Legacy

In the history of our country, we have had great leaders who have advocated non-violence and getting into “good trouble” as a way to advance the cause of civil rights for its citizens. And with their help, we have made great strides. But this generation of civil right advocates, who I will call the “new jacks” have taken the demand for this basic human right to an entirely new level.

Now before I go forward, I do not want to trivialize the work, desire and passion of the grass roots people who wish the same for all citizens. I repeat, all citizens. I only concentrate on these athletes because well, this is a sports blog.

Because of recent events in Wisconsin, players from the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to play their opening playoff matchup that was scheduled for that day. Apparently, they didn’t tell anyone, including their opponents who were on the court warming up for the contest. This decision rolled on like a wheelbarrow as the players from other teams that were scheduled to play that night agreed with their brethren and chose not to play. In fact, as of this posting, players from some of the teams have suggested cancelling the season in its entirety.

That is called next level.

In fact, other teams in other sports also cancelled games that were scheduled. Throw in some baseball and tennis matches that were cancelled and you got a full-blown work stoppage. All in the name of fairness and equality.

It is my hope that this historic sporting event will serve as a catalyst toward the day that, as NBA head coach Doc Rivers said, “…this country will love us back.”

I also must acknowledge the passing of two “sports” figures. Cliff Robinson, who is still in the top ten in games played during an 18-year NBA career, passed this weekend at the age of 53. A 15 point and five rebound per player for his career, he also won the Six Year of the Man award as well playing for five NBA teams. His number was also retired (as well as his selection to the All-Century team) during his college career at the University of Connecticut.

I also regret to report the sudden passing of actor Chadwick Bozeman at the age of 43. While his sports connection is more well known for playing sports icon Jackie Robinson in the movie “42”, he also portrayed football Hall-of-Famer Floyd Little in his first feature film, The Express: The Ernie Davis Story in 2008. He also played other iconic figures such as James Brown and Thurgood Marshall, my personal favorite.

                                                               Rest in Peace 

Nothing

As I was thinking what to blog about this week, I started to realize how hard I had to think about it. Aside from the time of year it is, the NBA playoffs are in full swing. More importantly, guys are competing. I admit I was going to be one of those guys that was ready to put an asterisk on this year’s champion. But I cannot do it. This year’s champ will be just as legit as all the others.

Even though my Caps got bounced out this year in the first round for the second straight year, it is the same for the National Hockey League. The only thorn in my craw about my Caps elimination this year is the coach who beat us this year is the same coach who was…wait for it, our coach two years earlier when…wait for it again…we won first Stanley Cup championship.

You cannot be a cheap owner in professional sports.

Baseball been a little dicey so far this year. They have had some early bumps in the road, but it seems to be hitting its stride. I quietly was hoping it would continue to be rough. It isn’t every day that you can be the defending champions for two years and only have to play one.

But now it’s down to the brass tax. Will it be as uneventful with football? My regular readers know how I am this time of year. Nothing has changed in my Fantasy Football preparation. But putting that aside, I’m talking about the season itself. They have had enough time to prepare. For me, hoping for its business as usual. If it were not for the pandemic, the big news would be the Washington Football Club selecting Jason Wright the first league wide African American team president.

In league history.

Now if they can figure out how to get fans in the seats…or maybe not.

Competition

Civil rights icon John Lewis, who recently passed at the age of 80, had a saying that there is nothing wrong with getting in “good trouble” for the right reasons. An example of this was in 1964 when a group of African Americans decided to use a whites-only pool at a hotel in St. Augustine, Florida. The hotel manager responded by pouring acid into the pool. One of the girls that was in the pool that day was 17-year-old Mimi Jones. The picture that was taken from that incident made the pages of the Washington Post and helped push the cause that got the Civil Rights Act passed that next day. In a 2017 interview, she said “I’m often asked, ‘How could you have so much courage?’ Courage for me is not the absence of fear, but what you do in the face of fear.”

Heroes and icons come in all shapes and sizes. And ages.

Ms. Jones dive into Civil Rights history came from her love of swimming. That legacy has been passed on to her son who helps kids learn to swim to this day.

