A BOOK IS BORN

Season Of The Lion: circa MCMLXVIII

2010-01-28T06:50:00.000-08:00

School started the week after Coal's funeral. Just as we had discussed that night on the corner at the record shop, I rejoined the team, and Nut came with me to try-out. We both quit smoking and drinking. We both stopped hanging-out. Every night after practice, we talked on the telephone about football for hours. It was the first time Nut had shown special interest in any thing but clowning around. He was never dumb. But he also never challenged himself to do anything constructive. Right away he was popular with the players on defense. Maybe because he could play football. The high school team was not his football initiation. Like most male in the neighborhood, sports were the only recreation we could afford (reading was my way to escape the boredom and monotony of life in Binghampton). Playing was a way of life--the fix for idle time--playing was the air you breathed. Football was just another game. Those who were coordinated enough and prone to mano-a-mano confrontation made sports their arena for proving it.

High school was Nut's first exposure to organized football as opposed to the sandlot and street versions of the game. Once he got use to the equipment, and started responding to coaching with grasp of technique as defensive player, his aggression and energy on the field made him a favorite with my JV class--we ruled the team. Seniors from my Junior year when I did not play, were not supportive of him nor me because they knew he was going to beat-out one of them and take a spot on defense--just as they knew I would be the star player--even though I was a quitter to them.

It was the last week of training camp for '68 season. Cleats clacking along sidewalk between gym and East end of main building at Lester High, we were on our way to football field when Coach Robinson popped out of the double doors to gym.

"NuBreed, I need to talk to you, Son."

"I'm listening, Coach."

"See you out there, QB," Nut skipped into a trot on his way to practice field.

"About your decision to leave the team last year."

“You mean when I quit?"

"I don't think of you as a quitter, Son."

"Coach, I was selfish........."

"That. But you have to have confidence in your ability. You have to believe you're the best, to be

good. I was wrong for discouraging you. It broke your spirit. And it didn't help the team.

"And just between me and you.

"Coaches aint always right.

"Maybe I just didn't understand you. What motivates you. Although I thought I was doing what was best for the team. And showing concern about you getting a college education.

"Maybe I was kind of hard on you."He slapped my shoulder pads--clack!

Arm around right shoulder, Coach Robinson continued conversation as we walked out towards the practice field…….

"You my starting quarterback now. No competition. You and Coach Adams run the offense. I think this year, this team, can be something special for Lester. We deserve a winning team--for Binghampton--for the students who are here and the ones who graduated. GODdamn-it! I'm sick-n-tired of walking off fields thinking the football gods hate us.

"Your undefeated JV team all Seniors now. They're still just as hungry. We have the talent in key positions--the attitude and pride to get this thing done this year. What we've never had is a DEfense. Thisyear the DEEfense is my BAby.

"I'm turning the offense over to Ross.”

"Coach Adams taught me how to play quarterback. He the main man for me--I'll follow Coach to hell for a hot tamale. But I'm down for the team. I don't have to play quarterback. We just want Lester to stand-up and fight for every inch on the football field--kick some ass for Binghampton and the black-n-gold"

"You're Lester's quarterback."

"That means a lot to me.

"To hear you say that. I won't let you down, Coach Robinson."

"I know you won't.

"Better not," we mutually extended hands palms up--to slap palms.

"You under center. Humphries in the backfield. He's a bruiser. You can run off his blocking. All we need is 3 or 4 yards at a time to soften-up the D-line.

"The toss sweep and screen pass--will be our calling card. We get the two of you out in space and run the ball and clock down their throats. Your play-action is sweet enough to keep the linebackers back on their heels. Hey!--if they rush up the middle--you run to the edge--no rush from the edge--watch the tendency--it leaves the end stuck-out with no 2-deep coverage--call a sweep to the side where linebacker is set the deepest--watch the flow--toss-it or cut back--bang-bang--believe it!

"We going to take you from under center on some plays. Set you up in the backfield--call the signal from where your 5-step drop stops--that way you can read the coverage better.

"You're good at throwing routes--but if coverage takes it away-- see the gap in blocking lanes--if you can get to it--green light!--GO.

"You have to work on lunging low to meet contact--keep from getting nailed straight-up. Big target. But after a few games--defenses won't be able to key on the pass and run at the same time."

"I like it, Coach. I can do all that. I always could call a play."

"It's your time to shine BAby--hit the field--NUBreed!"

