Say your son or daughter has a learning disability. They are bright and inquisitive, but they learn differently.
If your child receives special education services, he must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). That’s the law. An IEP is an important legal document. It spells out your child’s learning needs, the services the school will provide and how progress will be measured.
Several people, including parents, are involved in creating the document. The entire process can be a great way to sort out your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Working on the IEP can help you figure out ways to help him succeed in school.
Creating an effective IEP often takes time, effort and patience.
If your child is also an elite scholastic athlete, there are some other very important factors that must be taken into account.
Your child’s AAU/Grassroots coaches and High School coaches should help walk you through the legal language and procedures so it’ll be easier for you to participate. The more they know about the process, the better they can advocate for your child.
Even with an IEP your child will be required to complete 16 NCAA approved core courses.
The AAU/Grassroots coaches should help you identify a high school with a strong special education component. They should help you find a school with NCAA-approved core courses for special education students.
IMHOTEP High School in Philadelphia is one such school. As you can see, IMHOTEP has 18 special education classes listed on their NCAA APPROVED Core Course list. If your son or daughter has exhibited elite-level athletic abilities and you are NOT in a position to pay $40,000 to $65,000 to cover the cost of the first year of college, ask questions…
Ask to see the list of NCAA APPROVED Core Courses… If they don’t have a strong special education program, consider another placement. If they do NOT have NCAA APPROVED special education Core Courses, find a high school that does.
Because of your son’s or daughter’s athletic abilities, many people will have opinions. They will criticize your school selection. They will question your motives. Ignore them.
They will NOT help you pay for college if your son or daughter is not eligible. Put your child in the best possible situation to excel athletically and meet increasingly stringent NCAA eligibility guidelines.
Andre Noble, Imhotep Boys Basketball Coach
Find a school that has taken the time, like IMHOTEP, to make sure that their special education classes were reviewed and approved by the NCAA.
Albie Crosby, Imhotep Football Coach
Give your child the best possible chance to earn a college scholarship… Everything else is bullshit… I’m just sayin’….
I often wonder: How do parents send their children to neighborhood public schools in cities like Detroit, Camden, Chicago and Philadelphia? Seriously… How do they do it?… Why do parents continue to entrust these schools with the task of educating their precious kids? It just doesn’t make sense… Parents have choices. There are public magnet schools, some good charter schools and very affordable Independence Mission Schools. With very few exceptions, parents should NOT send their children to neighborhood public schools. It’s time to jump off the sinking ship…
Independence Mission School students
Let’s start from a point where we make an important assumption about parental actions in urban areas like Philadelphia, PA, Camden, NJ, Newark, NJ, Baltimore, MD, Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI. The assumption is so widely held among Black Americans that it is seldom discussed explicitly.
The assumption is that Black parents want their children to learn. I assume that Black parents want their children to receive a first rate education. This, I believe to be fundamentally true. It’s deeply ingrained as direct result of the Black American experience. Black Americans innately understand that access to a quality education is of paramount importance. Throughout the overwhelming majority of American history, whites in power have worked diligently to deny Blacks access to high quality educational opportunities. Indeed, a stated aim of the government was to violently impose ignorance on Black Americans.
The following is the verbatim “Act Passed by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina at the Session of 1830—1831” (Raleigh: 1831).
Whereas the teaching of slaves to read and write, has a tendency to excite dis-satisfaction in their minds, and to produce insurrection and rebellion, to the manifest injury of the citizens of this State:
Therefore, Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That any free person, who shall hereafter teach, or attempt to teach, any slave within the State to read or write, the use of figures excepted, or shall give or sell to such slave or slaves any books or pamphlets, shall be liable to indictment in any court of record in this State having jurisdiction thereof, and upon conviction, shall, at the discretion of the court, if a white man or woman, be fined not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than two hundred dollars, or imprisoned; and if a free person of color, shall be fined, imprisoned, or whipped, at the discretion of the court, not exceeding thirty nine lashes, nor less than twenty lashes.
II. Be it further enacted, That if any slave shall hereafter teach, or attempt to teach, any other slave to read or write, the use of figures excepted, he or she may be carried before any justice of the peace, and on conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to receive thirty nine lashes on his or her bare back.
III. Be it further enacted, That the judges of the Superior Courts and the justices of the County Courts shall give this act in charge to the grand juries of their respective counties.
Similar laws were in place across the United States. From the early 1700‘s through the Civil War, white Americans feared that black literacy would prove a threat to the prevailing social order which featured a barbaric chattel slave system. The peculiar institution relied on ensuring that enslaved Blacks remained dependent upon white masters. Whites in colonies and subsequent slave states instituted laws forbidding slaves to learn to read or write and making it a crime for others to teach them. In most states, whites were substantially fined and Blacks were subjected to 30-40 lashes on his or her bare back for teaching Black Americans how to read or write.
