Naomi Wolf, the famous author, once said, “Obstacles, of course, are developmentally necessary: they teach kids strategy, patience, critical thinking, resilience and resourcefulness.” Gever Tulley, the writer and speaker, broke it down like this, “Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work though difficult problems.” Then Jamais Cascio, the author, put it where the goats could get it when he spit, “Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive.”
Well playas…the Warren Central Lady Warriors certainly overcame the unexpected, survived and thrived durin’ the 2017-18 hoop season. So much so, that they knocked off all the big dawgs in route to winnin’ the Class 6A State Championship that NOBODY saw comin’ but them. On Sunday two of their returnin’ seniors thrived once again by makin’ their commitments to universities in the Big Ten. Shaila Beeler, their 5’7″ point guard, who averaged 14 points, 5 assists and 2 steals per game announced that she would be goin’ to B-town to attend Indiana University. She’s ranked as the No.19 player in the country accordin’ to Prospect’s Nation.
Then several hours later Cydni Dodd, their 6’5″ center, who averaged 11 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks per game shootin’ 70 percent from the field told the world that she was goin’ to East Lansing to ride with the Michigan State Spartans. She was ranked as the No.81 player in the nation accordin’ to Prospects Nation.
Let’s keep it real or all the way 100, whichever comes 1st! When the buzzer went off to end the state title game and it had become real that coach Stacy Mitchell’s girls had done what so many thought was impossible. He cried like a baby right there on the floor. Not because his girls had simply won the state championship but because they had broken through the ceilin’ that people had put on their potential.
When I looked over at him and got the ultimate shot. I knew what those tears really meant. He wasn’t just thinkin’ about winnin’ the state title. He was thinkin’ about all of the land mines these young ladies have had to avoid just to get to school in the mornings. He was thinkin’ about life for many of these kids on the far east side of Indianpolis where the streets aren’t always the most gracious.
Well if I know Coach Mitch, and I do, he’s somewhere right now with tears in his eyes because he’s so proud of two more of his young ladies and the example that they’ve just set for all of the other kids dreamin’ in that community. The ultimate goal is to get these kids to believe in themselves and to get them to school. So many of our young people have the talent to feed themselves but they don’t always take advantage of it.
The word of God says in Proverbs 18-16 says, “A man’s gift will make room for him, and will bring him before great men.” That’s man, as in mankind for y’all that’s checkin’.
I grew up with so many kids in The G that had the talent to make room for them but they didn’t take advantage of it. I’m so glad to see the kids over at Warren Central takin’ advantage of their talents to become more than just high school superstars. This isn’t about goin’ pro one day playa. This is about expandin’ your horizons and seein’ what’s outside of the Far East Side. This is about becomin’ grown men and women that can take care of yourselves and usin’ sports to accomplish it.
I’m thankful to the parents, coaches, teachers and administrators for their efforts in gettin’ our kids focused to believe in themselves. “Our” as in our young black kids. When most people hear FAR EAST SIDE they think of foolishness and discount these kid’s ability to be great.
Well playas…we continue to see the kids thrivin’ and tearin’ down the stereotypes that our kids can’t win in life. Shaila and Cydni are two more examples of what you can become if you dedicate yourself to the process comin’ out of ANY HOOD, USA. They will now stand on the shoulders of the rich legacy of those respresentin’ Warren Central at the next level. But first, girls in Class 6A hoops will have to deal with them for one more year and that’s gonna be a big time problem. Why? Because they’ve already proven to themselves that they can win and now they are expected to win. Salute young ladies and keep representin’ your community well. Stop me when I start lyin’!
Playas Thesaurus:
1) Put it where the goats can get it: verb phrase – to make it as elementary as possible. To put it at ground level so everyone can understand it.
2) Spit: verb – to say
3) The G: noun – Gary, Indiana
The G is excluded from the endings of all words because the G is near and dear to my heart because I’m from “The G” which is Gary, Indiana. So I only use the G when I’m talkin’ about “The G!”
The caption under the photo isn’t real but its real talk!