"Heads-up!" Coach Adams threw a pass in my direction from practice field.

"We back together again."

"How you feel?'

"I'm ready for some football, Coach."

"That's what I want to hear.

"Glad to have you back."

"You know it was never about you."

"Remember. I was a player too. You had some growing-up to do. Can't play the game by yourself. And I don't care how gifted you are. You have to respect the pecking order.

"Football is a team process, Son. And the team is only as good as the coaching staff."

Coach Adams was the youngest of our four coaches and JV head coach and gym teacher. He was probably in his early 30's (at age 16, 18 was old to me--could not imagine myself as 21--thought I turned 17 that September '68). Though he played collegiate ball at Florida A&M, Coach did not project a jock presence nor demeanor (I was actually taller than him by a few inches). He never raised his voice, but blew the whistle soon as there was a breakdown--technique--read--or judgement. Coach had a way of shaking his head from upright to bowed position that spoke volumes.

"Keep-it--it's yours," we had been tossing the football back and forth.

"We put in the offense today that Coach Robinson was talking to you about.

"Not that different than what we ran in JV. Big difference, is a big advantage for you. The Rifle formation. You line-up--call the signals from 5-step drop in backfield. Your speed and quickness--the D can't get to you. We pick'um apart with pass-run option. Big Claude punishing them with 2 and 3 yard a carry turns into 5 and 6 in the second half--helmet and knees--the D don't want none--what we say!?"

"Got to bring some to get some."

“That what I'm talking about.

"I want you to run more. Not run first. But run more.

"You've got to practice running under the tackle--takes away the tackler's leverage."

"I love to run with-it--you know that, Coach. "

"We can win with this offense just like we did in JV. I was holding you back. Now I think you ready to run off the porch out front with the big dogs. They might be bigger and stronger. But they still got to stop the ball. And we go keep it moving………..."

Big Brother Baby Sister

2010-01-26T05:45:00.000-08:00

On the JV team, Andrew played quarterback--like he had since that day he started playing football on PRINCETON street. Andrew was just as popular at school as he was around family and at church (at 14 he was 6'1 with broad shoulders--no muscles, curly hair and hazel eyes--looked more like Momma than me). Away from football he was polite but not friendly and not a flirt. Hearing him being talked about around school by other girls made me realize for the first time that maybe--just maybe my brother might be 'cute'. Momma never let us take pride in our looks because as she put it, "If you going to be proud of something about yourself, be proud of who you are--what you are--what you're doing with your life. How you treat people--how you let people treat you. And of course she went on-and-on............you can be good-lookin and not have a pot to piss in--or window to throw it out of. Not everything Momma said made sense to me as a kid, but I did not dare question it

The JV games were after school when Momma and Daddy were at work, so they never saw him play (neither one of them liked football anyway). I loved going to the games to see my brother play. I rode up front on the school bus with the players (I was known as NuBreed's sister--not by name). He was the starting quarterback and Lester had a good team. After each game, I waited for him in the gym while he showered and change clothes; we then walked home together. On our way home he talked about the game--actually he talked to himself reliving the game--I just listened.

For different reasons, Momma and Daddy did not want Andrew to play football. Actually, Daddy did not care one way or the other but he always sided with Momma when it came to us. Momma played basketball in school, and Daddy was not a sports fan--unless the sport was baseball. Like Andrew, he would talk baseball around me just to hear himself talk. To him baseball had two teams; St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants--two players; Willie Mays and Bob Gipson--one league; the National League.That left me, as Andrew's biggest fan. He did not need Momma and Daddy--we were our own family when it came to football.

My brother's last year playing JV, Lester went undefeated and won the Memphis city championship. In that game, the corner bit on a pump fake 'fly route ' for a 50 yard touchdown on first play of the game. He threw the 'deep out' for a 60 yard touchdown. Ran up the middle 30 yards on a 'check down' to 'quarterback draw'--scored the winning touchdown against Lincoln (7^th to 9^th grades junior high only, in South Memphis that usually had the city's best JV team). I was so excited for Andrew during and after the game, Annette could not be seen by me--not even in a mirror.

Walking home that evening after the game, his confidence was contagious; even I was convinced that next year he would be the starting quarterback at Lester High. Since taking over in third game of the season as 8^th grader when JV quarterback broke his wrist, my brother had played that position--the position he tried out for in 7^th grade--the position his coach thought he was too inexperienced to play but liked his talent and toughness which led to him starting at wide receiver--quarterback--the position he won outright as 9^th grader and led Lester JV to their only undefeated season and city championship.

