Coach.

This goes way back to about when I was five or six years old, I can picture it in my mind as happening now as back then. I was picking some weeds out of this elderly lady's garden earning a nickel, her name was Ma'mane. One day while standing on the end of this porch three feet from the ground, looking down at me she said; "God has something for you to do", honestly, I had no ideal nor the understanding to know what she meant. It would be a thousand miles from the truth if I told you I understood everything and every reason people instructed me in while being very young. I have been bless to have had two loving and God fearing parents that reared me (father deceased), a host of caring family members at times pitching in. As for my road on becoming a Mentor and now blessed with the title of boxing coach, that was seeded by my loving first cousin "Eva Dyke's." Eva was the Mother of the neighborhood and all in the community. I saw her take pennies and do what others couldn't do with thousands of dollars, she never let any kid within her reach go without what was needed at the immediate moment. Eva , with me most times glued to her skirt tail exhibited to me "what God truly meant as for loving and taking care of others." I can without hesitation say; "my life as a coach was seeded through my loving cousin Eva Dyke's." My now being a coach for thirty five plus years covers the highways of track, baseball, football, basketball and now boxing.

Stories along the way:

I was asked by a co-worker in the mid seventies about helping to coach some five years old and up in basketball, I told him I would be honored to, he then asked; "would I have a problem coaching white kids", smiling I responded; " kids are kids." The coach (my co-worker) named Robert told me some of the parents and most of the people back in this small community were extremely racist, boy; "was he ever telling the truth!" Brings back memory of me disciplining this one kid and his mom going before the Board of Directors, accusing me of being racist toward her kid, funny thing about that, even stated by the Board Members;"Mrs parent he comes back here as an unpaid volunteer coach, plus, all the kids are white."

Some of the experiences from coaching boxing:

Boxing and fitness training is where I find to be where all of the teaching and wisdom gotten from Eva Dyke's (cousin) has and still to date comes into play, that being: not allowing those and that which comes against me to deter me from what I believe God commissioned me to do! There has and still today times when those of the adult age, whom I've helped understand the science of the sport, proved to be dishonest, back stabbers, etc. etc.... These people mostly those owning or head supervisor of the gyms we trained in, found excuses for my having to leave their establishments, even while talking against me to those I was working with. Over the years a few kids were lost to the streets because of my not having a gym of my own, I still regret this, I believe they wouldn't have been lost had I a place for them to be. There were a few kids which allowed others to get in their ear, some which showed disrespect toward myself and the program (given their walking papers!). I've at times had those that witness my commitment to the ones trying to slander my name, ask me why haven't I destroyed them for what they've done and trying to do, my answer; " how could I stand in the authority of an agent for change, if I result to doing what I teach others not to." Its hasn't been all bad and there are some success stories. Terrance "Tank" Dumas, this kid was made known to me by a friend I know through boxing. One day while in the gym with my good friend Coach Dawson Barze (deceased), here walks up with my friend this 6'5" 270 lbs giant, coach Dawson looking over his glasses, my friend saying to me; "coach help him out he really don't belong in the street life", my not knowing either to run or stare, after I requested he sit down so there can be leverage for eye to eye contact I responded; "son, I can help you only if you truly want help", this giant with eyes gazed toward the floor said; "no one has ever help me do anything." Terrance "Tank" Dumas is today a well respected family man, youth Mentor, Ordained Minister, Professional boxer.

Photo belong to: Coach James Joseph.

Tell me what God's love cant do!

Written by: Coach James Joseph.
"Copyright" 3-16-2013 James Joseph. "All rights reserved."