Came across this inspirational baseball story today published in the Herald-Citizen and wanted to pass it along for all to read:
Overcoming racism to make a difference
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That's a great article--and a true testament to what can be overcome.
Great article BigMW. Serious testament to that coach and what he overcame.
BD
BD
On the topic of overcoming racism, I recommend that everyone go see the new Disney movie, "Glory Road".
We saw it as a team last night and it was amazing, some of the stuff those players had to go through (Black and White)
Great stuff.
Sorry, I don't mean to hijack the thread.
We saw it as a team last night and it was amazing, some of the stuff those players had to go through (Black and White)
Great stuff.
Sorry, I don't mean to hijack the thread.
Interesting topic-- as a kid my family moved into a new town when I was a sophmore in HS (1956)-- I look back now and realize that Italians such as myself were looked down upon and there no Afro Americans or Jews in the town--the first 6 months nobody talked to me--I it was like I was a leper --- I make the HS baseball team in the spring and all of a sudden everyone is "my good buddy"
Isnt funny how sports breaks down all sorts of barriers !!
Isnt funny how sports breaks down all sorts of barriers !!
TRhit,
My family moved around almost my entire life. I was constantly trying to make new friends. The toughest move for me was moving from TN to IL. There was no way to mask my southern accent or my family's southern ways. Like you, it was primarily through sports and extra curricular activities I was able to make the vast majority of my friends.
My family moved around almost my entire life. I was constantly trying to make new friends. The toughest move for me was moving from TN to IL. There was no way to mask my southern accent or my family's southern ways. Like you, it was primarily through sports and extra curricular activities I was able to make the vast majority of my friends.
Excellent article BigMW. Very well written and it brought a tear to my eye. Inspirational for sure.
As I read it I imagined what a great family Coach Buford must have come from...someone taught him right and he, in turn, was doing everything he could to pass along the lesson...and it worked.
Even B&R Lumber, the first year sponsor, came back in the third year...some decisions are not easy...but they are right decisions.
Thanks for sharing BigMW...I hope you haven't lost that accent and all of those southern ways.
As I read it I imagined what a great family Coach Buford must have come from...someone taught him right and he, in turn, was doing everything he could to pass along the lesson...and it worked.
Even B&R Lumber, the first year sponsor, came back in the third year...some decisions are not easy...but they are right decisions.
Thanks for sharing BigMW...I hope you haven't lost that accent and all of those southern ways.
I agree with gotwood - that was an excellent article. Good karma all around 
I probably should clarify the above by adding that I was a poor rural TN southern boy moving to northern IL.
gotwood4sale,
I don't think there is a way to totally lose a southern accent because I tried very, very hard to get that midwest DJ voice but I never quite mastered it!
As for the southern ways, I will always love southern cooking with fried chicken, corn bread (plain and with cracklins), greens (turnip, mustard, collard or poke), beans (with fatback), real smoked ham, fried catfish with hush puppies, homemade meringue chocolate pie, peach cobbler, blackberry cobbler, fresh squeezed lemonade, sweet tea, etc. I'm getting hungry just recalling all the food from my youth!
gotwood4sale,
I don't think there is a way to totally lose a southern accent because I tried very, very hard to get that midwest DJ voice but I never quite mastered it!
As for the southern ways, I will always love southern cooking with fried chicken, corn bread (plain and with cracklins), greens (turnip, mustard, collard or poke), beans (with fatback), real smoked ham, fried catfish with hush puppies, homemade meringue chocolate pie, peach cobbler, blackberry cobbler, fresh squeezed lemonade, sweet tea, etc. I'm getting hungry just recalling all the food from my youth!
That's a real southern smorgasbord you got going on there...we gotta' get together...tell you what...I'll bring the picnic basket...you bring the grub...and keep bringing the grub!
BTW...my son is a freshman at Christian Brothers University in Memphis
...he loves the south! He'll hopefully be getting some playing time with Coach Goodwin's team this year...your son?
