Rival Crews

Husky was a convicted criminal. I had to think long and hard about taking him on the team given the crime he had committed. He admitted to slashing somebody with a blade during a fight and snatching the victim's chain. It was difficult for me to look at that infraction the same way as a petty weed trafficking violation. I needed to take a step back before deciding on how to proceed with Husky.

Instead of cutting him off right there, I listed the expectations that I have of every player--like going to class, getting good grades, and showing up on time. I wanted to see how he would react. Husky was unfazed by my rules. He didn't even flinch or roll his eyes like some other guys have in the past. I also asked him a question that I pose to most cats who are interested in playing for me--that is, what's your greatest flaw?

Some guys can't answer that and when they're unable to do so, I regard that as a serious red flag. As I've noted in previous posts, there's no big secret to my approach with the more difficult characters. I simply look for cues that suggest an individual can be reached. If he doesn't have the slightest clue of just one flaw, for example, then I know he won't be receptive to my direction. It means he's either too stupid (or too stubborn) to look within. In either case, it's damn near impossible to help that type of person turn the proverbial corner.

Along those lines, Husky didn't hesitate to tell me that his attitude could be a problem at times. I walked away from that conversation feeling better about working with him. After a few weeks of school, I noticed that he had a "C" or better in every class so I gave him a call. At that point, I invited him to be part of the team and he accepted the offer.

Husky didn't disappoint at all on the court. He was an animal. Given our needs as a team at the time, he was just what the doctor ordered. It didn't take long for my bubble to burst, however. One night after a game, I decided to hit up a bar to grab a drink. As I sat down a former employee at the Athletic Center, Birdie, tapped me on the shoulder. She needed to talk.

Birdie: I see you got Husky playin for you. You might have some issues there.
Me: Why's that? He's doing fine so far.
Birdie: He switched gangs. He's rollin with dudes his boys used to beef with now.
Me: Huh? How do you know?
Birdie: Because my ex used to roll with him. The word is on the street. 
Me: So what does that mean?
Birdie: Really? You don't know what that means?
Me: I don't take these local cats seriously. Dude is a gangster in college. Cmon!
Birdie: Well, dudes is ready to set it on him. They're after him on some serious shit.