 Don't boss talk one-on-one. Yeah, we gon' talk. We gon' have fun. We'll be on fire. We'll be live lit. It's a unique hustle Big shit big shit big shit. It's a unique hustle nigga big shit. Check it. Check it. Check it. It's a unique hustle It's your boy ECO and I'm with the lovely official mr. Mako. What's going on? Man Man, I tell you man. Um today is the day You know sometimes we get people in and we just be trying to figure out. Hey, man So what happened with this? You know, we kind of nosey if you really be honest about it You know say man check it man. We got a great guest in here today, man. Mr. West grand staff. What's going on brother? What's up? Glad to be here. Hey, man. So, uh, yeah, man Actually Austin I had got to talk with him and we brought you up and he the stories got so interesting We say well, don't you tell them to come over and and give us an insight on how good you were You say you was the number one basketball player and all of these things. I say I don't want to make this Fish bigger than what he is. I want to hear this the story from the man sitting next to the man Well, I'm kind of sad if he didn't just say Google me Just go get me that would that would be great if you just said that then we may not have had this interview Yeah, he's got a video after it has like YouTube that has over 800,000 views called I'll give your whole team buckets Really? Yeah, so now let's go back to your story talk talk a little bit about you from Dallas I'm from our gripping. Well, I was when I was born. Yeah, I lived in Oak Cliff Yeah, we lived in the projects from Parkland Hospital and when I was little, okay And then we moved over to Highland in Ferguson My mom was married seven times. So we just kind of yeah, she's married seven times couldn't get married in Texas No more they told them Are they used to you couldn't get him you had to go somewhere else Yeah, I'm okay. Hold on. Hold on. Let me ask so How was she when she married the first one? Well, she was pregnant with me at 15. So she she married my dad They lasted till I was about two and then she got with another dude that she had known before he and he She's with him when I was like three four or five Okay, baby six he got put in prison. He went to prison Then she got with a guy named Bob Boone who kind of got me into sports He moved me over to garland the east gate apartments where yeah east gate, man I know exactly where you was at Yeah, right off of Ferguson when you turn right you go to in the centerville and turn that left on saturday That's where yeah, that was my stomping grounds and that there was an old man there named dick keller Who taught me discipline who had a six court facility there two court facility, but like tons of goals And he taught me discipline and and he brought me over here to play at this Why he got he taught us that he taught me that there's no black and white It's it's it doesn't matter what color your skin is that guy When we would travel to outside tournaments in third grade You would I would have to sleep in the same bed with a black kid And he mixed us all up like that because he really wanted us to know that You know, you know different than me sound like remember the titans, you know Kind of was Yep, so I was so she so she I'm trying to figure out what was her longest relationship and how long were the marriages for because for seven seven marriages A lot of them were short. Yeah two three years all of them. Yeah. Yeah, basically and and all of them were abusive all of them were drugs first time Austin's mom went to a birthday party mom is my mom's 40th birthday And we had just gotten together and she went and My stepdad was being kind of rude to my mom and I said, hey, I'm gonna get up out of here Well, my wife's never seen a fight in her life And he said he wanted to he wanted to whip my ass is what he says. So I said, well, hey, let's go Yeah, and so I went outside and tore him up and my wife ran inside said call 911 And like my family and they're like 911. We get we we're going out to watch, you know And then so but that's just kind of how our family was I stopped wanting to have birthday parties because there was a Fight at every birthday party the cops came to my I mean my it was my own family fighting each other Wow, so but it was my mom was five right at five foot and Yeah, but what feisty. Yeah, she told me I was her horse if I never won a race She she was good to me. I mean I wouldn't change nothing. We lived 32 places growing up. I mean we bounced around So you really didn't except from that person the the father that um introduced you to Basketball How is it like being raised? I would say by so many different You know dad so to say, you know, I I always got to see my dad my my dad though He he was into a lot of bad things. Um Got me in golden gloves when I was real little because I had a lot of they They used to put me in a circle when I was Like maybe five six or seven eight when I would it was his weekend And I'd have to fight other little kids and they would get high and bet on us And we were like chicken fights There was other little kids would come over to to fight and So it was just a different I was raised different. So I go to a regular school with regular kids It was a different time But at the end of the day least you got to go home, you know, I mean that's the good part about it I I can I can I can respect that, you know Because at least you got to go home and the people that you did have those dealings with if you ever seen them again Y'all had a respect for each other. Oh, sure. You know what I mean? Yeah, no I was it was today he would go to prison or go to jail for And the people around would but back then that was just cool normal and and nobody Had hard feelings. I'd go play with that kid after I whooped his ass. I mean, that's just how how it was I wish it was more like that today in a sense because people picking up guns, you know what I mean No, we just go out back and get it over with and If you say I gave I normally let you up unless you hit me real hard and I might hit you an extra time But then I get help you up