BTW...my son is a freshman at Christian Brothers University in Memphis
...he loves the south! He'll hopefully be getting some playing time with Coach Goodwin's team this year...your son?
Alas, all I can cook is a mean skillet of corn bread. Great with your meal and then later on as a snack, crumbled in a tall glass and topped off with butter milk (or regular milk if you prefer). The food I spoke about was prepared by my Mom and other relatives, who most have long since passed away. There was no time for recipes, just measure by observation and it always turned out lip smackin' good! That's still the way my Mom cooks. My scientific mind needs a vessel to measure a "pinch" of salt!
We've travelled to Memphis the last two years for the NJCAA DII World Series in Millington but time did not permit me to visit relatives in the area to sample the old southern cooking once again.
My son is a junior college transfer (Elgin Community College) at Tennessee Tech and hopefully should start at SS for the Golden Eagles.
Good luck to you, your son and the baseball Buccaneers of CBU!
Arg ye matees!
We've travelled to Memphis the last two years for the NJCAA DII World Series in Millington but time did not permit me to visit relatives in the area to sample the old southern cooking once again.
My son is a junior college transfer (Elgin Community College) at Tennessee Tech and hopefully should start at SS for the Golden Eagles.
Good luck to you, your son and the baseball Buccaneers of CBU!
Arg ye matees!
And much success to your son at Tennessee Tech...go Golden Eagles...go snatch me a platter of that mouth watering Southern fried chicken!
That's the kind of cornbread I like...with an attitude!
quote:I can cook a mean skillet of corn bread.
That's the kind of cornbread I like...with an attitude!
Kinda' side-tracked your post BigMW...sorry.
Folks...please read this great article. Thanks.
Folks...please read this great article. Thanks.
That's a good one alright.
I'll bet Coach Buford would do it all again just to know he touched one young man!
I'll bet Coach Buford would do it all again just to know he touched one young man!
mrmom:
I think you got the right take on Coach Buford.
I think you got the right take on Coach Buford.
A wonderful story about true life as we know it.
Reminds me of my own affluent community which acted in a similar manner ("Why can't he play in his own neighborhood?"...complained a Doctor and Lawyer's wife right in front of me!) when a young black child from a neighboring community paid extra to join our LL.
When I put my sons into that other neighborhood's travel team the following year the reaction was VERY different. When my wife and I got to the 1st game a little late, we were stunned to find 40-50 people holding hands around the T-ball diamond singing a song about MY SON!
I grew up in Chicago and Ft.Lauderdale and went to FSU in Tallahassee. Believe me the south has nothing on the north when it comes to racism! I must say that the predominantly African American community where my son's played baseball, basketball and football treated my son's as special. White America could still learn a lot from the people they act so superior to!
Reminds me of my own affluent community which acted in a similar manner ("Why can't he play in his own neighborhood?"...complained a Doctor and Lawyer's wife right in front of me!) when a young black child from a neighboring community paid extra to join our LL.
When I put my sons into that other neighborhood's travel team the following year the reaction was VERY different. When my wife and I got to the 1st game a little late, we were stunned to find 40-50 people holding hands around the T-ball diamond singing a song about MY SON!
I grew up in Chicago and Ft.Lauderdale and went to FSU in Tallahassee. Believe me the south has nothing on the north when it comes to racism! I must say that the predominantly African American community where my son's played baseball, basketball and football treated my son's as special. White America could still learn a lot from the people they act so superior to!
Well said soxnole!
My son is a senior in high school, he has been on varsity for all 4 years, this will be his third year as a starter. This past season was very hard on him, as the racial comments got way out of control, to a point where he was about to walk. The coach was very proactive in halting the comments before anybody got hurt. Here it is a new year and the same stuff is going on. I was unaware that it was continuing until I received a recent phone call by a booster club member who witnessed it going on. I want to thank this person from the bottom of my heart in all that they have done to get this under control.
Your account of your son's problem is the reason we need more people like Coach Buford and your wise booster club member...thanks for sharing and keep us posted.