envisioned from day one in Jacksonville to see four things become a school staple: 1) The establishment of a All Sport JHS Hall--of-Fame Induction, 2) A Hall-of-Fame Room at the JHS Bowl, 3) A West-Central Illinois All-Star Annual Basketball Charity Game and 4) A West Central Illinois Student-Athlete Scholar Awards Program. As I shared these ideas with administrators and enlisted the support of media all was accomplished and stand today as Annual staples. Each event brings folks together to celebrate our shared goodness. Talk about winning!
Ps. During my twenty-one year-tenure in a community of approximately 6% Black, some 41% of Jacksonville varsity basketball teams was comprised of Black players.
Next: Going to Decatur Like Going Home ..."Racism? Not Here! Yeah, Right!"
Friday, June 19, 2020
'Moose's' Charge Put to the Test
Resigning from the Edwardsville basketball job after seven seasons was easy for one reason, I was constantly presented hurdles. The District charged me $200.00 a week to conduct summer "Tiger Pride Basketball Camps." The District took away coaches gym keys, which I never understood. The back-biting continued and it was obvious that I needed to step away.
The Jacksonville basketball position suddenly came open and the rest was history as they say. I was very familiar with Jacksonville and their administration was likewise familiar with me. My Edwardsville teams were a fixture in the Crimsons' Mid-Winter Tournament, a tournament our Edwardsville teams won five out of seven years.
The Jacksonville interview was done on 'the fly' one Friday afternoon on my way to umpire a weekend Western Illinois University baseball series. I visited at length with the athletic director and assistant superintendent for instruction, met the assistant superintendent for finance and the superintendent. All were cordial and the spoken and subliminal message was clear, 'What do you need to build a competitive basketball program?' I had struck Gold: summer camp programs> Go! Elementary basketball league> Go! I could bring in three hand-picked assistants>Go! There were some added incentives and as I stood to leave the interview, the assistant superintendent said, "By the way, we will give you keys to the gym." How 'bout that sports' fans?!
The 1977 Jacksonville high school enrollment was approximately 1250 students with an African- American number of less than 200 students. Jacksonville, however always had some outstanding Black athletes. I recall names like Ike Wright, Crest Whitacre, Merritt Norvell and Ken Norton. I rented an apartment the summer of 1977 while my wife remained in our Collinsville home before our family mover to Jacksonville. Aside from conducting a camp, I spent time surveying the socio-economic layout of the community. I wanted to come to understand and appreciate the peripheral towns feeding the school district i.e., Murrayville and Woodson and I wanted to get an overview of South Jacksonville, Jacksonville and the Northeast part of the community, which was primarily a Black housing area. I immediately knew what had to be done.
Once the family was settled into our South Jacksonville home, my sophomore son, Steve began making personal contacts with the roster names of returning players and he made a daily visit to Minnie Barr Park in the Northeast section where Blacks hooped nightly. My only advise to Steve, "Keep your mouth shut and let your game and hard play talk."
The school district administration supported my concept to have every one of the eight elementary feeder schools host fall league basketball games. I wanted young 5th and 6th grade boys (white and black) 'to 'see' all parts of their community. You gotta start 'coming together' sometime, someplace. In time our high school basketball program began reaping the fruits of the elementary League. I would also in time convince Bruce Surratt, Jacksonville Park Superintendent to see if we could construct a nice basketball court at Community Park which is in the center of town. I envisioned a racial mixture of youth playing on such a court. It happend when Bruce got the Pilot Club to sponsor the $8,000.00 project.
Phase one completed, I turned attention to other program builders to benefit more than basketball youngsters...all the while meeting the racial issues head on! I was on the mission I always dreamed.
Ps. I was in a wonderful position taking the Jacksonville head basketball job because I was permitted to bring three assistant coaches on board. Along with Ken Hickman, whom I brought from Edwardsville, I brought in a former Mason City player of mine, John Conklin and a SIUE basketball graduate, Sam Holmes. I had watched Holmes as a player and his personal mannerisms. I liked what I saw. Oh, by the way, Sam Holmes was the first Black man on a Jacksonville staff to my knowledge. It was time...the strong not-so-subtle messages had been sent to all.
Finally, I had the chance my ISU athletic director, 'Moose' Hancock said, "Make your job bigger than ever and your successor will have big shoes to fill meeting new standards. In education that means kids are the benefactors." If you address the racial factors then the entire community benefits.
Next: Dispelling Racial Street Myths
The Jacksonville basketball position suddenly came open and the rest was history as they say. I was very familiar with Jacksonville and their administration was likewise familiar with me. My Edwardsville teams were a fixture in the Crimsons' Mid-Winter Tournament, a tournament our Edwardsville teams won five out of seven years.
The Jacksonville interview was done on 'the fly' one Friday afternoon on my way to umpire a weekend Western Illinois University baseball series. I visited at length with the athletic director and assistant superintendent for instruction, met the assistant superintendent for finance and the superintendent. All were cordial and the spoken and subliminal message was clear, 'What do you need to build a competitive basketball program?' I had struck Gold: summer camp programs> Go! Elementary basketball league> Go! I could bring in three hand-picked assistants>Go! There were some added incentives and as I stood to leave the interview, the assistant superintendent said, "By the way, we will give you keys to the gym." How 'bout that sports' fans?!
The 1977 Jacksonville high school enrollment was approximately 1250 students with an African- American number of less than 200 students. Jacksonville, however always had some outstanding Black athletes. I recall names like Ike Wright, Crest Whitacre, Merritt Norvell and Ken Norton. I rented an apartment the summer of 1977 while my wife remained in our Collinsville home before our family mover to Jacksonville. Aside from conducting a camp, I spent time surveying the socio-economic layout of the community. I wanted to come to understand and appreciate the peripheral towns feeding the school district i.e., Murrayville and Woodson and I wanted to get an overview of South Jacksonville, Jacksonville and the Northeast part of the community, which was primarily a Black housing area. I immediately knew what had to be done.
Once the family was settled into our South Jacksonville home, my sophomore son, Steve began making personal contacts with the roster names of returning players and he made a daily visit to Minnie Barr Park in the Northeast section where Blacks hooped nightly. My only advise to Steve, "Keep your mouth shut and let your game and hard play talk."
The school district administration supported my concept to have every one of the eight elementary feeder schools host fall league basketball games. I wanted young 5th and 6th grade boys (white and black) 'to 'see' all parts of their community. You gotta start 'coming together' sometime, someplace. In time our high school basketball program began reaping the fruits of the elementary League. I would also in time convince Bruce Surratt, Jacksonville Park Superintendent to see if we could construct a nice basketball court at Community Park which is in the center of town. I envisioned a racial mixture of youth playing on such a court. It happend when Bruce got the Pilot Club to sponsor the $8,000.00 project.
