I want all of you to hear the story of two brothers that are fighting for Prize Fight Boxing now. Both were Golden Gloves champions and are undefeated so far in their careers. Lamont is now 8-0, Anthony is 6-0. Truly a great sports story...
Gary wrote an article last year about both of them before the boxing trials in Tunica... where they made the finals but fell short in making the Olympic team.
Here is the article...
STREETS TO RING - BROTHERS OVERCOME HOMELESS CHILDHOOD, SWING FOR OLYMPICS Gary Parrish
parrish@commercialappeal.com
There were mice everywhere. A few inches of waste from a backed-up toilet filled the floor. The smell was unbearable. And yet given the options, it was the best place Lamont and Anthony Peterson could find to sleep.
So the two homeless brothers - unsupervised and both under the age of 10 - broke into the basement, curled up in a corner and prayed for better days.
''I remember it was so dark, and our clothes were mildewed and we were freezing,'' recalled Lamont, unfazed by the horror of the situation. ''But that's how we lived. That's all we knew.''
The Summer Olympics are full of stories of triumph, every four years consumed by tales of people beating the odds to represent their country on the grandest of stages.
Then there's the story of of Lamont and Anthony Peterson - two boxers from Washington, D.C., who will compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials next month in Tunica - who beat the odds just to get a meal, to sleep under a roof, to not be locked up, to still be alive.
What sounds like a bad movie to most was reality to the Peterson brothers.
Dad in jail. Mom in no shape to care for anybody. Ten siblings. Big cold city. No home. No money. And on most nights, no shelter.
Christmas presents? The Peterson brothers couldn't comprehend the idea. And if you haven't quite grasped how bad things were yet, here's one more bit of information.
''I was in a crackhouse at the age of 7,'' said Anthony, now 18 and the winner of the 2003 National Golden Gloves at 132 pounds. ''They were teaching me how to cut it up, break it down and sell it so that in a couple of years I could be on the streets doing my thing.
''That's probably how we would've ended up if not for Barry.''
Barry is Barry Hunter, boxing coach/lifesaver, who met the Peterson brothers when Lamont was 10 and Anthony 8.
By this time, the Peterson's father was out of jail, and so the brothers were living with him. Still, supervision was nonexistent, meals irregular.
''When I first met them, I didn't know how bad it was,'' Hunter acknowledged. ''But then after I started picking them up and taking them to the gym for a while, the truth finally came out
''I immediately felt a bond with these kids,'' he added. ''These boys were not like athletes to me. They were like my sons. Even today, I don't treat them any differently than I treat my own kids.''
In a few weeks the Peterson brothers will set up shop in Tunica, both with legitimate opportunities to land a spot on the U.S. Team and travel to Athens this summer.
After that, professional careers are in the plans, meaning neither will ever have to sleep in a bus station again or wash windows at an intersection just to make enough cash for a sandwich.
More important than all that, however, Lamont and Anthony Peterson's emergence to greatness will represent hope to others. Because, after all, there are still a lot of kids just like them running the same streets they used to run, many presumably on the verge of becoming nothing more than another statistic.
''We just want to show kids that there is a way out,'' said Lamont, who turned 20 Saturday and qualified for the Olympic Trials by winning the U.S. Challenge last year at 141 pounds. ''We want kids to know that you don't have to turn to the streets. There are other things, even if it doesn't look like it.
''No matter what you want to do, go do it,'' he added. ''Just find a dream and go with it.''
Tune in.
Verno
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Monday, April 11, 2005
jason williams
as you know, on the show I said that I was told that the Grizzlies were going to suspend Jason Williams. It turns out that they are in fact not starting him, and they are taking it out of his wallet with a fine, but no suspension.
This is what they did with jwill last year if you recall.
Verno
This is what they did with jwill last year if you recall.
Verno
Ed Schilling leaving Memphis
here is the release
SCHILLING LEAVING HIS POST ON MEMPHIS BASKETBALL STAFF; MOVING INTO BASKETBALL MINISTRIES POSITION
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis men’s basketball head coach John Calipari announded Monday that assistant coach Ed Schilling will be leaving the Tiger coaching staff effective the middle of April to pursue a life-long dream of combining his faith and basketball. Included in the ministry opportunities is the launch of Champions Training Academies worldwide.
