Lebraun is having major academic issues. Since he had a hard time completing an algebra problem (3x+12=48) that I gave him this summer, I figured he would have difficulties once school started. He also placed into the lowest level of remedial classes here. I asked Lebraun to visit the math center three times a week in July to get help with him. Did he go regularly?
Lebran went to the math center once. I suspended him from summer workouts because of this. I expected this since most ball players I've worked with generally don't like admitting they need help with anything. Now, his english teacher is asking him to visit the writing center because the lone homework assignment he turned in recently was incoherent. Lebraun is 22 years old. Is Lebraun working hard to address these glaring deficiencies?
While Lebraun has some foundational issues academically, his biggest problem right now isn't related to that. One month into school, Lebraun hasn't purchased any books because he never applied for a financial aid voucher to buy them. How could this happen?
Even though he started the financial aid process in August, it took him a full month and a half to get them all the paperwork they needed. When he finally gave them all the documents they had asked for, it was too late to get a voucher. What has he done in the meantime to address this book issue even though three teammates have the same classes?
Nothing. He's currently failing every single class, even his basic Orientation class where his task on a daily basis is to write a journal entry about his likes and dislikes in life. I gave him a full week to make up everything that's missing in his classes, or he'll be dismissed from the team.
Will he make up the work?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tell Me Sweet Little Lies
Coaching an alleged criminal is really unsettling. I wanted to believe Doedoe was innocent, but my gut told me that the cops identified the right guy. Not only did he roll with a crew of shady characters, he also wasn't a bright guy. The combination of those two factors can be very dangerous. A guy who isn't thinking can be lead to do a lot of stupid things by people with ill intentions.
On top of that, I didn't find him to be an honest guy. Before he enrolled here, I'd heard rumors that he was planning to go elsewhere. Doedoe told me this was false when I asked him about it straight up. I decided not to be hard on him about that because a young man his age could have easily concluded that I would black-ball him for looking at other options. Also, rumors by nature tend to be exaggerated. I gave him a pass on this one.
One of his friends who I know well had asked me if Doedoe was really averaging 37 points per game. He said that Doedoe told him he scored 37 points in his scrimmage game before the season started (he had 18). Doedoe denied ever saying this to his friend when I asked him about it. I gave him a pass on this one figuring that his friend just added 19 points to his total for good measure.
After his third game, Doedoe and I had a meeting in my office that offered a great deal of insight about his character.
Doedoe: (convulsing) I don't understand! Why am I not playing a lot!?!
Me: You missed the first five games of the season and came to practice sparingly so you don't know the plays.
Doedoe: (crying now) I know the plays! I wanna win! You got bums coming in ahead of me!! LEMME PLAY!
Me: You don't know the plays. There isn't anything to talk about.
Doedoe: (crying and convulsing) YES, I DO!!!
Me: If I gave you a blank sheet of paper could you draw up our offense and explain the options??
Doedoe: Yup!
Me: K. If you don't know the play, I'm going to dismiss you from the team. (Getting up to get a sheet of paper).
Doedoe: HOLD UP! HOLD UP! I KNOW THE PLAYS. I just can't draw em up!!
Doedoe quit the team a few days after the last game of the semester where he started and posted 6 first half turnovers. He cited a need to work more hours in order to pay for his Lawyer fees. I privately asked a couple of his teammates after he quit if they felt like Doedoe committed the robbery. Both of them didn't hesitate to say yes.
On top of that, I didn't find him to be an honest guy. Before he enrolled here, I'd heard rumors that he was planning to go elsewhere. Doedoe told me this was false when I asked him about it straight up. I decided not to be hard on him about that because a young man his age could have easily concluded that I would black-ball him for looking at other options. Also, rumors by nature tend to be exaggerated. I gave him a pass on this one.
One of his friends who I know well had asked me if Doedoe was really averaging 37 points per game. He said that Doedoe told him he scored 37 points in his scrimmage game before the season started (he had 18). Doedoe denied ever saying this to his friend when I asked him about it. I gave him a pass on this one figuring that his friend just added 19 points to his total for good measure.
After his third game, Doedoe and I had a meeting in my office that offered a great deal of insight about his character.
Doedoe: (convulsing) I don't understand! Why am I not playing a lot!?!
Me: You missed the first five games of the season and came to practice sparingly so you don't know the plays.
Doedoe: (crying now) I know the plays! I wanna win! You got bums coming in ahead of me!! LEMME PLAY!
Me: You don't know the plays. There isn't anything to talk about.
Doedoe: (crying and convulsing) YES, I DO!!!
Me: If I gave you a blank sheet of paper could you draw up our offense and explain the options??
Doedoe: Yup!