Phase one completed, I turned attention to other program builders to benefit more than basketball youngsters...all the while meeting the racial issues head on! I was on the mission I always dreamed.
Ps. I was in a wonderful position taking the Jacksonville head basketball job because I was permitted to bring three assistant coaches on board. Along with Ken Hickman, whom I brought from Edwardsville, I brought in a former Mason City player of mine, John Conklin and a SIUE basketball graduate, Sam Holmes. I had watched Holmes as a player and his personal mannerisms. I liked what I saw. Oh, by the way, Sam Holmes was the first Black man on a Jacksonville staff to my knowledge. It was time...the strong not-so-subtle messages had been sent to all.
Finally, I had the chance my ISU athletic director, 'Moose' Hancock said, "Make your job bigger than ever and your successor will have big shoes to fill meeting new standards. In education that means kids are the benefactors." If you address the racial factors then the entire community benefits.
Next: Dispelling Racial Street Myths
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Whites Also Play 'The Race Card.'
Please pay attention to the first two-paragraphs. You might wish to read them twice.
High school sports brings with it athletes' parents and in the main that's a wonderful thing. School extra-curricular programs need supportive parents who communicate to School Board Members the need for financial and facilities support. However, make no mistake, you and I have never met a mother who gave birth to 'failure' or a father whose procreative loin-powers were substandard. That said, many parents who think their child is not treated fairly by the coach might decide to embrace a mission from hell to vent anger or 'Get the Coach.'
There are two kinds of sports' programs: 1) Individual and 2) Team. The individual sports' competition, ie, wrestling, tennis, cross country, track and swimming are examples of the individual proving to be worthy to represent the team based on better times, scores or one-on-one victories over teammates., which removes the coach's subjective evaluations. The team sports, ie., baseball, football, basketball and volleyball beg the mentor (coach) to make subjective evaluations to determine who 'makes' the team and who 'plays' in the contests. I recall one player's father yelling at me from the stands, "Roustio, Put in your First Five!" This dad's 'first five' was his son and any other four players. KEEP THESE ABSOLUTE FACTORS IN MIND READING FORWARD.
In my thirty-nine years coaching, I have been dissed and demeaned by some Black parents and family members who would claim that I'm unfair and perhaps prejudice. However, more frequently, I've had some White parents play those 'cloak 'n dagger' attack games towards me using the 'race- favoritism-card' to stir the unrest and discord. The latter happened frequently during my seven-year Edwardsville coaching tenure. At first, it was disheartening and frustrating, however in a short period of time the attacks stirred my competitive juices. I was determine to protect our basketball program and my players. I took the gloves off and called out every bogus claim with the messenger and administration.
My first season at Edwardsville 1970-71, we finished 13-14. We were lead by a 6'2" freshman whose brother the year before moved from Edwardsville to Collinsville. I thought it was prudent to keep this young, shy freshman kid on the junior varsity team to remove undue fan scrutinization, which would certainly come at the varsity level. I had no choice but to elevate the youngster to the varsity starting lineup after he scored 20-points per the first three JV games. This day, June 2020, the youngster remains Edwardsville' individual all-time leading scorer withover 1,800 points.
It could have been jealousy, anger over his brother's move the year before or simply bigotry that caused late night anonymous telephone calls and a voice calling me a "Ni^*er Lover." It could have been a parent pissed off that their kid did not play ahead of others or did not play at all. Your guess is as good as mine. I would also have my athletic director stop by practice ocassionally in a rather bad mood saying that the principal had a telephone call from a school board member who had a telephone call from a parent stating "Roustio's Black players are not going to practice." The athletic director was told to check it out . On another occasion, my principal entered a practice and was livid. He wanted me to know that a school board member got a telephone call from a parent who said, "One of Roustio's top players (and he called him by name; another minority player) had drugs in his locker." The principal said he told the board member that if he wanted to accompany him to inspect 1,800 student lockers he would but he would not be checking out one basketball players locker. This type of cheap allegations went on for some time. I kept my assistants informed of these harassment tactics but never hinted such issues with players. This all happened in year one. Finally, I called the Administration out. My surpeiors would never disclose names of the people who called school board members; always maintaining "those were confidential communications." You know, you can take crap for so long and then call an end to it. Mid season that first year, I called my principal one morning and told him that I was resigning immediately. He was shocked and said, "I will have a substitute teacher for your morning classes and meet you and the Superintendent and School Board President at Central Office in one hour." I called my assistant and informed him to join the meeting. I actually had no intention of resigning but these anonymous ambush tactics were going to end. As the meeting began, I asked one question: I want the names of people calling school board members with these untrue accusations. The school board President said, "We can't give those names." Sliding my school keys across the table towards the Superintendent, I said, "Here's my keys, Collinsville comes in Friday night andvyoull need a new head coach. I'm going to the newspapers in the Metro-East and telling them I resigned because I've been accused constantly of showing favoritism to my Black players." The Superintendent knew what the fallout would be and turned to the Board President and said, "Time to name names!" I got the names, grabbed my keys, stood to leave and said, "See you fellas at the game Friday."
Ps...For the record...Seven Year Edwardsville tenure:
Basketball> Wins-108 Loses>83
7-Invitational Titles
Sweet 16 Finalist 1976, which broke a 20-year drought
Cross Country> 28-consecutive dual meet victories (school record)
2-State Final Appearances
1-SWC Title
A wealth of material from experiences to Pen a book (99-Answers for the Sport Parent), which was endorsed by IESAand the IHSA. Later developed into speaking presentations for school districts' athletic-family consisting of coaches-parents-student athletes.
High school sports brings with it athletes' parents and in the main that's a wonderful thing. School extra-curricular programs need supportive parents who communicate to School Board Members the need for financial and facilities support. However, make no mistake, you and I have never met a mother who gave birth to 'failure' or a father whose procreative loin-powers were substandard. That said, many parents who think their child is not treated fairly by the coach might decide to embrace a mission from hell to vent anger or 'Get the Coach.'
There are two kinds of sports' programs: 1) Individual and 2) Team. The individual sports' competition, ie, wrestling, tennis, cross country, track and swimming are examples of the individual proving to be worthy to represent the team based on better times, scores or one-on-one victories over teammates., which removes the coach's subjective evaluations. The team sports, ie., baseball, football, basketball and volleyball beg the mentor (coach) to make subjective evaluations to determine who 'makes' the team and who 'plays' in the contests. I recall one player's father yelling at me from the stands, "Roustio, Put in your First Five!" This dad's 'first five' was his son and any other four players. KEEP THESE ABSOLUTE FACTORS IN MIND READING FORWARD.