"First of all, I want to thank Coach Cal and the Memphis basketball family for all that they have done for me and my family these last two years. I will be forever grateful to Coach Cal for the opportunity that he gave me here in Memphis and the loyal friend that he has been to me over the years," Schilling said.
"It is hard leaving the program knowing the positive direction in which it is heading, and the tremendous success that is coming with the returning and incoming players. At the same time, I’m really excited about the opportunity that is in front of me to work with and develop players and coaches throughout the world via the training academy and the coach’s ministry duties."
The first academy is set to be launched in Indianapolis, Ind., in 2006. "I’m excited to be going home and to work with the key sports and business leaders of Indiana to establish a world-class basketball training center in the heart of basketball country. In light of everything that has gone on the last three years with the state of basketball in the U.S., I feel that this might be the greatest way I can serve the basketball community, the coaches, and the next generation of players. I truly believe that these academies are going to have an impact on the success of basketball not only in this country, but around the world," Schilling commented.
"I’m also excited about having more time to work directly with coaches through the Nation of Coaches ministry that has been established with the NABC. With all the experiences my family and I have been through at every level of coaching, I feel like I can be a great resource and support to coaches."
Schilling grew up in Lebanon, Ind., where he was the first player to ever participate in a national postseason high school all-star game without averaging over 10 points per game. As a collegian, he was a four-year starting point guard at Miami (Ohio), helping lead the school to a pair of NCAA Tournaments.
After graduating from Miami in 1988, he was named the head coach at Western Boone High School, leading the Stars to the most wins in school history in the 1990-91 campaign. From there, he went to Logansport (Ind.) High School. In arguably the most competitive prep conference in the nation, Logansport’s basketball program improved each of Schillling’s four seasons, winning back-to-back sectional championships while compiling the most wins in more than 20 years.
He then went to the University of Massachusetts, helping Coach Calipari’s 1995-96 Minuteman squad post a 35-2 record and reach the NCAA Final Four. When Calipari was named the coach of the New Jersey Nets later that year, Schilling joined him as an assistant coach. Schilling’s meteoric rise in the coaching profession was chronicled in Sports Illustrated as he became the only coach ever to advance from high school to the Final Four and finally to the bench of an NBA team in a period of 310 days.
After his time with the Nets, Schilling returned to collegiate coaching as the head coach at Wright State University in 1997. At the time, he was the second youngest Division I head coach in the nation.
Schilling coached six seasons at Wright State, posting a 17-11 mark in
2002 and an 18-11 record in 2001. For his efforts in 2001, he was named the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) Coach of the Year by Collegeinsider.com.
Following his stint at Wright State, Schilling joined Calipari’s staff at Memphis. In his two seasons on Calipari’s staff, Schilling helped lead the Tigers to consecutive 20-win seasons and back-to-back postseason tournament appearances. Memphis won a share of the 2004 Conference USA regular season title and advanced to the 2005 C-USA Tournament title game.
"This is an incredible opportunity for Ed, although I don’t want to see him leave," Calipari said. "Ed is passionate about his faith and the game of basketball, and this will allow him to combine both of those desires.
"Ed was a tremendous addition to our staff, and he played an integral role in the program’s success the past two years. He is an excellent coach, but more importantly, he has been and will continue to be a dear friend. We will miss him here in Memphis, and we wish Ed all of our best in his new endeavor."
Schilling was inducted into the Five-Star Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and is the co-author of two books—Guard Play, which was co-authored with Steve Alford, and Five Star Basketball, which was written with Howard Garfinkel. He also has four basketball instructional videos.
Schilling and his wife, Shawn, also an Indiana native, and their three children—Ana, 10, Eddie, 4, and Natalie, 2—will make their home in Indianapolis.
SCHILLING LEAVING HIS POST ON MEMPHIS BASKETBALL STAFF; MOVING INTO BASKETBALL MINISTRIES POSITION
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis men’s basketball head coach John Calipari announded Monday that assistant coach Ed Schilling will be leaving the Tiger coaching staff effective the middle of April to pursue a life-long dream of combining his faith and basketball. Included in the ministry opportunities is the launch of Champions Training Academies worldwide.