and dust you off. Yeah. Yeah, so but my mom's longest relationship was probably to the one Guy that I got into at that time and it was probably Seven or eight years. He was a pretty good dude, but she had some real bad ones. Um, she's passed now. Um Yeah, she she she did good. Yeah, I mean I I wouldn't change nothing I just always wonder about a father figure part. I was gonna ask about so your grandmother Was she in the different relationships as well? Yeah, my my her mom was you know down on um Harry Harry hans not not harry hans, but but yeah, yeah, yeah close She ran bars and she was uh, that's what I was just I had to say that's all she did and and she was a drunk She drank I mean she'd babysit me and drink a whole bottle of vodka in in a night. Um, you know just My uncle he raised himself. It was just her son, you know that that's why that you know My mom's sister had two kids by the time she was 15 already had two kids My mom had me so all three of us were raised together. Yeah, and so It was they didn't care you just I mean and and I think that's what made me the dad I am to be I'm almost too involved. I can't go to sleep at night unless I know where all three of my kids are They're safe. I just I trip out it usually it does take a different toll on different people Like it'll totally wreck all opposite, you know You get a total opposite reaction a lot of times when somebody go through a lot and when finally the one person that That it it triggers something in them to say I'm not going to be that way Well, I was a second person on both sides of my family just to graduate high school Wow the second person I had an uncle on both sides that both graduated high school And then I did and then we've had cousins now my daughter graduated college austin's graduated college my younger son He'll graduate. I mean it just you got to change the pattern But what what made you make up your mind to say that I'm not going to be like them basketball And in sports and cheerleaders. I mean, you know, they kept me going I didn't care nothing about school and I could have quit school and it would have been okay My family would have been fine My dad resented me for graduating high school in ways. Yeah, he I thought I was better than everybody because I And then I went to college and whooped and and and he just you know, you're better than me And then, you know, we raised my wife and I have had two black kids that have lived with us Who parents didn't want them? Well, my dad and granddad now them are from the old school And when it comes to that I mean my granddad didn't want a black person coming into our house. That's how bad it was But I was always different because that that man mr. Keller at Eastgate taught me to be different and so Thank god for for mr. Keller. Yeah. Well, my wife and I just you know, if We'll take anybody in if we really feel they needed it and we've helped we've helped raised a couple of kids and and That weren't ours and That's just what we do because people help me and I feel like you always got to get back You can't forget where you came from and you got to help if nobody helped me I'd be in prison right now dead. Who knows but I put people in people's life to create changes And it's a chain reaction that is not for the moment right now and it could be but it's really for down the line You see how many more people that person could help. Yeah, exactly. I think you you you're just describing Uh, a lot of times, you know Poverty you you're describing things that happen in a lot of not only white but black Hispanic It happens in families all the time it because but because of a lot of time Disfactionalities that stream from your background generational sin as we always gonna say curse, right? No, I didn't say at least it's correct. It's not like right, but it is generational sins and you do have to stop it at some point. Yeah But you have to want to change because some people just automatically fall into it. I've seen where kids say Um, my mom used to always get abused So I'm not going to be like my dad when I get older, but they end up just like him They fall into it fall right into it. Yeah, so I think So here in your victory story, I should say how is it that I'm still trying to go back to that How can that person who is listening who find themselves going into something not meaning to admit up their mind that I'm not going to be like this person but still Seeing traits or not he may not even be noticing that they're going through the traits Oh, it happens, you know and and I you know, I had to I could easily fall into to Getting high and and doing all that but it just it just wasn't for me I I wanted, uh, you know, I remember I was a really good soccer player when I was little played for the east gate Gators was a team and but my dad The night before or the day before picked me up And he was about my mom's and he took me to uh to a new bar and I drove there in seventh grade And and he took me in and made him let me come in and then he tells me to go put money in up there And they kick us out and he goes crazy cops are coming and and but the next day I had a soccer game and he's so hung over that he tells me I have to quit the team when I get there He goes, I'm gonna take you the game, but you got to quit and I go play the game He sleeps the whole time. I ended up scoring like three or four goals had a great game I go to the car. He didn't want to hear how my game was. He says, so did you tell him you quit? And I'm like, no, I didn't tell him I quit Yeah, but but that's I was never I never missed a game of austin's. I never missed a game of my other son I missed some cheerleading stuff with my daughter, but my wife handled that But you know, it's just I think there needs to be a parent in the stands and they need to know You're there to support them If you can if you have to work or something that's another thing because you're supporting them in another way Yeah, but you know, if you're getting messed up and all that other stuff, then you know, you need to check yourself I love that you're telling this story because you have so many