He was more popular and recognized around school as football jock than any of the players on Varsity. My brother was confident he had the size--had grown to be 6'3, was strong enough, fast enough and smart enough to play high school football. In his mind, he had proven he had arm enough to go down field; could throw every route and pass from 3-step, 5-step, and 7-step drops; could pick-up overages and run with the ball when play broke down. The coach even brought him up to Varsity the last three games of the season so he could letter as a Freshman (that year Lester High won only two games). Andrew played wide receiver with the understanding that as Sophomore, he would compete for starting quarterback........

Lions! Lions! We Rule The Jungle!

2010-01-25T06:02:00.000-08:00

In circle around Coach Robinson and the coaching staff we came together in the dirt of faded white lined practice field.

"I want everybody to look at the player next to you--

"To the left..........to the right.........get inside his helmet.

"We got--O-line--D-line.

"Cornerback--running back

"Quarterback--linebacker--wide receiver.

"I don't give a shit about all the ways yawl aint alike.

"WE all have something to prove.

"It's 1968. Lester aint had a winning season in The Sixties--forever!--that's just as long as I been here.

"In '66 our JV team went undefeated. But that team didn't show-up to play Varsity.

"So Lester keeps losing.

"Keep looking at each other--the loser on the left--

"Look at the loser on the right.

"What's a lion without pride?

"You GODdamn right--a LOSer!

"Your Momma still loves you. Your friends don't blame you. Girlfriend don't talk about it--keep looking at each other.

"You see a lion or a PUSSYcat!

"Do we GGGGrowl!

"Or do we roll-over with our leggs in the air--

"Heeeeere kitty kitty.

"MIGHTY mighty!" chimed in Coach Adams.

"Lester Lions!" team responded.

"Yawl don't hear me!" yelled Coach Taylor (our O-line and D-line coach)

"Mighty!Mighty!"

"LESter LIONS"

"MIGHTY!MIGHTY!" Coach Robinson repeated

"LESTER! LIONS!"

"That's what I'm talking bout--say it like you mean it!

"We aint got to worry bout winning back the glory.

“We aint got none. Aint never had no glory.

"But we go get some, BAby. Some glory in '68."

"MIGHTY!MIGHTY!" Coach Taylor

"LES-TER! LIONS" the team.

"We break camp a week early," Coach Robinson took over, "going on a road trip to Nashville. To play Pearl High. The head coach up there and I played together in college. A good friend of mine."

If there was dust in the air, suddenly we were alive inside a crystal ball.

There was a collective silence about the team that could be heard as pulse of atmosphere around us there on the practice field.

"They go kill us. But we go fight back.

"What we say in '66?" Coach Adams added.

"They got to bring some!--to get some!" responded the players from my JV team.

"We go leave some BINGhampton heart--nuts--and guts in that Nashville dirt--"

"We play FOOTball in MEMphis?" Coach Adams

"HELL!YEAH!" the team.

“MIGHTY!MIGHTY!” Coach Robinson took over.

"LES-TER!

"LI-ONS!"

"LIONS!LIONS--we rule the JUN-GLE--we came to RUM-BLE!" I added.

"LIONS!LIONS!--we RULE the JUN-GLE--we came to RUM-BLE," the team echoed our chant from JV that we started when the bus drove up to the football field where we played.

Coach Adams nodded his head in approval of me leading the chant.

I stood up and removed my helmet.

"LIONS!LIONS!--we RULE the JUN-GLE--we came to RUM-BLE"

"LIONS!

"We RULE the JUN-GLE! the team stood up and removed their helmets

"WE came to RUM-BLE!

"Keep it up!" Coach Robinson added.

"DEE-fense!--off the field first!”

The Road Trip To Nashville

2009-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

The bus ride to Nashville was a sacrificial journey to the blessed event. Nut and I sat together on the road trip.

"Upstate aint nothin but woods and hills," he said as we peered out of our windowed side of the bus.

"Yeap.They turn into MOUNtains. The higher up you go.

"Land of the VOLunteers. By God!--we go fight suma them there Union soldier--dad GUMmit!