"First of all, I want to thank Coach Cal and the Memphis basketball family for all that they have done for me and my family these last two years. I will be forever grateful to Coach Cal for the opportunity that he gave me here in Memphis and the loyal friend that he has been to me over the years," Schilling said.
"It is hard leaving the program knowing the positive direction in which it is heading, and the tremendous success that is coming with the returning and incoming players. At the same time, I’m really excited about the opportunity that is in front of me to work with and develop players and coaches throughout the world via the training academy and the coach’s ministry duties."
The first academy is set to be launched in Indianapolis, Ind., in 2006. "I’m excited to be going home and to work with the key sports and business leaders of Indiana to establish a world-class basketball training center in the heart of basketball country. In light of everything that has gone on the last three years with the state of basketball in the U.S., I feel that this might be the greatest way I can serve the basketball community, the coaches, and the next generation of players. I truly believe that these academies are going to have an impact on the success of basketball not only in this country, but around the world," Schilling commented.
"I’m also excited about having more time to work directly with coaches through the Nation of Coaches ministry that has been established with the NABC. With all the experiences my family and I have been through at every level of coaching, I feel like I can be a great resource and support to coaches."
Schilling grew up in Lebanon, Ind., where he was the first player to ever participate in a national postseason high school all-star game without averaging over 10 points per game. As a collegian, he was a four-year starting point guard at Miami (Ohio), helping lead the school to a pair of NCAA Tournaments.
After graduating from Miami in 1988, he was named the head coach at Western Boone High School, leading the Stars to the most wins in school history in the 1990-91 campaign. From there, he went to Logansport (Ind.) High School. In arguably the most competitive prep conference in the nation, Logansport’s basketball program improved each of Schillling’s four seasons, winning back-to-back sectional championships while compiling the most wins in more than 20 years.
He then went to the University of Massachusetts, helping Coach Calipari’s 1995-96 Minuteman squad post a 35-2 record and reach the NCAA Final Four. When Calipari was named the coach of the New Jersey Nets later that year, Schilling joined him as an assistant coach. Schilling’s meteoric rise in the coaching profession was chronicled in Sports Illustrated as he became the only coach ever to advance from high school to the Final Four and finally to the bench of an NBA team in a period of 310 days.
After his time with the Nets, Schilling returned to collegiate coaching as the head coach at Wright State University in 1997. At the time, he was the second youngest Division I head coach in the nation.
Schilling coached six seasons at Wright State, posting a 17-11 mark in
2002 and an 18-11 record in 2001. For his efforts in 2001, he was named the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) Coach of the Year by Collegeinsider.com.
Following his stint at Wright State, Schilling joined Calipari’s staff at Memphis. In his two seasons on Calipari’s staff, Schilling helped lead the Tigers to consecutive 20-win seasons and back-to-back postseason tournament appearances. Memphis won a share of the 2004 Conference USA regular season title and advanced to the 2005 C-USA Tournament title game.
"This is an incredible opportunity for Ed, although I don’t want to see him leave," Calipari said. "Ed is passionate about his faith and the game of basketball, and this will allow him to combine both of those desires.
"Ed was a tremendous addition to our staff, and he played an integral role in the program’s success the past two years. He is an excellent coach, but more importantly, he has been and will continue to be a dear friend. We will miss him here in Memphis, and we wish Ed all of our best in his new endeavor."
Schilling was inducted into the Five-Star Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and is the co-author of two books—Guard Play, which was co-authored with Steve Alford, and Five Star Basketball, which was written with Howard Garfinkel. He also has four basketball instructional videos.
Schilling and his wife, Shawn, also an Indiana native, and their three children—Ana, 10, Eddie, 4, and Natalie, 2—will make their home in Indianapolis.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Tarver/ Johnson 2
It looks like the second Antonio Tarver/ Glen Johnson fight is coming to Memphis June 18th. More on this tommorow (Thursday). Just so ya know.
Verno
Verno
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Memphis Spring Game Blue/ Gray Game
Here is the release summing it up
Due to construction at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the University of Memphis Tiger football team held its annual Blue-Gray Scrimmage at Rhodes College for the second consecutive year. An estimated crowd in excess of 4,000 attended the event, which was sponsored by Mutual of Omaha.