kids out here and Sometimes in good situations, but feel like I just have the worst. You know how some kids Oh, this is just worse. My parents is my parents that but not Realizing that there's so many people have it worse Then they do and I'm sure that even in the situations that you were in There are people out there who had it way worse than you did. You know, oh, absolutely So it's it's just I just love to hear people tell their story And that's the one thing that we use this platform for is to educate people Because kids right now and adults all they do is watch youtube people are not watching tv as much as they used to So if we can give them an avenue to Know that they're not only ones going through certain things or maybe Their kids are reacting a certain way and they don't know how to handle it And just by watching this and hearing somebody tell their testimony of how they Handled a certain situation that overcame it that they're able to Implement that into their lives and that's the one reason why we have this platform is to help and educate people Right most definitely my biggest thing is is is my parents love me my grandparents love me I had there was love but they were kids having kids and they were trying to figure it out and they had their their own You know, they wanted to live, you know, and here I am a you know, what are we going to do? I mean So, you know, my mom got married seven times and I guarantee you six of them Were to keep a roof over my head and and try to have some food and try to you know She she did the best she could she did. Yeah, she did things that she probably really regretted But I never missed a meal. Oh, you know and the lots got turned up. How many siblings do you have? I have one that's a Same dad different mom different. Oh, yeah, and we're really so your mom didn't have any more children No, she she lost a few and I mean, but no, I was it I think God gave her all she could handle Exactly. So do you feel like um, you know, um You feel like oh through it all would you what would you change if you could go back? No, I wouldn't change anything. I mean it it made me who I am You know, I mean you you google my name. I'm the godfather of youth basketball in north Texas for for a long time I mean I've helped so many kids on my platform and I would have never done that if Something changed if I'd have been rich or When I was little and had everything I wanted and had a car that I wanted and I mean I would have never done what I did. I'd have been spoiled What's the most touching story you've ever heard from a child that you've helped During all the years. I know that there have probably been a lot. There are a lot the the most touching one that Probably brought you to tears. Um, it's the kid that we took in. I mean, um He was an eighth grader and he was getting in trouble a lot at school and They called his dad and his dad said, you know, I don't I'm 44 years old I don't have time to raise a 14 year old kid call his a u coach So I get a call from the school and I have to drive over there and so I take care of stuff there and then I go to take him home We're getting ready to go to virginia for a tournament and we're knocking the door He can't get in and we can't get closed So after that night and somebody had just got shot over there. It was on fergusson and and um 635 right there on the left. There's no that. Yep. New holland. New. It used to be new Yeah, there's a yeah right there right when you turn the left. It's right there on the left. Yeah, and um, you know His dad wouldn't give him a key to the apartment So there's times he would sit out front of his apartment all night and all he's about to get into is just Bad stuff if he just stay there and so I say, you know what? You're gonna come with me. You're gonna live with me. We went to walmart got him stuff Underwear got him everything he needed for the tournament and came back I enrolled him at south garland where I went to high school He should have went to rock wall, but he wouldn't have fit in there So I put him with my high school coach And you know, he we bought him a car when he became a senior junior and senior year I got him a little car and you know, his whole life changed. Wow, that's great. Yeah So where is he at now? Um has a little kid of his own. He still calls me normally on father's day Swings through and yeah, he's a good dad and because I've always told him and I promise him I said, you know what? I've helped you and if you have a kid and you ain't a good dad and I find out I said I'm gonna beat your ass and I said And if I can't if you get to if I get too old and can't I'm gonna I'll get something I'm gonna get you though. Yeah, you're gonna get it But you know that that's all I care about that's the only thing I want from I'm never asking for no money back I'm never asking for nothing And you know, we were struggling with our own family and money. We I wasn't loaded So he was about the same age as Austin? No, Trent was um He was probably Six seven years older in Austin. Okay. Yeah, and he came To live at which y'all when your sons were my dog. Everybody was younger. He was younger. Yeah So any of your kids felt like You were paying him more attention than they were. Can you know that can also happen? Yeah, our kids that weren't raised like that. They were all good. I mean, we have another kid named Franklin He'll be playing at SMU next year. He's from Nigeria. We brought him we brought him over to Um to play basketball when he's in eighth grade now He is going to he went to Loyola where they made the final four And then he's now going to uh SMU to get and he'll get a double masters And he was an African kid that came over and couldn't speak English But he lives with my daughter and her husband a lot of the time and then stays with us a lot of time I'm so we're we're his family when he's spring break. He's at our place summer. He's at our place I mean But our family's just like that our door's always open and our kids have never resented it or Because we take care of them. I mean, I mean they got noted. They got to take care of people too