Nude Awakening

Tanto had serious daddy issues. I didn't know the extent of the problem until we had an unexpected heart to heart one afternoon. Tanto told me just enough so I could get the gist of what was going on with him and his old man. I knew there was a lot more than what he shared, but we didn't have enough of a relationship for him to really open up. In the end, I just told him that I care about his life beyond the basketball court and that his well being was important to me. He heard me, but I knew his wall wasn't coming down any time soon.

Every year at least one player lands on my doorstep unexpectedly. On the second day of school, an older man approached me in the Athletic Center and asked if I coached the men's basketball team. Upon confirming that, the gentleman proceeded to explain that his son (Tanto) was attempting to enroll at the eleventh hour because his plans to enroll at a local four-year college had hit a snag because of financial aid. He noted that his son was a basketball recruit there and would likely be interested in playing for me.

The father told me that Tanto was next door trying to register, so I took a walk with him to introduce myself. At first glance, he looked like a basketball player. Tanto was a shade under six feet and his physique was very much defined. It looked to me like he spent a considerable amount of time lifting weights. That suggested he wasn't from the area because local guys have an extreme aversion to lifting weights.

It turned out that Tanto moved from Florida so he could be closer to his father. Things were doomed from the start, however. In addition to the financial aid issue Tanto encountered at the four-year college he was supposed to attend, his father had just been evicted. That lead to Tanto sleeping on an aunt's sofa while his father tried to get things situated. Tanto thought that would be a temporary arrangement, but little did he know that the rest of his semester would be spent sofa hopping. By the end of the semester, he was living on his grandfather's sofa in a housing project.

I often assume things about my players based on their disposition. It's usually obvious when something is really amiss with a guy. In the case of Tanto, I totally didn't sense things were really off in his world until he texted me one day to say he couldn't make it to practice. Upon receiving the text, I decided to give him a call to get some clarification about what was going on.

Me: What's up, man? You're texting me at 3:40 to say you can't make it to practice yet we start at 3:45.
Tanto: Sorry, coach. I just really can't make it. I have no clothes to wear.
Me: What do you mean? How can you not have clothes to come to practice?
Tanto: I really don't have clothes.
Me: So you're naked right now?
Tanto: Basically...
Me: Do you not have money for laundry?
Tanto: Not really, but that's not the issue. My father has my clothes.
Me: Then get your clothes from him. I don't understand.
Tanto: See. Umm.. It's kind of a long story.
Me: I'm not going anywhere. Tell me what's up.
Tanto: My dad..umm... what he does is move around and stuff, like, I never know where he is. He just, like, comes and goes. Lives with different women. I don't really get to see him.
Me: Okay.
Tanto: Every time he moves, he takes my clothes then I have to figure out where he is.
Me: Can you call him?
Tanto: No. He doesn't have a cell phone. It's disconnected.
Me: This is wild!
Tanto: I know that. You could come here and look for yourself. It's 30 degrees out and I have running pants and a t-shirt on...

High and Dry

Husky was a reputed gang member in the city. After spending two years in prison for slashing somebody during a fight, he decided to try college. That's where we formally met. I watched him play ball in the gym during the preseason with my players and decided to talk to him since he filled a major need. He was a tough, coordinated big body who played like a man. Despite the major need Husky filled, I was very reluctant to work with him.The last time I had knowingly allowed a guy with gang ties to play for me, it didn't turn out well.

That character (Doedoe) ended up being accused of robbing a young woman in broad daylight on a college campus. Months after the initial accusation, I was summoned to court to testify on his behalf. His alibi was that he had been at practice during the robbery--which was true. I took a day off of work to get grilled by a District Attorney. Ultimately, my testimony set him free even though the victim identified him as the culprit. One of my players would later tell me that Doedoe confessed to doing it. I'm still unsure about whether or not I aided a criminal.

Doedoe thanked me after the court proceeding, but I haven't seen him since that day. Ironically, Husky rolled with Doedoe for a time in the same crew. Instead of typecasting Husky as another gang involved cat who would fizzle, I gave him a shot. It actually worked out well for a time until a mishap occurred during a game.

Husky was on probation so he had a tracker hooked up to his ankle. While he went up for a rebound during a game, the tracker came off. It was quite the awkward scene as he kicked the tracker from the court towards our bench. Fortunately, the cops didn't show up right there to arrest him. Husky did the smart thing and turned himself in. Even though he had an explanation for the mishap, Husky was locked up for three weeks. He even missed Thanksgiving with his family.

His girlfriend contacted me and asked if I would be willing to testify on his behalf during a procedural hearing. I agreed to do so. On a Tuesday morning, I grabbed a couple of Assistant Coaches and headed to court. After waiting a couple of hours, I was summoned to the witness stand.

Attorney: Do you recognize that young man?
Me: Yes. I do.
Attorney: In what capacity are you familiar with him?
Me: I'm his Coach. He plays for the Men's basketball team at the college.
Attorney: Can you tell us what happened to the tracking device, sir?
Me: He went up for a rebound and it came off in the gym. I brought additional witnesses to provide further testimony if needed.
Attorney: That won't be needed. In order to play, does he have to maintain a certain grade point average?
Me: Yes. He currently has a C or better in every class.
Attorney: And he's a full time student, correct?
Me: Yes. He's enrolled in four classes. These three weeks in prison have really hurt his grades...
Attorney: Thank you for your testimony, Coach.

The judge set him free that morning. Husky's girlfriend thanked me outside the court room afterwards. A day after coming to practice, Husky abruptly quit the team. I haven't heard from him since...