Enslaved Black revealing scars from whipping administered by white slave owner
Following the Civil War, whites established an Apartheid-like system of Jim Crow schools designed to ensure that Blacks were not adequately educated. This system remained entrenched through the 1960’s and 1970’s in many parts of the country. Schools for white children received more public money. Fewer Blacks were enrolled in school. There were not as many public schools available for Blacks. Many school buildings for African Americans had leaking roofs, sagging floors, and windows without glass. They ranged from untidy to positively filthy, according to a study issued in 1917. If black children had any books at all, they were hand-me-downs from white schools.
White Classroom in the United States in the 1930s
Even if they are unaware of the specific details of the struggle to access to education in America, Black parents know that it is extremely important. Black parents know that for centuries, real educational opportunities were routinely denied to Black children.
Black Classroom in the United States in the 1930s
Black parents, like all parents, want better for their children. When you talk to them they express preference orderings. They want access to good schools. They want to avoid bad schools.
So… How do parents in urban areas send their kids to neighborhood public schools? It just doesn’t make sense… As noted earlier, Black parents in today’s urban settings have very real choices… They must be unaware of the options available to them. Their decisions to enroll their children in neighborhood public schools MUST be based on limited and uncertain information regarding alternative educational placements. The Black Cager is dedicated to providing information in an accessible and easily understood manner to Black parents, grandparents and other caregivers.
So, how bad is it? The writing has been on the wall for a while… Black parents cannot say the were not warned…
First, they cut the funding. Then they watched the district suffocate as a result.
In June of 2013 Philadelphia Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. laid off 3,783 employees, because of the district’s financial crisis. The list included 676 teachers, 283 counselors, 127 assistant principals, and 1,202 noontime aides. “These … employees are more than numbers: these are people — professionals — who play important roles in the lives of thousands of students throughout our city,” Hite said at a news briefing.
Hite called the layoffs “nothing less than catastrophic for our schools and students… Every aspect of the district will feel the impact — schools, regional offices, and central office — along with employees ranging from senior administrators to support staff.”
Water damage and mold on wall at Furness HS, School District of Philadelphia
Two years later, the catastrophe has been realized. Approximately, 83 percent of Philadelphia public school students in grades 3-8 failed the state Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) exam in math. In reading, 68 percent failed and 63 percent failed the science exam. Apologists will cite the “new” version of the test as the main factor explaining the horrific performance. It can explain some of the increase in the number of failing students. However, a majority of Philadelphia public school student failed the old test as well.
The fact remains, for years an overwhelming majority of Philadelphia’s public school students have been performing abysmally on standardized state assessments. One can only conclude that, for the most part, students attending neighborhood public schools are simply incapable of competing with students in surrounding suburban public schools and Philadelphia area private schools.
More than 8 out of 10 students cannot perform grade level math!
The bill for years of academic incompetence and startling underperformance is about to come due. Philadelphia students will be the ones that have to pay. The School District of Philadelphia also released results on the state’s Keystone Exams, which students must pass to graduate starting with the Class of 2017. The proficiency rate in Algebra I was 38 percent (compared to 39 percent in 2014), 29 percent in biology (26 percent in 2014) and 49 percent in literature (52 percent in 2014).
Plainly stated, if the 2017 rules were in place in 2014, 71% of Philadelphia’s public high school students would not have been unable to graduate from high school because the failed the biology exam, 62% would have been held back by their Algebra I score and 51% by the literature score.
Here’s where it gets really tricky for Districts serving poor Black and Brown students… Failing students are allowed to undertake alternative projects. But districts across the state say the projects will drain resources as schools try to provide students with the additional instruction needed for them to complete the task. Philadelphia has already experienced a succession of budget cuts that reached the bone marrow. Similarly, Chester Public Schools does not have adequate funds to meet the regular payroll for staff and faculty. Where will Harrisburg, Philly and Chester get the money for the additional instruction? They won’t…
Projected Impact of Keystone Exam of Philadelphia Graduation Rates
Truth be told… Many, perhaps most, poor Black and Brown kids attending public schools in cities across the state of Pennsylvania will NOT graduate high school. They will start their adult lives an non-high school graduates with some sort of 2nd class “Certificate of Attendance.”
If at all possible, do NOT send your kids to poor performing neighborhood public schools. They are educational quicksand!!
If you must rely on public education, do your research. Find out about magnet programs, identify high performing schools, learn about the application and admission processes. Make the best decision for YOUR child.