In my thirty-nine years coaching, I have been dissed and demeaned by some Black parents and family members who would claim that I'm unfair and perhaps prejudice. However, more frequently, I've had some White parents play those 'cloak 'n dagger' attack games towards me using the 'race- favoritism-card' to stir the unrest and discord. The latter happened frequently during my seven-year Edwardsville coaching tenure. At first, it was disheartening and frustrating, however in a short period of time the attacks stirred my competitive juices. I was determine to protect our basketball program and my players. I took the gloves off and called out every bogus claim with the messenger and administration.
My first season at Edwardsville 1970-71, we finished 13-14. We were lead by a 6'2" freshman whose brother the year before moved from Edwardsville to Collinsville. I thought it was prudent to keep this young, shy freshman kid on the junior varsity team to remove undue fan scrutinization, which would certainly come at the varsity level. I had no choice but to elevate the youngster to the varsity starting lineup after he scored 20-points per the first three JV games. This day, June 2020, the youngster remains Edwardsville' individual all-time leading scorer withover 1,800 points.
It could have been jealousy, anger over his brother's move the year before or simply bigotry that caused late night anonymous telephone calls and a voice calling me a "Ni^*er Lover." It could have been a parent pissed off that their kid did not play ahead of others or did not play at all. Your guess is as good as mine. I would also have my athletic director stop by practice ocassionally in a rather bad mood saying that the principal had a telephone call from a school board member who had a telephone call from a parent stating "Roustio's Black players are not going to practice." The athletic director was told to check it out . On another occasion, my principal entered a practice and was livid. He wanted me to know that a school board member got a telephone call from a parent who said, "One of Roustio's top players (and he called him by name; another minority player) had drugs in his locker." The principal said he told the board member that if he wanted to accompany him to inspect 1,800 student lockers he would but he would not be checking out one basketball players locker. This type of cheap allegations went on for some time. I kept my assistants informed of these harassment tactics but never hinted such issues with players. This all happened in year one. Finally, I called the Administration out. My surpeiors would never disclose names of the people who called school board members; always maintaining "those were confidential communications." You know, you can take crap for so long and then call an end to it. Mid season that first year, I called my principal one morning and told him that I was resigning immediately. He was shocked and said, "I will have a substitute teacher for your morning classes and meet you and the Superintendent and School Board President at Central Office in one hour." I called my assistant and informed him to join the meeting. I actually had no intention of resigning but these anonymous ambush tactics were going to end. As the meeting began, I asked one question: I want the names of people calling school board members with these untrue accusations. The school board President said, "We can't give those names." Sliding my school keys across the table towards the Superintendent, I said, "Here's my keys, Collinsville comes in Friday night andvyoull need a new head coach. I'm going to the newspapers in the Metro-East and telling them I resigned because I've been accused constantly of showing favoritism to my Black players." The Superintendent knew what the fallout would be and turned to the Board President and said, "Time to name names!" I got the names, grabbed my keys, stood to leave and said, "See you fellas at the game Friday."
Ps...For the record...Seven Year Edwardsville tenure:
Basketball> Wins-108 Loses>83
7-Invitational Titles
Sweet 16 Finalist 1976, which broke a 20-year drought
Cross Country> 28-consecutive dual meet victories (school record)
2-State Final Appearances
1-SWC Title
A wealth of material from experiences to Pen a book (99-Answers for the Sport Parent), which was endorsed by IESAand the IHSA. Later developed into speaking presentations for school districts' athletic-family consisting of coaches-parents-student athletes.
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Coaching 'Colors.'
The first twenty-two years of my life was spent living in East St. Louis, attending college in Bloomington, Illinois and working summers and June 1961-to-June 1962 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Without question, that heterogeneous life exposed me to a broad multi-cultural experience of facts, fiction, realities, myths, misconceptions and a whole helluva lot of suspicious attitudes. I discovered that everybody holds preconceived notions (attitudes) about any and all folks who look, think and behave differently than them and theirs. It's all anchored in 'ethonocentrisim,' which is a belief that my culture is better than your culture. That said, everybody held prejudice attitudes, to some degree about their groups. The only way to breakdown and overcome these attitudes was having an open-mind and interacting with others. But as the old football coach told his team, "You gotta wanna!"
My first five years coaching placed me in rural communities of Assumption and Mason City, Illinois. In such communities, you don't hear or see racial interactions except for ocassional comments. During my three head basketball coaching seasons at Mason City, I was blessed with committed and talented players. Obviously, I wanted them to be challenged playing better competition. Many larger school coaches i.e., Quincy's Sherrill Hanks rejected my invitation to schedule a game insisting, "Mel, Quincy has everything to lose playing a smaller Mason City." Finally, I convinced long-time East St. Louis Lincoln Coach Earl 'Tree' Harris to bring his all-black Tigers' team to all white Mason City. As a kid growing up in East St. Louis, I played against Coach Harris' Lincoln High teams and later in my coaching career, I would coach both Tree's sons, Dean and Hank. The contest between Mason City and EstL. . was a barn-burner before a packed house of white-faces. A significant 1966 social moment in time for inner-city black teens and rural white kids. Both Coaches got what they wanted from the night and it was more than a basketball game.
Following two years at Assumption and three years at Mason City, my next coaching stop was that larger school opportunity in Washington, Illinois, which is an upper middle class white populated bedroom community to the greater Peoria area. You guessed it, no black student-athletes but frequent competition versus the racially-mixed inner-city schools across the Illinois river. After a three year Washington high school stint the Edwardsville high school basketball / cross country positions came available. And the stars were aligned. The basketball coaching success at Mason City coupled with the Washington large school experience and known by Edwardsville assistant superintendent, former Coach, Joe Lucco placed me at the head of the applicant list. Now the racial factor would enter this coach's journey for the next thirty-one years.
I accepted Edwardsville's coaching offer for the 1970-71 school year. It was rumored that my predecessor had a few racial issues. Obviously, I was told stories but never concerned myself pursuing authenticity. I did verify that an outstanding Black player the year before had left the Edwardsville's program moving to nearby rival school Collinsville. Perhaps that culminated in the coaching vacancy. I do know that on the evening of my Edwardsville interview with three school board members and the assistant superintendent, I was asked by one board member, "Do you think you can coach the black player?" My first thought was 'are you shittin' me?' I answered, "Well, let me say, I will coach anybody from any racial, religious or socio-economic background; it makes no diffence just as long as the youngster commits to the program expectations." Another follow up question came from another board member, "How would you summarize those program commitments?" I said, "Be on time, pay attention and play hard...and I'm talking PRACTICE."
The questions asked during that interview suggested there might be some truth to the rumor about racial issues the year before.
Next: I would discover how white parents can 'play-the-race-card' against the Coach.
