Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson told the youngsters attending a basketball camp at LeFlore High School on Saturday that "what DeMarcus Cousins is doing for you is not happening anywhere else in the United States."

 

Stimpson was referring to the opportunity afforded the kids attending the Boogie Cousins Elite Skills Basketball Camp, which was free to the youngsters, featured professional instructors and gave the children an opportunity to interact with Cousins, who has gone from the hardwood at LeFlore to become a two-time NBA All-Star with the Sacramento Kings and earlier this month played for the U.S. team that won the men's basketball gold medal at the Rio Olympics.

 

But there was another aspect of the camp that probably was unique, too. After the basketball clinic, a question-and-answer session with Cousins, a one-on-one game between Cousins and Ashton Jordan (a camper less than half Cousins' size), the presentation of a gift bag to each camper and a doughnut snack, the youngsters attended a panel discussion on repairing and improving the relationship between police and the community.

 

"Break the Silence, Build the Trust: A Conversation on Police and Community Relationships" was held in the LeFlore High School auditorium.

 

The panel included Cousins, Lawrence Battiste, the assistant chief of the Mobile Police Department; Chis Napier, author and community activist; Hakeem Sylver, director of security for the Sacramento Kings; and Ricardo Woods, attorney for the city of Mobile. Dr. Carl Cunningham Jr. served as the moderator.

 

 

DeMarcus Cousins combines basketball camp, community advocacy | AL.com

Boogie is Good People!

A few thoughts:

 

1) I have shared elsewhere that I'm not a fan of Colin Kaepernick's kneeling during the National Anthem, solely on the basis that I view the anthem as a time to honor those who have sacrificed for our freedom. As others have pointed out, he most certainly is free to kneel. As I have pointed out, his freedom to kneel is the best reason not to do it.

 

2) In light of the CK discussion, some have asked what could be done to help with this racial tension that is plaguing our country (and it is plaguing us). I don't always know what some of those answers are, but I heard the KSR guys talking about what DeMarcus Cousins is doing in his home state of Alabama, so I dug up this article and I like what I've read. The emphasis on communication is the key ingredient, IMO.

 

3) Cousins is often viewed in a less-than-positive light by many folks, and I can certainly understand the feelings. I'm guessing if I wasn't a UK basketball fan, I wouldn't care for him at all. But I'm proud of him for trying to do something to right some obvious wrongs in America. I believe what he's trying to do is much more effective & substantial than what Colin Kaepernick is doing.

 

 

Just my thoughts.

There's no ONE thing that is the silver bullet to fix the issues.

 

CK getting people to talk and Boogie doing this are good starts.

THIS! This is what I want to see happen! Be the role model that you are perceived to be and give back to the black communities.

 

Invest some of that hard earned money in the black communities instead of buying those Rolex watches and custom suits!

Great idea by Boogie here. Well done.