section c
December 9-15, 2009
Kennedy, UDM on the rise
Former Southeastern player shining
By Leland Stein III
put that with team discipline and we have a
group of guys that can compete in the Horizon
The University of Detroit Mercy men’s bas- Conference.”
ketball team is coming up. The Titans have an
Whatever McCallum has implanted in his
excellent 7-2 (2-0 in conference) record. The 7-
players, they all believe they are good enough
2 mark matches the 1998-99 campaign start,
to compete at the highest level. A major test
as well as its win total last year. The Titans’ 2-0
will come this weekend as the Titans will travel
mark in the league also equaled their victory
to Ann Arbor to face the University of Michi-
total from last season in conference play.
gan.
After a horrendous 2008-09 season, second-
Kennedy said he has never felt better about
year coach Ray McCallum has the Titans flex-
a team, no matter that he has won a National
ing their collective muscles.
Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
One person who is in the forefront of the Ti- title in 2008 at Mott College.
tan’s surge is former Southeastern High player
“There is something special going on with
Thomas Kennedy. The 6-foot-7 forward, who
this team,” Kennedy said. “We all like each
led the team in scoring last year, is averaging
other and we are willing to sacrifice for the
a solid 11 points per game and is shooting over
good of the team.”
.500 percent from the field.
Added McCallum: “We have a very tough and
“We have been challenging Thomas,” McCal-
competitive group and along the way we are fig-
lum said, “and he has responded over the past
uring out who can do what. Remember we have
few games with an outstanding effort. When he
a new program. We are trying to build trust with
is focused he has a tremendous upside and an
each other, but the best thing about this team
excellent motor.”
is that you can not teach heart, but these guys
Added Xavier Keeling: “Thomas has the best have heart and more.”
stamina of anybody on the team. We make a
All of Kennedy’s teammates agree. He said
good team at the forward position, because we
his strength as a player is his ability to shoot
communicate with each other and we are un-
the mid-range shot, finishing around that
selfish.”
basket and just hustling. He wants to take his
It is amazing in one year how the expecta- game to another level by improving his ball
tions of this tem have handling skills and creativity off the dribble.
elevated.
Who can deny that UDM is on the up swing
“We believe after its victory over Cleveland State at Calihan
we have the team Hall, a team that had a five game winning streak
to finish at the top against the Titans, and had won the conference
of the conference,” title last year, as well as, produce NCAA 2009
Kennedy said. “We Tournament’s biggest upset.
have a lot of guys that
“This team is a lot better than last year,”
can compete. We just
Kennedy said. “We will surprise a lot of people
have to keep working
with our talent and effort this year.”
together and I feel we
will surprise people.”
Kennedy said his time at Southeastern in
the PSL prepared him well for the rigors of col-
The Titans
lege basketball: “The competition in the PSL in
have four players
Detroit was supreme. The League took me to a
scoring in double fig-
higher level. I had to step up just so I would not
ures: Eli Homan leads
get embarrassed.”
UDM coach Ray
the way at 14.4; Keel-
McCallum. – Mike
ing is next at 13.4;
Kennedy, McCallum and the Titans are
Alberts photo
Chase Simon follows
indeed taking their game to another level and
at 12.7; and Kennedy
they will be a force to be dealt with on the 2009-
puts up 11.3 points per game.
10 NCAA basketball playground.
“We have a lot of guys that can put the ball
Leland Stein can be heard on 107.5 every
in the basket,” McCallum noted, “but the ball
Sunday from 11 p.m. to midnight. He can be
movement is what takes us to another level. We
reached at lelstein3@aol.com.
are developing guys that have versatile skills, thoMas KenneDY lifts for a jumper. – Mike Alberts photo
Woods the most boring
athlete? Not anymore!
By Leland Stein III
too many transgressions to
I’m not surprised at what
recount: Pitt and Jolie . . .
has happened with the world’s
Helena and Paris . . . Tracey
greatest golfer. After all, it is
and Hepburn . . . Senators
a disease that has engulfed
...Letterman and his female
most of Western Culture – the
staff members. . . Kennedy
disease of “Yeah . . . I got ya!”
and Monroe . . . Rodriguez and
Madonna . . . and so on.