We can all continue to support the idea of public education. We can vote for political candidates that allocate adequate resources to public schools. We can volunteer in our local schools.
But when it comes to making a decision about your child, you must make a decision that reflects your understanding of what’s best for your child. With that in mind, I just do not understand how parents send their kids to neighborhood public schools in Philadelphia. The ship is sinking fast…
Why did he commit there? Why didn’t he choose us? Why didn’t he come to our school?
Our academics are better! We win more! We produce more pros! Shit makes no sense…
Many resort to knee-jerk accusations that the kid was “bought off” to explain the decision… They had to cheat… Why else would he choose them over us?
Every year around this time, passionate alums and casual observers rack their brains trying to make sense of decisions made by 18 and 19 year old elite Black male student-athletes. Indeed, an entire multi-million dollar industry has emerged dedicated solely to tracking the college selection processes of elite predominantly Black male student-athletes. Scout and Rivals are two of the biggest media enterprises dedicated to in-depth coverage this annual race to sign the very best scholastic ballers. Rivals was purchased for $100 million by Yahoo in 2007. Scout generates over $100 million in annual revenues.
Malik Ellison committing to St. Johns
Despite intensive media coverage, very little thought is given to the actual decision-making process itself. Core questions at the center of the ‘mainstream’ dialogue are fairly easy to delineate: Where will Black male athletes sell their athletic labor in return for an athletic scholarship? Which predominantly White NCAA Division I institution will profit generously in return?
The Black Cager is dedicated to going a little deeper than that. I want to foster understanding. So… How can we begin to make sense of these “decisions” made by thousands of young Black men entering collegiate athletics every year?
I want to provide a basic framework for understanding the all too often overlooked decision-making process. While the analytical focus is on urban Black male basketball players, the framework can be applied across racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as geographic settings. Many white ballers from the cornfields of the mid-west face the same circumstances.
My basic hypothesis is that predominantly white college sports fans, alums, writers and even coaches assess the decision-making process from a purely “rational” point of view. In doing so, they consistently fail to understand and appreciate the limits or “bounds” the student-athlete operates under. As a result, the observers are usually confused and unable to comprehend why decisions are made. This confusion leads many to make unfounded and unwarranted accusations about the character and integrity of the process, the student-athletes and their families.
What are the limits and constraints? What are the “bounds” imposed upon student-athletes making college decisions? Elite Black male student-athletes facing college decisions have to work under three unavoidable constraints.
They only have access to limited, often unreliable, information regarding possible alternatives and their consequences,
The human mind has only limited capacity to evaluate and process the information that is available. And,
only a limited amount of time is available to make a decision.
Therefore even student-athletes intent on making rational choices are bound to make satisficing (rather than maximizing or optimizing) decisions in complex recruiting situations. This vital fact is overlooked by disappointed and frustrated supporters of programs that lose recruiting battles. Moreover, it is not addressed by ‘mainstream’ sportswriters and analysts trying to explain outcomes to their targeted audiences.
All they know is, to them, shit don’t make no sense… As a result, message boards are flooded with nasty, vile and even racist attacks on young men that chose a program other than theirs.
Tamyra ‘Mookie’ Laws committing to Holy Family University
Fans fail to understand that these limits (bounds) on rationality make it nearly impossible for student-athletes and their families to consider every contingency, necessitating reliance on advisers, ‘handlers’ or even agents operating behind the scenes.
Black male student-athletes, like everyone else, are to some extent rational beings in that they will try to logically understand things and make sensible choices. This is rightfully assumed by most observers. Collegiate sports fans, alums and college coaches assume that student-athletes have preferences among the colleges offering scholarships that allow them to state which option they prefer.
From a purely rational perspective, these preferences are assumed to be complete (the student-athlete can always say which of two college programs they consider preferable or that neither is preferred to the other) and transitive (if college A is preferred over college B and college B is preferred over college C, then A is preferred over C).
However, observers make the mistake of assuming student-athletes take account of ALL available information like academic reputations, graduation rates and probabilities of events like winning conference championships, appearing in the NCAA tournament and being drafted by an NBA team. It is further assumed that a student-athlete weighs the potential costs and benefits in determining preferences, and acts consistently in choosing the self-determined best choice of action.
That’s how most causal observers think the process works. But…. That’s not how it actually goes down…
For elite Black male student-athletes the college recruitment process is extremely daunting and complex, and they do not have the capacity to understand everything. As noted earlier, they only have access to limited, often unreliable, information regarding possible alternatives and their consequences. Yes… college coaches are able to make an unlimited amount of phone calls and text messages to recruits. Of course, they do everything they can to get their message across to the young men.
