Miracle Theater 2919 / The Butler Family-Poochie-Nel-HB and Prince. Prince was college-bound.

Poochie-and Prince join Hattie T in wishing Aunt Elaine a happy 100th birthday in 2019. Aunt Elaine is the Angel in Red. Miracle Theater tribute to Muhammad Ali.

Prince Butler enrolled at the University of Alabama via football scholarship in 2019. In 2025, he graduated with a degree in business-next stop “GRAD SCHOOL.”

William ‘Poochie’ Butler, and his wife, Nel are the real heroes in The Game Called Life! They packed their bags and moved from Northern Virginia to Florida so they could be close to drive to all of Prince’s home games and some away games.

I was a mentor to Poochie when I found Kids In Trouble, Inc. in the U Street corridor in the 60s and 70s.  He was one of my knuckleheads in the community.  It takes one to know one.

When Prince became an All-Star athlete in the Northern Virginia school system, he and Nel asked me and Hattie to come to Virginia and check him out. 

Prince was already a star when we arrived.  He was all over the field on defense.  I had trouble figuring out what position he played. 

There were some plays, he was a linebacker, a defensive end, and then a safety.  There was one thing you could count on, when the ball was snapped, he was going to be around the ball.

This was Prince’s senior year and they wanted us to help them make the right college selection.  He was an Honor Roll Student his entire high school life-grades would not be the problem.

We were already family. Poochie’s grandfather, a legendary athlete, entertainer, and sports promoter, James Dudley, was my mentor.  Mr. Dudley lived directly across the street from The Hillcrest Children’s Center Saturday Program on 14th & W Streets, NW. The center was my domain, under the watchful eyes of Mr. Dudley. He had children in the program.

Hattie and I found the program in 1969, after the riots almost destroyed DC.  The program was designed to provide indoor recreation (swimming and indoor basketball) and mentor programs for neighborhood elementary school children.

Hillcrest Chilren’s Center Saturday Program, NFL Films capture NFL players RB Larry Brown and LB Harold McLinton teaching water safety to neighborhood children. This was a first ever promo (1971).

The building was once Turner’s Arena, the home of great jazz, and R & B music.  On weekends, you could often find, great wrestling and boxing matches in the arena.

The man in charge was James Dudley.  The arena was owned by WWE founder Vince McMahon, Sr.  The business grew so fast, Mr. McMahon asked Mr. Dudley to take over. His role made him the first Black General Manager of a major sports arena in America. 

Mr. Dudley was inducted into the WWE HOF in 1994, making him the first black inducted. CEO Vince McMahon, Jr. reminded all in attendance, there would be no WWE without James Dudley.

The Inside Sports and Kids In Trouble legacy continues in 2025 NBA style.  Monica McNutt is the latest NBA analyst for ESPN with local ties.  She joins Christy Winters Scott from The Round Ball Report, a local TV program focused on local basketball. The show was produced in Prince George’s County, Maryland, by Andrew Dyer.

However, the show had problems getting press credentials for reporters to attend Washington Wizards home games. The show needed to provide a professional basketball presence, and the Wizards fit the bill.

Monica McNutt & Christy Winters Scott on the Round Ball Report 

Monica McNutt, ESPN NBA analyst & Donovan Mitchell

The problem, the Wizard’s PR team was playing ‘The Race Card’;  and refused to cooperate. It was nothing new with the organization; old habits die hard.  In 1976, press table racism followed the Bullets from Landover, Maryland, to 7th Street NW in Washington, DC. 

The organization changed its name to the Washington Wizards but found it difficult to make the press table racism disappear despite their new name. 

In 1972, during halftime, my white friend, sports writer Frank Pastor, and I went upstairs in the Capitol Arena Landover and walked the concourse to see who we could see. Before we knew it, half-time was over, and we were still upstairs on the concourse.

We had to wait there until the action on the court was halted after a foul call or a timeout out stopping action on the court; only then could we return to our seats.

While standing upstairs I noticed for the first time, that Frank and the white media were seated on the left side of the half court line and blacks were seated on the right of the half court line.

In a split decision, Frank and I decided to switch seats; I would sit on the left side in his seat, and he would sit on the right side in my seat.  It was quietly done without a harsh word or a sign with ‘BOYCOTT’ written on it.  Our message was loud and clear, ‘NO MAS.’ 

