Honoring Our Black Athletes
Santa Monica College guard Teddy Parham (behind, left of LeBron) after a team practice with NBA superstar LeBron James (photo courtesy of Teddy Parham Sr.)
Today’s black athletes carry a big responsibility, believe it or not, they are much more than someone who shoots a basketball, who catches or throws a football, or is even able to hit a 90 plus mph fastball into the stands. They carry the legacies of the Bill Russell’s, Kareem Abdul-Jabar’s, Muhammed Ali’s, Jackie Robinsons’, Laila Ali’s, Doug Williams, and Lisa Leslie. Some of the greatest, most iconic African-American athletes to not only grace their respective sports, but become positive influences in the community. These prominent athletes embraced what they meant, not just to their fans, they understood what they meant to the entire African-American community.
Which brings us to today, there are the modern day athletes with the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Candace Parker, and Colin Kaepernick. Whether it was in 2016, when former Super Bowl starting Quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to take a knee during the national anthem before a game along with his teammate Eric Reid; or whether it was when All-stars, and future Hall of Famers Lebron, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo, and Chris Paul took a moment at the 2016 ESPYs to speak about the injustices, racial profiling, and police brutality that the world was taking notice of. These athletes have decided to use their platform to put the world on notice. If it weren’t for the African-American athletes before them who used their platform to showcase their voices and bring problems that plague the black community to the forefront, who knows if their efforts would be effective?
SMC Athletes Teddy Parham, and LeAndrew Knight from the men’s basketball team, and Assistant Coach Devon Richardson spoke about their idols, and how they’re inspired by them. Sophomore Teddy Parham is a Guard for the Corsairs, his idols growing up playing basketball were Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Lebron James, he says “I can see their dedication to the game, how much IQ matters they’re always trying to get their players better,” Parham does his best when he steps on the floor to honor, and imitate his idols with the way he plays, and also his team first mentality.
Guard LeAndrew Knight grew up a fan of Kobe Bryant, for him he explained, “I feel like he was an icon, he set the standard for me… like fighting through adversity, getting up every day and taking care of your business regardless”, he further explained, and talked about the infamous “mamba mentality” he said, “that’s kind of what I go off of, like little injuries I just play through because that’s just the mentality that he set, and that’s what I follow by until this day.” Like Parham, LeAndrew also does his best to honor, and imitate the late, great Kobe through his fierce play, and leaving everything on the court.
Some people even idolize athletes because of their unique style, for example coach Richardson idol growing up was Jalen Rose, most famously for being on one of the greatest college basketball team assembled called the “Fab 5”. Richardson stated, “I was actually a very big Jalen Rose fan, because he was a lefty like myself, and he was a part of the new fashion movement and style of basketball when he came out in college basketball ,” like Rose, Allen Iverson was also a pioneer of the new trend, and fashion movement in the NBA, making it look cool to play with some swag.
We have to cherish, and honor these athletes because they not only pave the way for other athletes in sports, but also for people who don’t play sports. Next time we see someone raising their fist at a sporting event, think of Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their fists in solidarity to bring awareness to way African-Americans were being treated. Next time we see someone taking a knee, or choosing to sit instead of for the National anthem, think about how Colin Kaepernick was “black balled” out of a job in the NFL for taking a knee for his protest. Let’s honor them, cherish them, hold them on a higher pedestal and thank them for what they are doing for the entire African-American community.