Me: K. If you don't know the play, I'm going to dismiss you from the team. (Getting up to get a sheet of paper).
Doedoe: HOLD UP! HOLD UP! I KNOW THE PLAYS. I just can't draw em up!!
Doedoe quit the team a few days after the last game of the semester where he started and posted 6 first half turnovers. He cited a need to work more hours in order to pay for his Lawyer fees. I privately asked a couple of his teammates after he quit if they felt like Doedoe committed the robbery. Both of them didn't hesitate to say yes.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Real Niggaz do Real Things!
Doedoe allegedly robbed her two blocks away from his apartment. The cops eventually found Doedoe at his home and arrested him. As soon as he made bail, Doedoe called to assure me that he was not the unmasked robber.
Doedoe: Coach, it wasn't me!
Me: Uhh... I was told the person looked just like you. I mean, you weren't wearing a mask.
Doedoe: I'm tellin you, Coach. It wasn't me! They got the wrong person.
Me: How is that? You weren't wearing a mask.
Doedoe: My boy did it!
Me: Oh. So you know something about this?
DoeDoe: Yeh! My boy robbed her. I know it was him. He needs to turn himself in!!!
Me: Then why were you picked out of the line-up??
DoeDoe: I don't know! He has corn rows too! Maybe that's why.
Me: Cmon man. Really?
DoeDoe: I wouldn't lie to you!!
He had to sit out the first five games of the season while the college looked into the situation. Eventually, I was told that he could play since our legal system operates on the basis of guilt before innocence... I mean, innocence before guilt.
His first game back was an adventure. I called to let him know a half hour before we departed for our away game that he was good to go. Doedoe told me he was right down the street and would be there in five minutes.
He showed up twenty five minutes later smelling like he had just smoked three blunts in an air tight room.
Doedoe: Coach, it wasn't me!
Me: Uhh... I was told the person looked just like you. I mean, you weren't wearing a mask.
Doedoe: I'm tellin you, Coach. It wasn't me! They got the wrong person.
Me: How is that? You weren't wearing a mask.
Doedoe: My boy did it!
Me: Oh. So you know something about this?
DoeDoe: Yeh! My boy robbed her. I know it was him. He needs to turn himself in!!!
Me: Then why were you picked out of the line-up??
DoeDoe: I don't know! He has corn rows too! Maybe that's why.
Me: Cmon man. Really?
DoeDoe: I wouldn't lie to you!!
He had to sit out the first five games of the season while the college looked into the situation. Eventually, I was told that he could play since our legal system operates on the basis of guilt before innocence... I mean, innocence before guilt.
His first game back was an adventure. I called to let him know a half hour before we departed for our away game that he was good to go. Doedoe told me he was right down the street and would be there in five minutes.
He showed up twenty five minutes later smelling like he had just smoked three blunts in an air tight room.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Stupid is as Stupid Does...
A detective called me looking for one of my players. Doedoe was wanted for questioning related to an unarmed robbery in his neighborhood, and the detective was convinced of his involvement. I simply told the detective that he had left immediately after practice to go to class. When I asked the detective for specifics, he told me that I'd be given more information once he was in custody.
Doedoe was a local guy that I had some concerns about from jump street. There were rumors in the community that he was involved in a gang. He was also kicked out of his high school for disciplinary reasons. Those two matters, alone, were enough for me to pass on him. The biggest issue I had, however, was that he struck me as a Low IQ guy.
I've never administered an IQ test here, but it's usually not hard to figure out if a guy's wiring is off. My IQ test usually centers on the eyes. I believe an individual's eyes can tell a story. In the case of Doedoe, I couldn't have a conversation with him that went beyond the basics (name, address, phone number, etc). Anything beyond that and I'd get a completely blank look in return (Ex. Why do you think it snows in the winter?). It wasn't a matter of him not being interested in a topic, or a speech impediment. He just couldn't process anything beyond the basics.
When the detective called me back, finally, he offered some disturbing details about the robbery. The reason they were on Doedoe's trail was because he was identified in a photo line-up by the victim. I thought that was problematic since there have been more than enough cases of black men being wrongly accused of these types of crimes. There was an unfortunate twist to all of this, however.
Doedoe wasn't wearing a mask when he ripped the young woman's purse off of her arm in broad daylight.
Doedoe was a local guy that I had some concerns about from jump street. There were rumors in the community that he was involved in a gang. He was also kicked out of his high school for disciplinary reasons. Those two matters, alone, were enough for me to pass on him. The biggest issue I had, however, was that he struck me as a Low IQ guy.