For many student-athletes this quickly results in hundreds of calls and/or text messages per day. As a result, coaches begin to sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher, “whaaan, whann, whann, whann, whann…”
Coaches understand this, even if fans don’t, so they rely on the development of intermediaries like AAU/grassroots coaches, HS coaches, family members, friends, girlfriends, etc. to deliver messages to student-athletes. Unfortunately, in many instances, the “interests” of the intermediaries supersede the interests of the student-athletes. “If he comes with us, we’ll take care of you or your AAU/HS program” is the message the intermediaries hear. In this way, information reaching the student-athlete becomes limited and unreliable regarding possible alternatives and their consequences.
At this point, the possibility of a truly ‘rational’ outcome has been compromised. The student-athlete is receiving skewed information.
Rakeem Christmas Graduated from Syracuse University in 3 years
Further complicating the process is the fact that the human mind has only limited capacity to evaluate and process the information that is available. This is especially so for urban Black male student-athletes. The athletes and their family members very often do not possess the intellectual tools required to adequately understand the process as it unfolds.
It’s really bad… Really, really bad…
On August 24, 2015, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that “nearly half of all adults in [Philadelphia] – more than half a million men and women – lack the basic skills necessary to qualify for postsecondary training or hold jobs that permit them to support a family. Many function below eighth-grade levels.”
How are parents and grandparents that can’t read supposed to sort through the labyrinth of NCAA regulations and appropriately weigh the options available to them? They can’t….
The student-athletes themselves may be in an even worse position. A recent study by the Schott Foundation for Public Education found that the four-year HS graduation rate for Black males in many of America’s urban areas was profoundly abysmal. Detroit, MI (23%) has the lowest Black male graduation rate in the country (in Detroit only 13% of White males graduate from high school within a four year period), followed by Philadelphia, PA (26%), Clark County, NV (27%), Pinellas County, FL (28%), Cleveland, OH (28%), New York, NY (28%), Chatham County, GA (28%), Richmond County, GA (29%), Duvall County, FL (29%), and Norfolk, VA (31%). For the 26% that remain engaged in school, in 2014, 42 percent of students met the reading standards bar set by the state on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, down from 42.3 percent. In math, 45.2 percent met standards, down from 46.9 percent.
Plainly stated, many student-athletes and their families lack the educational foundation necessary to adequately process, evaluate and process information available on the various collegiate programs offering athletic scholarships.
DeAndre Bembry dunking on VCU
Then on top of that, there is limited time to make a decision. The NCAA manages the daily operations of a National Letter of Intent (NLI) program that includes 650 Division I and Division II participating institutions. Through the establishment of signing periods, the NLI program imposes deadlines on student-athletes and their families. And, there’s always the possibility that another player may take the desired scholarship.
Most elite Black male scholastic student-athlete are confronted with limitations imposed by poor educational backgrounds, a lack of understanding NCAA regulations and other factors. Given this set of circumstances, there is no way student-athletes can have a complete understanding of the recruiting process before having to make a decision.
Within this context, truly ‘rational’ decisions become impossible… What emerges are decisions that are ‘good enough’…
Information, more or less, tends to change people’s decision. Every student-athlete is limited by the decisional limitations outlined above. The better the athletic prowess, the more complex the issues become, thereby increasing the cognitive load. And where there is cognitive overload, student-athletes rely upon coping mechanisms to arrive at a decision.
They settle for a school that is ‘good enough’ as opposed to finding the ‘best school’. Black male student-athletes end up choosing a school that meets most of their goals instead of going for the optimal solution.
This is where college fans and alums become confused. They wonder: Why did he choose a school that hasn’t been to the tournament in 10 years? Why did he choose a program that doesn’t have as many NBA players as ours?
In choosing college destinations, in can be argued that there are no optimal decisions, but choices that are in some sense locally optimal at best. The implications of these decisions are based on bounded rationality, which is senseless to observers applying rational logic, but completely sensible for the student-athlete making the decision.
Elite Black male student-athletes do exactly what makes the most sense to them, in the context of the moment, with their current understanding. If you are a white college educated-male with college educated parents that were in a position to pay for your education you likely have no frame of reference for understanding this process.
… and go find a gym where guys will push you and make you a better player. Charles Brown, Jr., A Saint Joseph’s University 2016 commit took this advice to heart and tracked down Jameer Nelson and Emmanuel Mudiay of the Denver Nuggets. He spent some time working out with the NBA players. Most importantly, he listened as they talked about different aspects of conditioning and mental preparation necessary to play at the highest level.
