New Book Release: He Came from Gouldtown, by Harold Gould with Bob Allen

Harold Gould was a right-handed pitcher who played for the Gouldtown (a town named after a family member) New Jersey baseball club from 1942 to 1946.

He went on to play with the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro Leagues.  Harold Gould has just published an autobiography of his life, with special emphasis on his years as a pitcher during the Jim Crow years of America's pastime.

Born and raised in his native Gouldtown, New Jersey, Harold Gould had been scouted by and became an ace pitcher for the Philadelphia Stars in the latter part of the 1940's. He travelled the baseball routes of his day around the country and into Canada as well, pitching against Satchel Paige and playing with and against a host of other famous and less known baseball greats of his era.
 
His book, titled HE CAME FROM GOULDTOWN, released mid-December 2009 by Catawba Publishing, is an oral history of his life, conversations on his various careers, including baseball, with Dr. Bob Allen, formerly of Penn State and now teaching at Cumberland County College of NJ.

Harold Gould's book can be ordered directly by contacting Harold and Gwen Gould: gweneg@comcast.net.

For further press information contact Dr. Allen: lhadd@aol.com.

From left to right:  Stanley Glenn, Harold Gould, Mahlon Duckett, Bill Cash, the late Wilmer Harris.

 

Urban American Outdoors wins 2009 MIDI Award 

Wayne Hubbard of Urban American Sports

CLASSIC INTERVIEWS THAT ESPN WISH THEY COULD GET!

Only Legends Can Interview Legends

The Greatest--ALI and ME with Harold Bell

 THE LEGENDS OF INSIDE SPORTS NOW AVAILABLE ON CD & DVD

HAROLD BELL'S CLASSIC ONE OF A KIND 1975 HISTORY MAKING INTERVIEW WITH "THE GREATEST" MUHAMMAD ALI SEEN ON NBC'S WASHINGTON, DC AFFILIATE WRC-TV 4

PLUS: NEVER SEEN OR HEARD BEFORE INTERVIEWS WITH TENNIS GREAT ANDRE AGASSI, NBA LEGENDS RED AUERBACH, EARL MONROE, GEORGE GERVIN, BOXING LEGENDS, DON KING, ANGELO DUNDEE, GEORGE FOREMAN, SUGAR RAY LEONARD, COLLEGE BASKETBALL'S  "BIG HOUSE" GAINES AND GARY WILLIAMS, NFL LEGENDS JIM BROWN, JOHNNY SAMPLE, BILLY KILMER, WILLIE WOOD, ROY JEFFERSON, DOUG WILLIAMS, BOXING HISTORIAN BERT SUGAR AND MANY MORE.

Legends of Inside Sports Classic DVD's and Audio CD's

INTRODUCTION BY: JIM BROWN, GEORGE FOREMAN, GERALDO RIVERA and DON KING

Ali and Me with Harold Bell

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Don't miss your chance to own rare and classic interviews of sports legends with your host Harold Bell on DVD and CD.  You’ll get Harold's flagship interviews with Muhammad Ali and the legendary Red Auerbach.  You will also see other classic sports clips and behind the scenes interviews with people in the field of horse racing such as Hayes Brown, the first black racing official in the state of Maryland and NFL greats Roy Jefferson and Billy Kilmer.

Order your DVD today for only $11.99 (plus shipping and handling) and watch a part of history.

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About Your Host

Harold Bell is the Godfather of Sports Talk radio and television.  Throughout the mid-sixties, seventies and eighties, Harold embarked upon a relatively new medium--sports talk radio with classic interviews with athletes and sports celebrities.  The show and format became wildly popular. Who better than Harold Bell to put together classic interviews with his legendary celebrity friends.

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One-Legged Athlete Elected to Florida High School Hall of Fame

TALLAHASSEE,  FL – The Florida High School Athletic Association announced today that one-legged athlete Carl Joseph is among the eight former Florida prep stars chosen for induction into the FHSAA sports Hall of Fame.

Joseph, now 48 and living in Tallahassee, is believed to be the first disabled athlete to achieve this honor at the state or national level.

Born without a left leg, he transformed himself 
from the object of pity and ridicule as a child to one of respect and awe at Madison (FL) High School. Winning over dubious coaches along the way, he was a 3-sport standout, earning eight varsity letters and Big Bend Conference awards.

In high school, he was able to hold his own against two-legged athletes, usually getting the better of them despite playing -- or rather hopping -- on one leg. It was when he dropped his crutches (or propped his wooden leg against a tree) and hopped onto the playing field that he became an extraordinary athlete, seemingly defying the laws of physics and reason.

Captain of the varsity football team and starting noseguard, he couldn’t be blocked by only one offensive lineman, so he was double- and triple-teamed. He registered 11 solo tackles in one game. Career highlights include chasing down and sacking a quarterback, blocking a punt, recovering 15 fumbles, batting down numerous passes, and intercepting a pass. He could also punt if needed.

Joseph won three varsity letters in track. He could sail the discus 130 feet and the shot-put 40. He excelled in the high jump, winning the district championship at 5 feet 10 inches. In practice, he cleared 6-5.

The pace of basketball limited Carl’s playing time. He was the eighth man on the varsity his senior year, averaging four points and three rebounds a game. A tenacious defender and rebounder, he could dunk and swat shots into the stands.

During the tense early years of forced integration in Madison (Pop. 3,500), Joseph’s inspirational football exploits were credited with uniting the black and white communities. He created immense interest and renewed civic pride in a football team that had been drawing sparse crowds at home. By his senior year, bleachers were overflowing in Madison and on the road.

Former college football coach Jackie Sherrill, a mentor to Joseph, reacted to the announcement by saying, “Congratulations to the selection committee for recognizing a young man who is not in the record books for points, total yardage, sacks or tackles but rather for his ability to inspire the sports world and motivate us to believe we can do anything if we really never, ever give up.”

Frank Yanossy, Joseph’s high school football coach, said, “There is no one individual more worthy of this award.”

Joseph, now a special needs teacher and prep football coach, was elated by his selection. “I feel really blessed that after all these years an honor like this could happen to me,” he said. “When I was a little kid, I used to actually dream about playing varsity sports in high school. But now, to be among these great athletes, that’s something I never could’ve imagined.”

Joseph, who is a bishop in his church and a gospel singer, said his inclusion in the hall of fame gives hope to everyone, especially disabled people, “that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and never quit.”