The Tigers received strong offensive performances from junior quarterback Patrick Byrne and senior wide receiver Mario Pratcher, who shared the Paul Gingold/SAE Blue-Gray MVP Award for 2005. Byrne completed 12-of-17 pass attempts for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while Pratcher caught five passes for 155 yards and two scores. A graduate of Trezevant High in Memphis, Pratcher also received one of the Chris Faros Most Improved Player Awards during pregame ceremonies.
Byrne, who has lettered for two seasons as the Tigers' kickoff specialist, received his second spring MVP award during Saturday's event. He won his first Blue-Gray MVP Award in the spring of 2003, when he threw for 129 yards and three touchdowns during the spring game competition at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Freshman quarterback Billy Barefield led all rushers with 55 yards on seven carries, while tailback Jamarcus Gaither gained 44 yards on 12 attempts and Joseph Doss, who received one of the True Tigers Awards for the spring, gained 31 yards on four rushes. Senior receiver Maurice Avery tallied one rushing touchdown on the afternoon.
Defensively, safety Jake Kasser led all tacklers with seven stops. End Rubio Phillips, linebackers Tim Goodwell and Quinton McCrary and defensive back Sam Brewer were credited with five tackles each. Sophomore defensive tackle Brandon Farrar had a fumble recovery and Keith Collins grabbed a pass interception when he snared a tipped Will Hudgens pass.
Numerous awards were handed out during pregame ceremonies at Rhodes. The 2005 Chris Faros Most Improved Player Awards went to Mario Pratcher for offense and Rubio Phillips and Rod Smith for defense. The Glenn Jones Award was given to tailback DeAngelo Williams and defensive end Marcus West. Brandon Patterson, a safety from Germantown High School, was awarded the Rex Dockery Memorial Scholarship and freshman defensive lineman Ryan Williams was presented the Ralph Hatley Scholarship. Williams prepped at CBHS in Memphis. The True Tiger Award, which is selected by the Memphis coaching staff, went to Joseph Doss and safety Wesley Smith.
Key Statistics
Passing
Patrick Byrne – 12 of 17 for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns
Will Hudgens – 4 of 9 for 23 yards and 1 interception
Billy Barefield – 6 of 8 for 26 yards
Maurice Avery – 1 for 1 for 65 yards and one touchdown
Mario Pratcher – 1 of 1 for (-5) yards
Receiving (Catches-Yds.-TD)
Mario Pratcher – 5-155-2
Ryan Scott – 4-71-1
Carlton Robinzine – 6-40-0
Maurice Avery – 2-15-0
Brett Russell – 1-9-0
Earnest Williams – 1-8-0
Antonio McCoy – 2-7-0
Joseph Doss – 1-(-3)-0
Rushing (Carries-Yds-TD)
Billy Barefield – 7-55-0
JaMarcus Gaither – 12-44-0
Joseph Doss – 4-31-0
Brian Davis – 10-15-1
Maurice Avery – 4-4-1
Patrick Byrne – 3-4-0
Brandon Feagans – 1-3-0
Earnest Williams – 1-2-0
Antonio McCoy – 1-2-0
Will Hudgens – 1-(-1)-0
Defensive Highlights
Brandon Farrar – 1 fumble recovery
Keith Collins – 1 interception
Jake Kasser – 7 tackles
Quinton McCrary – 5 tackles
Sam Brewer - 5 tackles
Brandon Patterson - 5 tackles
Rubio Phillips - 5 tackles
Tim Goodwell - 5 tackles
Olen Whitely – 4 tackles
Josh Fletcher - 4 tackles
Tyus Jackson - 4 tackles
Dustin Lopez - 4 tackles
Special Teams
Field Goal - Trey Adams – 36 yards
Punting – Michael Gibson – 2-35.5
Scoring Plays
Trey Adams, 36 yard FG
Brian Davis, 1 yard run; PAT good by Trey Adams
Maurice Avery pass to Mario Pratcher 65 yards; PAT good by Kittrell Smith
Patrick Byrne pass to Mario Pratcher 36 yards; PAT good by Kittrell Smith
Patrick Byrne pass to Ryan Scott 43 yards
Maurice Avery, 3 yard run
Due to construction at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the University of Memphis Tiger football team held its annual Blue-Gray Scrimmage at Rhodes College for the second consecutive year. An estimated crowd in excess of 4,000 attended the event, which was sponsored by Mutual of Omaha.
