David Aldridge/The Athletic October 29, 2021

D. C. broadcaster Harold Bell’s memorable interview with Muhammad Ali

ALI & FOREMAN: THE RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE ZAIRE, AFRICA SATURDAY OCTOBER 29, 1974

Harold Bell, in his eighth decade, continues to lead a unique life. The longtime DC broadcaster and community leader, who was the first black to host and produce a daily sports talk show in the city in the early 70s, and who was on air in town for decades, still does a weekly show on YouTube that runs the gamut from sports to politics. He still gives honest, unvarnished opinions on the people and issues of the day. Bell’s Kids In Trouble campaign raised money and had annual Christmas toy drives for thousands of needy youth in the DMV (1968-2013) without grants or loans. And, this month, he’s part of the retrospective surrounding the Ken Burns’ PBS documentary on the late, great Muhammad Ali.

Ken Burns, daughter, Sara and son-in-law, David participate in panel discussion with MPT moderator Charles Robinson and Harold Bell. They discuss the PBS cut & paste preview of Muhammad Ali.

Bell not only knew Ali well, but wound up getting one of the most converted interviews with the champ, immediately after Ali’s iconic defeat of George Foreman-the “Rumble in the Jungle”-in Kinshasa, Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo), in 1974. Saturday marks the 47th anniversary of that upset, which ended with an eighth-round knockout of the previously undefeated champion by then -32-year-old Ali, a prohibitive underdog going into the fight. But Ali got Foreman to punch himself out with his infamous “Rope-a-Dope” strategy, leaving the exhausted Foreman unable to get up after an Ali flurry in the last 30 seconds of the eighth round put him on the cavas.

Bell, met Ali in 1967 on the campus of Howard University, he was working as a Roving Leader for the Department of Recreation and Parks. Ali gave him his first post-fight interview after returning stateside from Zaire to Bell- which became a half-hour special on NBC affiliate in town, WRC-TV 4. It was the first prime-time sports special in history produced and hosted by a Black man.

Ali befriended many writers and broadcasters over the years, of all races, most notably Howard Cosell of ABC Sports, whose public defense of Ali’s refusal to serve in the U. S. military because of his religious beliefs as a practicing Muslim was controversial and vital at the time. Bell’s friendship with Ali took him all over the country as Ali trained for his fights. “I never heard him say a discouraging word about a white person,” Bell says of Ali today. “He has never talked about hating white people. He protected Angelo Dundee, Gene Kilroy and he loved Bert Sugar.” He was flawed, but he was still one of the most unique and caring human beings I have ever met. I am just privileged and honored he chose me as a friend.

Bell has held onto the interview for the last four-decades, rebuffing efforts from the likes of HBO, Burns, Daymond John from the TV show “Shark Tank”, CAA (Creative Artist Agency) and Don King.

The fast talking and known scammer King mailed him a $10,000 check, saying, “Promises made, promises kept.” He waited for King to come to DC for a boxing promotion and gave the check back to him. King, had hired Bell’s younger brother William as his photographer, he took the photo of the transfer of the check. Thanks to King’s “Right Hand” confidant, Connie Harper, he played along with King for a minute. Her best advice, “Don’t take any money from Don unless you earned it.”

He watched how he kicked his partner R & B King, the late great Lloyd Price (Bell’s mentor) to the curb, stole from Ali and Tyson. Bell said, “I felt lucky to escape with only hurt feelings.”

Bell, received a Pioneer Award from the National Association of Black Journalists’ Sports Task Force in 2020. He is looking into making the interview available via other platforms. “I am getting calls from all over the world about this one of a kind interview,” he says.

Nation Association of Black Journalist 2020 pioneer honorees, Lee Elder (Golf)-Ozzie Newsome (NFL)-Harold Bell (Sports Media) and Kristi Toliver (WNBA). Narrators: Dave Aldridge-Ray Richardson and Ron Thomas.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST MEET ALI?

I left Winston Salem State before graduation (Bighouse Gaines and the school saved his life). He decided to chase his NFL dreams instead of a college degree. Bell ended up in Charleston, West Virginia playing minor-league football for the Charleston Rockets. He got cut without dropping a pass. He remembered there were several passes thrown over his head and behind him. He said, “I guess they thought I should have caught those passes too.” Disappointed, he took the bus home to D. C.

He returned home and connected with old friends, Petey Greene and Marvin Gaye. They met in front of the landmark Howard Theater one weekend night. Petey had gone to jail instead of college and Marvin joined the Air Force. The three of them stood on the corner trying to figure out their next move in their hometown without a degree that has been mistaken for opening the doors to success in Black America.

Bell remembers Marvin, making up his mind fast and in a hurry. He said, “I am getting out of DC.” Bell and Petey both looked at him and asked the same question, “Where are you going man?” His response, “I don’t know, but I am getting the hell out of this town!” The three of them shook hands, hugged and Marvin was gone.

Petey and Bell hung out for a little while longer and called it a night. Petey asked Bell if he was really looking for work-he said, “Hell yes!” Petey, told Bell to meet him at 10th and U Streets Monday morning at 8:00 am at the United Planning Organization (UPO). There might be some work for him.

Monday morning Bell met Petey at UPO, he was introduced to the CEO Mr. Jim Banks. He was hired as a Neighborhood Worker, two days later H. Rap Brown was hired to join him and Petey. They were the trouble-shooters for the Cardozo/Shaw Community. Their domains would be the schools, playgrounds and DC Superior Court.

In 1967 Bell would join the D. C. Department of Recreation and Parks, elite Roving Leader Program. The jobs were similar, with the exception the Roving Leaders were assigned to work with youth gangs and at-risk children throughout the city.

After he joined the D. C. Recreation Department (1967). Bell and Petey stayed in touch and would meet at Ben’s Chili Bowl regularly for lunch. One day Petey came in and told Bell that Muhammad Ali was on the campus of Howard University. Bell said, “Lets go what are we waiting for?” Petey said, “I have a meeting with Mr. Banks, I cannot hangout.” Bell said, “See you later.”

When Bell arrived on campus, he saw folks hanging out around the Administration Building. As he got closer, there was Muhammad Ali surrounded by what seem like hundreds of students laughing and giggling. Ali had their undivided attention. He was talking about racism and why he was not going to join the U. S. Army, mainly because, “Them Vietcong ain’t never called me nigger.”

Bell eased his way up through the crowd until he was almost nose to nose with the champ. Ali paid him no attention–he had the students begging for more.

It was a beautiful day to be hanging out, finally after about 30 more minutes of American racial history, Ali called it a day. He made a request for someone to show him around the campus, hopefully a pretty coed.

Before one of the pretty little girls could respond, Bell grabbed him by his hand and said, “follow me.” The next thing Bell knew, he had Ali by his arm leading him off campus to the Georgia Avenue corridor.