Without question, that heterogeneous life exposed me to a broad multi-cultural experience of facts, fiction, realities, myths, misconceptions and a whole helluva lot of suspicious attitudes. I discovered that everybody holds preconceived notions (attitudes) about any and all folks who look, think and behave differently than them and theirs. It's all anchored in 'ethonocentrisim,' which is a belief that my culture is better than your culture. That said, everybody held prejudice attitudes, to some degree about their groups. The only way to breakdown and overcome these attitudes was having an open-mind and interacting with others. But as the old football coach told his team, "You gotta wanna!"
My first five years coaching placed me in rural communities of Assumption and Mason City, Illinois. In such communities, you don't hear or see racial interactions except for ocassional comments. During my three head basketball coaching seasons at Mason City, I was blessed with committed and talented players. Obviously, I wanted them to be challenged playing better competition. Many larger school coaches i.e., Quincy's Sherrill Hanks rejected my invitation to schedule a game insisting, "Mel, Quincy has everything to lose playing a smaller Mason City." Finally, I convinced long-time East St. Louis Lincoln Coach Earl 'Tree' Harris to bring his all-black Tigers' team to all white Mason City. As a kid growing up in East St. Louis, I played against Coach Harris' Lincoln High teams and later in my coaching career, I would coach both Tree's sons, Dean and Hank. The contest between Mason City and EstL. . was a barn-burner before a packed house of white-faces. A significant 1966 social moment in time for inner-city black teens and rural white kids. Both Coaches got what they wanted from the night and it was more than a basketball game.
Following two years at Assumption and three years at Mason City, my next coaching stop was that larger school opportunity in Washington, Illinois, which is an upper middle class white populated bedroom community to the greater Peoria area. You guessed it, no black student-athletes but frequent competition versus the racially-mixed inner-city schools across the Illinois river. After a three year Washington high school stint the Edwardsville high school basketball / cross country positions came available. And the stars were aligned. The basketball coaching success at Mason City coupled with the Washington large school experience and known by Edwardsville assistant superintendent, former Coach, Joe Lucco placed me at the head of the applicant list. Now the racial factor would enter this coach's journey for the next thirty-one years.
I accepted Edwardsville's coaching offer for the 1970-71 school year. It was rumored that my predecessor had a few racial issues. Obviously, I was told stories but never concerned myself pursuing authenticity. I did verify that an outstanding Black player the year before had left the Edwardsville's program moving to nearby rival school Collinsville. Perhaps that culminated in the coaching vacancy. I do know that on the evening of my Edwardsville interview with three school board members and the assistant superintendent, I was asked by one board member, "Do you think you can coach the black player?" My first thought was 'are you shittin' me?' I answered, "Well, let me say, I will coach anybody from any racial, religious or socio-economic background; it makes no diffence just as long as the youngster commits to the program expectations." Another follow up question came from another board member, "How would you summarize those program commitments?" I said, "Be on time, pay attention and play hard...and I'm talking PRACTICE."
The questions asked during that interview suggested there might be some truth to the rumor about racial issues the year before.
Next: I would discover how white parents can 'play-the-race-card' against the Coach.
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
The Awakening
I suppose 'leaving' your youthful home to enter military service, pursue a college education or enter the work force is significant and transitional for any 18-something year old. Certainly, Illinois State University was an eye opening experience for a city boy whose family had zero experience with higher formal education. Make no mistake, I have admiration for white collar, blue collar and think-tanker pursants. Whatever our passion and whatever floats our boat makes the world a better place.
Regarding race relations, my ISU athletic experience (basketball/baseball) was not much different than high school. We had few Black athletes on 'Redbirds' teams during that period. I do recall one year when our basketball team declined to attend a Christmas Tournament in the South when we were told that our Black teammates could not eat or stay in the same places as White players. It was a no brainer.
It was a sociology course and particularly the introduction to the many studies conducted by American psychologist, Gordon Allport as presented in his book, 'The Nature of Prejudice,' which opened my eyes uncovering why no corner of the world was free of prejudices. Group identification and fears motivated peoples' suspicions, which developed attitudes of hatred supported by ever changing beliefs. Racial, ethnic and religious prejudices have always been mankind's greatest pandemic. The book was cited as a classic in 1965, ten years after its initial publication. It became one of the most influential and often cited writings about inter-group relations. On a personal note, I found much of what Allport reported and dispelled about prejudices to coincide nicely with the teachings of Jesus-Christ, which was broadly and deeply embraced by my entire family and friends. I remember vividly sharing this new found knowledge with hometown friends and family. Much to my disappointment many rebuked my offerings suggesting that I was becoming brain-washed by 'those' liberal professors. The moment was 'real' to me. I would embrace a mission from that day forward. A mission to reject the ignorance of prejudice and call it out. I did not know at that moment that one day as a high school basketball coach, I would also be cognizant to challenge my Black players to refuse crutches in their challenges. "Be smart and know that some want you to always view yourself as crippled by color, origin or religious beliefs," would become my sermon. More on that later.
The essence of Allport's book, 'The Nature of Prejudice' brought to light the manner in which an individual holds fast to learn attitudes of contempt. If one has a prejudicial attitude towards a group of people (racial/ethinic/religious) they will support that attitude with unproven beliefs. When the belief is disproven the individual with a prejudicial attitude will simply latch on to another unproven negative belief. (Don't confuse them with facts). The book to this day is viewed by social psychologist as defining the field of intergroup relationships regarding prejudice and its effects on group interactions.
As I recall the many expressed opinions of whites from my youth it is noteworthy that a prejudice individual might point toward a black man as being "lazy" but then in the next breath express a negative attitude towards an industrious and upward mobile black man as being "uppity" and not "knowing his place."
Blacks were in that stereotypical conundrum...you know the one..."Between a rock and hard place."
Next...Those negative 'racial' attitudes will need to be addressed by most coaches.
Regarding race relations, my ISU athletic experience (basketball/baseball) was not much different than high school. We had few Black athletes on 'Redbirds' teams during that period. I do recall one year when our basketball team declined to attend a Christmas Tournament in the South when we were told that our Black teammates could not eat or stay in the same places as White players. It was a no brainer.
It was a sociology course and particularly the introduction to the many studies conducted by American psychologist, Gordon Allport as presented in his book, 'The Nature of Prejudice,' which opened my eyes uncovering why no corner of the world was free of prejudices. Group identification and fears motivated peoples' suspicions, which developed attitudes of hatred supported by ever changing beliefs. Racial, ethnic and religious prejudices have always been mankind's greatest pandemic. The book was cited as a classic in 1965, ten years after its initial publication. It became one of the most influential and often cited writings about inter-group relations. On a personal note, I found much of what Allport reported and dispelled about prejudices to coincide nicely with the teachings of Jesus-Christ, which was broadly and deeply embraced by my entire family and friends. I remember vividly sharing this new found knowledge with hometown friends and family. Much to my disappointment many rebuked my offerings suggesting that I was becoming brain-washed by 'those' liberal professors. The moment was 'real' to me. I would embrace a mission from that day forward. A mission to reject the ignorance of prejudice and call it out. I did not know at that moment that one day as a high school basketball coach, I would also be cognizant to challenge my Black players to refuse crutches in their challenges. "Be smart and know that some want you to always view yourself as crippled by color, origin or religious beliefs," would become my sermon. More on that later.