"OOOOH, I wish I was in the land of cotton," I started singing out loud--heads turned around on the bus, "Old times......." Nut looked at me and we both cracked-up laughing. Between breaths of laughter we continued the song . "Old times there are not forgetten--

"Look away! look away! look away! DIXIE land.

Seated in front of us was Claude and Lit'l Mane. They turned around laughing and started singing along.

"Uhhh--let's see......ok!--ok!ok!.....here we go," I continued, "I wish I was in DIXie--Hooray!--Hooray!" the rest of our old JV team chimed in to sing along.

"In Dixie Land we'll make our stand to live and die in DIXie!--

"Look away!" the whole team started singing--our coaches just shook there heads laughing,

"Look away! Look away!--LOOK AWAY DIXie LAND"

"Aint that ah BITch!--peckawood MUTHAfuckas!" said Nut as the laughter died down.

"They love that song. And their goddamn REBel flag--I'd like to burn one them bitches in Overton Park.."

"But this here's the COUNtry WesTERN capital of the WORld--Nashville”.

"NASH-ville."

"You fuckin wit'um, Dude."

As Nut and I laughed I heard Lit'l Mane and Claude laughing to themselves in front of us.

"Yawl some fools," said Claude looking back over his shoulder.

The bus rolled along freeway with Lester's football team.

"I'm ready to play this game--an get the hell outa here.........

"But you know what, mane, I wish we played white boys. So we could just straight punk them soft pussy-ass muthafuckas. I'd like to hit one of them bitches so hard--knock his goddamn head off"

"I know.........

"I can't believe black people live up-in here..........."

We exited I-40 at Jefferson Street.

"There you go--USes."

"My peoples--yeap."

"We must gittin close to the black side."

Other than knowing they usually won The State and championship game was invariable played in Nashville, I did not know much about Pearl High--or Pearl High football. If you lived in Memphis you probably would not pass on a trip to Los Angeles. But Nashville--no!--not interested. Memphis was the beginning and end for Tennessee and me.

So there we were. On the Visitor sidelines. Helmets strapped on. The locker room smell was all around us--a smell as unmistakable as ham and eggs. My view of the field was from inside the window between dome and face guard of helmet. It had been a year since I last stood in cleats and felt the gear and jock strap holding me dressed-out in Lions black and gold (19) on the sidelines ready to run out on the field. Adrenaline charged each breath.

They were lined-up across the field facing us (a 5-AAAAA high school compared to us a 3-AAA).

Coach Adams stood next to me. "Here we go BAby. Just compete. Play hard. Play smart. Be disciplined. Win or lose--we walk off this field with our heads up--shoulders squared, still Lions, BAby."

"I got'cha, Coach. I'm ready to represent what we do--where we from--hey!--I'm happy to be here!"

"That's my NuBreed--my quarterback."

Our captain, Claude, and coach Robinson walked out to meet Pearl High's coach and captain.Coach Robinson looked back over his should to Coach Adam--nodding his head.

"Catch-up with them--you the co-captain."

I ran out on the field to join Coach and 34.

Pearl High won the coin toss. Chose to receive the kick-off to start the game.

Lester's defense took the field in forefront of background of encouragement from the sideline.

Pearl scored a touchdown on their first possession.

We went 3-and-out the first time we got the ball.

Pearl was bigger across the line on offense and defense. Just like the basketball team, their execution of plays and technique was more polished than ours. In the first half they scored on every possession and stopped us except for 2 first downs on different drives we went 3 and out on every possession. Pearl High took the game to us, and Lester got lit-up pretty good. Four players got knocked out of the game with injury in that first half. I threw 2 interceptions--one for a touchdown the other way and was sacked 4 times--twice lost more than 10 yards on broken-play scrambles.

First half ended with score: Home 28 Visitors 0

At half time, Coach Robinson did not ride-us-out. He was not mad about how we played. Told us he was convinced we were not playing scared. Just out-manned. I got roughed-up on the regular and aches and soreness had me ready to get back on the field--longer we sat--more it hurt. Your body got numbed by the contact during game action.

In his breakdown of the first half, Coach Adams told me I was letting adrenaline take me out of my position. The game was coming at me so fast, I was anticipating contact and breakdowns more so than executing the play called--watching the defense not leading the offense (he did not tell me I was in too deep--but I knew I was). My instincts and athleticism were under siege and practice preparation was negated by the pulse of the game that I had not played since Sophomore year when I played wide receiver (it was my first start at quarterback on high school level.