Ali did not complain, because the pretty little girls were following them. When they got further down the avenue and walking by the Wonder Bread Company, Bell turned to look behind them and it looked like a Ali was leading a parade. Folks were blowing their horns and women were stopping their cars in the middle of the street and getting out to run over for a hug or touch–it was crazy. Ali loved his people.

Bell said, when he got down to 7th and T streets he was taking him to Sam K’s Record Shop to introduce him to Sam, but before he could get him there, Harvey Cooper aka “Oldest Teenager” jumps in front of Ali and starts to throw phantom punches at the champ. The champ accommodates him for about 60 seconds-everybody laughs. Sam K comes over and Bell introduce the two legends. Bell says, “I will never forget that day, it will always be etched in my mind. The day, I first met Ali on the campus of Howard University.”

WHEN DID YOU SEE HIM NEXT?

I did not see the champ again-until 1972. That was a great year, I became the first Black to host and produce my own radio sports talk show in Washington, D. C.

The Inside Sports tag was given to me by my wife Hattie at the dinner table the evening, it wasthe day before his radio debut. Inside Sports changed the way we talk and report sports in America. Bell, left Petey Greene and Bobby “The Burner” Bennett talk shows at WOL and found a new home at W-O-O-K Radio 1450 on the AM dial, thanks to his childhood friend, the legendary DJ, John Edwards aka “Terrible Turk.”

Ali and Bell would meet again in Cleveland in 1972 thanks to JD Beathea a sports columnist for the Washington Star Newspaper. I heard he and Harry Barnett a white attorney and a graduate of the Howard University Law School. Barnett, also represented George Foreman.

Their favorite place to hangout was “Billy Edwards Boxing Gym” located on the corner of 9th and S streets, NW. One evening Barnett and Beathea were talking about driving to Cleveland for a charitable boxing exhibition featuring Muhammad Ali. That was all I had to hear was the name, Muhammad Ali. I hitched a ride with them after clearing it with my wife.

Bell, remembers arriving in Cleveland, walking into the hotel lobby and there was Muhammad Ali holding court again, but this time it was not with a group of college students, it was with a group of reporters hanging on his every word.

They tried to ease their way around the group heading to the front desk to register for their rooms, but Ali spots Bell, and yells, “Harold Bell what are you doing this far away from home?” Bell says, “I almost fell to the floor. I had not seen him in 5 years and he makes me, The Chosen One.”

It was there in Cleveland Bell would meet Ali Boxing Royalty, the champ’s brother, Rahman Ali, R & B legend, Lloyd Price, Boxing Historian, Bert Sugar and the man who called himself “King”, Don King!”

Against everyone’s wishes, Ali crowded King, the first Black promoter in the history of the sports’ flawed history. King would be right at home. He was an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY THIEF-he stole from everybody!

Ali was in Washington, DC in 1975, he was in town to be honored by the DC Chamber of Commerce as its “ATHLETE OF THE CENTURY!” Bell was his caretaker for the weekend.

After he picked up the champion and his side-girlfriend Veronica at National Airport. He got them settled in separate rooms at the Sheraton Hotel. Bell, spend several quiet hours with the champ in his room. He questioned why he was was carrying a briefcase of cash around with him. How did Bell know about the cash in the brief case? He said, “It was the same briefcase Ali had when he arrived in New York City from Zaire. The same briefcase he went to get a one-hundred dollar bill out for him in 1974 after their interview in New York City.”

Ali, opened the briefcase in the hotel room and said, “I brought the cash with me from Zaire, because I did not want King to steal it. I give the money to folks who need it.”

Ali, later accused King, publicly of stealing one-million dollars of his 5 million dollar purse. The champ told Bell, “King was the biggest mistake I ever made in boxing. Lloyd Price would echo the same cry!”

This is the email I received from R & B legend Lloyd Price on New Year’s Day in 2021 telling me to stay away from Don King. King reneged on a promised partnership with Lloyd. King’s net worth 300 million. Lloyd Price died May 2021.

This charade with King reminds me of something Ali’s business manager Gene Kilroy once said to me. He said, “Harold Bell, if you played the game, you would be a millionaire and they would have been calling Howard Cosell the black Harold Bell!” My response, ‘Ali never told me I had to play the game.‘

The next morning after the exhibition fight in Cleveland, JD Beathea decided to write a story on the first black boxing promoter, Don King. I was invited to breakfast by JD to sit in for an introduction to King (it was called networking). King shown up with Connie Harper. It was here King said, “Harold Bell stick with me baby, we are going places!”

King, never fooled me, when he came to New York City to set up office space for Don King Productions, he brought his right hand lady with him, the late Connie Harper. She knew his DNA and shared it with me.

It was the summer of 1973 when I called Don at his new office in the Big Apple. Connie answered the phone. I told her I would like to make an appointment to meet with DK aka Don King when his busy schedule allowed. She said no problem and that she remembered meeting me at breakfast in Cleveland.

Several days later I took a train to New York City to meet with the man who called himself, King!

I arrived by cab to his office for a 3:00 pm meeting. He was nowhere to be found. Connie said he was not answering his phone. It would 5:00 pm when he came through the door apologizing for his tardiness.

No problem, the two hours I spend with Connie were the best two-hours of my sports media career. The 411 and 101 lessons she taught me regarding DK can never be measured.

The most important lesson she taught me, was not to take any money from DK I did not earn, if I did he was going to treat me like a HOE! She was right on time and on the money!

I learn one lesson on my own–not to laugh at some of his dumb ass jokes. But still I supported him on Inside Sports, and the columns I wrote in the Afro-American and New Amsterdam newspapers.

There was very little choice, on the other side of the boxing landscape, there was Bob Arum, Lou Duvall, or Mike Trainer. I was left with playing the “Race Card” with a bigger racist than all of them–Don King. Connie, taught me when to hold them and when to fold them!

Playing fair was not in Don King’s extensive vocabulary, but I decided to rolled the dice with him. Going in I knew “The House always won.”

Being in the corner of DK was like playing Russian Roulette, but there I was on national television on the Geraldo Rivera talk show defending DK’s right to steal from his fighters. The opposition was, Rivera, the late Bert Sugar and award winning journalist, the late Jack Newfield. Newfield was the author of the 1995 journalistic masterpiece “The Life and Crimes of Don King–The Shame of Boxing in America.

THE MAN WHO COULD HAVE BEEN KING–BOXING PROMOTER DON KING CHOSE TO BE A THIEF.

Who ever said, crime does not pay, never met Don King. As they say, “The proof is in the pudding.”

First, In 1972 I was there for the Children’s Hospital benefit scam in Cleveland when King convinced his friend Lloyd Price to introduce him to Muhammad Ali. Lloyd help convince Ali to come to Cleveland to fight in an exhibition to save a hospital for sick children. The hospital was in the process of declaring bankruptcy-DK was the promoter. His scheme was to make Ali his meal ticket to fame and fortune.