The essence of Allport's book, 'The Nature of Prejudice' brought to light the manner in which an individual holds fast to learn attitudes of contempt. If one has a prejudicial attitude towards a group of people (racial/ethinic/religious) they will support that attitude with unproven beliefs. When the belief is disproven the individual with a prejudicial attitude will simply latch on to another unproven negative belief. (Don't confuse them with facts). The book to this day is viewed by social psychologist as defining the field of intergroup relationships regarding prejudice and its effects on group interactions.
As I recall the many expressed opinions of whites from my youth it is noteworthy that a prejudice individual might point toward a black man as being "lazy" but then in the next breath express a negative attitude towards an industrious and upward mobile black man as being "uppity" and not "knowing his place."
Blacks were in that stereotypical conundrum...you know the one..."Between a rock and hard place."
Next...Those negative 'racial' attitudes will need to be addressed by most coaches.
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Melting Pot? Not Really!
I've heard the urgent and frequent emotional plea that our nation needs to have a 'race conversation.' I suppose the logic behind this request is that the process will render some understanding of America's racial history and injustices. Perhaps the various races would begin identifying and understanding racial problems and begin moving in meaningful directions towards solutions. I'm thinking, only a fool would reject this resolution-concept but it would be a bigger fool that would attempt such a project without first examining from whence they got their 'own' ideas about race relations and feelings about 'those' other folks who look differently, worship differently and perhaps speak differently. Before any 'conversation-on-race,' we all need to engage in self-introspection.
I'll begin my personal examination by stating this> Before I came to understand America's 'melting pot,' I was aware of some East St. Louis ethnic and racial factors before my 5th grade teacher gave us that pop quiz about 'The Melting Pot.' My city was comprised of many different kinds of people. There were neighborhoods known primarily to be Italian, Polish, Irish, German, Hispanic and Black. Note: For the sake of honesty and my own integrity, the 'Black' part of town in the '40's was referenced as 'colored. Th e aforementioned races, except Blacks came to this Ameriça of their own volition seeking refuge and/or a better life. History documents Blacks brought to these shores by Whites who perceived them as property (slaves) and used them for hard labor tasks, which bolstered the White man's economic fortunes. Of course, the East St. Louis Blacks of my youth had long been 'freed' from slavery but still in a position of far lesser opportunities than all other ethnic groups that I observed.
Those ethnic neighborhoods of my youth were most often the design of specific ethnic group who sought to be near other people like them for language and cultural support. All groups except the Blacks. The Blacks were located primarily in the Southend where there was cheaper housing. Although, many White families I knew were not much better off than some Black families except there seemed to be a prevailing attitude that whites were better off if for no other reason than skin-color. I noticed Black women were welcome in our White neighborhoods to do domestic work i.e., house cleaning, washing and ironing for low pay. Those women often remained with 'one' family for years...an interesting sense of loyalty. That said, I ocassionally saw Black men in White neighborhoods picking up alley trash or doing some odd jobs. My understanding was most Black men employed worked in chemical and other factories and the stockyards/meat processing plants.
I did not attend elementary or junior high school with Black students but in 1954, I entered East Side High and even though there was a all-Black public high school (Lincoln) there was a small but significant athletic-contributing number of Blacks on our East Side 'Flyers' teams. As I began making more Black friends, I still heard confusing comments from older adults. 'Those' people are lazy.' Not my teammates. I made Black friendships on the basketball court and baseball field but we went separate ways socially, which was not particularly unusual because in the industrial city of 86,000, close friendships were neighborhood driven.
Here is a rather interesting fact regarding East St. Louis Senior High sports history. The 'Flyers' football teams were highly successful when the school was all White, a mixture of Whites and Blacks and more recently as all Black. Basketball teams experienced above average success when all-White and racially mixed but when it became all-Black the teams were top notch caliber. Wrestling, tennis and baseball programs during the all-White era were outstanding championship caliber. They have collapsed during the all-Black enrollment. Track and Field was good when all-White but outstanding all-Black. Make what you will of those reality statements. Before coming to your conclusion consider what my late good friend a forty year Major League Baseball scout, Ken Bracey told me after watching a Decatur Thanksgiving Boys Basketball Tournament featuring seven quality athletic Black schools: "Mel, Jim 'Catfish' Hunter once asked me, 'Where 's all that great Black baseball talent in Illinois?' I can now tell him that all those kids who could be the next Ozzie Smith are not playing baseball but they're on the blacktop playing roundball." Bracey added a personal note: "If those 5'7" guards spent the same amount of basketball time on baseball they might make the MLB but they ain't gunna make the NBA."
Next blog: 'The Awakening'
I'll begin my personal examination by stating this> Before I came to understand America's 'melting pot,' I was aware of some East St. Louis ethnic and racial factors before my 5th grade teacher gave us that pop quiz about 'The Melting Pot.' My city was comprised of many different kinds of people. There were neighborhoods known primarily to be Italian, Polish, Irish, German, Hispanic and Black. Note: For the sake of honesty and my own integrity, the 'Black' part of town in the '40's was referenced as 'colored. Th e aforementioned races, except Blacks came to this Ameriça of their own volition seeking refuge and/or a better life. History documents Blacks brought to these shores by Whites who perceived them as property (slaves) and used them for hard labor tasks, which bolstered the White man's economic fortunes. Of course, the East St. Louis Blacks of my youth had long been 'freed' from slavery but still in a position of far lesser opportunities than all other ethnic groups that I observed.
Those ethnic neighborhoods of my youth were most often the design of specific ethnic group who sought to be near other people like them for language and cultural support. All groups except the Blacks. The Blacks were located primarily in the Southend where there was cheaper housing. Although, many White families I knew were not much better off than some Black families except there seemed to be a prevailing attitude that whites were better off if for no other reason than skin-color. I noticed Black women were welcome in our White neighborhoods to do domestic work i.e., house cleaning, washing and ironing for low pay. Those women often remained with 'one' family for years...an interesting sense of loyalty. That said, I ocassionally saw Black men in White neighborhoods picking up alley trash or doing some odd jobs. My understanding was most Black men employed worked in chemical and other factories and the stockyards/meat processing plants.