Lester switched game plans in the second half. Our O-line could not get Pearl's D-line blocked--PERIOD--on pass or run plays--they were playing in our backfield on the snap count. Coach tweaked the blocking scheme with motion since we could not push them back from line of scrimmage. Lit'l Mane replaced the other runner in backfield with Claude. We used a lot of sets with tight end on one side and man-in-motion to the other side to get Lit and me'l Mane on the edge with our speed. Adrenaline worked for me when running with the ball which boosted my confidence freeing me up to think less and just have fun on the football field again. Claude pounded them up the middle--we ran around the edge with option pitch--screens and misdirection plays

On first possession of the second half we scored a touchdown on a 10 play drive that ended with Claude ramming it in--off-tackle from the 5-yard line (he was met in hole with a dome shot under the chin that knocked his helmet off and sent him to the sidelines bleeding from gash). None of us looked up nor over to the stands where their fans erupted with celebration as collective "grown" from viciousness of contact--a football tradition.

Score: 28-7

We played better in the second half, but could not counter the force of their football team. Our defense was not up to the task of stopping their offense and I never got settled in at quarterback. The hit solidified team focus the way yelling from coaches is assumed to do (Claude was our Senior heart-and-soul of the Lester Lions--a three year starter to never have a winning season--he never complained--and checked everybody's attitude on and off the field). Nut was in-and-out of the game a lot in the first half at all 3 linebacker positions (left side--right side--middle). He started the second half in the middle and stayed there. As my first high school start at quarterback, that game left paranoid about how long Coach would stay with me under center. My confidence was shot. Before that game I was always the best player in sandlot--street ball and JV because everybody was still learning how to play football. Against a team of players who had all learned their positions and learned how to play together, I was reduced in stature to what I was in person: a struggling quarterback on a losing team

Pearl's QB (17) had 'it' whatever 'it' was. My posture showed I was 'trying out' as Lester's quarterback. Pearl was his team. Quarterbacks never 'swagger' to show confidence because you never show you do not have it--they have a straight-line prowl with focus up field when they break from the huddle. When (17) got under center, you could hear the gears to their offense click from the sidelines. I learned more from playing in that one game than I did in those 2 previous years of Junior Varsity at quarterback.

The final score: Pearl 42 Lester 17 (yeap!--a field goal--we went for 3 points)

After the game, the team gathered on the sideline before leaving the field. Coach Robinson spoke. "Take knee. Helmets off.

"Look at each other. You can never be proud of losing.

"But I'm proud of this football team.

"You didn't lay down. You didn't roll over. We played through it.

"You can't see fire in the eyes in practice. I saw fire in the eyes of this team in battle. Today we found out we have got ourselves a quarterback to ride. And a defense with heart.

"Let's get the hell out of Nashville--and go home!

"We got a season to start in Memphis."

After everything that had gone wrong for me my Junior year and summer that followed, as a Senior, just to be a good student and play football was privilege--if not blessing. I had been counting the years to graduation since 6th grade. Coach Robinson and I talked about college. On our way out of town, the team had stopped for tour of the campus at Tennessee State. He knew Coach Gilliam and said they would be looking at me the coming year. Coach also talked to me about the Big Ten Conference. Illinois was interested in me at wide receiver. All I could think about was Lester and the Memphis high school season. It was my first and last shot to prove I was the high school quarterback that I quit the team and walked out on Coach Robinson over him giving the ball to Bob White after in my mind I had beat him out in fair competition. Unless we had a winning season it meant I was more potential than player. Average at anything was my worst fear realized.

School Started A Week After Coal's Funeral

2009-09-10T06:14:00.000-07:00

Just as we had discussed that night on the corner at the record shop, I rejoined the team, and Nut came with me to try-out. We both quit smoking and drinking. We both stopped hanging-out. Every night after practice, we talked on the telephone about football for hours. It was the first time Nut had shown special interest in any thing but clowning around. He was never dumb. But he also never challenged himself to do anything constructive. Right away he was popular with the players on defense. Maybe because he could play football. The high school team was not his football initiation. Like most male in the neighborhood, sports were the only recreation we could afford (reading was my way to escape the boredom and monotony of life in Binghampton). Playing was a way of life--the fix for idle time--playing was the air you breathed. Football was just another game. Those who were coordinated enough and prone to mano-a-mano confrontation made sports their arena for proving it.