When the exhibition was over and the smoke had cleared. It was reported the boxing exhibition raised in the neighborhood of $80,000, DK gave the hospital $15,000!

The champion boxers who have been victimized by King reads like a Who’s Who; Tim Whiterspoon, Larry Holmes, Terry Norris, Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Muhammad Ali, and on and on. He settled most law suites out of court.

The million he stole from Ali, King send a friend of the champ’s to a hospital with $50,000 in cash. Ali was lying in a hospital bed dead broke, and with the cash the friend brought a message from King. He told Ali if he did not take the cash, he would have him in court forever and a day. Ali, took the $50,000.

Mike Tyson claimed, King and his homeboys stole $100 million from him. Tyson and King settled out of court for a reported $14 million dollars. After each transaction, Don King cried out, “Only in America.” Don King has no shame!

I could see he was becoming suspicious of me, I never accepted the meal tickets, hotel rooms, the perks he passed out to the media who kissed his jackass. In Las Vegas, Bert Sugar and Howie Evans (sports editor for the New York Amsterdam newspaper) let me share their room.

Access to press credentials for Don King fights became a hassle for me to obtain. His all white PR team would claim they never received my credential request. Fight time, he would hide out in a different hotel or trailer. His son Carl or friend Aaron Snowell would tell me where he was hiding out. I would confront him and he would lie saying, “Harold baby, I have nothing to do with the distribution of press credentials!” I would then be approved for credentials in the nose bleed section in the arena.

He had the nerve to not approve me for press credentials in DC my hometown. PR man in-charge Charlie Brotman apologized to me–I knew almost everyone taking tickets at the door at the DC Armory. The look on his face when I appeared on press row shaking hands with Lloyd Price and Kenny Gamble (Philly Sound). I gave him a ‘Thumps up,’ and hollered “Only in America Baby.” Priceless!

THE MEDIA LEGENDS OF BOXING AND THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR.

WHAT DID YOU TALK ABOUT IN THE INTERVIEW?

We talked about the state of Black America and racism unlike anything in our life time. The state of young people and the crime and gun violence in our community. He talk about the definition of friendship and how important it was for us to speak truth to power. He talked about how important Black women are in our lives. We talked about the influence of our parents, and how at the end of his career he wanted to be a minister in the Nation of Islam and travel all over the world to bring peace. All the things we talked about are still relevant today as we head into 2024. It’s only two minutes of the interview where he talks about the difference between a fighter and a boxer. 

The interview was one of a kind and it was very inspiring. This was the first interview ever in his boxing career, he allowed anyone to interview him with marks on his pretty face (black eye). This was the first exclusive interview in the history of the sport an undisputed heavyweight champion allowed a black journalist to interview him one on one. Ali has done thousands of interviews around the world, he has never promoted an on air radio or television personality, the exception-Harold Bell and Inside Sports.

DID YOU SEE ALI AGAIN AFTER THE INTERVIEW?

The D.C. Chamber of Commerce names him the Athlete of the Century (in November, 1975). James Denson was the (executive vice president) of the Chamber of Commerce. So James Denson calls me and says ‘Harold, your man is coming to town; we’re honoring him. I’d like you to pick him up at the airport. You can take my car.’ I say okay. So I take the car, go out to the airport. And I can’t find this fool. And so I see Veronica (Porche’, who would become Ali’s third wife). I had never met her, but I knew who she was from the newspapers. And I introduced myself to her and said ‘where is he?’ She points over to the baggage area. He’s over there doing magic tricks, signing autographs. I stand up on a chair and say ‘hey, Champ, this is Harold Bell; come on, man, we’ve gotta go.’ He ain’t even look at me. He said ‘Harold Bell, cool it – I’ll get there when I get there.’ So I sit there with Veronica, and we wait about another half hour.

I took them to the Sheraton Hotel, took Veronica to one room, took Ali to another room. He’s still married (to his second wife at the time, Belinda), but I don’t know what that’s all about. … we must have spent three hours together. I said ‘Champ, I’ve got to go get Hattie, man, so she can get dressed and we can come back for the tribute.’ He said okay. So I went and got Hattie and came back, and we sat at the table with my mother-in-law, Veronica, Happy Myles and his wife Barbra. Mayor (Walter) Washington is presenting Ali with a big plaque, as Athlete of the Century. He stops Mayor Washington in mid-sentence. He says ‘hold it, hold it, Mr. Mayor. Do you know Harold Bell?’ Hattie started looking at me. I said ‘I don’t know what’s going on.’

Ali says again, ‘do you know Harold Bell? Harold, stand up.’ I stood up. And the Mayor’s looking out, trying to find me. He finds me. And he says ‘yeah, I know Harold Bell; who don’t know Harold Bell?’ And he said ‘let me tell you something, Mr. Mayor. That man is my friend. And I don’t want anything to happen to Harold Bell on your watch. Because if anything happens to Harold Bell, you’re going to have to pay.’ He said ‘do you understand, Mr. Mayor?’ The Mayor said ‘yeah, Champ, I understand.’ He said, ‘you know what? You’re not as dumb as you look.’ And the crowd fell out laughing. Hattie said she felt like crawling under the table. I was standing clapping. Only Muhammad Ali could get away with something like that.

I would see Mayor Washington the following summer at the Bannecker Playground located directly across the street from Howard University. We would take a photo with some youth on the playground. As he was leaving, he turned to me and said, “Tell my main man Ali, the next time he is in town to give me a call.” We both laughed.

All forgiven-Mayor Washington and me hanging on the playground out with some youth in DC.

If you ever met Ali, there was one great thing about him, he could make you smile and laugh!

COMMENTS FROM THE ATHLETIC:Mike L Oct 29, 2021 WOW / Charles S Oct 29, 2021 Great article and great read. / Eric F Oct 29, 2023 This is the content I subscribed for. Great read. The World could sure use Ali around. Man I sure miss that guy. / Jim J Nov 8, 2021 Dave, of all the amazing articles of yours I’ve read this is hands down the best. / Nelson B Oct 30 Says a lot about the man when he gave Harold Bell the first interview just like he promised. / Tom M Oct 30, 2021 Love the story. Ali was so much fun. You can’t make this stuff up.

70 YEARS (1954) AFTER BROWN VERSUS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS HEARD IN THE SUPREME COURT AND SEGREGATED SCHOOLS WERE OUTLAWED IN AMERICA–POLITICIANS HAVE SINCE SUCCESSFULLY TURNED BACK THE CLOCK—WITH THE HELP OF A FEW SPOOKS THAT ARE SITTING BEHIND THE DOOR. THIS IS PERSONAL WITH ME, SERVERAL OF MY FRIENDS AND MENTORS WERE INVOLVED IN THIS STRUGGLE FOR AN EQUAL EDUCATION-THEY WERE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!