I did not attend elementary or junior high school with Black students but in 1954, I entered East Side High and even though there was a all-Black public high school (Lincoln) there was a small but significant athletic-contributing number of Blacks on our East Side 'Flyers' teams. As I began making more Black friends, I still heard confusing comments from older adults. 'Those' people are lazy.' Not my teammates. I made Black friendships on the basketball court and baseball field but we went separate ways socially, which was not particularly unusual because in the industrial city of 86,000, close friendships were neighborhood driven.
Here is a rather interesting fact regarding East St. Louis Senior High sports history. The 'Flyers' football teams were highly successful when the school was all White, a mixture of Whites and Blacks and more recently as all Black. Basketball teams experienced above average success when all-White and racially mixed but when it became all-Black the teams were top notch caliber. Wrestling, tennis and baseball programs during the all-White era were outstanding championship caliber. They have collapsed during the all-Black enrollment. Track and Field was good when all-White but outstanding all-Black. Make what you will of those reality statements. Before coming to your conclusion consider what my late good friend a forty year Major League Baseball scout, Ken Bracey told me after watching a Decatur Thanksgiving Boys Basketball Tournament featuring seven quality athletic Black schools: "Mel, Jim 'Catfish' Hunter once asked me, 'Where 's all that great Black baseball talent in Illinois?' I can now tell him that all those kids who could be the next Ozzie Smith are not playing baseball but they're on the blacktop playing roundball." Bracey added a personal note: "If those 5'7" guards spent the same amount of basketball time on baseball they might make the MLB but they ain't gunna make the NBA."
Next blog: 'The Awakening'
Thursday, June 11, 2020
A Million To One
The year was 1953. I was a 14-year old ninth grade student at Lansdowne Junior high school in the East St. Louis educational system of Grade School (1-thru-6), Junior High (7-thru-9) and Senior High (10-thru-12). She (Gerry Bischof) was a 13-year old eighth grader at Holy Angels Catholic School.
We shared a 'Post Office" game-kiss at one of those teeny-bop house party's and our journey began.
We were told, you're too young, it's an unlikely relationship: a Catholic girl & a Protestant boy with somewhat different backgrounds. What were the odds? A million to one.
Sixty-seven years later, Gerry and I celebrate our 60th Wedding Anniversary this June 11, 2020. Our seven year courtship and sixty married years has been been richly blessed. We share family love with three adult children and their spouses, 15-grandchildren and three spouses and three (4th on the way) great-grandchildren. We have made incredible friendships as a coaching career and motivational speaking has taken us to nine different communities and across the country.
In full disclosure, I must admit that my wife, Gerry has been the most consistent and supportive anchor in our love story. Her toughness and resilience made her the perfect Coach's wife. Her personal strength and 'hands-on' approach made her a can-do loving mother and Nana. Her sincere personality permeates with true caring kindness and becomes a magnet cultivating lasting friends.
Quick Stories underscoring Gerry's straight-forward, pull no punches and genuine persona...
1) On Meeting my parents:> I was 15-years old pitching at a summer league baseball game where the open and confident fourteen year old Gerry walked up to my parents and said, "Hi, I'm Gerry Bischof, Moe's girlfriend."
2-On Coaching:> Gerry was seated next to Former U of I basketball coach, Bill Self at a high school tournament championship game and during a time out with 3-minutes remaining and the score tied, she leaned around Self and said to me, "Honey, I'm leaving to beat the crowd, I'll see you at home." Self couldn't believe Gerry was leaving such an exciting game and said to her, "Don't you care how this game turns out?!" Gerry, the high school coach's wife of some thirty-nine years calmly explained, "Bill, I know how it's going to turn out. One coach's wife is going to have a great Sunday and another coach's wife Not so good a Sunday." Self turned to me and said, "That's one helluva perception!"
Gerry: You have my love and admiration...Happy 60th Anniversary. Little Girl.
Ps. Hey, Lois Siegel: Thanks for the party invitation. Who woulda thunk?!
(Touch)
A Million To One
We shared a 'Post Office" game-kiss at one of those teeny-bop house party's and our journey began.
We were told, you're too young, it's an unlikely relationship: a Catholic girl & a Protestant boy with somewhat different backgrounds. What were the odds? A million to one.
Sixty-seven years later, Gerry and I celebrate our 60th Wedding Anniversary this June 11, 2020. Our seven year courtship and sixty married years has been been richly blessed. We share family love with three adult children and their spouses, 15-grandchildren and three spouses and three (4th on the way) great-grandchildren. We have made incredible friendships as a coaching career and motivational speaking has taken us to nine different communities and across the country.
In full disclosure, I must admit that my wife, Gerry has been the most consistent and supportive anchor in our love story. Her toughness and resilience made her the perfect Coach's wife. Her personal strength and 'hands-on' approach made her a can-do loving mother and Nana. Her sincere personality permeates with true caring kindness and becomes a magnet cultivating lasting friends.
Quick Stories underscoring Gerry's straight-forward, pull no punches and genuine persona...
1) On Meeting my parents:> I was 15-years old pitching at a summer league baseball game where the open and confident fourteen year old Gerry walked up to my parents and said, "Hi, I'm Gerry Bischof, Moe's girlfriend."
2-On Coaching:> Gerry was seated next to Former U of I basketball coach, Bill Self at a high school tournament championship game and during a time out with 3-minutes remaining and the score tied, she leaned around Self and said to me, "Honey, I'm leaving to beat the crowd, I'll see you at home." Self couldn't believe Gerry was leaving such an exciting game and said to her, "Don't you care how this game turns out?!" Gerry, the high school coach's wife of some thirty-nine years calmly explained, "Bill, I know how it's going to turn out. One coach's wife is going to have a great Sunday and another coach's wife Not so good a Sunday." Self turned to me and said, "That's one helluva perception!"
Gerry: You have my love and admiration...Happy 60th Anniversary. Little Girl.
Ps. Hey, Lois Siegel: Thanks for the party invitation. Who woulda thunk?!
(Touch)
A Million To One
Monday, June 8, 2020
How Shall We Respond?
Reflecting on a lengthy life-journey, I readily recall many mentors who laid before me a solid blueprint, a road map if you please for negotiating challenges, which would certainly come along. One of those wise men giving early advise was a Little League baseball manager, Jim Spickard.
Mr. Spickard was capable of seizing a baseball (game) scenario and making a life-skill application.
Let me offer two examples: I was 12-years old playing in the East St. Louis Jaycee Youth baseball league. I hit a pretty solid line-drive into left-center field. I knew I had a chance for a home run. In my eagerness, I cut the corner rounding first base missing the bag by inches. Moments later I pulled up at third base with what I believed was a stand up triple. Immediately, the opposing manager asked for an appeal at first base for missing the bag and the umpire called me out. I'm sure Mr. Spickard saw the great disappointment in my face but he grabbed me by the shoulders and looking into my eyes he spoke, "Son, in this game and in life there's no shortcuts to success. You gotta touch all the bases." On another ocassion, I was pitching and the opposing team and their fans were especially loud with their heckling and comments. Mr. Spickard walked slowly to the pitcher's mound where I stood and he spoke, "You know nothing is going to happen in this game until you throw the baseball. But if you lose your poise, you will lose your control and likely lose the game. Do you understand?"