Officials at the National Federation of State High School Associations in Indianapolis were not aware of any disabled athletes among the 350 inductees in their hall of fame. Personnel at several state high school sports shrines said they had no knowledge of any disabled inductees.

Florida-bred sports stars already in the FHSAA Hall of Fame  include Chris Evert, Emmitt Smith and Christ Collingsworth. 

The hall of fame induction ceremony and awards banquet will be held in Gainesville on April 26.

Links:  Carl's YouTube video, Carl's web page and FHSAA.

 

Harold Bell's Legend of Inside Sports

Bernie Chavis

BERNIE CHAVIS SHOWING LOVE-LOVE & LOVE:  BLACK HISTORY AT U. S. OPEN TENNIS!

By Harold Bell 

On September 3, 2008 a former hoop star turned amateur tennis player Bernie Chavis will make history as an author on the hollow grounds of the U. S. Tennis Open.  Bernie is a native Washingtonian who now lives in the suburb of Meadowbrook, Pa.  He will showcase and autograph his new book titled “The Games of Tennis-An African American Journey (Breaking Racial Cultural Barriers in Tennis and---Society).” 

His journey is far from his roots as an outstanding all-around athlete in the DC Public schools of Washington, DC.  Bernie was All-Met in football and basketball at Eastern High School.  He parlayed his athletic skills into a basketball scholarship to Villanova University in Philadelphia.  The city of brotherly love has been home ever since.   

High School hot shot Bernie Chavis and teammate Robert Cephas

His remarkable journey into the elitist World of tennis takes a hard an objective view of the not too friendly love affair between blacks and whites.  Despite the groundbreaking efforts of tennis greats Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe in the 50’s and 60’s “LOVE” has nothing to do with it.

Unlike most outstanding athletes who are born with that competitive spirit Bernie knew when to quit.  When he discovered he could no longer run and jump with the young boys on the talented rich basketball courts of Philadelphia he walked away.  His next court would be a tennis court.  It was there he could apply the same techniques that made him an outstanding basketball player to play at the highest level capable—foot work and hand and eye coordination.  He fell head over heels in love with the game.  The most enjoyable aspect of his new World, he could compete and play with men his own age.  Once on the tennis scene he discovered the many doors that were closed to people of color on the other side of the net.   

Bernie remembered growing up in a segregated Washington, DC (the Nation’s Capitol). He never forgot the second class citizenship experiences of his hometown.  He says, “One of my first recollections highlighting the impact racism concerned the Howard Theater, the most popular movie and entertainment center in Washington’s black community.” 

He had a difficult time trying to figure out why was it that white folks could flock to one of the busiest sections of the black community and have an All-Access Pass but he was forbidden from entering any of “their” establishments anywhere in the city. 

Bernie’s childhood friend and my high school teammate, the late Spotswood Bolling, Jr., was a part of a landmark decision handed down by the U. S. Supreme Court in 1954.  He was a part of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision.  The decision was Bolling vs. Sharpe and ruled upon on the same day by the same Supreme Court.   

 

Harold Bell and Spotswood Bolling Spingarn HS teammates 

There were two different decisions made because Brown vs Board of Education was national and Bolling vs Sharpe was to insure desegregation locally.  DC then as now had no Congressional Representation it is still called “the plantation on the Potomac.” 

In the early1980s shortly after turning to tennis as an alternate athletic outlet, Bernie discovered “The more things changed the more they remained the same.”  While playing tennis at the Garden Fair Tennis Club located near his home he developed a personal friendship with the manager of the facility, Bob Fossler.  One day Mr. Fossler indicated to Bernie that all the tennis boards he was involved had begun to seriously discuss the need to diversify the composition of their organizations and to engage people of color.  Remember this is almost 40 years after Jackie Robinson and Althea Gibson made their professional debuts.   

Fossler then invited Bernie to be a member of one of those boards.  Upon his recommendation Bernie submitted his application and was accepted.  His membership placed him on the board of the United States Tennis Association Middle States Philadelphia Area Tennis District.  Thus began his roller coaster ride inside the sport of tennis’s dark and blind side. 

Bernie joining the USTA was just appetizer, he has served as National President of the American Tennis Association (ATA), the oldest African American sports organization in America and President of the U. S. Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) in the Middles States section.  He would later be named the first black to serve as President of the USTA Philadelphia Area Tennis District (1994) and the first to referee a USTA national championship tournament, the Men’s Senior Grass Court Championships at the Germantown Cricket club in Philadelphia.  In 2005, he was named a “Living American History Maker” by the Berean Institute of Philadelphia.  Like Frank Sinatra, Bernie has taken the blows and did his way.  

I would love to be a book on the shelf to witness and capture the reactions of friends and foe during the signing.  The more interesting moments will be to see if any of today’s black tennis stars and future black stars show up to support his courageous effort to make their paths easier.  Richard Williams the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena will be the first in line and I am betting his daughters won’t be far behind.  On the other hand James Blake the bridesmaid of the men’s tour will distant himself until he sees the William sisters purchase their first book.  His advisors will caution him to keep his distant. 

The Games of Tennis-An African American Journey is a must read for every person of color who thinks that they have arrived and that includes parents, teachers, coaches and all advocates of children who claim they are making children first.   

The book reflects the thinking of America and how it really feels about people of color.  During Bernie’s journey he discovered that every black face he saw was not his brother and every white face was not the enemy.  He has never forgotten that it was all white men who made the decision of Brown vs. Board of Education and Bolling vs. Sharpe.  Their decision was based on Love-Love and Love. 

About the Author:  Harold Bell is a pioneer in sports talk radio in Washington, DC.

 

ART MONK PROVES NICE GUYS DON’T FINISH LAST:

WIDE OUT—FINALLY IN THE HALL OF FAME!

By Harold Bell 

Art Monk’s induction into the NFL Hall of Fame was a long time coming.  He is one of the best reasons why the players and coaches should decide who is worthy of entry.

Monk played 16 years in the NFL and should have entered the hall on his first year of eligibility.  He was denied entry because there were many in the sports media (writers, columnist and editors) who didn’t like his attitude when it came to the sporting press.  He learned early in his career the members of the media could not be trusted.  They ran hot and cold, especially those in the Nation’s Capitol, home of the Washington Redskins. 

He never thought he was obligated to give and interview and answer their stupid questions like “what were you thinking when you dropped that ball for a touchdown” or the classic question asked of QB Doug Williams by a reporter at the 1988 Super Bowl, “What does it feel like being a black QB playing in the Super Bowl?”  Monk never played their game during his entire NFL career.  He knew 90% of the idiots surrounding his locker after each practice and each game never played the game. 