Hattie and I visit President Richard M. Nixon at the White House in 1969

My friend and Spingarn High School basketball teammate Spotswood Bolling was a plaintiff in the 1954 Brown versus Board of Education Supreme Court Ruling. Spotswood is seen celebrating with his mother at their home in SE DC. In 1954 he was a student attending Sousa Middle School at the time of the ruling.  He was later invited to the White House to meet with Vice-President Richard Nixon.

I remember we were in high school during basketball practice when I told him I had met Vice-President Richard Nixon and I had become his caddy on the weekends. Spotswood dribbled around me and said, (paraphasing), “Been there and done that!”

This leads me back to segregated schools, Roe vs Wade, voting rights for Black America being attacked by politicians nation wide (redistricting), and Critical Race Theory.

Spotswood, US Marshall/Judge, Luke C. Moore and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall must be turning over in their graves, to know that politicians have successfully turned back the clock when it comes to the quiet return of segregated schools in America. 

It all comes down to, “Who Can You Trust on Capitol Hill” and you can also add, “Who can you trust on the Supreme Court?” Trump has made Black Americans, “Damage Goods” with his recent appointments!

As I write this blog the politicians are 24 hours away from shutting down the government. As they shut down the government, millions of American citizens will be out of work, including military personel around the world. But guess who won’t be missing a meal or a paycheck? The working stiffs on Capitol Hill! They will ride, or fly away to their villars in the suburbs and have no problem leaving everyone else behind (strike was averted in last minute).

Let us not forget their history during difficult times, especially, their colleague like former Congressman William Jeffereson (D-Louisanna). It was on August 3, 2005, FBI agents raided Jefferson’s home in Northeast Washington as noted in an 83-page affidavit filed to support a subsequent raid on his Congressional office. The FBI found $90,000 in cash in his freezer, in $10,000 increments wrapped in aluminum foil and stuffed inside frozen-food.

Next door in Prince Georges County former County Executive Jack Johnson was also arrested for taking brides. In a raid on his home no money was found hidden in his freezer, but thousands of dollars were found hidden in his wife Lesley”s bloomers ($76,600)! May 17, 2011, Johnson pleaded guilty to extortion and witness-and evidence-tampering. He served most of his seven-year and three-month sentence at the Cumberland Federal Correctional Institution. His wife Lesley served one-year in jail for witness and evidence tampering. Proving crime does pay–she ran for office on the PG City County and won in 2010.

Recently, Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey took accepting brides to a new level, when the FBI raided his home and found gold bars and a stash of cash ($500,00) hidden in his suit pockets. Menendez explained, the money was drawn from his personal bank account in case of a family emergency. The gold bars and brand new Mercedes Benz in his driveway, he never explained.

In the meantime, the American Black Farmers were once promised 40 Acres and a Mule, are now being held hostage by Tom Vilsack and the Agriculture Department. Vilsack refuses to allocate over 5.1 billion dollars or funds necessary under the America Rescue Plan Act, approved by President Joe Biden to help Black Farmers to save their farms. Something is wrong with this picture!

In 1954 Thurgood Marshall was the lead attorney who argued the case of segregated schools in the Supreme Court and won. 

My friend and mentor Luke C. Moore was the US Marshall-In Charge during that turbulent period in American History.  This is the same history that Governors, DeSantis in Florida and Youngum in Virginia do not want Black and White children to learn as they lead the charge by implementing Critical Race Theory (CRT) in our schools across America. 

Thurgood Marshall would go on to become a giant for the civil rights and human rights of all Americans. He was appointed Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court in 1967-1991. He died in 1993.

In a interview with Judge Moore on “Inside Sports” he explained what losingThurgood meant to everyone, no matter black or white! He was a champion for all the people. https://studio.youtube.com/video/Fkafk63frbg/edit?o=U

 Luke was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1955 and joined the Washington, D.C. law firm of Cobb, Howard & Hayes where he remained until 1959 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed him Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.  In 1962, President Kennedy appointed Luke Chief United States Marshal for the District of Columbia.   With that appointment Luke became the first African American to serve as Chief Marshal in any Federal District since President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed Frederick Douglass as U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia in 1877.  His appointment came just months before the Ole Miss crisis with James Meredith.

In 1967 Luke was assigned by President John F. Kennedy to go to Mississippi to lead a larger contingent of US Marshall, after three attempts by Chief U.S. Marshal J.P. McShane, who led a small contingent of marshals to enroll Meredith, but were blocked by Mississippi politicians and state troopers.

President Kennedy ordered a much larger group of deputy U.S. marshals, a 127 man contingent, to carry out the court order and to protect Meredith.  After Meredith successfully enrolled on October 1, this larger contingent was supervised by U.S. Marshal Luke Moore.

Under orders from President Kennedy, over 300 U.S. Border Patrol agents were made special deputies, bring the total number of federal law enforcement officials to 538.  They were soon tested. 

On October 1, ten days after his admission was first blocked by Mississippi officials, Meredith finally became a student at Ole Miss.  Later that day rioting broke out on the Ole Miss campus.  The marshals and federal troops were called up to restore order.  By the time the violence ended two men were killed including a French journalist and 28 deputy marshals were wounded by gunfire.

Following the initial confrontation, US Marshall Luke Moore was assigned to work directly under Chief Marshal McShane and U, S Attorney General Robert Kennedy. Luke, supervised, coordinated and monitored the U.S. Marshal’s activity in Oxford.  In his supervisory capacity Luke traveled to Oxford on numerous occasions although few knew of his role and his visits at the time.

Luke was not the only African American Marshal involved in the Ole Miss integration.  Black deputy U.S marshals were not allowed to participate in the initial integration confrontation but soon afterwards they became a regular part of the Meredith security detail.  The Kennedy Administration did not send those same US Marshals in September and October, 1962, he feared that their presence would further inflame the racist crowds opposed to the integration of Ole Miss. 

In this regard the Kennedy Administration was following a precedent established by President Eisenhower during the 1957 Little Rock Crisis, when he called out the 101st Airborne to the city to enforce a desegregation order and protect the nine black high school students designated to integrate the school.   Eisenhower ordered that only white soldiers of the unit be sent to Little Rock.

Once Meredith was enrolled, however, African American marshals were assigned to his security detail at Ole Miss.  Eight of these marshals, Richard Kirk Bowden, James Palmer, Howard Riley, Oscar Spearman, Joseph Robinson, Cleveland Braxton, Frank Lamondue, and Braxton Harris, all rotated in and out of Oxford and Jackson along with a much larger contingent of white U.S. deputy marshals in October, November, and December 1962. 

Initially even these federal law enforcement officers were subject to Mississippi segregation.  When they were in Oxford, they were housed by local black beauticians Thelma Boone Price and Cecilia Nelson, who were active in the civil rights movement. By Christmas, 1962, they were accommodated, along with white deputy marshals at the Oxford Holiday Inn.

Luke, remained Chief U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia after President Kennedy’s assassination and through the administration of his successor, President Lyndon Baines Johnson. 

