Dear Editor,
The best kept secret in Yazoo County this year was the Youth Basketball League.
It was not a secret because it was not open to the public. It was a secret because the white children of this community missed a great opportunity to develop relationships, their skills and an opportunity to see firsthand that the blacks and whites are both created by God.
The Bible is by far the best piece of literature that commands respect and the knowledge that most Christian's want their children to understand, but they won’t unless we teach them. The best relationship builder in the world is recreation (sports).
Parks and Recreation in Yazoo City is a joke, and we all know it. Unless this community demands what your children are entitled to, they will never know who their neighbors are and who they can trust.
These children will not be sheltered by their parents all their lives. Most black and white children of this community do not interact with each other until baseball season, this is about one percent or less of the population of children in Yazoo.
My hat is off to the organizers of the youth league. It was well planned, executed, supervised and managed. Miss Jamie McCoy, Coach Joffre Washington, Mr.and Mrs. Charles Gates and parents are to be commended for a job well done. Parks and Recreation should be kicking down their doors for their plan.
I can remember where they started, at the Boys And Girls Club Gym. It was a conflict at their very first practice. As the manager of the building, it was my responsibility to know all activities in the gym after the club closed. I always checked the building to make sure it was secure, but on this night cars were everywhere, the gym was full of parents, children and coaches.
Even though I was elated as to what I saw, they did not have the authority to be there. Now I had a task of breaking the bad news even though I was happy about what I witnessed.The Mayor is the one I report to directly when I have a problem concerning the complex. This was one I was glad to pass on. I made a path straight to her house. Her question was who gave them the authority to be there, and I gave her that information and left.
About an hour later she gave me a call and said it was OK. I gave a sigh of relief and said “Thank you Jesus.”
The gym became so bad they had no other place to go. After talking to the school system, thanks to Coach Washington and others in their group, they had a home. The organization attracted teams and coaches from Jackson and many parts of the county. Our own legendary coach, his son and grandson participated. It warmed My heart to see Coach Carlyle on the sidelines again. This organization had certified referees and students of the game working with our children, they even had me running up and down the floor blowing my whistle, and I must admit it was an honor to be asked.
I propose the Mayor and Board Of Alderman, The County Board Supervisors, Parks and Recreation, the county and city school districts, Manchester Academy, Benton Academy and The Yazoo Herald , have a group meeting with a representative from each to plan and commit to this community a well thought out recreational program that will serve the entire community.
If Not Now When?
Coach Johnny Staples