The late Ron Sutton, talk show host for WHUR Radio in DC. We share a laugh at a Washington Bullets’ game in Landover, Maryland.

In the photo above you can clearly see whites seated on my left and blacks on the right of Ron and me.  The TV monitors marked the half-court line. It was truly a separate but not equal opportunity mentality.

This was the calm before the storm.  I was later labeled a “Trouble Maker.’  Like Congressman John Lewis said, “Make Good Trouble.”  Sounds like Kids In Trouble and Inside Sports were making good trouble back in the day.

Years later, the Round Ball Report and its reporters would be the beneficiaries, credentials would be issued for them to attend Washington Wizards’ home games and NBA All-Star Games.

This was thanks to Brian McIntye (retired NBA VP PR) and ‘Trouble Maker’, Harold Bell, after I made a phone call to his office.

NBA pioneer, Earl Lloyd, was also a benefactor. He was the first Black to play in a game in 1950, and a starter on the NBA Champion Syracuse Nationals in 1955. Lloyd was also the first Black assistant coach for the NBA Detroit Pistons, for some reason, he was ‘Blackballed’ from the NBA Hall of Fame.

The HOF plaque presented to him read “CONTRIBUTOR?” What kind of back-door designation was that?

Lloyd made the right decision when he called Harold Bell and not ‘Ghostbusters’ I had organized a similar campaign for my friend, the all-time great NFL defensive back and DC native, Willie Wood of the Green Bay Packers.

Wood’s credentials were undeniable. His crime, he saw something and said something. He was an assistant coach for the San Diego Chargers. The something he saw was drug use among the players.

After the Washington Times sports columnist Dick Heller had written several lionizing columns and I had been on every radio and television talk show beating the drum for Willie. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1989.

Lloyd was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2003, thanks to the team of, Red Auerbach, Sports Columnist, Dick Heller, Congressman John Lewis and ‘Trouble Maker’, Harold Bell!

Willie never forgot to say “Thank You” to Dick and me for our successful campaign on his behalf.

Rev. Dr. William Roundtree was my Spingarn High School Coach in the DC Public School system. He also coached NBA Hall of Fame player and Mayor of Detroit, Dave Bing.

Spingarn High School is the only public high school in America with two NBA Hall of Famers, and both were named two of the 50 best players in the NBA. Meet Elgin Baylor and Dave Bing. The school no longer exists (CRT).

My senior year, I thought I was the straw that stirred the drink. I had just been named to the DC Public High School All-Star football team. My next move was to join the basketball team for my senior year.

I decided to become a shooter instead of the designated defensive stopper Coach Roundtree had assigned me to be the previous year. And Elgin Baylor, I was not, or even a Dave Bing. I became a distraction. Coach Roundtree, kicked me to the curb. He decided to win or lose without me. This became my DNA in high school.

Baseball Coach Leo Hill kicked me to the curb for similar behavior, and my football coach, Dave Brown, locked me on the school bus at halftime for a bad attitude. He heard me demanding my Quarterback to “Throw me the dam ball, I was open.”

Only an apology to my teammates saved me to play another day. My problem, I wanted the ball when the game was on the line. There was no doubt I could shoot the ball, and little doubt I could catch any football in my airspace, steal any base, catch any fly ball hit in my direction.

There were harsh lessons I was taught, no one was indispensable, and the ME helped to spell the word TEAM!

Coaches, Brown, Roundtree, and Hill taught me well. When all was said and done, they became my heroes in this Game Called Life.

In today’s dog-eat-dog mentality, I have been getting mixed messages regarding The Game Called Life:

For Example:

“No one is indispensable, but there are some people more necessary than others,

Harold Bell is one of those people.”     Washington Star Newspaper Editorial Board (1980)

Harold,

“You helped prepare me for the NBA.” Dave Bing (1967)

Hey Harold,

 “Continue being who you are, you are appreciated more than you know!!” Dave Bing (2022)

Sent from my iPhone

FIRST STUDENT/ATHLETES TO HONOR PRINCIPAL-TEACHERS & STAFF (MAY 1976)

L-R Coach William Roundtree–Officer Ray Dixon-HBell-Dave Bing and Principal Purvis Williams (Not in photo-coordinators Andrew Johnson and the late Bill Lindsey)

Best Quote heard on the Pat McAfee show ESPN 5/7/25

“We are surrounded by cowards. Meeting behind closed doors, scared to take risks!”