April 4, 1968 will be etched in my memory forever. I remember I was tstanding on the corner of 9th & U Streets NW on a beautiful bright sunshiny day. Standing with me was my co-worker, NFL great, Willie Wood. We were both working for the DC Department of Recreation & Parks’ Roving Leader Program.

During the off-season, Willie would return home and work in the DC Public Schools as a teacher or with the Roving Leader Program. 1968, he chose the Roving Leader Program.

WILLIE WOOD INDUCTION INTO THE NFL HALL OF FAME 1989.

We had just had lunch at the Che Maurice Restaurant and were standing on the corner watching the girls/ladies walk by. Suddenly, a car drove by with a brother they called, “DC’s Oldest Teenager” Harvey Cooper. He yelled, “They just shot Dr. King in Memphis”, before we could comprehend what he had just said, they drove off.

Willie and I were left standing there trying to figure what Harvey had just said! People started to come out of the stores and restaurants, screaming, “Dr. King had been shot in Memphis”, no one knew his condition. Willie suggested we call the Roving Leader Office for further instructions.

As we started to walk down the U Street corridor, Luke Moore joined us and we walked shoulder to shoulder until we got to Ben’s Chili Bowl. There we spotted Ben, Carlton Snipes, Duke and several other businessmen standingout front. Luke, left Willie and I to see what was going.

He returned and said, “President Nixon has ordered all businesses to shutdown.” This was according to DC Mayor Walter Washington.

I called Stanley Anderson, the Director of the Roving Leader Program and was told, Assisstant Chief of the DC police Department, Tighman O’Bryant wanted to see me at the 4th District Police HQ. O’Bryant was the highest ranking black on the department in1968.

When I arrived at the V Street NW HQ I was directed to rollcall downstairs. I walked in and O’Bryant called me over and introduced me to the officers all standing at attention. He pulled out a police badge and swore me in–no gun! The badge would allow me to bypass the police and military barricades.

The next three days and three nights were a living hell, until I met FBI undercover agent Wayne Davis. Wayne would later become one of the FBI’s earliest and most respected Black executives. During his career he led the FBI Detroit Office and several other field offices. We hit it off right away. He was a New Jersey guy from Newark. He was an outstanding college basketball player at the University of Connecticut.

We became great friends and after he retired, he made several guest apperances on Inside Sports.

If DC Mayor Barry had left his ego in Facess Restaurant the night I warned him the FBI was coming after him, “The Bitch Would Have Never Set Him Up.” Wayne, told me to warn him.

FBI Director Wayne Davis and me at the Detroit FBI HQ.

We attended the Thomas Hearns vs Pipino Cuevas title fight on August 2, 1980 at the Joe Louis Arena. The HIT MAN won his first world title with a vicious knockout of Mexican power puncher Cuevas. Wayne died at age of 81 in 2020–a brother truly gone too soon.

In 1969 Luke was reappointed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.  Three years later President Richard Nixon appointed him to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  Luke, remained on the bench until his retirement in 1987.

During his tenure on the bench EQUAL JUSTICE was not just a ralling cry it was found in DC Superior Courtrooms. There was Chief Judge Harold Greene, judges, Harry T. Alexander, Ted Newman, Henry Kennedy, Jr. and Chief Judge Eugene Hamilton. In Maryland, William Missouri (Upper Marlboro), and Alex Williams, (Md, Federal Judge) were the Gatekeepers. All followed Luke in support of my non-profit Kids In Trouble, Inc. endeavors. Luke died at the age of 70–another brother gone to soon!

Luke introduces KIT Santa’s Helpers, Roy Jefferson (NFL), Ted Newman and Henry Kennedy, Jr. at the Foxtrappe Annual Christmas toy party. Henry met his wife Altomise at one of the parties.

Thurgood Marshall-Luke Moore-Spotswood Bolling-Willie Wood-Wayne Davis-Eddie Slaughter all warriors in the struggle for a piece of the American Pie!

FOOTNOTE: IN MEMORY OF EDDIE SLAUGHTER

Black Farmer, Eddie Slaughter died suddenly on Wednesday after decades of fighting for the Black Farmer. I met Eddie through my high school teammate and Black Farmer spokesperson, Lawrence Lucas via podcast and occassional telephone conversations where he would explain the plight of the Black Farmer. He was a humble and gracious black man. Eddie was 72 years old. Join Corey Lea, Michael Stovall and other black farmers in Atlanta on December 9th. Show up and show out in memory of Eddie.

This outing will not be read in the Washington Post, or heard on the Joe Madison Sirious XM or Roland Martin Podcasts. Eddie Slaughter, longtime advocate for Black farmers, dies – Center for Public Integrity

harold bell is a pioneer in sports talk radio. His Inside Sports talk show format changed the way we talk and report sports in America and beyond. He can be reached at 240-705-3447

Corey Lea-The Black Farmer

Michael Stovall-The Black Farmer

Colby King Black spokesperson for Joe Biden via Washingon Post

The phrase “40 acres and a mule” has come to symbolize the broken promise that America’s policies offer economic justice for African Americans. Full reparations for Black America will never happen.

The 1% will never give up Power or Money. For example, paid in full to the ancestors of the slave trade, today’s fair market price for Forty-Acres and a Mule, 6.4 trillion-dollars!

‎I met Colby King in the 1990s after he joined the Washington Post commentary staff after leaving Riggs Bank where he was a vice-president. He was later named deputy-editor of the editorial page. He was a mentor and once wrote a $5,000 check for my non-profit organization, Kids In Trouble.

During my career in sports media I have had some great mentors when it comes to the written word, to include, Ms. Frances Murphy (Afro-American), George Solomon (Washington Post), Bert Sugar (Boxing Historian), Jim Vance (WRC TV 4), Howie Evans (NY Amsterdam) and Bill Raspberry (Washington Post).

I have wrtten several freelance sports and commentary columns for the Washington Post. Thanks to George Solomon and Colby King. I met Washington Post owner Donald Graham when he was a young cop on the streets of DC. We broke bread a couple of times.

King is a native Washingtonian, a graduate of Dunbar High School and Howard University. According to his introduction for the Pulitzer Prize, he was known for his against-the-grain columns that spoke to people in power with ferocity and wisdom!

On Thursday September 14th I received an email from Corey Lea, it was an update on his latest legal Merry-Go-Round with the America’s court system on behalf of the Black Farmer. The American Courts are well known for Justice & Just-Us system of law when it comes to Black America!

In the email Corey described how the Biden White House-Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack administration conspired with private banks to take Black farmers land.

Right away Colby King came to mind, his background in banking and his commentaries on Saturdays in the Washington Post might help shed a little light on this charade and fraud of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Man, I dialed a wrong number when I referred Corey to Colby!

Somewhere in the 2,000s after winning The Pulitzer Prize, it sounds like King got lost in the shuffle according to his commentary on President Joe Biden on Saturday September 16, 2023.

King’s commentary two days after I referred Corey to him sadden and disappointed me to no end.