I answered in the affirmative.
I've been fortunate to have excellent family guidance and great sports' mentors. That said, I can honestly state that there was nothing, absolutely nothing I ever did in my life, which served me greater than taking the baseball on a regular basis from age ten to twenty-one and facing the opponent! It provided confidence and focus on the basketball court and it helped in my personal coaching career. I have always been capable of shutting out the negative, dismissing the critic who second-guesses and ignoring the energy robbing wannabes. The number of times I've lost poise and control since I was 12, can be counted on one hand not using all fingers.
The aforementioned is not intended to be a brag. Not at all. It serves as a hint, a warning if you please that current societal unrest, which looms large has the potential to cause many to lose their poise, lose their control and suffer harm. Currently, many folks have come together riding a feel-good wave of togetherness regarding some obvious acts of police brutality. We must be careful not to overreact and cause crippling harm to the vast majority of good law enforcement needed in every community. Our people must anticipate a counter-protesting insurgency and the necessity for poise and control to be the staples of the day if our nation is to be a winner.
Mr. Spickard was capable of seizing a baseball (game) scenario and making a life-skill application.
Let me offer two examples: I was 12-years old playing in the East St. Louis Jaycee Youth baseball league. I hit a pretty solid line-drive into left-center field. I knew I had a chance for a home run. In my eagerness, I cut the corner rounding first base missing the bag by inches. Moments later I pulled up at third base with what I believed was a stand up triple. Immediately, the opposing manager asked for an appeal at first base for missing the bag and the umpire called me out. I'm sure Mr. Spickard saw the great disappointment in my face but he grabbed me by the shoulders and looking into my eyes he spoke, "Son, in this game and in life there's no shortcuts to success. You gotta touch all the bases." On another ocassion, I was pitching and the opposing team and their fans were especially loud with their heckling and comments. Mr. Spickard walked slowly to the pitcher's mound where I stood and he spoke, "You know nothing is going to happen in this game until you throw the baseball. But if you lose your poise, you will lose your control and likely lose the game. Do you understand?"
I answered in the affirmative.
I've been fortunate to have excellent family guidance and great sports' mentors. That said, I can honestly state that there was nothing, absolutely nothing I ever did in my life, which served me greater than taking the baseball on a regular basis from age ten to twenty-one and facing the opponent! It provided confidence and focus on the basketball court and it helped in my personal coaching career. I have always been capable of shutting out the negative, dismissing the critic who second-guesses and ignoring the energy robbing wannabes. The number of times I've lost poise and control since I was 12, can be counted on one hand not using all fingers.
The aforementioned is not intended to be a brag. Not at all. It serves as a hint, a warning if you please that current societal unrest, which looms large has the potential to cause many to lose their poise, lose their control and suffer harm. Currently, many folks have come together riding a feel-good wave of togetherness regarding some obvious acts of police brutality. We must be careful not to overreact and cause crippling harm to the vast majority of good law enforcement needed in every community. Our people must anticipate a counter-protesting insurgency and the necessity for poise and control to be the staples of the day if our nation is to be a winner.
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Trump Supporters Could Be Correct!
I am NOT a Donald Trump supporter. How's that? You say you've concluded that from my previous blogs on the subject? Okay, then I'll spare any further explanations.
Let me preface this blog with the following: I've been a Christian from the time I answered an alter-call at The First Methodist Church in 1951, East St. Louis, Illinois. Unfortunately, I continue to fall short of God's desires for me as I still stumble and sin. I have two specific daily prayer times. My morning prayer is self-reflective seeking guidance. My evening prayer is focused on family, friends, national leaders and those whom I don't know who are in need. I read the Bible but I'm not a Biblical Scholar. That said, I am careful never to 'speak' for God, although I notice some folks are completely comfortable sharing with others that which they say, God told them to tell us. On a personal note, I've always been jealous of people that God picks to give me advice.
Pastor John Hagee said that Hrricane Katrina was sent by God because New Orleans was going to have a 'Gay Parade.' I bet that upset the 'straight' people in New Orleans who lost everything. There's nary a month goes by that Rev. Pat Robertson doesn't share a gem from The Almighty. Back in 1980, Rev. Oral Roberts told followers, God gave him an ultimatum to raise 8-million dollars for his Oral Roberts University or God was going to call him home. I guess Oral got the money because he didn't die until 2009.
I am starting to be more receptive of this notation that God has a chosen few to 'get the inside scoop' first. Hear me out. Former Texas Governor and Energy Secretary, Rick Perry said, "God ordained it that Trump become President." Rev. Franklin Graham insinuated the same saying, "I think God was behind this last election." These fellas are not alone believing Trump was put in the Oval Office by some divine power...according to a Pew Research survey, 27% of Americans believe it.
Maybe Trump was sent by God to be President of the United States. Today we see millions of people throughout America and around the world who have been awakened to protest 'racism.' Nobody can refute the fact that bigotry in America and around the world has been real. America's racism is historically anchored since the early settlers started cheating the Native Americans and the Cowboys began killing them. Furthermore, Blacks brought to our shores to serve as slaves for the White man's economic gain and this cheap labor need continues in a sinister fashion as America plays games with underpaid illegal Hispanics.
Donald J. Trump with his unabashed negative rhetoric and racially charged 'code language' aimed at Hispanics, Blacks and Muslims was evident at the early stages of his presidential campaign. He immediately garnered support from the KKK and White Nationalists. Trump was cheered by those who thought calling out Black NFL players as "son-of-a-bitches" for kneeling during the National Anthem in a passive protest against police brutality. Trump calls White Nationalists "good people" as he stokes the embers of bigotry. Recent video-taped killings of Blacks at the hands of police and vigilantes brings into light of day the ugly feelings of bigotry released and exposes the underbelly of America's greatest chasm from God. One cannot help but wonder, did God send Trump to energize racial hatred and bring forth from the shadows America's great sin of prejudicial racism? It has reached a climax, which has boiled over into the streets of America as masses proclaim, Enough is Enough!
Just maybe Rick Perry and Franklin Graham are correct...God sent Trump to be President. Perhaps the time in the looking-glass gives hope for a rebirth through forgiveness and remembering Christ's last commandment: "Love one another as I have loved you."
Ps. Trump supporters should look on the bright side. The irony in this scenario is the possibility that years from now American History books might suggest the beginning of the end of American racism began during the Trump Presidency.