I've never administered an IQ test here, but it's usually not hard to figure out if a guy's wiring is off. My IQ test usually centers on the eyes. I believe an individual's eyes can tell a story. In the case of Doedoe, I couldn't have a conversation with him that went beyond the basics (name, address, phone number, etc). Anything beyond that and I'd get a completely blank look in return (Ex. Why do you think it snows in the winter?). It wasn't a matter of him not being interested in a topic, or a speech impediment. He just couldn't process anything beyond the basics.
When the detective called me back, finally, he offered some disturbing details about the robbery. The reason they were on Doedoe's trail was because he was identified in a photo line-up by the victim. I thought that was problematic since there have been more than enough cases of black men being wrongly accused of these types of crimes. There was an unfortunate twist to all of this, however.
Doedoe wasn't wearing a mask when he ripped the young woman's purse off of her arm in broad daylight.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Follow the Leader
Stupid people won't follow intelligent people. Lazy people won't follow motivated people. This logic was presented to me by Flash when I asked him to lead the first year students the right way as a second year player.
One of the things I've been proud of as the coach here has been the academic performance of my players over the years. During my first season, the team had a cumulative 2.5 GPA. The following year, the group compiled a 2.9 GPA. In two seasons only two players failed to meet the eligibility requirement to play during second semester.
The common denominator between those two teams was that most guys in the starting line-up had a GPA over a 2.5. When your best players are doing well academically, people follow suit. Flash, on the other hand, saw this differently when we discussed his role as leader at the beginning of my third year as Head Coach.
Me: My first year as coach, 2 out of 17 guys failed off the team. Do you know why?
Flash: why?
Me: The leading scorer had a 3.7 GPA and he was the coolest mothafucka on the team.
Flash: Yeh??
Me: Dudes who never got good grades were trying to do well because he made it a cool thing to do well academically, kind of like how Cam'ron made pink acceptable in the hood.
Flash: See. I disagree wit dat...
Me: What do you mean?
Flash: Lemme explain it to you like dis, coach. See. If you talk or dress a certain way in da hood, people will look at you like youz a sucka.
Me: I realize that.
Flash: Hold up. So if you tryin to straighten out a kid in da hood, you gotta dress n talk like him to get to him.
Me: Okay...
Flash: Aiight, so my point is that if you want me to get these first year players to act right you gotta let me act like them so I can gain their respect.
Me: That doesn't make any fuckin sense. Are you kidding me right now? You're gonna dumb yourself down so they could listen to you?
Flash: I'm tryna tell you, Coach. Nig, I mean guys, ain't listenin to somebody they think is a sucka!
Me: So how was I able to reach you then?
Flash: Cuz I ain't like those guys. I know how to play da game.
At the end of first semester, our cumulative team GPA was a 1.9 and four guys failed off the team.
One of the things I've been proud of as the coach here has been the academic performance of my players over the years. During my first season, the team had a cumulative 2.5 GPA. The following year, the group compiled a 2.9 GPA. In two seasons only two players failed to meet the eligibility requirement to play during second semester.
The common denominator between those two teams was that most guys in the starting line-up had a GPA over a 2.5. When your best players are doing well academically, people follow suit. Flash, on the other hand, saw this differently when we discussed his role as leader at the beginning of my third year as Head Coach.
Me: My first year as coach, 2 out of 17 guys failed off the team. Do you know why?
Flash: why?
Me: The leading scorer had a 3.7 GPA and he was the coolest mothafucka on the team.
Flash: Yeh??
Me: Dudes who never got good grades were trying to do well because he made it a cool thing to do well academically, kind of like how Cam'ron made pink acceptable in the hood.
Flash: See. I disagree wit dat...
Me: What do you mean?
Flash: Lemme explain it to you like dis, coach. See. If you talk or dress a certain way in da hood, people will look at you like youz a sucka.
Me: I realize that.
Flash: Hold up. So if you tryin to straighten out a kid in da hood, you gotta dress n talk like him to get to him.
Me: Okay...
Flash: Aiight, so my point is that if you want me to get these first year players to act right you gotta let me act like them so I can gain their respect.
Me: That doesn't make any fuckin sense. Are you kidding me right now? You're gonna dumb yourself down so they could listen to you?
Flash: I'm tryna tell you, Coach. Nig, I mean guys, ain't listenin to somebody they think is a sucka!
Me: So how was I able to reach you then?
Flash: Cuz I ain't like those guys. I know how to play da game.
At the end of first semester, our cumulative team GPA was a 1.9 and four guys failed off the team.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Thuglife Kennedy
I feel privileged to be coaching a Kennedy. Phil Jackson can talk up his 11 NBA championships. Coach K could gloat about his four NCAA championship rings and Olympic Gold medal. The late John Wooden could talk about his UCLA Bruins winning 88 games in a row. I can't hold my own in those conversations because I haven't won anything but a couple of lightweight tournaments in New Hampshire. Unlike my legendary counterparts, however, I can say that I've coached a Kennedy!