Yeah, they they love you a lot. No, Austin. He definitely cut for you a lot. He That's what he would say, you know, he's very humbled about the conversation but For us just get into the basketball a little bit So what when you what was the first how old were they when you first start bringing them in to play basketball? and you dealing with them Was a little the youth we start Sorry, but let's go back further to when you used to play basketball because it started from you playing basketball before And as you when did you you said he one of your dads? I'm going to call him that. Yeah, one of your dads He introduced you to basketball. So how old were you when you just started? Well, he's the one who introduced me to just sports sports. Yeah, like soccer I mean basketball box and they put me in golden gloves And I was in second Second grades when we moved from over by white rock lake. We moved over to east gate because of him And how over you when you chose basketball over and everything else to say that this is the sport I wanted to do well in in I started playing football in seventh grade and I was I was really good I was I was a bigger kid like I was bigger than most kids and I was faster than most kids when I was Like I have articles that my 39 points lower my season average of 41 when I was in seventh grade I was I was just so far advanced because of that Guy who coached that little third grade team. He he really taught us how to play and so But once I got I played freshman football, but You know, I wanted to be in the air conditioned gym where people could see All you can see in football is just a number and and so I chose the that and then my freshman year No, my sophomore year our high school team was 28. No number one in the state at south garland. So basketball was the deal at south our football team my senior year was 09 and 1 they tied one game and and I didn't be no part of that Yeah Out there pulling railroad ties and getting at one number guy shifting you to our basketball when you're right Yeah, yeah, so I gave up football after my ninth grade year, but I was always basketball That was just kind of my stage And how far did you go with basketball straight to college or did you do anything after college? No, I just went I just played my freshman year at a school in springfield, Missouri And I broke the three-point record like midway through the season there and your guard a guard shooting guard I read point some too, but I It was a school with no drinking and no dancing and I've been drinking and dancing since like sixth grade And so I broke a few of the rules and Some of the people that we drank with decided that that god told them they need to tell on us and so They sent they sent me home At semester, but they waited till basketball was over Um, but then I came home and I went over to east field for us and go there for a semester And then I met my wife and now we're about to go to florida keys in september for 30 year anniversary Congratulations. Yeah, we're excited. 30 years. That's that's that's dope. Yeah She's she's got a place in heaven already. She don't got to go to church Hey, man, that's it man. Let me ask you so when you when you um, I want to get to the youth I'm headed. Go ahead. Go ahead. I want to see how you started back dealing with the children That's that's something that I want to kind of put a light on coaching. Yeah, well, what happened was is I put together a little team. I went down here to this uh to salvation army, uh-huh, and um There's a guy named carl richardson there and his son one of the sons Played at miami defensive back from carter and he had another son named derrick But I didn't know I didn't know them but I knew carl richson because that coach would bring us over there So the first team I had had a kid him kenyan martin on it out. You might have heard of kenyan And then um, but it was all kids from over here And I mixed them with a few of the garland kids and I took them to an au tournament and We ended up like finishing fourth, but I thought man, this is fun. Like yeah, and so How are they? Um, they were seventh graders. Okay, so what I did is is I said, okay I want to get more involved in this so I went over to the au meeting Excuse me and at the meeting um They said, you know what? We don't have a president for the our association around here So I'm 21 and they said you want to be president of the association and I was blessing And I said, uh, yeah, I would love to be president. I don't know what I'm doing But sure so I ended up being the president of the association And then um, also the uh over boys basketball. So from there, we just started, uh, You know running our teams and So but anyway, it um, that's how it started. Hmm. So As you as you went through it, uh, did any of them make it? It was kenyan martin one that made it, uh, professional or he made it pro I've had, um, roughly I think 11 or 12 guys that's gone to the nba. Yeah, and then I've Had probably another 30 that's gone overseas and played And I probably have had Over 200 or more that go to division one to play college. Yeah, they've come through my program It's called team texas was the name of program. We were sponsored by nike for um, I was sponsored by them for almost 20 years Well, how did you get that sponsorship? Uh, got in george ravelling. He's uh, he was they they call him the godfather of, uh, basketball too, but um, he just He he coached at usc and he they hired him at nike and he came First time I called him to sponsor us. He said well first last I checked. There's not dallas in the hotbed for uh basketball It football is well He said you're gonna be up at purdue bringing your team up there and I said, yeah, we'll be there So I had a group of ninth graders and we shattered the backboard on one in one of the games and when I came home Monday adidas was calling he was calling and then he became a mentor and and I was his guy And I went and watched him get inducted into the basketball hall of fame in boston So I just was blessed to get to know him and and you know, he's I just called him at birth the other day He's probably