Simone Manuel is the first woman of color to win an Olympic gold medal (2016) in an individual swimming event, setting an Olympic record in the process. I could not help but hear Ms. Jones, who recently passed a few weeks ago, in her post event comments.

” This medal is not just for me," she said. "It's for some of the African-Americans that have come before me and have been inspirations and mentors to me. I hope that I can be an inspiration for others."

Since winning an additional three medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver) in Rio de Janerio, she went on to win an additional six medals (5 Gold) in the World Championships the following year, setting three world records in the process.

"I would like there to be a day where there are more of us and it's not 'Simone, the black swimmer,'" she said, "because the title 'black swimmer' makes it seem like I'm not supposed to be able to win a gold medal or I'm not supposed to be able to break records and that's not true because I work just as hard as anybody else. I want to win just like everybody else."

Competition. It also comes in all shapes, sizes and…dreams.

Dreamin

I’ve have always been impressed by the two (or three) sport athletes who have done it at the professional level. The top ones that come immediately to mind are Deion Sanders and Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson, who is still the only professional athlete to be named an All-Star in Baseball and Football. Eddy Alverez, with his appearance in a major league baseball game this past week, is halfway toward that goal.

Alverez, who grew up in Miami, has become the first Winter Olympics athlete (and the first non-baseball Olympian since Jim Thorpe) to play major league baseball.

Growing up, Alverez was a kid who could not make his mind up. Ever since getting a pair of roller skates at the age of five for Christmas, his love was immediate. That love evolved to speed skating championships at the age of eleven. But that all changed when he got to high school. He hung up his skates for the baseball diamond. While at Christopher Columbus H.S., he started at shortstop all four years and earned a scholarship to St. Thomas University. In case you’re wondering, his high school has produced 26 baseball draft picks and four current major leaguers.

Sorry, five current major leaguers.

But in 2010 came the Winter Olympics. The ice was calling him back like Pookie from the movie New Jack City. “I love baseball so much, but when I graduated high school, there was something missing in my life. Alvarez says. “And I knew exactly what it was.”

Due to ailments and injuries, he did not make the team. But you know what he did next.

He walked on at Salt Lake Community College. While there, he did continue to train for both sports. He batted .311 and was an all-conference selection. But the grueling schedule caught up with him: he had to get surgery to repair both of his patella tendons. Twelve separate tears.

After being immobile for six weeks, he rehabbed and well, you know what he did next. Long story short, he earned a silver medal in the 2014 Games in the 5,000-meter relay on the last day of the competition.

Fast forward to this year. Understanding that his call-up was in part due the outbreak, he is enjoying the moment. “It’s OK to dream. It’s OK to let go and go after what you want.” Alverez said after his debut. “I’m a true testament. I firmly believe I am no more athletic than the guy next to me. I’m 5-foot-9. I weigh 180 pounds. I don’t outrun a whole lot of people. It’s OK.”

It sure is.

Doubt?

In my existence on this planet, I have always tried to improve myself in whatever endeavor I choose to participate in. It’s that competition thing in me. Now I’m not uber competitive to the point of obsession, but I appreciate and enjoy competing.

This is why I enjoyed sports so much. In my previous life as an athlete, I wasn’t the best player on my team, but I tried to be the hardest worker on my team. And that always seemed to translate to more playing time and opportunities to make plays. For me, the formula was Learning + Effort = Success.

This was the reason that I’ve always been into sports. That’s why I’m still into sports hard to this day…or am I?

During the recent sports drought, I had to find other things to pass the time. Sure, I had my Law and Order library, but I sought more. Netflix. Hulu. Prime. Heck I even got back into…reading books. I don’t even want to tell you the number of magazines I have subscribed to these past few months. When sports slowly came back to the TV, I thought I heard the tone “Hallelujah” through the speakers.

But then, a funny thing happened. I didn’t run to the TV like I thought I would. Sporting events were just another option. I realized that I missed the live baseball crowds that could motivate a home team to a victory. Pumping in crowd noise just didn’t do it for me. And as for those stand-up poster board “fans”? Are you kidding me? I almost forgot the NBA restarted their season last night.

I ended up not watching that much.

So, I wonder. Do I have to just gradually get back into it or did I find out that there is more to life just sports?

To be determined.