Corey, Michael Stovall, Wayman Hinson, and I have had conversations relating to the Black Farmer down through the years. I met them through spokesperson, Washington, DC native, and my Spingarn high school teammate, Lawrence Lucas. We all have been in the struggle for decades.

Lawrence Lucas spokesperson for the Black Farmer and member of the Spingarn football team in 1967. He is standing on the left in the back row. I am standing on the right back row.

During those conversations as it related to the White House and the Black Farmer, I have never heard them call out Joe Biden for being too old to be President–NEVER! Biden is younger than Lucas and I.

Colby King’s commentary was based on Biden being too old to be President! Not once did he mention the plight of the Black Farmer. I would hate to think King is practicing Critical Race Theory.

Corey Lea invited King to give him a call if he needs clarification–I told Corey not to hold his breath.

In the meantime, there seems to be a divide between Corey Lea and Michael Stovall. They are now in two different camps. Corey is fighting the battle of the Black Farmer through the court system where he has received alledged Debt Relief but no monetary award from the Department of Agriculture to the tune of $250,000. Michael Stovall has received two settlements from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for $250,000 for a total of $500.000. When settlements like Stovall’s are refused by Vilsack, he passes them on to the DOJ.

Vilsack refuses to provide administrated hearings to contest alledged debts of black farmers. However, he pays the USDA for accrued interest on the inflation reduction act.

The accrued interest is prohibited until the administrative complaints are resolved pursuant to the 2008 farm bill and Pigford Settlement agreement is settled.

Stovall has teamed up Lawrence Lucas and they have taken their fight for the Black Farmer to social media, and to the streets with marches and boycotts.

This looks like the “Old Divide & Conquer” used by our enemies and develops into, “He says and she says!” There is no love–and hate becomes the bottom line.

Since I am a eyewitness to this struggle there has been a revolving door. It has become difficult to know who is on First?

The Stovall Team was once, Congressmen Corey Booker, Rafel Warnock, Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren–have all flown the coop!

I watched a recent Podcast narrated by Lawrence Lucas, it looks and sounds like their latest savior is Presidential candidate, Dr. Cornell West. He is running on the GREEN PARTY TICKET and could very well be a thorn in the side of the Biden campaign. The thing only that can save Biden, no one wants Trump.

Biden’s support of Vilsack denying the Black Farmer Debt Relief could bite him in his jackass.

Bill Raspberry was from Mississippi when he landed his teletypist job with the Washington Post in 1962. His first beat assignment was “The Potomac Watch.” He would rise through the ranks according to the Washington Post for his “Fiercely independent views illuminated conflicts related to race and poverty.” Raspberry won a Pulitzer Prize.

King and Raspberry had nothing in common except they both were columnist for the Washington Post and Pulitzer Prize winners. Bill was down to earth and King was a snob.

King knew absolutely nothing about the streets and the poor side of town (Simple City, Potomac Gardens, Barry Farms, Anacostia, Mayfair/Parkside, Langston Terrace, etc). Raspberry followed my lead in the inner-city.

I met Raspberry in 1966 at the favorite hangout of the in-crowd in Washington, DC, Faces Restaurant located on the upper NW corridor of Georgia Avenue.

Legendary radio personality Petey Greene and I were working for the self-help group, the United Planning Organization. We were hired as Neighborhood Workers in 1965.

Petey and I would meet for lunch on Fridays at Face’s for the best fried fish and chicken in the city. On this particular Friday I was running a little late. I found Petey sitting at the bar. He had already ordered my fish lunch and he had my favorite ice tea sitting there waiting for me.

One of the hot topics during that Friday was the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. The Redskins were heading to Dallas for their usual showdown. Petey pretended to hate the Redskins for the sake of an augument. He gave the Redskins no chance of winning and I disagreed.

There was a guy sitting three or four seats to our right we had never seen in Faces before. Petey, looked at him and asked, “My man who do you like?”

The brother didn’t miss a beat, his response, “I am from Mississippi and I have no clude!” Petey, looked at me and said, “Harold Bell, hit the bama with the hammer.” The guy just smiled, but Petey gave him the blues for not being aware of the rivary beween the Redskins and the Cowboys.

He finally introduced himself as Bill Raspberry and he worked for the Washington Post. Petey, looked at him and asked, “Doing what?” His next question, “What paper route do you serve?”

Let the show began. Petey, had the Raspberry laughing so hard, he had to excuse himself and go to the bathroom.

He came back to the bar and introduced himself as a writer for the Washington Post. He later told me me, Petey almost made him pee on himself. This was the beginning of a great friendship. On Fridays, Raspberry would join us for fish or chicken at Faces.

I would start hanging out at the Washington Post with Raspberry. He would introduce me to sports editor, George Solomon and sports writer, Dave Dupree. George, would later become my mentor.

Petey, had a talk show on Sundays on W-O-L Radio, “Petey Greene’s Washington.” He was the talk of the town. He gave me 5 minutes to talk sports every Sunday. After he had done his homework, I had Raspberry call in one Sunday to talk Redskin football.

He would become a supporter of all my community endeavors, Kids In Trouble Christmas Toy Parties, Thanksgiving baskets, community day outings, celebrity fashion shows, tennis tournaments, etc.

SGT. EARL K. BELL WENT FROM A MILITARY COP TO DC COP-THE PLANTATION MENTALITY REMAINED THE SAME!

My younger brother Earl K. Bell aka Bull Bell decided he had enough of racism in the U. S. Army after two tours. He decided to bring his two children and wife back home to the U. S. to escape the blatant racism found in Mannheim, Germany.

He had an unblemish service record. He was a Staff Sergeant on the base Military Police, starting fullback on the base football team, Heavyweight Boxing Champion, table Tennis champion and volunteered as a softball umpire.

When racism raised its ugly head in downtown Mannheim at off-base night clubs, black soldiers turned to him for advice. He led them downtown to a nightclub that had policies of “No Blacks allowed”! 

He was confronted by his co-workers U. S. Army MPs who were sent there to enforce the peace. His actions did not sit well with U. S. Army brass. He was all set to sign for a third tour, but decided to separate from a racist Army and return home to DC.

Some how Jet Magazine got hold of our stories, Earl confronting racism in Germany and his big brother having lunch with an alledged racist President at the White House, Richard Nixon. I kept it moving.

Earl once home applied for the DC Police Department and discovered racism was just not confined to Mannheim, Germany. He passed the physical and scored high on the written exam, but he received a letter from black Assistant Chief Maurice Turner a hometown boy, the letter said, he was ineligible because of his previous juvenile record.

There were laws on the books stating that a juvenile’s record could not be held against him in a Civil Service appointment.

I called Raspberry and explained to him there was a problem in the DC Police Department personnel office relating to my brother’s employment. His response, “I will check it out and get back to you!”