getting close to 80 or over 80. I mean, he's he's old now. Wow Do you ever feel like you would like to coach maybe nba? Uh, probably not. I mean, there's so many there's just so much politics in that It takes the father weight out. Yeah, and you're dealing with guys who make more money than you do I mean just like what just went down with uh, you know, um The coach carlock getting fired and in donnie nelson I mean, I love lucadontius But but he caused a lot of that because they didn't get along and who you're gonna do keep him or In or you're gonna keep your star and he's so young They said, you know, we need to have a refresher in here and they brought in jason kid and yeah In the guy the guy nico harris that came in he's the gm And he's the one that was over nikey when I was there. So I know him real well Yeah, he's a good guy. What's your favorite team? basketball mass Yeah, I'm a mass fan. You just saying that because you're here in texas. No, he's a male fan Let me ask you this. Are you um Okay with the way basketball is now compared to the way it was because we're a little older So we can you remember when when you had to you back in this jordan days or yeah I'm back in jordan days and and you know, I'm just looking at how our king elijah won or ralph samson those days A person where you didn't larry britt where you didn't you you didn't just jump teams to be on a team Just because you won't try to make a championship run That was a different time. They did it different back then versus the way it is now. How do you feel about that? I'm with you. I mean You got on a team you said on the team if you get touched it wasn't a foul Yeah, you know and you could if you fought you fought. I mean it just it just it was way different now I think we've got a bunch of prima donnas to play And and and that's another reason why I wouldn't want to coach in the NBA. I mean, you know, let me ask you this so um, the uh The fact that um, the question comes who's best uh, michael jordan or lebron james Uh, how do you feel about that question and what's your answer? What would you think? It's not even a question I mean michael jordan. I mean I got pictures on my phone of me I know I've seen the picture, you know, michael jordan is uh, we used to have in mind I think a lot of times controversially Michael jordan far as toward the blacks. He he changed his game I always say that far as now far as a basketball player. He's dope as far as our people After his dad got killed. I think he got became disgruntled with with with his own people I really do and he might have I've seen the change For me, it was like as far as basketball dopest dude. I you know, you see Very hard working because now you can't work him But right when it came down to our people and what he done for the culture and looking back on the people that Look like him. I just didn't feel like he to me I still don't feel like today that he kind of fits that mode. You know what? I mean I think he could do a lot more. He could be more like you. Yeah. Well, thanks. Um You know far as helping people man. Yeah, I love I mean I I'm talking from a basketball Basketball perspective is different. He's a beast. Um LeBron, I mean He's got his own issues, but at the same time what he's done I mean, have you ever heard he cheated on his wife? No, no, have you ever heard that he he opened the element of school? He opened up a school I mean you named something off the court. He's done. Does he that's the two? That's the difference Does he wears shorts saggy all the time and I mean not there's no wrong And he helped all his all his friends they with him He brought them along. Yeah, and they all business Entrepreneurs. Yeah, no, he takes care of he takes care of the people that were around him But but he's just he's been a great role model. You can't go back and say he got caught doing this or picture here He he's in his son's life. He's a great businessman. So I love I love LeBron's game I mean, I think he gets a lot of hate but but he ain't Michael Jordan. I'm sorry I mean, and I think there's probably I don't think he's the second best to ever play I mean, I think there's a Kobe I mean Kobe was a beast. You know, I mean and god rest his soul. Um, that was a bad day That was but but but there's been there's been some other guys that I and I can't name them all But yeah, there's been some other guys that I might put over LeBron, but LeBron just he plays bully ball He's just he was just big and he can beat you up like you was. No. Yeah, but with seven grade They caught up to me. Have you ever seen a child or um With all the kids that you've grown you've raised that um, maybe could potentially be a Michael Jordan No, no, there's only one Jordan. I mean, I've seen some great players and you know And the worst thing that that we can do is label them And and and you know guys go around now when these kids are little and say he's gonna be a pro And so this kid has to wear that on his back forever And and and people start hearing that other father you tell me your kid's gonna be like when Austin was growing up You say hey, my son's gonna be a pro and blah I'll put Austin on your ass and and he'll show you real quick that he ain't gonna be a pro I mean Austin used to everywhere around here. He used to just dust I mean he spoke about that on Austin He said the same things on his show. Yeah Yeah, I mean, I've had dads that kids played at high majors that would come up and say Uh, y'all team ain't gonna be very good much longer because you know y'all because we had we had some 34 white kids that started but they were good and he said because The athleticism is going to take over And I go tell Austin. Hey, man I can he said athleticism in Austin give him 40 and talk to him the whole time and tell him Wow. Yeah. How about that athleticism? How about that? You know how I disappointed was you when when Austin decided, uh, he was done with basketball I mean it it hurt. I mean, you know Austin You know, he had a baby, uh, right at right right, you know, he had a baby on the 11th his birthday was the 10th baby on the 11th Then he left