Charles Brown (Philly Pride/St. Joseph’s University) and Big 5 Hall of Famer, Jameer Nelson (Denver Nuggets)
Over this past Spring/Summer Brown exploded on the national scene with a series of phenomenal shooting performances for Philly Pride AAU on the Under Armour Circuit. As a result, he was heavily recruited by Big 10, SEC, Big East and Big 12 programs. A true Philadelphia and a man of his word, Brown never wavered from his verbal commitment to St. Joseph’s. “It was nice to see people recognizing that i could play at the highest level, but I made the decision to become a Hawk a while back. There’s nothing that could change my mind. My mother, my father and the rest of my family already feel like we are part of St. Joseph’s University. Coach Arnold and Coach Martelli have made us feel welcome. I can’t wait to play on Hawk Hill.”
Brown got a chance to gauge himself against the very best today. Emmanuel Mudiay was a lottery pick of the Denver Nuggets in the recent 2015 draft. He is expected to immediately contribute as Denver makes a push for the playoffs in the super competitive Western Conference. “Emmanuel is super athletic and highly skilled”, said Brown. “It’s really a pleasure to just watch him go about his business.”
Charles Brown and Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets)
Brown reports to St. Thomas More Preparatory School next week. He will be playing in the New England Prep School League for the 2015-2016 season.
The Head Coach and the General Manager of the Asvel Basketball Club in Lyon met recent Penn State graduate DJ Newbill at the airport as he arrived in France. Newbill is anxious to start training with the team and looks forward to playing in the highly competitive French first division. One of his teammates with Asvel will be Ahmad Nivins, a 2009 graduate of Saint Joseph’s University. Asvel has won the French league Championship at total of 17 times.
D Jay Newbill with Coach and General Manager of Asvel Basketball Club
“I just want to help the team win… I want to win a French League Championship”, said Newbill. He added, “My time at Penn State has prepared me for this moment. I look forward to becoming a part of a great basketball club. I’m ready to go to work… Where’s the gym?”
The Black Cager looks forward to following Newbill and Asvel as they prepare for the 2015-2016 season. The link for the Asvel website is below:
Youngfella… I need you to follow the rules… I need you to study hard… I need you to be respectful… I need you to play hard… I need you to respect authority figures like coaches, teachers and police… But, truth be told that might not be enough…
I remember it like it was yesterday… John Hardett brought a kid to my office and asked if I could help him with an algebra class. The kid was quiet, unassuming and unfailingly respectful. His name was Devonte Newbill. Right away, he said “call me D Jay.” Hardnett, the most respected basketball mentor in Philadelphia over the past 15-20 years, brought Newbill over 3-4 times a week for the next 2 months.
D Jay would arrive and I would immediately place a dry erase marker in his hand, stand him front of a white board and make him work through problem after problem after problem after problem… His improvement was dramatic, his confidence soared and he began to view himself as college bound.
Even though Newbill had spent his 9th and 10th grade season as a deep reserve, Hardnett insisted he would be the best player in Philadelphia over the next 2 years. At the time, it was clear that he believed in Newbill’s abilities more than Newbill himself.
For the first year I knew him, I never saw him play basketball. I knew him as a young man from a tight-knit family in North Central Philadelphia. I knew him as a kid that was dependable, hard working and humble. I didn’t know if basketball would get him there, but I wanted to see Newbill go to college. Toward that end, I instructed him to always take pictures of his class roster, report cards, state assessment results, etc. and text them to me. I promised I would make sure he remained on track be NCAA eligible.
The most important thing he could do, I explained, was to control the way the principal, counselors and teachers perceived him. Specifically, I said “When I ask people how you are doing, a big smile should come across their face.” When I visited Strawberry Mansion High School a few weeks later, the principal told me that “D Jay won’t let me carry anything, bags, books, equipment. He’s the only student I’ve had that insists on carrying things for the female staff members.”
Newbill gets it. He was and remains atypical. Before he was the man at Penn State, He was the man at Strawberry Mansion High School. He was the leading scorer in Philadelphia. He was 1st team All-City. He was 1st team All-State. He was being recruited by colleges like Rutgers, Georgetown, West Virginia, Marquette and Temple. All too often young men develop a sense of entitlement under these circumstances. Not Newbill… But, you already know that.
Yesterday, I published an open thank you letter he wrote to the President, Athletic Director and basketball coach at Penn State University. Within 24 hours, his letter was viewed by over 25,000 people.
Today, he was traveling to France to begin his career as a professional basketball player. During a stopover in Germany, Newbill was racially profiled and arrested on suspicion of being a terrorist. This young man has NEVER been arrested or detained by police in the United States of America. This young man has just completed his requirements for a Bachelors Degree from Penn State University. This young man has represented his family, his North Philly community and Penn State University with class and dignity.
Unfortunately, the German customs official ONLY cared that Newbill is Black.