Ollie Johnson in background with ball while Dewey Hughes, Bill Raspberry, and I look for a ball of our own. The ocassion a celebrity basketball outing against the Washington Redskins at the Georgetown University Gym.

Three days later my brother received a letter from Turner saying, “We apologize Mr. Bell it was all a mistake”. Thirteen years as a DC cop–the Thin Blue Line and Code of Silence ended his career in 1984.

Sgt. Bell was disciplined after an abusive Lieutenant stepped on his foot while wearing shower shows in the 7th District Station. The Lieutenant was knocked out with one punch. When the air had cleared Sgt. Bell was lett hanging despite several officers willing to testify on his behalf. Several months later he was was taken off the streets and assigned to the Police & Fire Clinic in SE DC.

The first morning of his new assignment he met a 16 wheeler on a icy Southern Avenue and Suitland Parkway overpass-the 16 wheeler won.

Washington Post columnist Dorothy Gilliam picked up the baton and kept the legacy of Sgt. Earl K. Bell alive. Cops were wall to wall in the reception room of the hospital. They came in all colors, shapes and forms to show their respect for the MAN they called “Sgt. Bull Bell!”

Raspberry joins Fatty Taylor (NBA)-Larry Brown (NFL)-Petey Greene and HB for Community Day at the Kids In Trouble Hillcrest Saturday Program.

DC Recreation Department Director, Joe Cole-Bill Raspberry and Carlton Snipes (U Street Mayor) thank everyone for their participation.

Washington Post columnist, Bill Raspberry expose police union for breaking the truce between youth and Officer Friendly cops in the inner-city. A peace that had taken years to cultivate.

Officer Friendly, Charles Robinson and I have a friendly encounter in “The Hood” with Ricky Dargin and Kirby Burkes.

This brings me full circle back to Black Farm Leader Corey Lea and Washington Post Editorial columnist, Colby King.

On September 12, 2023 I received an email from Corey Lea regarding the Biden White House and Agriculture Secretary,Tom Vilsack who was trying to destroy the Black Farmer. Along with Vilsack, BlacK leadership has kicked the Black Farmer so far to the back of the bus there is an overload. Rosa Parks can’t find a seat.

Politicians, Corey Booker (D-NJ) once a Presidential candidate and Rafel Warnock (D-Ga.) a benefactor of the black vote in a recent run-off election. They were what was once thought to be die-hard supporters have all but disappered without a trace from the Black Farmer landscape.

These two brothers are in Washington, DC this weekend (September 21st thru the 24th) to celebrate the annual Congressional Black Caucus Weekend. They will be singing our decades old theme song, “We Shall Overcome”, with added lyrics, “There is a party over here and there is a party over there!”

Michael Stovall and spokesperson, Lawrence Lucas, don’t seem to know “Who’s on First Base” and whether or not it will take a base hit, stolen base, sacrifice fly, walk or error to reach second base. Their relief pitcher President Biden is in the White House–its the blind leading the blind.

In the meantime, neither of the three are in Washington, DC to confront Booker, Warnock or members of the Congressional Black Caucus, to ask the question–“Why is there no support for the Black Farmer?”

The according to the latest statistics, MVP Vilsack is pitching a shutout, no-hitter and blocking home plate-No body is on First Base!

FOOTNOTE: In March, it will be 3 years and Biden-Vilsack has yet to deliver pandemic relief to Black farmers. On this same weekend, the Congressional Black Caucus is partying it up in DC while Black farmers may not get relief and ultimately not get crops in the ground in 2024. Biden-Vilsack are enriching White farmers at the moment so they will be able to buy the foreclosed farms that once belonged to Black farmers. This is a reality! Black America’s allegiance to the Democratic Party will be put to the test in the Polls in 2024. This is a personal hell for Black farmers to have Biden in the White House!!!!

REACHING ACROSS THE ISLE BLACK-WHITE-DEMOCRAT-REPUBLICAN FOR THE KIDS

THEY NEVER ASKED ME IF I WAS A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT!

LONNIE TAYLOR-THE FIRST BLACK CHIEF OF STAFF FOR A WHITE CONGRESSMAN ON CAPITOL HILL. HE WAS AN INNER-CITY KID WHO NEVER FORGOT!

“EVERY BLACK YOU SEE IS NOT YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER & EVERY WHITE FACE YOU SEE IS NOT YOUR ENEMY!”

Brad Gilbert is old school. He was born in Oakland, California and if you ever met him, you would notice he is down to earth and there is nothing pretenious about him.

I met Brad through my long time friend and tennis junkie, LaMont Penry. LaMont has been a main stay at the tennis courts located at 16th and Colorado Avenue, NW in Washington, DC for the past several decades as a Chair Umpire and a Professional Line Umpire

Lamont has since become an International Line Oficial who has worked the Olympics, Davis Cup, Fed Cup and Laver Cup. He has traveled the World, from 16th street, to the U. S. Open to the games at Wimbledon, in Paris, France.

LaMONT AT WORK AT THE U. S. OPEN AS A LINE JUDGE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON RAFAEL NADAL

I had been participating and covering at what was once The Evening Star Tennis Tournament at the 16th street tennis courts since 1968. In 1967 I was the legendary comedian Petey Greene’s sidekick on his talk show–Petey Geene’s Washington. The show was heard on W-O-L Radio every Sunday evening.

He gave me 5 minutes to talk sports, Redskins, Bullets and Nats. We had a lot of fun for a couple of years. In 1970 he got tired of me and told to get my own show. ]

I switched to W-O-L and the popular DJ Bobby “The Mighty Burner” Bennett in the same building. One year later in 1972 I moved my sports talk show to W-O-O-K Radio1450 on the AM dial in NE Washington, DC.

It was here I took sports talk to another level, thanks to program manager, Carl Fergerson and popular DJ John “Terrible Turk” Edwards, a life time friend.

Inside Sports would become my tag and my Brand. It was during dinner the night before my debut show my wife Hattie gave me the tag Inside Sports, it would change the way we talk and report sports in America and beyond. Sports and political formats were unhear of in the 70s.

One evening after my show, Carl Fergerson brought to my attention that pro tennis was on the menu for the weekend at the Carter Baron Theater on 16th Street NW.

It was called The Evening Star Tennis Tournament. The headliners were Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors, two high profile rivals. The tournament sounded like somewhere I needed to be.

When I arrived I saw Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors sitting around in an open outdoor tent waiting for their next match. Out of nowhere, I was approached by a gentleman who thought I was lost and asked if he could help me? I did noticed that Ashe and I were the only black faces under the tent.

I told him I was Harold Bell and I was there to cover the tournament. He introduced himself as Charlie Brotman. He was the Press Relations Director for the tournament and for me to make myself at home.

Arthur Ashe was sitting nearby and I went over to introduce myself to him. We shook hands and it went downhill from there. I told him I was a sports talk show host here in DC and I was wondering if he could be a guest on my show? He said, “No” and walked away. So much for Brotherly Love in the Nation’s Capitol!

