Blog - Part 24

“Goody’s” Volunteers Make MVP Baseball A Success

I first met Greg “Goody” Goodwin in the late 1980s. He was sitting in a jury box in a Dekalb County, Georgia courtroom. He had been summoned to jury duty. It’s safe to say there were no volunteers in that jury box.

I was a young personal injury lawyer and had been pulled into a felony murder trial by a maintenance worker in the office tower where my law office was located. My specialty was negotiating “road wreck” cases and not maneuvering my clients away from a murder conviction under a “party to a crime” prosecution. read more

Landscaper Lands Baseball Contract With Texas Rangers At MVP Tourney

It was the third and final day of the MVP Baseball Tournament at Georgia State University Baseball Stadium. Brandon Baker, working as a landscaper for the premiere showcase for Black high school baseball players in North Georgia, had no idea that fate would call his number before the tournament ended. read more

MVP Baseball Tourney Brings Out Pro Scouts

It started out 16 years ago as a national Black World Series for high school baseball players. A national promoter thought Atlanta was the perfect place to host such an event. The first year was a big success.

Two young men from that showcase, Jason Heywood and Jeremy Beckham were signed to professional contracts. Heywood signed with the Atlanta Braves. While Beckham signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. read more

HBCU Baseball Coaches Flock To MVP Tourney

Now that college baseball has crowned champions in all divisions of play, college coaches are roaming the countryside. They are in search of the next crop of baseball talent that can place their baseball programs on the map or to keep them on their winning paths.

Each July, Mentoring Viable Prospects (MVP) host a premiere showcase of Black baseball talent. Teams come from across the United States to display their talent to college coaches and professional scouts. read more

Braves First 44 Classic Brings Out Top Black Talent

When the Atlanta Braves hosted the Baltimore Orioles today during a week long tribute to Henry Aaron, presented by Delta Airlines, they placed a team on the field with only one Black American on their 25 man roster.He is left-handed pitcher Sam Freeman.

Freeman was born in Houston, Texas in 1987.

Contrast this with the Braves in 1974, the year that Henry Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s career home run record by blasting his 715th homer early in that season. The Braves had a total of 7 Blacks on its 25 man roster. read more

Wilbert Ellis: The Embodiment of the Spirit of Grambling

I met former Grambling baseball coach Wilbert Ellis at a baseball game in New Orleans, Louisiana, sitting in the bleachers of Wesley Barrow Stadium . He was surrounded by a faithful entourage; holding court on the nature of the competition in the Southwestern Athletic Conference 2018 Baseball Championship. read more

Jackson State Wins-Ala State, Prairie View Suspended Due to Rain

In an exciting day of baseball at the 2018 SWAC Baseball Tournament, Jackson State (34-17), the top nationally ranked team in the tournament defeated Alcorn State (13-39) 4-3.

Alcorn did not play like a team with only 12 wins coming into the tournament.

The Braves of Alcorn got on the board in the top of the first and led throughout the fifth inning on the strength of freshman hurler George Osborne,III. He was penciled into the lineup after the scheduled starter was unable to pitch due to a leg injury. read more

Alcorn, Prairie View, Texas Southern and Grambling Advances In SWAC Baseball Play

Alcorn State University (21-24) won an exciting one run game against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (21-24), 14-13 in SWAC Baseball Championship action on day two of the conference tournament.

It was a tight ball game, but Alcorn behind a 14 hit attack led most of the game.

In the eighth inning, Pine Bluff pulled even with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. read more

Top Seeds Advance In 2018 SWAC Baseball Tournament

The top seeds in the 2018 SWAC Baseball Tournament, as expected, advanced to the winners bracket after the first day of play.

The SWAC arguably the top HBCU baseball conference in the country opened its tournament yesterday at Wesley Barrow Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Jackson State, Grambling State, Texas Southern and Alabama State turned back determined foes in opening day SWAC action. read more

Palestine, Oh Palestine We Mourn for Thee

Why are my Jewish friends so quiet on the killing of children in Palestine?

Where is the moral outrage over the killing in this region?

Where is the condemnation?

And when I lift up my voice against this slaughter,why does that make me a Jew hater?

Are Jews beyond reproach?

Are the Jews right to keep the Palestinians from their homeland? read more

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!