The recent sudden passing of popular WOL Radio sports talk show host, Butch McAdams begged to question radio sports talk show history in the Nation’s Capitol. Poorly written stories and accounts of sports talk radio history in Washington, DC gave me pause for reflections on the topic. No reflection on Butch’s sports talk history, but for clarification on the bogus stories written and the real path he followed.

THERE WAS A SONG TITLED: “MOMMY DON’T LET YOUR SONS GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS!”

THERE IS A NEW SONG ON MY HIT PARADE: DON’T LET YOUR SONS GROW UP TO BE IDIOTS IN SPORTS MEDIA!

MLB Hall of Fame Manager Tony La Russa was asked by a player what were the qualifications for someone to be a member of the sports media-this was after La Russa kept trying to answer some dumb-ass questions during a press conference. His response. “It looks like all you need is a drivers’ license and a car to get you to the ballpark.”

Let me introduce you to Howard University historian and Informer Tabloid News reporter, Ed Hill and his sidekick who are dumb as rocks when it comes to Black American History. We always want respect–but we don’t want to earn it.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qDknSGmsJ3k

SPREADING IGNORANCE FROM A HBCU CAMPUS & BEYOND

BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER: TWO WANNABE FOOLS WHO BELONG TOGETHER!

There were no black sportscasters on radio or television in 1965 when legendary radio talk show host Petey Greene, chose Harold Bell to be the voice of sports on “Petey Greene’s Washington.” The show aired every Sunday evening and it became the talk of the town, and won several Emmy Awards.

Petey was a one of a kind talk radio show host and those who followed him would never match his comedian wit, historic roots all found in Georgetown (Foggy Bottom) in the Nation’s Capitol.

I met Petey in 1957 at the Burning Tree Golf Course in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC. We caddied on the weekends for the rich and the political powerbrokers in the Nation’s Capitol and beyond. Petey went to jail and I went to college.

We did not meet again until 1965 in front of the landmark Howard Theater, home of some the greatest entertainers in Black American History.

Petey was just getting out of jail, I was a college dropout who failed chasing his NFL dreams in Charleston, West, Virginia playing minor league football. Joining us on the corner would be our friend, do-wop crooner, Marvin Gaye. He was returning home after a stint in the United States Air Force.

There we were standing on the corner reflecting on time spend in the military, in college and in jail. Petey had the best stories and had us laughing all night with his tales of woe behind bars.

When the laughter ceased we were left trying to figure where do we go from here? Marvin knew exactly what his next move was, “I am getting the hell out of DC”, he said. Petey and I gave him a hug, shook his hand, and wished him well.

The next thing I knew the theater was letting out and Petey looked at me and said, “Harold Bell, what is your next move?” My response, “Man, I have got to find a job.” Meet me at 10th & U Streets Monday morning at the United Planning Organization at 9:00 am”, he said. And he was gone.

I would meet with Petey and CEO of the United Planning Organization, Mr. James Banks. I was hired as a “Neighborhood Worker” in the Cardozo/Shaw Community. I followed Petey’s lead as we worked the playgrounds, schools, courts and homes of at-risk children and their families.

Petey proudly holding his Emmy Award for his talk show, “Petey Greene’s Washington.” Washington Redskin banner hangs on the wall of the team he loved to hate.

Sylvia-Jean-HB-Petey-Judy-Hattie T and Ed arrive in California for the Super Bowl showdown between the undefeated Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins. The Redskins loss 13-7, our buddy Marvin Gaye was sitting behind us–back together again.

My first encounter with Butch McAdams was on the outdoor basketball court at St. Paul & Augustine. Petey and I were walking in the neighborhood when we spotted Butch and another young man shooting baskets. Petey decided he wanted to go in the Directory and say hello to Father Bouchard.

I hung back with Butch and the young man shooting baskets. They looked to be young teenagers, thirteen or fourteen years-old. I was 25 and still smelling myself as an athlete. I missed my first four or 5 shots when the young brother with Butch asked, “Sir, do you know anything about this game?”

