Why Osiris Organization?

May 18^th, 2010, “Searching Outside Of The Family For Similar Values” Part II, Ernest Leaks, Gladstone Middle School and the “ballers”, Jerome “Hook”, Melvin “Heavy” and “Fats”, the Freemans.

We took Fink’s recommendation to heart when he advised us to watch the other neighborhood players, aka, “ballers”.  “Ballers” are the basketball players that develop their skills to the point where they stand out among their peers.  “Ballers” set the standards to which we all aspired.

The “ballers” lived on the east side of Damen Street. When you crossed over Damen Street basketball took on a whole new meaning. We all felt it. We young men were in awe!

Ernest was good at getting to know all of the important contacts across Damen. He arranged for us to play in tournaments during the summer months.

I remember the first couple of days we ventured across Damen to see the “ballers”.  Ernest knew those who were playing in high school and the up and coming ones transitioning to high school.

Ernest, myself and several other young admires arrive at Gladstone Middle School one weekend to watch an organized basketball game.  Entering the playground area, we could feel the aura of greatness. We were easily inspired!   People gathered around the court watching their every move.

“Ernest, who is that dude that just hit those last two jump shots”?

“Oh that’s ‘Fats,’ he is ‘Heavy’s’ younger brother.”

“Who is ‘Heavy’?”

“He is one of the “refs” and a freshman playing ball at Crane High.  Crane High School is where all of the “ballers” in our community played. ‘Nag’, the whole family is full of “ballers.”

After the game, Ernest approached “Fats” and talked to him about his performance.  Ernest was not the shy type when it came to introducing himself to people he wanted to know.  I stood right by Ernest’s side listening to him interview “Fats” about basketball.  “Fats” would talk about the skills he learned from his older brothers, “Heavy” and “Hook”. He talked about the hours and hours of practice and dedication to develop his skills.

After the conversation, Ernest and I were inspired! We knew what we had to do. We had to put the time in, which meant practice, practice, and practice if we wanted to obtain “Fats” skill level. “Fats” verified what Fink told us about putting the time in on our skills, that there no short cuts to becoming a good “baller”.

We walked back across Damen to our side of the community. Ernest talked about Fats older brothers, “Heavy” and “Hook” and their basketball skills. “Heavy” was a playground legend and a freshman playing ball at Crane High. Ernest went on and on about Heavy’s abilities and about “Hook”, the oldest brother of the Freeman Family.  Earnest said that “Hook” was known to be the greatest “baller” to ever come out of Crane.  He relayed stories from area locals about some of the moves “Hook” did on the playground and at Crane High.

I loved playing basketball and at the same time I was starting to understand my grandfather’s value system. Those values were compatible with Ernest’s values. One in particular was working hard on something you valued!

But those values also created such conflict within me and begin to weigh on my consciousness.  I struggled now. It was a heavy load for a kid to try to unravel.

May 25^th, 2010, “Searching Outside Of The Family For Similar Values” Part III, Ernest Leaks, and my conflicts.