One major league baseball manager was heard to say “The qualifications to be a sports writer in America all you need is a driver’s license.”  Art Monk could not have agreed more.

During his acceptance speech I think the most provocative statement he made was when he said, I was fine with the waiting game you guys were playing.  I am honored to finally be inducted into this sacred fraternity, but football does not define who I am.”

What was Art Monk on a football field?  On Sunday afternoons in football stadiums around the country he was Mr. Consistent, Mr. Clutch and Mr. Dependable.  Monk was drafted in the first round (18^th pick overall) of the NFL draft by the Washington Redskins in 1980 out of Syracuse University.  He was a running back at Syracuse but the Redskins immediately made him a wide receiver.  They have had a lot of success in turning running backs into great wide receivers.  Running backs like Bobby Mitchell and the greatest wide receiver in Redskin history, Charlie Taylor.  Taylor was an electrifying runner after the catch; he could entertain and thrill you with a short catch over the middle or a long catch down either sideline.  He was also a devastating downfield blocker.  In my opinion Art Monk is second only to Taylor on the All-Time great wide receivers who played for the burgundy and gold.

Roland ‘Bubba’ Grimes and Bryce Bevill are DC homegrown and Syracuse alumni.  They are the co-authors of a new book titled “TOTAL FOCUS of Character, Academy, Discipline, and Faith.”  Grimes says, “I remember the day the skins drafted Monk after trading away 12 years’ worth of first round picks under Coach George Allen.  None of us had heard of the guy but from day one he was an absolute stub on the football field and many of us tried to learn his game and follow his work effort.

Art Monk, Harold & Hattie

Click On Photo To Enlarge

Art Monk befuddles the sports media with his discipline and focus.  Not only has he excelled in football but he also is just as accomplished in his walk with Christ and leadership in his own home.  These are very difficult domains to balance in the NFL with all the travel and temptation at every NFL stop.  However, I think the guy’s life is truly just beginning now that he can invest more time into his family, community and his role as a trustee at our alma mater, Syracuse University.  Now is the time that he can be outspoken and advocate on any stage for anything that tugs at his heart.”

Art Monk’s 14 year career with the Washington Redskins was a highlight reel of consistency.  He once set an NFL record with a catch in 164 straight games.  When it was 3^rd down and five yards or longer we all knew who the quarterback would be looking for.  He wore number 81 Art Monk.  He was a quarterback’s best friend and cornerback’s worst enemy.  He was a nightmare to most cornerbacks who seldom stood taller then 6 foot and over 180 pounds.  Monk was 6’3 and 210 pounds.  To see him running in your direction was double jeopardy.  The cornerback was left thinking “Is he coming to knock my head off or to catch a pass?”  Advantage the wide receiver.  I will take a great wide receiver over a great cornerback on any given Sunday.  The wide receiver knows where he is going and the cornerback has to guess.  The cornerback on an NFL team is usually the team’s best athlete. The cornerback position is the most difficult on the field.  Congratulations to Darrell Green on his induction.  His NFL 20 year odyssey and tenure was unbelievable.

When Art Monk retired after the 1995 season he held the career record for receptions (940).  He was a three time Pro Bowl selection and a first team All-Pro in 1984.  Monk played on three Super Bowl Championship teams.  In 1984 he set an NFL record with 106 receptions in a season.  He was named to the All-Decade Team for the 1980s. 

He was never a controversial personality in the locker room or in the community.  There were never any whispers about drugs and he was never seen chasing skirts all over DC like many of his teammates.  The one thing that I admired about Art Monk, even though he was surrounded by flawed teammates who where pretending to be Christians, he never allowed their behavior to interrupt his walk with God.  Dexter Manley is his friend and not his leader.

Unlike most of the players you would usually see gathering at midfield to pray after the conclusion of a hard fought game, he was serious about God and his place in his life.  He was a model citizen. Art Monk was a great catch for the NFL Hall of Fame.

 

THE BOSTON CELTICS MAKE IT OFFICIAL:

PHIL JACKSON IS NOBODY’S RED AUERBACH! 

While the spirit of Red Auerbach was felt in the new TD Banknorth Garden the new “Big Three” dismantled and embarrassed the Los Angeles Lakers franchise in the NBA finals 131-92.  Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen reminded Celtic fans of dynasties past.  There was Bill Russell, Sam Jones and K. C. Jones or Larry Byrd, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish dynasties. 

The 2008 Boston Celtics went from worst to first in a hurry.  The new "Big Three" solidified their places in Boston Celtic lore.  Paul Pierce scored a double-double in points and assists and was named the MVP of the series.  Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and had 14 rebounds and Ray Allen tied an NBA finals record with seven 3 point shots while scoring 26 points.  The "Big Three" whether they like it or not had lived up to their name. 

The NBA’s Boston Celtics and Red Auerbach are the most successful team and coach in NBA history.  The franchise has won 17 World Championships; Red won 9 of those as the head coach. Number 17 came on Tuesday night June 18, 2008 in Boston Garden.  The man in charge was a man we call Doc and not Red.  

While America was seeing Black for the first time (Presidential nominee Barack Obama) the City of Boston was also seeing a familiar Red as in Auerbach.  It had been twenty-one years (1987) since these two teams last met in an NBA final.  The last thing the city, the team and the fans wanted to see was a Lakers’ win to move Jackson ahead of Auerbach.  The last time the Boston Celtics won an NBA Championship was 1987.  Red Auerbach was still the Godfather of the NBA and President of the franchise. 

Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson came into the series tied with Red and needed a win to move ahead of him in the championship finals win column.  The Lakers blew a 24 point lead to the Celtics in game four at home to go down 3-1 and a 39 point lost in the finals didn’t help his case.  He returned to Los Angeles hopefully never again to hear being compared to Red Auerbach. 

It is not by accident or coincident that Doc Rivers is the head coach of the Boston Celtics or Danny Ainge is the team’s General Manager.  Thanks to Red the Celtics were the first equal opportunity and keeping it in the family employer in the NBA. 

When Doc Rivers became the coach of the Celtics, Red’s advice to Doc, “Keep it simple.”  Red won 9 NBA Championships by keeping it simple and playing tough in your face defense, thanks to a man named Bill--as in Bill Russell. 