The “I got ya” happened
around 3 p.m. in the morning
Also, the elevation of pub-
with the result a $164 traffic ci-
lications such as the National
tation. The infamous accident
Enquirer, US Weekly maga-
Wrestlers DaviD (left), Jonathan and Charlie Morgan Jr.
has become known as the Es- zine, and tabloid websites like
calade escape escapade at the TMZ.com have found a place
end of Tiger Woods’ driveway.
In the Game
in the news world and that is
Morgan’s: Wrestling a family affair
The aftermath of Woods’ in
By Leland Stein III
sad for journalism.
slow-speed crack-up has cre- The art of looking some-
Why doesn’t PSL invest in wrestling programs?
ated a media circus that has
rience that we all fall short of
one in the face and getting
grown as many arms as an
the glory and we are all flawed
out and obtaining quotes and
By Leland Stein III
I’ve had some wrestlers that were not great ath-
octopus. Woods did not help
individuals that are a work
interviewing people is being
letes, but I tell them there are two things they
himself early on as he tossed
in progress every day of our
replaced by “a source said” or
Of course, most know about the much hyped
have control over: Improving your technique
out a scenario that had more
lives. WWE wrestling circus. Others take clear notice
“a friend of Woods noted” or
and strength. Anyone can do that with effort.”
holes in it than an old pair of Shouldn’t we be hoping he
of the sport every four years when the Olym-
“someone said that so and so
underwear. and his wife and two kids find
pic Games commence. It is one of the original
Charlie has proven that African-Americans
is a jerk.”
sports of the Games and is highly praised world
can achieve in the sport of wrestling as three of
Woods tried to pawn his
that family balance that will
We are in the age of sleaze.
wide. However, in America the gatekeepers of
his sons have excelled in the sport; they injest-
wife, Elin, off as a hero tending
push them into a solid mar-
A mistresses can be paid over
the sports information only provide space on ed Dad’s lessons concerning effort.
to her husband at the scene of
riage? There is no substitute
$100,000 for selling text mes-
their pages for football, basketball, hockey and
an accident. And that is the
for life experiences. We all “Charlie Jr., my oldest son, was a two-time
sages. Now what about the
baseball.
one still on the books as ob-
have to go through something All-State selection,” Charlie Sr. noted. “He only
lady? She has displayed no
viously he tried to protect his
to get to a place of spiritual No matter. Throughout the country the an- lost one match all year and that was in the state
morals whatsoever by mess-
wife from possible domestic
calmness and serenity; it does cient sport of wrestling is firmly rooted and has
finals. He went to Morgan State on scholar-
ing with a married man. What
violence charges.
not happen by osmosis. a wonderful history, except in most American
ship and qualified for the NCAA’s all four years
is her culpability? Why is she inner cities.
there. He now lives in Florida and teaches biol-
So in protecting his wife we
I hope Woods and his wife
not scorned, but instead paid
may never hear the real Esca-
use this as an opportunity to The fact that the Detroit Public School
ogy and is the high school wrestling coach.”
thousands?
lade escape escapade story.
grow together and not let the League (PSL) does not field wrestling teams is
His second son, David, went to Morgan State
However, Woods has indeed
naysayers and media circus I got to know Earl Woods. perplexing. What is the real reason the PSL has
but transferred to Michigan State University. At
come out and offered an apol-
drive them a part. He was a strong Black man never put any effort into the sport that helps
Ferndale he was an all-state performer, and, at
ogy for having affairs with What bothers me about all
who was a Special Forces com-
turn boys to men?
MSU he was three times All-Big Ten and All-
an alleged two women. His this is that it shows unequivo-
batant. I think when he passed
When one looks at African-American high American.
acknowledgement of trans- cally that America has moved
it left Tigers out on an island.
school wrestling coaches like Charlie Morgan
gressions brings to life the to a point where famous
I covered Woods in his high
at Ferndale and Glenn Washington at Highland
His youngest son, Jonathan, was also a
Escalade escape escapade as people are expected to be role
school and Sanford years and
Park, it only reaffirms the idea that exposure
three-time all-state performer and finished as
a man running from his wife models for our kids. Just be-
he prided himself on the fact
and opportunity make all the difference.