The Tigers received strong offensive performances from junior quarterback Patrick Byrne and senior wide receiver Mario Pratcher, who shared the Paul Gingold/SAE Blue-Gray MVP Award for 2005. Byrne completed 12-of-17 pass attempts for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while Pratcher caught five passes for 155 yards and two scores. A graduate of Trezevant High in Memphis, Pratcher also received one of the Chris Faros Most Improved Player Awards during pregame ceremonies.
Byrne, who has lettered for two seasons as the Tigers' kickoff specialist, received his second spring MVP award during Saturday's event. He won his first Blue-Gray MVP Award in the spring of 2003, when he threw for 129 yards and three touchdowns during the spring game competition at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Freshman quarterback Billy Barefield led all rushers with 55 yards on seven carries, while tailback Jamarcus Gaither gained 44 yards on 12 attempts and Joseph Doss, who received one of the True Tigers Awards for the spring, gained 31 yards on four rushes. Senior receiver Maurice Avery tallied one rushing touchdown on the afternoon.
Defensively, safety Jake Kasser led all tacklers with seven stops. End Rubio Phillips, linebackers Tim Goodwell and Quinton McCrary and defensive back Sam Brewer were credited with five tackles each. Sophomore defensive tackle Brandon Farrar had a fumble recovery and Keith Collins grabbed a pass interception when he snared a tipped Will Hudgens pass.
Numerous awards were handed out during pregame ceremonies at Rhodes. The 2005 Chris Faros Most Improved Player Awards went to Mario Pratcher for offense and Rubio Phillips and Rod Smith for defense. The Glenn Jones Award was given to tailback DeAngelo Williams and defensive end Marcus West. Brandon Patterson, a safety from Germantown High School, was awarded the Rex Dockery Memorial Scholarship and freshman defensive lineman Ryan Williams was presented the Ralph Hatley Scholarship. Williams prepped at CBHS in Memphis. The True Tiger Award, which is selected by the Memphis coaching staff, went to Joseph Doss and safety Wesley Smith.
Key Statistics
Passing
Patrick Byrne – 12 of 17 for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns
Will Hudgens – 4 of 9 for 23 yards and 1 interception
Billy Barefield – 6 of 8 for 26 yards
Maurice Avery – 1 for 1 for 65 yards and one touchdown
Mario Pratcher – 1 of 1 for (-5) yards
Receiving (Catches-Yds.-TD)
Mario Pratcher – 5-155-2
Ryan Scott – 4-71-1
Carlton Robinzine – 6-40-0
Maurice Avery – 2-15-0
Brett Russell – 1-9-0
Earnest Williams – 1-8-0
Antonio McCoy – 2-7-0
Joseph Doss – 1-(-3)-0
Rushing (Carries-Yds-TD)
Billy Barefield – 7-55-0
JaMarcus Gaither – 12-44-0
Joseph Doss – 4-31-0
Brian Davis – 10-15-1
Maurice Avery – 4-4-1
Patrick Byrne – 3-4-0
Brandon Feagans – 1-3-0
Earnest Williams – 1-2-0
Antonio McCoy – 1-2-0
Will Hudgens – 1-(-1)-0
Defensive Highlights
Brandon Farrar – 1 fumble recovery
Keith Collins – 1 interception
Jake Kasser – 7 tackles
Quinton McCrary – 5 tackles
Sam Brewer - 5 tackles
Brandon Patterson - 5 tackles
Rubio Phillips - 5 tackles
Tim Goodwell - 5 tackles
Olen Whitely – 4 tackles
Josh Fletcher - 4 tackles
Tyus Jackson - 4 tackles
Dustin Lopez - 4 tackles
Special Teams
Field Goal - Trey Adams – 36 yards
Punting – Michael Gibson – 2-35.5
Scoring Plays
Trey Adams, 36 yard FG
Brian Davis, 1 yard run; PAT good by Trey Adams
Maurice Avery pass to Mario Pratcher 65 yards; PAT good by Kittrell Smith
Patrick Byrne pass to Mario Pratcher 36 yards; PAT good by Kittrell Smith
Patrick Byrne pass to Ryan Scott 43 yards
Maurice Avery, 3 yard run
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