Make no mistake Doc Rivers is no Red Auerbach, DC's fearless talk show host Coach Butch McAdams said it best on a recent talk show.  He said, "Doc Rivers as a basketball coach makes a great television/basketball commentator." 

In defense of Rivers I have always thought that coaching a pro sports team was overrated.  If you got the "horses" and the respect of grown men anything is possible--meet Doc Rivers. 

This year’s team didn’t have a Bill Russell but their team defense was the best in the league.  In 2007 the Celtics had the worst team in the league and the media and fans were calling for Doc Rivers' dismissal.  In 2008 GM Danny Ainge pulled off an NBA heist that would have made Red Auerbach proud.  Kevin Garnett is one of the most gifted big men in the league.  He had been the face of the Minnesota Tmberwolves' franchise since leaving high school 12 years ago, but basketball success had not followed him to the NBA.  Garnett had become an unhappy camper and wanted out. 

The acquisition of Kevin Garnett and NBA sharp shooter Ray Allen was a stroke of genius.  You add holdover Paul Pierce and it brought back memories of Celtic pride with Auerbach, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, K. C. Jones, etc leading the charge against Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and the incomparable Wilt Chamberlain.  I am still trying to figure out how the Celtics pulled that one off. The answer could easily be---Red Auerbach. 

How and why did Minnesota trade Garnett to Boston?  It is rumored that the spirit of Red Auerbach contacted Minnesota GM Kevin McHale while he was in a deep sleep one night and said “Kevin you owe me one, trade Garnett to Boston and we are even.” The rest is team sports history. 

This final match up brought together one of the NBA’s most heated and hated basketball rivals.  The match-up lacked the marquee value of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain or Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, but it did not lack the mental and physical intensity that this rivalry has known for decades. The only other major sports franchises that comes close to this rivalry in intensity is the match-up of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. 

The World of sports lost a true giant when Red died on October 28, 2006.  He was born in Brooklyn, NY but he loved his adopted hometown of Washington, DC.  The finals championship left no doubt that Red Auerbach is the greatest coach in the history of the NBA. 

His won-lost record in Human and in Civil Rights was nothing to sneeze at----he was in a class by himself. 

In 1950 Chuck Cooper of Duquesne University and a second team All-American was drafted by coach Red Auerbach and owner Walter Brown. Cooper would become the first black player drafted and signed by an NBA team.  The NBA is now the most integrated pro sports organization in America.  The NBA plantation mentality is no longer implemented by whites it is now implemented by black men.  Red was not a big fan of NBA Commissioner David Stern or Wizard’s owner Abe Pollin, it had something to do with trust and integrity. 

Red was the first coach to play five black players at the same time.  He was first to hire the first black coach when he hired Bill Russell and the first to hire a black General Manager his name was also--Bill Russell. 

During the tenure of owner Walter Brown and Red Auerbach the Boston Garden was a “Racial Free Zone.”  The stifling racial strife in the city of Boston for the past several decades was not allowed in Boston Garden the home of the Boston Celtics.  When games were played in the garden the Redneck riff-raff had to check their KKK robes and hoods at the gate and replace them with shirt and tie, blue jeans and tee-shirts. 

When the basketball hall of fame had forgotten the contributions of Earl Lloyd the first player to ever play in an NBA game in 1950, Red reminded them.  Earl was finally inducted into the Naismith Basketball of Fame in 2001 fifty years later.  Thanks to Red Auerbach, better late than never. 

The Boston Celtics were the underdogs in this year’s series and were picked to lose to the Lakers in six games by the so-called experts.  The experts can be found sitting at NBA press tables around the league during the regular season.  Many would not know the difference from a left hook and a hook shot, but they are the experts never the less.  The Celtics won in six games---so much for the experts! 

This was the eleventh championship final between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.  The Celtics now lead the series 9-3.  The most important statistic was the one owned by the coaches, Red Auerbach and Phil Jackson.  Each had won nine NBA Championships.  A win by the Lakers would make Phil Jackson the outright leader.  Please don’t think this was lost on the city of Boston, the Celtic organization, the players or the coaches.  The city of Los Angeles, the Lakers organization, the players and their coach were also caught up in this historical footnote in NBA history, more than bragging rights were at stake. 

Did you see Bill Russell and Magic Johnson lurking in the stands, behind closed doors, in locker rooms and in bath rooms?  They were there to remind the players not to let them down and what was really at stake. 

Phil Jackson had not forgotten that when his record was compared to Red Auerbach’s, Red made it perfectly clear that Phil was an NBA opportunist. Red built his incredible record with just one team—the Boston Celtics and Phil was an NBA vagabond. Red said, “Phil Jackson is the television version of Bob Barker, if you got the players, Lets Make A Deal.”  In other words, 'I have sneakers and I will travel.' 

Red Auerbach was a genius and one of a kind. If you are looking for the definition of coach in Webster’s Dictionary it is spelled, A-U-E-R-B-A-C-H. Red could X and O you to death (chalk and black board).  He was a psychiatrist, motivator, P. R. man and an intimidator. The league’s referees, coaches and players were often the target of his wit and sharp tongue.  He stood 5’7 inches tall and I still remember watching a game on television and Red challenging the 7 foot Wilt Chamberlain to a fist fight.  Red would later tell me on my talk show Inside Sports, “I should have gotten an Academy Award for that performance.”  Talking about getting under an opponent’s skin, when he was sure that victory was in hand he would light up his famous cigar on the bench.  There were several occasions when he would light the cigar up too soon and the opposition would make a comeback and got the last laugh.  Those laughs were far few and in-between. 

There were times when Red could be too smart for his own good. Boston Celtic great and Hall of Fame player Sam Jones once told me the story about Red having a curfew, something he very seldom did.  It was during a long winning streak, Red booked the team into a hotel.  It was the night before they would be playing the worst team in the league.  Red wanted to make sure everyone stayed focused and not take the losers for granted.  He ordered room service (sandwiches, chips, pretzels, sodas and beer) for everyone in a suite.  The players then retired to their rooms together.  The next day they lost to the worst team in the league by 20 points.  Red said, "That was my first curfew and my last curfew."  He learned, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

Bill Russell took a page out of one of Red Auerbach’s chalk talks and promised Kevin Garnett one of his championship rings if he did not win a championship during his stay in Boston.  Bill was depending on the pride of Kevin being man enough to go out and earn his own ring.  Bill was right and Kevin finally took up residency under the basket in game six and it was no contest.  Paul Pierce can now find a quiet place to light up that special cigar Red gave him just before he died.  I can vision Red smiling and reaching for his cigar and the heavenly no-smoking sign turned off temporally for a celebration.