high as third in the state.
after she found out about her cause Woods is a supreme
he spent all his time on the
“What is difficult about the sport is the phys-
adulterous husband. It does golfer does not mean he is a
golf course and was a obses-
“I look at the PSL and I think it is familiar-
ical training,” Charlie Sr. said. “If a person does
not take a genus to postulate perfect human. The fact of the
sive golf hopeful.
ity,” Morgan said. “What they are missing is
that the sport builds character and discipline.
not have the mental toughness they will never
that the late-night/early-morn- matter is I have never seen a
It is obvious he lost his If the PSL did participate in wrestling it would
make it. The problem is an athlete may have to
ing exodus that left car win- perfect human!
shorts once he discovered change the face of the sport in this state.”
take a whipping in the first year, but I’ve seen
dows broken, Woods dazed on
For those that call into talk women. But that transgres-
the curb with a busted lip, and
Morgan, who wrestled at Ferndale from 1966
many in the second year, if they stick with it,
radio and other Internet ve- sion is amendable and one
a wife standing over him like
to 1969, decided to stay close to the sports
make tremendous gains.”
hicles, I say get a life! One’s can change his wayward ways.
Tyson cajoling Spinks, was
because of his younger brothers Gilbert and Charlie Sr. noted that he still has the fire for
perspective of life and what is
fueled by a family dispute.
Woods needs to kick himself
Glenn.
coaching, but he acknowledged that he is frus-
right and wrong should not be in the behind like his Dad
I suspect Tiger was a victim, based on those we see on tele- would have done if he were
“My twin brothers are four years younger
trated that he has not been able to galvanize a
but we don’t know and may vision or read about in news- alive.
than I am,” Charlie said, “so I became inspired
team at the state level.
never know. Some say he had papers.
to teach them.”
“I do not get the numbers,” he said. “I would
it coming . . . right? There is
What good has come out of
Another thing that both-
no defending Woods’ actions,
this mess? Woods has created
Charlie, 58, who works at Oakland County
like to compete for a team title at the state
ers me is those who gleefully
but the level of hate and mean-
an international dialogue con-
Children’s Village, has been coaching the sport
level. But when I think about it we must be
exclaim Woods’ image is tar-
spiritness has gone beyond
cerning celebrity, marriage,
for 30 years. He founded that Ferndale Eagles doing something right, because we have had
nished forever. Why would
Wrestling Club in 1994; the team taught ages 5 numerous league, district and Oakland County
concern for his wife.
texting and consequences.
anyone want that to be a real-
to 14. He has been the head coach at Ferndale champions.”
Welcome to the Black side ity? The fact of the matter is
I guess what we found out since 1998.
Men like Charlie Sr. and Washington have
of your heritage, Tiger! Amer- those of monetary means and
about Tiger is after a billion
During that time he and his assistant coach-
proven that African-American kids can excel at
ica is very quick to bury and social status have always been
dollars, he’s still a paperback
es, Bob Jones and John Bassier, have pro-
the ancient sport of wrestling if given the expo-
castigate Black athletes who involved in the worldly she-
playa. In today’s world sexting
duced at least one all-state grappler every year.
sure and opportunity.
make mistakes. There is no nanigans of life. Now I’m not
isn’t cute, because in divorce
Although the sport is physical, Charlie noted
forgiveness. saying that makes it right or
court they call it evidence.
that it can be a life-changing challenge.
Wake up, PSL. Any vehicle that provides
I would think in times like
okay, but it is what it is.
Leland Stein can be heard
scholarships and opportunities for youth
“The beauty of the sport is that there are 14
should be implemented by the schools.
this spirit-filled individuals Kings, queens, movie stars, on 107.5 every Sunday from different weight classes,” Charlie said. “It is an
would pray that Woods and and politicians have always 11 p.m. to midnight. He can individual sport and the effort you put in is the Leland Stein can be heard on 107.5 every
his family find redemption been surrounded by the flesh be reached at lelstein3@aol. return you’ll get on the mat. Wrestling tests an Sunday from 11 p.m. to midnight. He can be
and peace. I know from expe- of the world. There are simply com. athlete’s quickness, speed and strength. But reached at lelstein3@aol.com.
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