Perceptions and Misperceptions of the Urban Youth
Friday afternoon Vince Carter, Spencer Hayward, and Elliott Perry participate in a discussion with students of the Grizzlies Prepatory School. The discussion is one of many events for National Mentoring Month and the Memphis Grizzlies MLK Day celebration.
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Vince Carter stresses the importance of education and determination. In my opinion Vince Carter is the best member of the Grizzlies to participate in the panel. Carter is 38 years old and on his 18th season in the NBA. Without the discipline and commitment to be the best basketball player he could be for as he could be, his career would have been over years ago.
My favorite basketball player of ALL TIME is Allen Iverson. Where he went I went, meaning that if A.I was on the roster then that was my favorite team. I feel that if Allen Iverson would have taken care of himself better I could have cheered for him longer. Most kids from the inner city would want to be more like Allen Iverson than Vince Carter. Vince Carter can still jump inch for inch with some of the younger players in the league. Allen Iverson had the killer crossover and Vince Carter had and still has some of the sickest dunks ever. So Vince Carter is just as cool as Allen Iverson.
That “street guy” image is only “cool” when you’re young, and it’s not really cool then either though. Youth that don’t evolve and continue to be “street guys” even as they become adults often look back and regret some decisions they made. When you get advice from “Half Man / Half Amazing” you should listen. So when Carter says things like “You have to be willing to put the work in”, you listen to him. Vince has been putting the work in for years now. Most recently he spent his summers in the gym and on the court in stead of partying and showing up to training cam out of shape.
Spencer Hayward takes a moment to enlighten the youth in the room on exactly who he is. Without Spencer Hayward there would be no Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, or Kevin Garnett. The decision handed down from the Supreme Court by Justice Thurgood Marshall in Hayward Vs The NBA declared that a player no longer had to be four years out of high school before entering the National Basketball association. Hayward thanks the Grizzlies for their efforts with and the impact of the Grizzlies Prepeartory Academy. He goes on to say that each city that is home to an NBA team should also be home to the same type of school. Hayward is one of three recipients of National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award. The award is presented by FedEx to individuals for their significant contributions to civil and human rights, and for laying the foundation for future leaders through their career in sports in the spirit of Dr. King.
Elliott Perry wants all young men to know that people have paid with their life for their right s to sit in the classrooms that they learn in. Perry lets the students know that the way to pay it back is to apply yourself every day and reaching your full potential.
The next panel discussion takes place on Sunday for the Leadership and Teamwork Panel. Spencer Haywood, Jalen Rose, Tameka Catchings, and Penny Hardaway will participate in the discussion.
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