Below, please find a Facebook post by Francois Lamy, a French agent working with Newbill’s Agency, ASM Sports. The post was originally written in French.
Immigration, ordinary everyday racism, and other joys of our daily lives, as sensitive as either the subject, this is the day to tackle it. Today a basketball player that I placed in France to the Asvel, DJ Newbill, in my opinion a player and a guy who is exceptional, was arrested by German immigration officials. The official reason, absence of a visa for long stay. It is important to note that visas for sports professionals are regularized once on the territory. Therefore the situation is a little farcical in addition to be unpublished.
A basketball player coming from American to play in Europe is stopped at the German border, questioned, and then released after payment of a fine, but retained in the transit area waiting for deportation to the USA. I have never such an incident my long career. It must be specified that Newbill is an American citizen. Just as a French citizen in the USA, does not need a visa for return on the French territory and can stay there 3 months, Newbill can stay in France fro 3 months, but must regularize his situation in case of prolonged stay or to work.
This young man is African American, and has never been out of the United States before. This is the first experience that he has with Europe. An officer of the German immigration, doubted his statement that he was in Europe to play basketball. He also doubted that France was the country of final destination. Newbill was interrogated for hours. German immigration official were convinced he had a terrorist motive.
I challenge anyone to dare to tell me that this is a coincidence. I have also had the pleasure of having this official on the phone. I told him it was normal. I asked him to try to understand because it was the first time in almost 20 years that this kind of concern is presented.
He then increase the tone, until I will do the same, and he proposed to remind the US Consulate in Frankfurt for they come in person attend their national.
All this to say that ca inspires me a few thoughts more broad:
Our good populist policies which are having a hayday on immigration issues forget well voluntarily to educate us on the reality of immigration procedures everywhere in the world: They are strict, complex, cold, without past-right nor states of soul. And they of course have good reason to be, are we not ourselves selective before inviting someone in our respective homes? But they are also implemented on the ground by human beings, and therefore can sometimes be subjectively applied.
Why specifically that player here, while several hundreds of players pass through European countries before coming play in France by regularizing their visa once in the territory? Ask the question is to answer it.
If there is a despicable ideology that we must fight, it is that one race is superior to another. Once again, it is all the racist or the oppressed of someone, ca is not the prerogative of a color. But the whiff post slavery or colonialists are unbearable and the nest of a lot of latent conflicts and misunderstandings remaining. This Mr. Faber, chief of the police station of Terminal 1 of Frankfurt, is going to bite the fingers very long to be allowed to go to its primary instincts. I made a promise to the player, and have already asked the US Consulate in Frankfurt to escalate to the German state that one of their employees has behaved with a baseness unworthy, what they have assured make tomorrow. These people forget that they are public servants in the service of the State of course, but with the missions of service and order able.
Francois Lamy, French Sports Agent
Chief Faber racially profiled D Jay Newbill. Newbill was just trying to make his way to his first job as a Penn State graduate. Degree in hand, a first Division French team has signed him and agreed to compensate him handsomely. Once they get to know him, I’m sure they will come to love him. But right now, he’s just a Black man in a German airport.
That, unfortunately, is enough to lead to arrest. He’s not affiliated with any terrorist organizations. He’s never been in any kind of legal trouble. He’s a god fearing Christian. He’s great friend. He’s a great teammate. He’s a loving brother and caring grandson. He’s a solid citizen. But, none of that matters.
He’s a Black man in a German airport. That fact alone resulted in an arrest and detention on suspicion of being a terrorist.
Eric J. Barron, President
Sandy Barbour, Director of Athletics
Pat Chambers, Men’s Basketball Head Coach
Penn State University
Dr. Barron, Ms. Barbour and Coach Chambers:
I want to publicly thank you for giving me an opportunity to develop and grow as a man, student and athlete at Penn State University. As I embark upon my professional life, I realize more than ever that attending Penn State University was the best decision I have ever made. Penn State embraced me, a poor kid from the tough streets North Philadelphia, and made feel challenged, supported and loved during my four years on campus. They went by far to0 quickly.
There were many who questioned my decision. Many people felt that I would NOT achieve my academic and athletic goals if went to Penn State. Today, I stand here as a proud graduate of Penn State University and emphatically say they couldn’t have been more wrong. I endured the lowest of lows and the highest of highs while enrolled at Penn State. I lost my mentor, John Hardnett, right before I came to Penn State. John believed in me before anyone else. John repeatedly told me I would be a college graduate. He told me this day would come. When he passed away there was a void in my life.
Coach Chambers stepped in and stepped up. While he demanded a lot from me and constantly pushed me to become a better student and basketball player, there was never a moment I didn’t feel respected and loved. Penn State was where I was meant to be. Penn State was my home. I was destined to be a Nittany Lion!