Petey came out of the Directory and saved me from any further embarrassment. The next time I went to the court, I had my tennis shoes on. We played several games of H-O-R-S-E, Butch did not not win a game. It was the start of a beautiful friendship.

I remember I had to use the same basketball one on one tactic to get Anacostia HS/American University grad and hotshot players Johnny Lloyd and McNamara HS/Morehouse grad Robert Glenn’s undivided attention.

Johnny was a knucklehead trying to go to hell in a hurry. My Spingarn high school coach, Dave Brown called and asked if I could come to the school and talk with him. He needed to get him on the right track. Coach Brown knew a knucklehead when he saw one-he had me at Spingarn for three-years.

I watched Johnny play in a couple of games before I approached him. There was no doubt he could shoot the ball. I made an appointment to go by his house and meet his mom and dad. After the meeting we headed for the basketball court in Anacostia Park.

We shot around for about 10 minutes, as I dribbled and shot everything with my left-hand, letting him think I was lefthanded. He finally asked, “Mr. Bell you want to play one, you can take it out?” I said, “Ok, the first to 10 win by two.”

I took the ball out and hit a jumper behind the foulline, I drove to the basket for my second shot. He was down 4-0 before he got the ball. He took the ball looking for his patent jump shot, I stole the ball from him and drove to the basket for a 5-0 lead. The final score 10-2.

He wanted play another game, I said, “Not today. Let us wait to next week.” I now had his undivided attention and next week never came. He made All-Met and won a scholarship to American University.

Mentees Basketball 101: Johnny Lloyd & Robert Glenn

Robert was a neighborhood hotshot with a basketball rim attached to his garage. My wife Hattie and I watched from the front porch of her mother’s house across the street on a cuda-sac in Suitland. He challenged the neighborhood kids one by one. He was King of the block. I would just look and smile, and he would smile back. There were times I would cross the street and shoot baskets with my left hand until his next victim arrived.

I knew it was coming and one evening it did, he asked if I knew anything about the game of basketball? He sounded like the young man with Butch at St. Paul & Augustine. This was at 35 years after Johnny Lloyd and I was playing tennis. I accepted the challenge and beat him 10-8, and I crawled back across the street feeling my age.

Robert wanted to play me again and I said, “No Mas.” He was among the Moorehouse students who were the benefactors of billionaire, philantropist and alumnus, Robert F. Smith. He paid off the student debt of of Robert’s class of 2019.

When Butch retired from Maret High School in Washington, DC after three decades of teaching and coaching, the school held a retirement tribute in his honor. He thanked me for my friendship and being his mentor.

In my radio sports talk journey I invited and included him in all my community endeavors. When I successfully campaigned to get Earl Lloyd the first black player inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, I invited Butch, Andrew Dyer, Christie Winters-Scott to join my wife Hattie along with Sam Jones, and James Brown to Union Station for lunch. We met to stratigize the tribute to Earl Lloyd during the 2000 NBA All-Star Game in DC.

Butch broadcast the tribute from the landmark House of Jazz on Black Broadway, the Bohemian Caverns on 11th & U Streets, NW. He also broadcast his show from Union Station for one of my Kids In Trouble toy drives-for a flooded out black town in Pinehurst, NC.

He was there for my Hillcrest Saturday Program, Christmas Toy Parties, Celebrity Fashion Shows. I introduced him to Sonny Hill, Red Auerbach, Sam Jones, James Brown, John Thompson, Dave Aldridge, Mike Wilbon, Petey Greene, Roy Jefferson, Lenny Moore, Jim Brown, Dick Heller, Dave Bing and the list goes on and on. They all loved him.

Much like my wife, he only saw the good in people like Father Raymond Kemp of St. Paul and Augustine, and Radio One’s Cathy Hughes. I experienced their jealousy and envy up-close and personal. I could not protect him from all the liars and frauds even though I tried. My protection, sometimes caused a strain in our relationship. I remembered during one of those conversations, I asked him, “Butch have I ever misled you or lied to you?” His response, “Not that I can remember.”