BLACK MAGIC: IN AND OUT OF FOCUS!

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

By Harold Bell

ESPN’s airing of “Black Magic” chronicling the rich history of black basketball in America was a buzzer beating jump shot to win and a controversial foul call at the end the game to lose.   It was also the most watched documentary in the history of ESPN television history.  The first segment aired in 1.2 million homes beating the old record of 1.1 million.

The four hour two-part television show carried black basketball from the playgrounds, high schools, colleges and on to its final destination---the NBA.  This brought full circle the hopes and dreams of most black athletes, a life in the fast lane of professional sports.  For some it was their only way out.

The show’s title, “Black Magic” was the footprints in the sand of the man who revolutionized offensive guard play in basketball---Earl Monroe.  He is also a part-time magician.  I found the show to be enlightening and educational even though I lived most of it.  I was a student/athlete and played football and basketball for the legendary Clarence “Bighouse” Gaines at Winston-Salem State.  During my era (59-63) I was the only athlete under 6’5 he permitted to play two sports.  Tim Autry and Emit Gil my football teammates could not chew bubble gum and dribble at the same time but they were tall.  He called Tim and Emit “My Special Effects.”  

My freshman year I scored 27 points in a losing effort in the annual Alumni vs. Varsity basketball game.  My friend and mentor the legendary Jack DeFares had returned to Winston-Salem to finish work on his degree.  He lobbied for me to play for the shorthanded alumni.  It was easy to see why Jack was a New York playground legend and an All-Time great at Winston-Salem.  He simply said, “Keep your eyes on me and follow my lead.”  His slick ball handling and moves to the basket was responsible for me leading both teams in scoring.  Bighouse knew I could do two things well, catch a football and score on a basketball court.   But he made it clear that he had only one basketball and it belonged to Cleo Hill.  Like it or not I had to wait my turn.  I satisfied my hunger for the game by playing at the local YMCA and on the Inter-Mural team.

I was in a unique position at Winston-Salem State I was there to compare three of the greatest players to ever play for “Bighouse,” Jack DeFares, Cleo Hill and Earl Monroe up close and personal.

I was there for the return of Jack DeFares, I was there for the departure of Cleo Hill and I was there to witness the arrival of Black Jesus better known as Earl “The Pearl” Monroe among other names. 

Black Magic participants Al Attles and Earl Lloyd were two dear friends and inspired me to be all that I could be.  I was in Landover, Maryland when Al and the Golden State Warriors upset and beat another close and dear friend K. C. Jones.  The Warriors beat the Washington Bullets in four straight games to win the NBA Championship.  Al and K. C. made pro sports history by becoming the first two Black Americans to face-off in a championship final. 

         Santa Helpers: H. Bell, Al Attles, Sam Jones, K. C. Jones and Roy Jefferson (NFL)

I was there also to encourage the late great legendary Red Auerbach to step in support Earl Lloyd’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.  The NBA had overlooked his career.  Thanks largely to Red the Basketball Hall of Fame finally inducted him in 2002 as a contributor. He was the first black to play in the NBA.  The CIAA barely beat the NBA.  Fifty years after graduating from West Virginia State they finally pulled his number for induction into the CIAA Hall of Fame in 2000.

Hopefully, Mike Wise of the Washington Post was watching ESPN and received an education on who was the first and last word when it came to “The Improviser” of guard play in the NBA.  Mike and his colleagues are the best examples on why we need to celebrate Black History 365 days of the year.  If we don’t our youth would believe that “Pistol Pete” Maravich revolutionize guard play in the NBA.  Mike wrote those exact words in his column during the NBA All-Star Weekend last month.  Pete was a great player in his own right.  As Black Americans we must be careful of what we read and who we read.  I will be looking for his column saying “I made a mistake” but I am not holding my breath. 

The enlightening stories for me, started with Perry Wallace, Athletic Director at American University and the first black to play at Vanderbilt University, the perseverance of NBA player Bob “Butter Bean” Love and without a doubt the hidden story that Ben Jobes was one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time.  Coach Jobes’ accomplishments and basketball success stayed under the radar of major media for decades.  ESPN’s Black Magic made it perfectly clear he could have easily been a success on any level, but was denied recognition because he was black.

The real story of the NBA lynching of Cleo Hill by the St. Louis Hawks was long overdue.  In Black Magic there was mention of Cleo being the greatest player of his era.  He could have been the greatest player of any area where he was allowed to play.

Cleo had every shot imaginable.  He is the greatest offensive basketball player I have ever seen with the exception of Washington, DC’s Elgin Baylor.  He was “Michael Jordan” in North Carolina long before Michael Jordan.  Jordan didn’t really blossom into a great offensive ball player until the pros.   Cleo was a basketball icon and legend on Tobacco Road long before his pro career.  To believe it you had to be there to see him.  When Cleo played you would have thought the ACC Tournament was being held on the campus of Winston-Salem State.  White folks traveled from all over the state to see him play.  Cleo Hill was worth the travel time and price of admission.  There were times when our own students could not get into the games.  There was nothing Cleo could not do on a basketball court.  His offensive arsenal consisted of left and right hand hook shots, set shots, a jump shot from any and everywhere, a great rebounder when he needed to be, he was fearless driving to the basket and he was an 80% foul shooter.  Cleo could dribble the ball up court to break the press.  He was no slough on defense either, when “Bighouse” needed someone to stop the other team’s hot shooter, he looked no further than Cleo or teammate Tommy Monterio.  

Cleo was drafted No. 1 by the St. Louis Hawks in 1961 and everything was uphill from there.  When he arrived in St. Louis the KKK better known as “The Nest” was waiting for him.   The “Nest” consisted of players Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan and Clyde Lovellet.  They did everything but string him up by his neck.  When Coach Paul Seymour took a stand against “The Nest” the owner Ben Kerner fired him.  When Cleo returned to campus to finish up his classes to graduate after his rookie year he was a beaten man.  He would come around to our room and sit and talk with Barney and me for hours about life with the St. Louis Hawks.  His story was something out of the 1800’s.   In 2008 little has changed black men are still having their ideas and goods stolen and are asked to go in the backdoor and side doors to re-claim them.  Spooks are still sitting by the door opening it for some and closing it for others. 