Let me preface this blog with the following: I've been a Christian from the time I answered an alter-call at The First Methodist Church in 1951, East St. Louis, Illinois. Unfortunately, I continue to fall short of God's desires for me as I still stumble and sin. I have two specific daily prayer times. My morning prayer is self-reflective seeking guidance. My evening prayer is focused on family, friends, national leaders and those whom I don't know who are in need. I read the Bible but I'm not a Biblical Scholar. That said, I am careful never to 'speak' for God, although I notice some folks are completely comfortable sharing with others that which they say, God told them to tell us. On a personal note, I've always been jealous of people that God picks to give me advice.
Pastor John Hagee said that Hrricane Katrina was sent by God because New Orleans was going to have a 'Gay Parade.' I bet that upset the 'straight' people in New Orleans who lost everything. There's nary a month goes by that Rev. Pat Robertson doesn't share a gem from The Almighty. Back in 1980, Rev. Oral Roberts told followers, God gave him an ultimatum to raise 8-million dollars for his Oral Roberts University or God was going to call him home. I guess Oral got the money because he didn't die until 2009.
I am starting to be more receptive of this notation that God has a chosen few to 'get the inside scoop' first. Hear me out. Former Texas Governor and Energy Secretary, Rick Perry said, "God ordained it that Trump become President." Rev. Franklin Graham insinuated the same saying, "I think God was behind this last election." These fellas are not alone believing Trump was put in the Oval Office by some divine power...according to a Pew Research survey, 27% of Americans believe it.
Maybe Trump was sent by God to be President of the United States. Today we see millions of people throughout America and around the world who have been awakened to protest 'racism.' Nobody can refute the fact that bigotry in America and around the world has been real. America's racism is historically anchored since the early settlers started cheating the Native Americans and the Cowboys began killing them. Furthermore, Blacks brought to our shores to serve as slaves for the White man's economic gain and this cheap labor need continues in a sinister fashion as America plays games with underpaid illegal Hispanics.
Donald J. Trump with his unabashed negative rhetoric and racially charged 'code language' aimed at Hispanics, Blacks and Muslims was evident at the early stages of his presidential campaign. He immediately garnered support from the KKK and White Nationalists. Trump was cheered by those who thought calling out Black NFL players as "son-of-a-bitches" for kneeling during the National Anthem in a passive protest against police brutality. Trump calls White Nationalists "good people" as he stokes the embers of bigotry. Recent video-taped killings of Blacks at the hands of police and vigilantes brings into light of day the ugly feelings of bigotry released and exposes the underbelly of America's greatest chasm from God. One cannot help but wonder, did God send Trump to energize racial hatred and bring forth from the shadows America's great sin of prejudicial racism? It has reached a climax, which has boiled over into the streets of America as masses proclaim, Enough is Enough!
Just maybe Rick Perry and Franklin Graham are correct...God sent Trump to be President. Perhaps the time in the looking-glass gives hope for a rebirth through forgiveness and remembering Christ's last commandment: "Love one another as I have loved you."
Ps. Trump supporters should look on the bright side. The irony in this scenario is the possibility that years from now American History books might suggest the beginning of the end of American racism began during the Trump Presidency.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
I'd Like To Do It Again.
Funny and not so funny things, which I've noticed about me and others of my generation. I remember a time when I bounced out of bed to begin my day and was completely oblivious to my joints and stability. However that ship sailed several sunsets ago. These days I'm very cognizant of the muscular origin and insertion with bones and joint movement. Those arthritic reminders along with early morning first steps has me lingering bedside for a few moments before heading to the medicine cabinet to ingest, probiotics, blood pressure pills, a few vitamins and some pill that softens the bladder...and that latter pill brings me to what seems to be an old men's fascination with the garden hose...I'll explain.
I recall as a young teenager when I feared my 'stream' just might knock the porcelain off the back of our commode. That memory returns these days when I 'hose-off' the driveway after grass cutting...you guessed it, I have the cleanest driveway in the neighborhood. I surely enjoy that 'hose power.' I remember a fashion item from back-in-the-day, which holds no motivation in my eighties....I only wear leather shoes to church, weddings and funerals. Today, this old Dude is perfectly happy with my white imitation leather Rebocks with two Velcro straps in place of laces. The white athletic shoe go well with my white socks, faded blue jeans and Branson T-shirt.
I've noticed in the past few years or so that my 'walk-stride' has given way to more of a 'shuffle-slide.'
My wife is constantly telling me to, "Stand up straight, you're slouching!" I swear to you I think I'm standing tall; I'm sure of it...she's just nitpicking. Fifteen years ago, my wife and I would go out to dinner around 6:00PM, but today's perfect dinner date begins between 4 & 5 o'clock...it's called Happy Hour and/or senior discount menu offerings. It's a perfect storm allowing us more nights out on a fixed income and a alcohol beverage that serves as a sleep aid by nine o'clock because this old fart needs some shut eye before I wake at sunrise.
This past winter, I recall being is a large church audience before the sermon began when a lovely lady nearly my age began introducing half the congregation to each other. This Southern woman had the absolute most irritating Southern drawl, which was compounded by volume. Why, I whipped out both my hearing aids immediately...couldn't do that back when!
Gotta stop here. Gunna get the lawnmower and hose out.
(Touch)
Old Bones
I recall as a young teenager when I feared my 'stream' just might knock the porcelain off the back of our commode. That memory returns these days when I 'hose-off' the driveway after grass cutting...you guessed it, I have the cleanest driveway in the neighborhood. I surely enjoy that 'hose power.' I remember a fashion item from back-in-the-day, which holds no motivation in my eighties....I only wear leather shoes to church, weddings and funerals. Today, this old Dude is perfectly happy with my white imitation leather Rebocks with two Velcro straps in place of laces. The white athletic shoe go well with my white socks, faded blue jeans and Branson T-shirt.
I've noticed in the past few years or so that my 'walk-stride' has given way to more of a 'shuffle-slide.'
My wife is constantly telling me to, "Stand up straight, you're slouching!" I swear to you I think I'm standing tall; I'm sure of it...she's just nitpicking. Fifteen years ago, my wife and I would go out to dinner around 6:00PM, but today's perfect dinner date begins between 4 & 5 o'clock...it's called Happy Hour and/or senior discount menu offerings. It's a perfect storm allowing us more nights out on a fixed income and a alcohol beverage that serves as a sleep aid by nine o'clock because this old fart needs some shut eye before I wake at sunrise.
This past winter, I recall being is a large church audience before the sermon began when a lovely lady nearly my age began introducing half the congregation to each other. This Southern woman had the absolute most irritating Southern drawl, which was compounded by volume. Why, I whipped out both my hearing aids immediately...couldn't do that back when!
Gotta stop here. Gunna get the lawnmower and hose out.
(Touch)
Old Bones
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