Nittany Lion ROARING!!
On September 15, 2012, two years after John passed away, I lost my mother. I experienced a level of pain and despair I didn’t think was possible. Coach Chambers, my teammates and the entire Penn State community put their collective arms around me and literally carried me through the toughest period of my life. For that, I will be forever grateful.
As I prepare to play professional basketball in France, I do so knowing that I have a home and an extended family in State College, Pennsylvania. I will spend the rest of my life serving as an ambassador for Penn State University. I want see hundreds, even thousands, of other young poor Black Philadelphia boys and girls experience life as a Nittany Lion. While I am leaving campus as a student, my heart and soul will always be present and accounted for in Happy Valley!!
I look forward to becoming an active member of alumni associations. I look forward to talking to middle and high school students about MY university. While I have to go work in France, I will return to campus as soon as the wheels of the plane touch down on American soil.
Thank you for believing in me. I hope I have been able to make you proud of me.
WE ARE PENN STATE!
Sincerely, Devonte “D-Jay” Newbill ’15
Penn State University
More than ever before, this electoral cycle, with all the ballyhoo and hoopla surrounding the candidacy of Donald Trump has devolved into a veritable circus – the greatest show on earth. At both the local and national levels, print, digital and television media outlets bring the 3-ring circus into our living rooms. Trump, the businessman turned reality-television star has consumed the lion’s share of bandwidth, page space and TV time. It’s entertaining if you are into simple-minded reality shows. The problem is that elections are more than just a show.
More than anytime in recent memory, the stakes for Blacks, especially males are extremely high. This is especially the case within the legal system. This election is crucial. Working Philadelphians have an opportunity to ensure adequate representation on state’s highest court. Time after time after time… in recent years, Blacks have experienced highly questionable treatment at the hands of police and in America’s courtrooms. So much so, that one would reasonably expect law enforcement relations with Blacks, Latinos and other minority groups to be a central issue in the campaign.
Unfortunately, that is not the case. The “mainstream” media offers little variety in news perspective and editorial policy. They are all almost exclusively focused on Donald Trump’s performance in daily polls. Media coverage of the election is generally superficial, consisting of a few brief “headline” stories centered on poll results and banal commentaries from the left and right depending on the network.
Judge Kevin Dougherty, Candidate for PA Supreme Court
If you have genuine interest in understanding how the upcoming elections will impact your life and that of those you love, you have to seek out the candidates and put them on the spot. As a Black male I am particularly alarmed by recent reports citing a 26% Black male 4-year graduation rate in Philadelphia’s public schools. I am concerned about the massive numbers of Blacks going in and coming out Pennsylvania’s state prisons. We need a fresh set of eyes on these problems. The only way to gain some insight into the way candidates understand and approach these important issues, is to track them down and ask them directly. So…. that’s what I did.
I spent over two hours with the Hon. Kevin Dougherty, candidate for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. We spent about 30 minutes discussing his commitment to impacting lives from the bench. Make no mistake, Dougherty has a well-earned reputation as no-nonsense tough judge. What’s less known is the fact under his leadership, Philadelphia’s Family Court cut the number of kids in foster homes by half. Additionally, Dougherty has embraced creative second-chance programs for at-risk youth. While on the bench, he has always remained conscious of the “future” life chances of the juveniles appearing before him. Dougherty has expunged thousand of juvenile criminal records allowing young people to access employment and educational opportunities.
The significance of Dougherty’s approach to this important issue cannot be overstated. So many young boys and girls find themselves caught up in the juvenile justice system. Their juvenile records could serve as a very real barrier in their efforts to access employment, housing and education. Dougherty gets it.
We live during a period where it’s vital that we keep it real… That’s why The Black Cager endorses Judge Kevin Dougherty for a seat on the PA Supreme Court.
The Black Cager went to a very good Philly summer hoops game today. It brought back fond memories and raised some serious concerns… If this was 1995, the game would have been held at McGonigle Hall under the auspices of the Sonny Hill Community Involvement League. Most spectators would have traveled to Temple’s campus via the Broad St. subway. The fans would have strolled by the legendary Overbrook HS player and Frankford HS coach Vince Miller. Coach Miller would have been choppin’ it up with Claude Gross and Tee Shields. He would have delicious fried chicken sandwiches and some of the best cakes available to those in need of nourishment. The fans would have entered McGonigle and walked directly to the stands. At no point would they have encountered anyone selling tickets. Summer basketball in Philly was always free. Times have changed…
Sonny Hill, Induction to Basketball Hall of Fame
But it’s not 1995. It’s 2015 and things are different… Much different… But, I don’t know if things are better…
Like I said, I went to a very good Philly summer hoops game today. However, the game was held at the Chichester Recreation Center in Aston, Delaware County. The game was sponsored by Big Shots, a national exposure events organizer. Last year, 2,650 teams and 30,975 players participated in Big Shots events. There was no community involvement component. No Sonny, no Vince, no Claude, no Tee… There was no fried chicken, no cakes… They had hot dogs…
Corporate interests and big money have changed summer hoops across the country. Philly is no exception. Whereas their fathers, uncles and grandfathers played for South Philly, North Philly or Germantown, today’s players play for Nike, Under Armour and Adidas. The Sonny Hill League was a Philadelphia institution. The organizers and coaches saved lives and made men out of boys. Even those that couldn’t play all that well. Big Shots is a corporation, it makes money showcasing the very best players.