When we start to talk about the injustices of the sports establishment you have to look no further than Coach John McLendon.  White coaches led by the legendary Dean Smith stole his ideas and made them their own.  The basketball establishment led by the white media had fans believing for years that Coach Smith invented “The Four Corners.”  A strategy devised by Coach Mac to take time off of the clock in the closing moments of a game while sitting on a lead.  

How can you vote one of the greatest innovators of the game into the hall of fame as a contributor?   Check the records and see if Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith have Contributor before or after their names.  In all fairness if Coach Mac is a Contributor than every coach who followed James Nasmith into the hall of fame is also a Contributor.   The word “Contributor” needs to be changed, as it relates to Coach Mac and Earl Lloyd.  If history is the judge “Brothers and Sisters” in media will see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil and write no evil.  

Johnny McLendon was definitely “An Officer and a Gentleman” he was in a class by himself when it came to having a compassion for helping others.  Johnny Mac was a pleasure to be around.   He is one of the best examples on how one can be a class-act and black folks will Player Hate on you anyway.   Barney Hood and I would often talk about Coach Mac and how he would always be uplifting when talking about his friends and former players.  Fairness is a lesson that never seemed to have rubbed off on some of his colleagues. 

The man many of us called “Big Daddy” when others called him Bighouse would some times forget we were watching him.   He could be very selfish and self serving.  Bighouse had a big heart but he could also be heartless.  He went ballistic when his friend and colleague Coach Tom “Tricky” Harris of Virginia Union hired a white coach, Dave Robbins (in-focus).  Coach Gaines and Harris were poker pals and shared a lot of basketball history.  When his buddy hired a white coach he felt betrayed.  Bighouse slowly burned when CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry (out of focus) and his cohorts hijacked the conference right before his eyes.  Some of the things he said about his colleagues and student/athletes made many us wonder whether he really liked himself.  None of us escaped his wrath including me, Cleo and Black Jesus.  

In many ways we have taken on the characteristics of the establishment.  When it comes to fairness it is becoming a lost art in the black community.   We have also become more exclusive instead of inclusive.  Black Magic for example; How were the contributions of icons Sam Jones (It is rumored he wanted to get paid), Spencer Haywood, Curly Neal and last but not least Red Auerbach and Walter Brown of the Boston Celtics overlooked?  

      The late NBA Godfather Red Auerbach and his classy wife Dotie visit Inside Sports

Sam Jones is in the NBA Hall of Fame and voted as one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest, he could have easily added more insight.  His mentors were two of the greatest coaches of all time, Johnny Mac and Red Auerbach.  Without Red’s contributions “Black Magic” would still be out of focus and a dream deferred.  Spencer Haywood’s contribution turned the plantation mentality of college basketball and the NBA into a “Pay Day Heaven” for today’s NBA players. 

In a landmark decision Spencer successfully challenged in court and won his case to enter the NBA draft before graduation.  He became the first ever NBA Hardship case.  Every NBA player making over $5,000 owes him a debt of gratitude.  He should be in the NBA Hall of Fame and a member of The 50 Greatest Players ever, for his play on the court and his legal battles in court.  He was working in the community long before the NBA CARED and he put the POWER in Power Forward.   He is being Black Balled by the NBA for standing up to be a man in America and for his alleged drug use.  If drug use is one of the measuring rods used for his induction, than the hall should be almost vacant.  One of the show’s characters, drug dealer Pee Wee Kirkland is a New York Playground basketball legend and former Norfolk State player.  I saw some his best customers in “Black Magic.”  Curly Neal is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and his name is synonymous with the internationally known Harlem Globetrotters, he was also out of focus in Black Magic! 

How could Black Magic forget New York basketball icons Pop Gates, Jack DeFares and Carl Green? 

Sound bites we could have done without:  Some things are better left unsaid, playground and NBA Broadcast legend Sonny Hill describing former Tennessee State and New York Knicks’ guard Dick Barnett was definitely out of focus.  He said “Dick Barnett was a functional illiterate.”  Dr. Dick Barnett graduated from Tennessee State and now holds a PHD Degree. 

ESPN NBA studio analyst and Winston-Salem State alumnus Stephen A. Smith and basketball scrub was blackballed from the show for stepping on “Superman’s Cape.”  “Bighouse” was having trouble winning games at the end of his career (828 wins) Smith writing for the Philadelphia Inquirer made the mistake of calling for his firing.  He has been out of bounds and out of focus ever since.  What is my excuse for being out of focus?  I walk and march to a different drum beat.  

Harold Bell---is a former student/athlete at Winston-Salem State and a radio and television sports talk show pioneer.  You can learn more about Harold and other sports legends by visiting his web site www.hbsportslegends.com.  You can contact also contact Harold at  hkbell@comcast.net.

 

The Souls of Black Baseball by an Oral History Project by Dr. Bob Allen

The Souls of Black Baseball:
 

Voices from the Field of Dreams Deferred
An Oral History Project by Dr. Bob Allen

Veteran of the Negro League Baseball era, catcher for the Philadelphia Stars, Bill "Ready" Cash can spin out a story that takes away your own breath as he tells it. Like the one about the 28 day bus trip the team took in the late 40's: going through towns 75-80 miles an hour because they had to make the schedule; blowing out motors and getting speeding tickets in the bargain; playing games along the way from Philadelphia, winding south 1900 miles away to Tyler, Texas.

 

On the field, in 105 degree weather, ready for the dressing rooms, but not allowed to use them. Had to go under the stands to dress. Only allowed a short run around the field for warm-up as an old guy hollered from the stands, "nigger, I'm gonna shoot you." Says Bill: "We still had to play ball. Out of those 28 days we were away from home, we was in bed four hours. All the rest of the time we slept in the bus, traveling."

 

Cash continues the story, taking you on the northbound loop back home; like always, stopping now and then after games, at places that were open to get food, sandwiches, mayonnaise, meat, sodas, to eat on the way. Games along the way, night and day. Cash recalls: "One Sunday we played in Birmingham. They had a little kid 16 years old and his father didn't allow him to play, goin away with the team. He only played on Sundays. He was battin' third. Piper Davis was the manager. I said, Piper, you've got this kid hittin' third?' He said, you'll find out.' We were tied 6-6 in the seventh inning and he came up. Boy, I just knew we were gonna throw a ball by him. He got 4 for 5 against us that day. I hit a double off the scoreboard. The next guy hit a long fly to center field, he went back against the fence and caught it. I tagged up and went to third base. When I got there, the ball was waitin' on me. That little 16 year old kid was Willie Mays. Boy, he could hit, he could ...of course you know all about him...he could do it."