Everybody knows about the Kennedy family. They're that powerful Irish family that have captured the imagination of so many Americans. Most parents hope their kids will graduate from high school then get a college degree. The Kennedy family, on the other hand, expect their kin to become leaders of the "Free World." Their stature as a family has made them untouchable over the years, even when members of the clan commit criminal acts (i.e. Ted Kennedy getting off on vehicular homicide).
Thuglife is the cousin none of the Kennedys know about. He's a distant relative, if you will. Everything he wants is everything he gets. This dude went an entire summer without looking for an apartment and fell into one the day before school started because his basketball coach found it for him. Most 20 year olds work during the summer. Thuglife Kennedy doesn't roll like those other chumps. He picks up the phone seconds (literally) before his life gets turned upside down and a loving relative gets him off the hook.
Most students apply for financial aid months before going to college--not Thuglife Kennedy. He does it the day before and gets aid anyway. On top of that, he doesn't have to pay for books. As a matter of fact, he doesn't even apply for aid. Somebody else does it for him!
It must be nice to be a Kennedy...
Everybody knows about the Kennedy family. They're that powerful Irish family that have captured the imagination of so many Americans. Most parents hope their kids will graduate from high school then get a college degree. The Kennedy family, on the other hand, expect their kin to become leaders of the "Free World." Their stature as a family has made them untouchable over the years, even when members of the clan commit criminal acts (i.e. Ted Kennedy getting off on vehicular homicide).
Thuglife is the cousin none of the Kennedys know about. He's a distant relative, if you will. Everything he wants is everything he gets. This dude went an entire summer without looking for an apartment and fell into one the day before school started because his basketball coach found it for him. Most 20 year olds work during the summer. Thuglife Kennedy doesn't roll like those other chumps. He picks up the phone seconds (literally) before his life gets turned upside down and a loving relative gets him off the hook.
Most students apply for financial aid months before going to college--not Thuglife Kennedy. He does it the day before and gets aid anyway. On top of that, he doesn't have to pay for books. As a matter of fact, he doesn't even apply for aid. Somebody else does it for him!
It must be nice to be a Kennedy...
Punks Supposed to Get Beatdown!
I felt nothing but rage. The voice in my head kept saying, don't do it! I clenched my fist and just stared at ToughGuy. The guys on my side of the court all went silent as I stood there in disbelief at what had just happened. I couldn't believe he had the balls to disrespect me like that in front of the team.
My anger didn't stem from him calling me a faggot. I'm secure enough in my manhood to take a stupid shot like that from an 18 year old. It was the fact that he stood there waiting for me to bust a move, not realizing that I could knock him out with a single jab. All I could see in that moment was ToughGuy's face and what appeared to be my assistant coach moving quickly towards me as I walked up to ToughGuy. The room started to go dark.
My heart was racing as I started to address ToughGuy. The assistant coach had beaten me to my destination and stood in between us.
Me: What did you say?!!
ToughGuy: YOU STAY PICKIN ON ME! I'M SICK OF IT!
Me: SO YOU WANNA GET LOUD NOW?!?
Assistant: Coach...
Me: NAH. HOLD UP. REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID!
ToughGuy: This is bullshit!
Me: YOU KNOW WHAT? GET OUT! NOW!!
ToughGuy: Why you pickin on me?!? Other guys are makin mistakes and you're pickin on me!
Me: GET OUT! NOW!
He stood there. ToughGuy wouldn't leave the gym.
My anger didn't stem from him calling me a faggot. I'm secure enough in my manhood to take a stupid shot like that from an 18 year old. It was the fact that he stood there waiting for me to bust a move, not realizing that I could knock him out with a single jab. All I could see in that moment was ToughGuy's face and what appeared to be my assistant coach moving quickly towards me as I walked up to ToughGuy. The room started to go dark.
My heart was racing as I started to address ToughGuy. The assistant coach had beaten me to my destination and stood in between us.
Me: What did you say?!!
ToughGuy: YOU STAY PICKIN ON ME! I'M SICK OF IT!
Me: SO YOU WANNA GET LOUD NOW?!?
Assistant: Coach...
Me: NAH. HOLD UP. REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID!
ToughGuy: This is bullshit!
Me: YOU KNOW WHAT? GET OUT! NOW!!
ToughGuy: Why you pickin on me?!? Other guys are makin mistakes and you're pickin on me!
Me: GET OUT! NOW!
He stood there. ToughGuy wouldn't leave the gym.
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