How Naptown’s little black boyz made us proud! “STATE CHAMPS!”

"You have no choice but to see us today!"

On Saturday the Indiana State High School Basketball State Championships were held and Naptown represented. Now you’re askin’ why I called the joint “Naptown” instead of the usual reference of “Indy” like you normally hear. Well playas…it’s because I’m speakin’ from an urban viewpoint. Black folks don’t call Indianapolis Indy. They call it Naptown!! So NAPTOWN STANDUP!!

What I witnessed on yesterday at the arena where the Pacers get it in made me proud. I saw three Indianapolis schools show up and like Big Momma always said, “Show out!” Three schools that are predominantly black won the State titles in each of their respective classes.

Tindley, the little charter school located in the middle of the ghetto with a mission statement that says, “College or Die” beat Lafayette Central Catholic 51-49 to win the Class A title. Then Crispus Attucks, the same school that the Big O won two state titles at in 1955 and ’56 that hasn’t won a title since 1959 beat Twin Lakes 73-71. Then durin’ the night cap Ben Davis slayed the dragon from Forth Wayne North Side 55-52!  All schools from Naptown all with predominantly black student bodies.

“We’re in the buildin’ playboy! Naw, we’re on top of the buildin’!”

Let’s keep it real or all the way 100, whichever comes 1st! Most folks are askin’ themselves why is this dun makin’ a point to tell us that these kids are black? Because nobody celebrates our black boyz anymore bruh! All folks want to do is show them on the news bein’ criminals, victims of homicides and for some other type of foolishness.

So when I see kids that look like me accomplishin’ their goals and dreams with some structure and purpose I’ve got to let you know that they exist. They aren’t  like Big Foot or the Loch Ness Monster bruh. They really exist! All the news wants to show you are funerals and court appearances and some fool walkin’ down the street with his pants fallin’ off of him.

Tindley is a little school that was once a freakin’ Cub Foods with no windows sittin’ on the corner of 38th and Keystone in the heart of the ghetto. Crispus Attucks is the only school back in the day that black folks in Nap could go to. Ben Davis started busing black kids from the hood (Haughville) darn near 30 years ago to become relevant in sports and they’ve won all kinds of state championships and national championships as result. They’re no longer busing boyz but you get my point. If we’re goin’ to talk then lets talk turkey. Now black folks have actually moved into their district  now it’s like Chris Brown up in this piece, “On and Poppin’!'” 

Most of you don’t understand how big this is bruh. These little black boyz from Indianapolis just won the Indiana high school State Championship!! We’re not talkin’ about Utah, Texas, Florida or Alabama!!! We’re talkin’ Indiana!! The Mecca of high school basketball!!! Our kids are on top today!!!

I’m standin’ up to celebrate our kids when they’re on top and respresentin’ themselves well. Big props to all of the Big Momma’s, daddies, grannies, great-grannies, uncle Willies, Mr.’ Joe’s (the dun that doesn’t have a kid on the team but helps out anyway), coaches that not only coach but serve as surrogate fathers too. I’m celebratin’ them all. Why? Because the dull media will act like they don’t see them this mornin’ and keep it movin’!

“It’s good over here too playas!”

Our little black boyz are dyin’ at an alarmin’ rate and goin’ to jail just as fast. So when I show up to simply watch a high school state championship on my day off from coverin’ the Indiana Pacers. It was a pleasure to see kids that look like me, that grew up in the same types of neighborhoods that I grew up in, in The G winnin’ and accomplishin’ their goals it suddenly became personal. I said to myself, “Now these kids got me workin’ on my day off!” Why? Because nobody will tell it like I’m tellin’ it right now.

Ben Davis ain’t hood but it’s predominantly black and I love seein’ black kids win at every level regardless of socioeconomic status. Why? Because so many of our kids don’t win and don’t make it out of whatever types on environment they grew up in. So TODAY I’m celebratin’ the accomplishments of what these kids did at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Saturday and hopefully that will inspire more kids that look like them to succeed and become CHAMPIONS in life!!! That’s what a real G is bruh! Stop me when I start lyin’!

Playas Thesaurus: 

1) Dun: noun – the person in question, dude, guy, etc. It’s whoever I’m talkin’ about and its non-gender specific.

2) On and Poppin’: noun – song by R&B singer Chris Brown

3) G: noun – gangsta not from the true since of the word but for the cat that gets out here and takes care of his business.

4) The G: noun – Gary, Indiana

The captions under the photos aren’t real but its real talk! 

2 Comments

  1. This article did not impress me or many of my Crispus Attucks High School Alumni at all. As an officer and board member of the National Crispus Attucks Alumni Association, and as a 1970 graduate, the use of the term “boyz” is clearly demeaning and disrespectful. By the way, many of us refer to Indianapolis as “Indy”. Try writing this one again, you have offended many of the Alumni with the negative inferences. Talking about keeping it real! Have you ever stepped into my high school? They were no “BOYZ” on that court Saturday. Do better!!

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