 

This and many other stories, some tragic and sad, others side-splitting hilarious, are part of and emerging from an oral history project by Dr. Bob Allen, a free lance writer and researcher, and former teacher at the Pennsylvania State University. Allen's travel throughout the northeast in the last six years, and his intention to visit and interview on film every surviving player from the Negro Leagues, was based on a three part goal: to preserve, promote, and promulgate the history and stories of Negro League Baseball.

 

To date, the project has collected 366.75 hours of film footage of Negro Leagues histories. Yet, there is more to be done and further support to continue the project is needed. A detailed description of the project is available to all interested. In summarizing the project, Allen notes:

 

... without such histories being recorded, getting the actors to recall the play, and enabling future generations to see and understand the scene of the past "In time, we forget who we are." As players from the old baseball Negro Leagues probe the scars and remember the joys of their finest hours amidst the apartheid at the heart of the nation's pastime, this project will memorialize who they were so that we can better understand who we might be. Hopefully, it will make a special contribution to this important history of sport and American society; be of help and of use to veteran historians of the sport; and bring to life and keep alive the lessons and challenges we can all take up from this fascinating history.

For further information, enquiries, and suggested contacts to help Dr. Allen locate and interview players, or to provide needed support to continue the project, please be in touch with:

 

Bob Allen
1007 Golfview Ave. #24
State College, Pa. 16801

814-237-9471
LHADD@aol.com

 

 

In The Spotlight

Laila Ali

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 Black Sports Online

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“Sports Video Highlights, LLC”

 

 

Robert Littal is the brainchild behind Black Sports Online (BSO).  His story is one of hard work and turning your dreams into reality.  The thing that I like the most about BSO is Robert’s style of writing.  This brother is “freed up.”  He has a “tell it as I see it” style of writing that I find to be refreshing.  I hope you enjoy my interview with Robert Littal. 

Gary Johnson

 

The Robert Littal Interview 

BMIA.com:  Hey Robert, thanks for taking the time to do this interview.  I want to jump right into the interview.  You have some of the most intriguing and interesting articles on your web site, Black Sports Online (BSO).  Tell us about BSO. 

Robert Littal:  The idea has always been in the back of my mind.  I have a journalism degree from The Ohio State University, so I did a lot of writing, radio and TV while I was in college, even going back to high school I was the head of my audio/visual department.  I always had my own style of doing things, my professors would say I had a unique way of doing presenting my opinions which I believe was a nice way of saying that I didn’t do things the way they wanted me to.  After college I was more focused on my music career than doing anything with my degree.  I had my heart set on being the next Jay-Z, Nelly or Ludacris.  That all changed while I was watching the NFC Wild Card Game in December of 2004 Green Bay vs. Minnesota.  Some people remember it as the Randy Moss fake mooning incident.  I remember it as the most bias representation of the sports media I have ever seen.  I was so disgusted by the broadcast team of Joe Buck and Chris Collingsworth (Troy Aikman was cool) and their favoritism toward the Packers and Bret Favre and their obvious bias against Randy Moss that I literally wanted to jump through the TV and punch Buck in the mouth.  After the game while chatting on a message board I found that I wasn’t the only one who felt that the announce team and the media in general had become a parody of itself and weren’t being unbias in their opinions.  While continuing to complain to a very special person in my life, I was told by her that instead of complaining about it like I always did, why don’t I do something about it.  It was the best advice that I ever got, BlackSportsOnline was launched 3 months later in March of 2005. 

BMIA.com:  In addition to current sports headlines and features you have some other articles that are extremely interesting such as The Top 50 Athletes Wives, Darth Kobe and Exposed: Confessions of a Groupie.  Where do you get your story ideas? 

Robert Littal:  When I am thinking of story ideas I try to think outside of the box.  I try to think of topics that people talk about while they are just hanging out and relaxing, but from an angle they never thought of before.  I never want to be the 100^th person to hit the same topic I want to be the first, that way my name is associated with it from the beginning.  When someone says Darth Kobe it is going to be traced back to me.  You type in “athlete’s wives” in a search engine BSO comes up first.  While I wasn’t the first to do an article on groupies, but who else have been able get groupies, wives, girlfriends and a professional athlete on the record in a 3-part series? 

I like to think of myself as a Forensic Scientist when it comes to sports. While most people are concentrating on what is right in front of them I am digging a little deeper.  I am not just looking at the gun shot wound I am looking at the angle it came from and how that angle turns an apparent suicide into a homicide.  Because sometimes things that look to be obvious are more complex than you think.  After you read one of my articles I am going to force your mind to think about things you never thought of before. 

BMIA.com:  You used to work in the music industry.  Is that correct?  How did you get into sports? 

Robert Littal:  For a period of time between my freshman year in college, till about 2 1/2 years ago I was deep in the music industry as a rapper and a producer.  I had a couple of local hits, but never got that big break that I was hoping for.  Way before the music though I was consider a sports fanatic.  When they had all the elementary kids do a report on what they wanted to do when they grew up everyone else wanted to be a policeman or astronaut, my report was on being an anchor on SportsCenter.  This was when it was only one ESPN, not 1500 versions of ESPN.  My mom says when I was a toddler I would sit and watch full football games without interruption.  It has been in my blood for a long time. 

BMIA.com:  Do you see any similarities to musicians and athletes?  

Robert Littal:  The lifestyle of an athlete and a musician are similar in the fact that the fame makes them bigger than life to most people and in turn their egos are out of control.  There is a reason that athletes want to be musicians and musicians want to be athletes, they share a common bond.  They understand what each other goes through on a daily basis.  There isn’t much difference between 50 Cent and say Terrell Owens. 

There are more similarities between how business is being done.  The music business and professional sports are both cut-throat professions where when you are not “hot” anymore or you get “exposed” you are tossed aside without a second thought, no matter how big in the profession you are.  Once again there isn’t much difference between Rafael Palmeiro and JA Rule. 

BMIA.com:  Tell us about your background.  (Where did you grow up?  What’s your family background?  Did you play sports? 

Robert Littal:  I am from Saint Louis, Missouri, that is where I reside now.  I went to college at The Ohio State University.  I tell people I am the Al Bundy of Sportswriters.  I was a Wide Receiver in High School and in my last game I caught 7 catches for 150 yards and 2 TDs, unfortunately we lost that game, but it wasn’t my fault.  The QB threw an INT (interception) on the last play of the game.  Pass was intended for me, but it was overthrown.  That still haunts me to this day.  I have been blessed with a wonderful family who have supported me in everything I have done since day one.  I am a very lucky man. 