The elite kids have gained better uniforms, bags and shoes. The rest of the kids no longer play against the best kids in the summer. The Philly hoops heads don’t get to see the best players going head-to-head on a regular basis. We no longer get to engage Claude, Tee, Fred Douglas and Mr. Hill everyday. We have lost a lot…
The game though…. it was damn good!
Philly hoops, even in the summer is something to behold. Playing on different shoe company circuits, Team Final (Nike) and Philly Pride (Under Armour) rarely meet. But today they clashed for the Championship of a Big Shots Tournament in Chichester. Led by Co-MVPs DeAndre Hunter (Temple, Miami, Oklahoma St., North Carolina St., Penn St., Arkansas offers) and Charles Brown, Jr. (St. Joseph’s commit) Philly Pride defeated a very strong Team Final 17u squad 87-72.
2015 Big Shots Champion, Philly Pride 17u
Philly Pride led the game beginning to end as Charles Brown, Jr. scored 11 of the team’s first 14 points. Brown would finish the game with 24 points, missing just one field goal and one free throw. Brown shot 5 for 5 from 3 point range and 9 for 10 from the field overall. With a very quick release and seemingly endless range, Brown is in the midst of a magnificent summer. Over the past couple of months, he has gone from a Division 2 recruit to over 15 Division 1 scholarship offers. Watching him finish in transition and shoot with incredible accuracy from deep it’s easy to understand why he has emerged as one of the hottest recruits in the region. St. Joseph’s has landed the best shooter in the area.
Philly Pride was without standout point guard Stevie Jordan (Richmond, Towson, Rider and Quinnipiac offers). As a result, 6’7” DeAndre Hunter spent much of the game initiating the offense. Exhibiting very solid ball handling and play making skills, Hunter and Jaekwon Carlyle made very good decisions in transition and got Philly Pride into their sets in the half court. Hunter is a multifaceted wing with a high basketball IQ. His potential is unlimited and as a result he is being pursued by several HIGH major programs.
Charles Brown, Jr., Sean Colson, Jaekwon Carlyle and DeAndre Hunter
Team Final was led by Nazeer Bostick (Penn State commit) and Tony Carr (Temple, Miami, DePaul, Xavier, Indiana, Georgetown, Florida St., Iowa, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, VCU, Providence, Stanford, SMU, Illinois, Arizona St., Wichita St., St. John’s, Maryland, Rhode Island, Penn State, LaSalle and Cincinnati offers). Carr scored 18 points and Bostick dropped 17 while putting in his normal yeoman job on the boards.
Team Final’s Nazeer Bostick (PSU commit) and his father Shareef
Josh Sharkey had three steals at the end of the first half to cut the lead to single digits. He would finish with 12 points. Tremendously athletic sophomore Lonnie Walker (Villanova, Indiana and Holy Cross offers) struggled from the field but managed to score 10 points. Lamar Stevens (Temple, Maryland, Xavier, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Florida St., Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Marquette, Rhode Island, Villanova, Penn St., St., Joseph’s, Indiana and LaSalle offers) struggled from the field while playing very tough defense.
A few hundred spectators made out to see this exciting game featuring many of the very best scholastic players in the Greater Philadelphia region. These AAU programs have each produced scores of high major college players. More importantly, Rob Brown (Team Final) and Kamal Yard (Philly Pride) have produced some fine young men.
Black Cager is sponsoring a rewards program for Darby Township Boys. The following college coaches have agreed to support the Darby Township Rewards Program:
James “Bruiser” Flint, Drexel University
Dr. John Giannini, LaSalle University
Fran Dunphy, Temple University
Kevin Baggot, Rider University
Monte Ross, University of Delaware
Phil Martelli, St. Joseph’s University
The Black Cager is also partnering with Küdzoo to provide incentives and rewards for good grades.
Albie Crosby, Imhotep Football Coach