for Ohio State On the 13th. Wow. And he was out of shape. Um, he you know, he never Got to be what he was going to be because He you know, he had he had to deal with trying to Be in a baby's life that's and I've always told him you got if you have a kid You need to be in his life. Well, you can't do that from Columbus, Ohio Like you want to and you got a baby's mom Who's on you saying hey, you don't you care more about basketball than you do our kid blah blah blah And and and you know and and that's just messing with his mind the whole time and he just never Never was what he was supposed to be on the court How did you feel when he came to you and told you that um, he was about to have a baby for the first time Well, I I thought I thought he was being lied to. Um, I didn't believe it. Um, and you know, um He he came and told us after his basketball bang with his senior year He got in all these awards and all that stuff and then we were in I remember we were laying there And he came in and said I need to talk to y'all and he told us and then He played in the Michael Jordan game up in New York at the Barkley center And he showed me some pictures of uh of the baby that she had seen I'm like this shit's starting to get real And so I started googling up fake pictures going dude, she's just messing with you Look, I got a pit look that looked just alike, right? He goes daddy, she ain't messing with me and so we started to try to just figure it out But you know his family I can tell you I can tell you that That was the biggest blessing ever I don't care what Austin gave up or would have been could have been should have been now It is what it is and we got a good-looking six-year-old little kid who Eyes are that big and he loves the world. He loves his daddy and he knows who his daddy is and that that's what it's all about That's why you're more important. Austin loves him dearly. Yep. And you know, but We'll get money. I mean I've been poor. I've been better. I've been bad I mean, we know what it's like we survive and that kid would always have everything he ever needs Whether Austin makes it music or doesn't make it in music and he feels like he's gonna and and you know what Our whole family supports him and in We're gonna give him every opportunity to make it. What about what about Parents I just thought about these parents that He was coaching kids Did any of them ever accuse you of racism or did any of them come at your side ways about the way you dealt with the Children? No, I the the only thing that ever happened was kind of funny Was when kenyan martin was playing for me. Um I we had gone. Oh, I stole him from another team and I went over to pick him up and I think his mama had a few drinks and uh And I knock on the door and she opened the door and she said What's your name? I said coach west and she goes Leroy told me about you said you were slapping the little boys on the bottom And I said what and uh in kenyan's sister was there and she's like mama You know lero is just mad because he's playing on his team. He slapped the little kids at the bottom And I was like that made me feel so awkward, you know, and she he was trying to keep him from going Oh, he didn't want him playing our team. He said yeah, they were practicing over here and he was slapping them on the bottom Like come on, man. So you got to yeah, she got me and then I had one guy one time He said um, he started trying to to bring up the black white and yeah My wife was sitting next to me and I and I messed up. I said man I said you don't know me very well because I'm a I'm a black man. I'm a white man in the black man's body Don't ever do you mean it the other way? I said, yeah, I mean, I'm a I'm a black man in the white man's body So but that's that really never much because I would I mean I could go in south oak cliff and be high school and You know, uh, yeah sock I could I mean I I was just walked right in the everybody come over and treat me just like You know, yeah, and I never had a problem going into that probably because all the things you went through growing up I think God prepared you You know going through all those tough times mom in and out of relationship coming from a dysfunctional family You know, I think that prepares you because you really was explaining What it was to be black when you was young as a white kid because a lot of times I our homes are broken and And impoverished or Hispanic, you know, that that's something that's of the norm You was in the area where I mean come on man. He's gay man. It was bad back then Well, when I grew up there, um Back in the early 80s. No, it was it was considered that one of the it was a nicer like yeah I can tell you in um around about uh 93. Okay. Yeah, that thing wasn't nice. No mom No, no, it got really it got really bad I know because I was over there a lot cutting up But when I lived there it was considered the nicest place I mean the Dallas Cowboys brought their kids over to play on the soccer teams. Yeah, like uh, Tony Hill, I mean, you know, it was the spot and then they had a in the summer They had a bubble they put over the pool was yellow and white indoor swimming I mean, it was it was the grass was cut. It was Nice, then I went over there when I got in high school Like in 86 87 88 No, it was Looked like a war zone. Wow. I told you. Yeah, it went it went it left. It went fast. Yeah, let me let me just say that When you was when you was dealing with the basketball like you was man Um, did you ever have a raw talent to come from just out of the place that you was like, dang Like it seemed like every time you touched the ball. It was just it was meant like yeah any kid like that Well, because I know you're a coach you had to train a lot of times But was there any freak of nature that naturally had it? Yeah. Yeah, that's what I'm asking Well, I mean, I had I had several Brian Hopkins. He went to to Dallas Lincoln. He he was Just a freak. You could tell in seventh grade He was he was getting up on the rim and and he was on that team that shattered that bad boy that time And then when they got to be seniors, we had bracey