On June 20, 2024 DC native and former high school and college basketball Coach, A. B. Williamson’s home going service was being held at First Baptist Church of Holland Park on Sheriff Road in Glen Arden, Maryland. I had a 9:30 am appointment with my car mechanic. His place of business was 10 minutes from the church, after he got through checking my car around 10:30 am, I headed for the church.

I decided to go to the service and pay my respect, A. B. He was a Spingarn alumnus and he grew up in NE DC near Kelly Miller Playground. During his tenure at Spingarn as a student, coach at Eastern HS and Howard University we were like ships passing in the night. I never saw him on the basketball court at Kelly Miller. We were on speaking terms, it was nothing personal to my knowledge-I was guessing.

To be honest, I thought that at his home going service I would see a lot of the coaches, especially Butch McAdams. I waited around making small talk with Ron Harris (Glenn’s brother) until the service started.

The last one I saw come into the church was Spingarn basketball and playground legend, George ‘Dee’ Williams. We exchanged greetings and shook hands on my way out.

Fast forward to Sunday June 23, 2024. I am sitting home after church and I received a telephone call from Danny Lewis. Nothing out of the ordinary, Danny and I communicate pretty regularly. He was one of my guys from Harrison Playground and the Hillcrest Saturday Program.

I answered the phone and he says, “HB are you sitting down?” I hesitated, and said, “I am good.” His response, “Butch is dead!” I said, “What Butch are you talking about?” He said, “Butch McAdams.” I went numb and asked Danny could I call him back and hung up.

Fast Forward: Monday morning, I go to my car to add two-quarts of oil as my mechanic had reminded me to do on Thursday. I pop the hood and my cell phone rings, its Mac (James Alsobrooks) calling, I figured he was calling me about Butch. His first words, “Did you hear about Butch?” My response, “Yes I did.”

The conversation turns spiriture after we exchange those words, Mac says, “I spoke with him on Friday. I had never met his wife Andrea, he put her on the phone and we talked for about 15 minutes before Butch came back on the line.

He asked, when was the last time I had spoken with you. I explained it had been a couple of months, but we usually stay in touch, I had been rather busy with doctors’ visits for my wife and I. My daughter’s campaign for the senate has also been a priority.

I asked him what was up with you and him? His response was, “Nothing but some BS.” He was right on the one, nothing but some BS!

When I told Mac that I was looking for Butch on Thursday at A. B. Williamson’s funeral and he was asking about me on Friday. He died on Sunday. Mac, was lost for words.

That was a hell of a coincident, taking place on Thursday June 20, 2024, the same coincident taking place with Mac and Butch on Friday June 21, 2024. Only God, knows what was truly going on. The only thing I could figure out, we were both looking for each other to cut the BS.

Another coincident, God, chose another one of my mentees to deliver the message, James ‘Mac’ Alsobrooks. This was truly a time, “We had to let go and let God.”

I was inspired and started writing this blog on your birthday, July, 21, 2024-happy belated, heavenly birthday (RIP).

Standing: Sam Jones-Rockhead-Sam Jordan-Jim Brown-Tom Davis-Pastor Silver-Spencer Haywood-HB-Richard Evans-Sonny Hill-?-Tom Blackburn-Kneeling: Thurston McLain-?-Malik Farrakhan-?-Luis Cardona

Butch is in the audience for the youth forum sitting behind the the late Mayor of U Street, John Snipes.

Standing: Butch McAdams-Bert Sugar-Sam Jones-HB-Lenny Moore Sitting: Jim Bad News Barnes-George Nock-Lamont Jordan-Lawrence Wade and Roy Jefferson

All radio and TV sports talk shows today copied the Inside Sports talk format.

Footprints in the Sand

There were nights I dreamed I was walking along the beach with
the Lord. Scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene, I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were
two sets of footprints; other times there was only one.

During the low periods of my life I could see only one set of
footprints, so I said, “God, you promised me, that you would
walk with me always. Why, when I have needed you most,
Why have you not been there for me?”

God replied, “The times when you have seen only one set
of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.” Thank you God!