BMIA.com:  For your feature Exposed: Confessions of a Groupie, you interviewed over 50 women about their relationships with professional athletes.  Did you learn anything significant or surprising about these women? 

Robert Littal:  The most surprising thing to me was how many women wanted to speak to me.  All I did was put out feelers around the internet and next thing I knew my email box was full.  I was shocked at how forthcoming these young ladies were and how willing they were to validate their stories with pictures, voicemails, hotel receipts etc etc.  What I have learned from interviewing them is that there are two types of women when it comes to dealing with professional athletes.  Those who accept the lifestyle and are willing to deal with it because of the advantages it gives them in life and those who are in denial about the lifestyle because of the advantages of being involved with an athlete.  Because of this outpouring we are actually devoting columns to women who want to share their stories with the world, but didn’t have the avenue to do so before. 

BMIA.com:  The women that you interviewed come across as very forthcoming.  What was the wildest incident or story that surfaced as a result of your interviews? 

Robert Littal:  The most interesting by far was Candy from Part 1 of the story.  She was the one who claimed to have slept with over 100 athletes, musicians or just famous people in general.  She provided me with some much information that I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.  She even sent me a video of her with someone that if I told you was in the video you wouldn’t believe it.  I have already been threatened to be sued by a couple of athletes who I assume connected the dots and realized the young ladies were talking about them.  But it isn’t a big deal people threaten to sue me at least once a week. 

BMIA.com:  What lessons are there to be learned for women who date athletes and for men who date groupies? 

Robert Littal:  I would say for women who date any celebrities just realize that there is a trade off for being involved in the lifestyle and don’t be naïve to the situation you are getting yourself into.  For the fellas they just need to be real careful who they are dealing with because you never know who is going the next person to be exposed. 

BMIA.com:  Of the athletes that you’ve interviewed, are there any that standout or considered special? 

Robert Littal:  Almost all the athletes I have talk to both on and off record seem to respect what I am trying to do.  Even though some may think I am harsh in my evaluation of pro athletes I have a great respect and admiration for what they do in the playing field and I try my best to get that across in my writing. 

BMIA.com:  What do you want people to “get or learn” as a result of reading your articles. 

Robert Littal:  I am like Morpheus in The Matrix; my main goal is to get people to open their eyes to what is really going on in the world of sports.  The mainstream sports media are like Agent Smith in the fact they have created this mythical world where they dictate who are the good guys and who are the bad guys, who we should cheer for and who we should boo against and who we should hate and who we should love.  One by one I am taking people out of The Matrix and into the reality of sports.  The reality sometimes isn’t pretty but it is the truth.  When I write an article it is not to try to convince people to agree with me, it is to get people to at least open up their minds to a different perspective that will lead to discussions.  I am not a shock jock who is just going to say things to stir up the pot if I write about something I am going to have logical reasons for it. I am unlocking minds one reader at a time. 

BMIA.com:  What’s the best thing about being Robert Littal? 

Robert Littal:  If you haven’t noticed by now I am big on using analogies and metaphors to describe how I feel about things I think it is a part of the rapper that is still inside of me.  But right now I feel like Jay Z after he dropped “Reasonable Doubt.”  What you are getting right now is the rawest form of writing from me because I have no limitations and I have no fear.  I am the boss, so at this point I have the freedom to do whatever I like.  It is that freedom that is the best thing about being me right now.  I think there are many in the media that would probably like to speak their minds the way I do, but they can’t because they are puppets to the corporate office.  If the big man upstairs says to go do an interview with Ray Lewis and be sure to kiss his ass while you are doing it that is what you have to do.  Seeing that I am the big man upstairs I don’t have that problem. 

In a little over a year I have taken a site that was getting maybe 100 hits a day to where we are on pace for over 300,000 unique hits and over 1 million page views in July.  We are making an impact; we are making a difference which was my goal from the beginning.  Now the goal is from going from “Reasonable Doubt” to President of Def Jam if you feel what I am saying. 

BMIA.com:  I know what you’re saying.  Who do you admire? 

Robert Littal:  You know who I admire, I admire single parents.  Doesn’t matter if they are single moms or dads it is difficult to raise a child and having to do it alone you have to be a real special person.  I was fortunate enough to have my Dad in my life, but for the majority of my life he has lived out of state and my mom and grandmothers raised me.  I only understood how much they sacrificed for me when I got older. I wouldn’t be half the person I am without them.  I am not big on idolizing celebrities; I admire everyday people who are out there doing things that don’t get recognize. 

BMIA.com:  What’s the biggest challenges facing the black athlete? 

Robert Littal:  The biggest challenge for the black athlete is an understanding whether they like it or not that are the role models for kids.  White kids, black kids, Latino kids it doesn’t matter they are shaping young minds.  I am proponent of parents being the role models for their kids, but the reality is such that athletes, musicians and actors are who these kids are looking up to.  What that means is that these black athletes have a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in these kids’ lives.  So instead of going on MTV Cribs and basically saying happiness is gauged on how many pools you have in your back yard, how about going to a school and preach how you are blessed to have so much because you can shoot a basketball or run on the football.  Explain to kids how they admire doctors, teachers, lawyers, architects, etc etc for the hard work they do.  Explain that the only way out of the hood isn’t a “wicked jump shot or slanging crack rock” as Biggie once rhymed. 

BMIA.com:  How can people reading this article support you? 

Robert Littal:  The best way to support me is keep coming to the site, keep disagreeing with me, keep arguing about my points, keep telling people about www.blacksportsonline.com and keep letting people know that if they are interested in the reality of sports this is the place to be. 

Remember than analogy about me feeling like Jay Z after he did “Reasonable Doubt” I am now ready to drop “In My Lifetime Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life”.  It is time to branch out and reach a bigger and wider audience and anyone who is interested in helping me do that I will always have my ear out to listen. 

As for final words, I definitely want to thank Black Men in America.com for an opportunity to tell my story.  I would also like to thank all the people who have made BSO such a huge success because I could not have done it without each and every one of you.  This is just the beginning, I am not stopping now, and I am hungry and motivated to be the top in the profession.  Right now we are still David in our fight with Goliath, but as Pimp C of UGK once said “I have a pocket full of stones” and I am ready to go to work.  I will continue to bring the truth the question as it has been from the beginning is “Can You Handle It?”

 

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