ride on the team him And we won every tournament across the country and we play I mean we go You had every Nike sponsor team there and it was the best of the best Carmela Anthony was there All those and we won every tournament. We were we were the number one team in the country And Brian Hopkins was around 2000. Yep. 2000 And we only had seven eight kids, but they could just get you. I mean they were just tough We're no we're no getting out of no they get after you and we had a great coach They ran a lot of stuff and just you know, he took a And then Daryl Arthur, he played at South Oak cliff. He came up to us and he was really really Raw when he started Lamarcus Aldridge, who's played forever. He was real raw. It's like a six He was skinny about that that then And um, you know, he ended up playing in the league for almost 1415 years For Portland and the Spurs. That's that's dope, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, they have a they have a call back You know, I thought he would and he didn't he promised me he would before he left But when he signed that big check he he forgot coach west, you know number changed That happens. I've been through that But you know, I never I I probably couldn't be more aggressive to call back and say, hey, we need help. We need but I'm just like man. That's those guys money. Take care of your family You know, give me. Yeah, just give me the money for the hamburgers. I bought what color they gotta be from here Yeah, if it ain't from here, I don't want it. No, you can keep it because it don't it don't seem genuine Like you shouldn't have to ask they should want to give back not at all I mean when Lamarcus played for me, I'd take him home And he lived in a mobile home over here in Siegelville. Wow and to go into his house He would have to duck his head to get in because he was so tall But I would I hired him to do what we hired Adults to do but I was paying him $20 an hour and he would work all weekend All he had to do is pass out score sheets make sure no fights broke out and to just handle stuff there And I mean he was making almost more than his mom was making in a week Working for me. There was old alfamathis and called probably over there. I know what it was probably had to And then I you know, I I took I took him to the Jordan camp And there he got to play against Jordan and Pippin and Santa Barbara And then he ended up being a Jordan brand player. I mean the the doors I helped open for him Were unbelievable in no phone call and like, you know, my son Alec used to play one-on-one imaginary against Lamarcus and the limerick Molot I mean, they just love this this kid and just never got Any kind of call I think you know, I think about God and I think about I'm a Bible guy Uh one leper out of 10 look back man, and he was a Samaritan Like sometimes it's it's funny how people they don't acknowledge the things that they get blessed with so you just got to be you got to be You know, it just got to be consistently from your heart doing it from your heart And then you can't worry about it's kind of like these clothes are buying the store You know, like I buy it from my heart and I don't care if nobody bought it I own it and I'm gonna take the chance for me. Sure. And I feel good about it I can sleep at night knowing that I made the right decision when I purchased whatever I purchased That's right And I guess that's why we've been here 15 years. You know what I mean be here 15 more exactly just doing the right thing Just they'll be here another 15 So have there been a kid that You started training you started helping but then for some reason they had to quit or you saw them going the wrong way You couldn't help that child. Wow. That's a good question. Yeah, I mean we we had a lost one. Yeah, like you lost one. Well I lost him, but then he came back Not to me, but to somebody else which was my whole point is you know, we had a kid that Just kind of was a just a wild Stallion type kid very talented. He's still playing he played he's played at Texas Tech He'll probably play pro But you know, we're out of town on a tournament and when we're out of town we go to we go to win and we We go to bed at a certain time. We do things right And I'm now I don't mean I do the kids do we're dad We stay in the lobby the coaches and we might have some beers and just talk about the games that day whatever Well, it's like 2 33 in the morning. I look up and he's walking in his flip-flops down the lobby say, hey, man What you doing? I said getting me something to eat. I said We got to play in the morning like at 10 o'clock. What do you mean getting something to eat? I'm getting something to eat. Well, you know, just like that So I let him get something to eat and then as soon as we got home I cut him and his mom was calling saying Please don't do this. I said, you know what this is going to help him by me cutting him Yeah, and him knowing that there's consequences when you don't do what's right And that kid ended up going to another team and we had a plane and we beat him the first time but the second time And he told us about it and but the the whole time I'm thinking myself You know what? He would never be doing that if I didn't do what I did And then he ended up going to texas tech. He ended up going to the final four. I mean he's Starts for him. He's gonna go pro and and I wonder if he realizes that That's what caused it. Can you know some people say oh, it was all me. It was all me He probably don't but I do. I know that I helped that kid He'd never been cutting his life. What's his name? Like I got a brain fart I can't believe that I was gonna shout him out. Yeah, he's uh, I'll think of it here in a minute. Okay I just like I said the thing I Look at man is oh kyler kyler's his name kyler. Yeah, okay, and he's still a kid. So the thing is that he's a young man No, yeah, but his dad played for the Dallas Cowboys Yeah, from there. Yeah, he comes. I mean Kyler Kyler comes from a great family great family But he just he had always been the best and he'd always been He felt like he'd do what he wanted to yeah, he did but his mom and dad didn't play that you know and and they cared but um, he He just kind of tested it and to see if he can get in and Kyler Edwards. There you go. Kyler Kyler was the reason why I say kids because even Us in our lives a lot of times when we go through things in our younger life We don't realize the reason why we had to go through things to be where we are today and looking back at it Realize that oh if it wasn't for that person doing this I wouldn't be here. You'll get it at some point. Hopefully But it's usually when we're older and sometimes it's after we have kids and we see certain things because sometimes before kids You don't see a lot of things, but after kids you're like Oh, okay Yeah, it wasn't as easy as I thought it was. Yeah, but like I said, he he starts for tech He's a he's a good citizen. He plays hard and and that's not For me that's from him having great parents, but But he was traveling by himself. Maybe you know and had a room with another guy And and that's what bothered me more anything is he's up. Well, if he's up, guess who else is up Yeah, well when they had I think three or three in the rooms what we did So I got two other players who are probably starters who are up and we're trying to win a tournament And you know, that's what I care about is it's exposure for these kids and and they're trying to get college scholarships You might get yours, but what about the other guys and you know, we got a that's a good way to look at it But it's also about discipline, you know, that's what the hundred situations about And you learn a lot of discipline through people like yourself coach west You know giving these guys pointers on what you can and can't do when they may not even have that structure Even though he did some of the kids didn't and that's where you get that support But like coach, we were talking about earlier That not all coaches Know how to coach themselves some coaches actually been like professional basketball players or Professional athletes and turn around and use their names to be a coach just to feel like okay I was really good but So I now can teach you and I can charge you a lot of money for you to send your kids to me for me to teach them How to be a professional But you have to have more than just that talent to learn how to relay Certain things to people and have them get it Sure and respect it. Yeah, man. God is good man And that's the reason for the season, you know, I think everything's written anyway I really think you just stepping in in purpose, you know Thank you so much, man. Yeah, we appreciate you man, you know, like I said, thanks for all you do for the kids That's important. That's one of the core things. So If a kid wanted to get a hold to you and he wanted to play basketball, how would he do that? He could just reach out. Um, my number is 214 497 5680. I'm not doing a lot with it right now Yeah, but just a kid that need help. I know you're still in the helping game That's right 100 so you don't know where he can go and how he can get that help that he needs to give you my number That's correct. I got him. That'll be on that'll be on the show, man And you know a lot of these kids are on social media too. So on social media where they can find you on facebook We found him. Yeah And then I'm a I'm a nike team texas on uh, our team texas nike on uh, twitter on twitter. Okay Hey, do you go to it a lot a little bit? You know Instagram is yeah, me him get both got banned at the same time And then instagram seems to be the place But they gonna leave because y'all the kids gonna leave because y'all gonna run them off They'll be on tiktok or anywhere not to be dealing with us snap chat Or they're running She goes to tiktok because all the grown folks don't hard to be on tiktok. Yeah, what you're hiding for, right? That's austin. He's same way. Yeah, man. Austin dope, man. I I definitely Loved his his energy and his music. I listen to it. He's good. Yeah. So yeah, yeah So I gotta ask you this question Top three artists of all time. Yes, I am that are alive any genre. What is your top three artists top three artists? I don't care who it is You're not gonna like All right, elton john elton john I like elton journey journey like journey or your speed wagon rl speed way Listen to it after a few drinks Yeah, I wasn't going to do you like that, but we do ask all our guests like the top three artists of all time I like Rl speed wagon is off the chain. So he said Okay, what was number one? Okay, hold on Elton john journey journey and then see rl rl speed Yeah Hey, I just got tickets today to Elton john's final tour next september not this one. Wow next september. He's getting old now at glow glow life How does he know? I don't even know On sale for his final tours and it's called the yellow brick. Uh, he sings this song Yellow big row, but it's uh, yeah, I got him today My wife says told him she didn't care how much they cost. She wanted me to go because I really like Those weren't that bad. I mean, but she told him to spin up to a thousand Okay, and and and we don't got it like that, but she Our anniversary's in september. So she's just trying to be cool. And so they're like 300 apiece and that's it final Oh, that's not bad And it was good tickets. I mean good. Yeah, because we went to the ranger game And we had really good seats were out behind the plate and they said these are better than that So we'll see but um, I'm excited. I looked up the the fight the other day Um, erosia is $8,000 and it was like, yeah for for the floors. Oh, that's stupid In in in u.s.c. I love u.s.c. That's like my favorite thing. But yeah, this was the same way Yeah, just crazy prices. I was like two fours ago. How do you eat when you get there? You can't you can't eat? Don't don't take nobody. Well, I thank you for coming on the show man. And um, hey man, uh West coach west grand staff. Did they call you west? Coach west that coach west all right coach west Okay, definitely same man. Thank you for coming on boss talk 101 man. Yeah, thanks for having me Yeah, amen. This has been another great segment of boss talk 101 and we out You