Suddenly, there was a voice from a nearby table saying, “Sir, I will be on your show.” It was Jimmy Connors.

I went over and sat down and I introduced myself. He wanted to know if we could do the show by telephone? I said, “Yes.” I gave him the time I would be on the air (3 pm) on Sunday and the number to the show.

He didn’t make any promises and said, he would have to check the schedule for Sunday and if he was free, he would call.

On Sunday, I was good because I had the legendary Godfather of the NBA, Red Auerbach and his wife Dotie in studio as my co-host. Red was a big tennis fan, but I did not utter a word to him that Jimmy Connors might be calling in.

Around 3:15 pm Red and I are talking DC playground basketball, when Carl Fergerson bangs on the studio window with a sign reading, “Jimmy Connors on line 2.” I whisper to Red, Jimmy Connors is calling into the show. He says nothing, I click on line 2 and I say, “Hey Jimmy, thanks for calling in.”

Dotie and Red Auerbach smile as we welcome Jimmy Connors to Inside Sports

Jimmy respones, “Hey Harold, I told you if I could break free I would call.” Red almost choked on his cigar and said, “What a surprise!” Jimmy hung in there with us for at least 20 minutes. That was my introduction to pro tennis–I got over the Ashe snub and kept it moving.

photo by don baker

12 YEAR-OLD JOSEPH BAKER AND FORMER NBA PLAYER ADRIAN BRANCH JOIN ME AND RED FOR A INSIDE SPORTS CELRBRITY TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN ANACOSTIA PARK IN SOUTH EAST DC.

I called Henry Kennedy Sr. my partner in all my community endeavors to tell him about having Jimmy Connors’ surprise visit on Inside Sports.

He laughed and said, “I am not surprised, I know Jimmy, his agent and his mother! Jimmy is a Mommy’s Boy. Let me know when you need him again and I will get him for you.” Small World!

This brings me back to Brad Gilbert and LaMont Penry. LaMont and I would become great friends and he would introduce me to the players when an opportunity presented it self. Most important, he made it possible for me to expose my Kids In Trouble program participants to another World. A World that would enhance their opportunities to dream for a better tomorrow.

I brought to LaMont’s attention that there were certain PR folks who were blocking me from getting interviews with James Blake and other high profile players. When Coco made her first appearance in DC those same PR types again refused me press credentials.

LaMont would introduce me to Brad in the early 90s before he became the coach for the great Andre Agassi. By 1994 Andre was red hot and the No. 1 Men’s Player in the World.

On Andre’s next visit to 16th street, Brad made sure I had excess and James Blake followed Andre’s lead.

After Andre had defeated Blake in the semi-finals of the tournament, I interviewed both players at the press conference open to all the media. Brad made sure I got a chance for a few private minutes to discuss the contributions of the great Arthur Ashe. The contributions that benefited both men and women in today’s tennis World. https://studio.youtube.com/video/6gRvsK87kh0/edit?o=U

ANDRE AND I TALK ABOUT THE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS OF ARTHUR ASHE

When I say, Coco Gauff hit the jackpot, it means she can count on Brad being transparent, truthful and honest as he has been during his entire career as a player and Coach.

COACH BRAD GILBERT AND COCO GAUFF THE NEW SHERIFF IN TENNIS

Coco’s acceptance speech was from the heart when she said, “Honestly, thank you to the people who didn’t believe in me…two weeks ago, I won a 1000 title (in Cincinnati) and people were saying that was the biggest it was going to get,” three weeks later, I’m here with this trophy right now.“

John McEnroe’s respones was a foul no matter the game you played. He said, “I have a hard time believing her claim about her doubters. One reason is because of her young age (being young does not make you a liar).

I heard Coco talking about the people who were writing her off and saying that she was never going to win a major. Who were those people?

I’m not familiar with those people because I think her progress has been steady. It has been really positive, and she was in the final of the French. Okay, so there were a couple of stumbling blocks along the way, but I don’t think anyone didn’t think she was going to win a bunch of majors.”

One reason McEnroe is not familiar with “THOSE PEOPLE” is because he never had to walk in her parents or Coco’s shoes! He and his brother Patrick came from a DIFFERENT WORLD of “White Privilege.”

The player haters and envy and jealous people who were claiming she would never become the player she is now. My advice, ignore them, they will go back in the closet and wait for her to fail. Her winning is like krytonite and the closet is their only defense.

Brad has been hitting home runs right out of the box as a tennis coach. First, with Andre Agassi, Andy Rodick and now Coco Gauff. No surprise envy and jealousy has surfaced among his peers.

If Coco follows Brad and her parent’s lead and leave the McEnroes and his kind locked in the closet, her winning attitude will be more important than any game she wins.

Just think if Arthur Ashe had acted like the idiot McEnroe was, there would be no Arthur Ashe Stadium at the U. S. Open.

NIKE STORE MANAGER LAURA HANES AND I VISIT THE CAPITOL HILL OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN WALTER FAUNTROY TO GIFT HIM SOME NIKE RUNNIG SHOES AND APPARELL FOR HIS NEXT CAMPAIGN RUN.

I met McEnroe in 1978 in Washington, DC when I was the first Nike Shoe rep on the East Coast.

One of McEnroe’s first visits after signing a Nike Shoe contract was to the Nation’s Capitol for a promo visit at the Nike store on M Street in Georgetown.

Former Boston Celtic and NBA Hall of Fame great, the late Sam Jones was also a Nike rep working with me on the day McEnroe arrived. He was aloof and had very little personality. Forty-five years later, he is who Sam and I thought he was.

OLD SCHOOL TEACHING NEW SCHOOL–NIKE REP AND NBA GREAT SAM JONES AND I HOST A NIKE BASKETBALL CLINIC FOR NEW SCHOOL AT DREW ELEMENTARY IN NW WASHINGTON, DC

Brad has always been a “Class Act!” He has never been a mediorce human being and he was not a mediocre player. He was no John McEnroe, but I would jump over 10 McEnroes to get to one Brad Gilbert.

As a professional tennis player Brad won 20 pro singles tournaments during his career, adding three doubles titles. His best world ranking was #4, which he achieved in January 1990. His best finish at a Grand Slam singles were quarter-final appearances at the US Open in 1987 and at Wimbledon in 1990.

His best year on tour was 1989 when he won five singles titles, and claimed wins over four future Hall of Famers – Pete Sampras, Michael Chang, Boris Becker, and Stefan Edberg. Those were no Howdy Doody tennis players.

Coco’s parents will never have to worry about Brad leading their daughter down the wrong path and giving her bad advice–what they see is what they will get with Brad Gilbert.

Let me say this again, “Every Black Face you see is not your brother or sister–And every White face you see is not your enemy!”

U. S. OPEN MENS’ SINGLES WINNER, THE GREAT NOVAK DJOKOVIC IS ANOTHER CLASS ACT. HE PAYS TRIBUTE TO HIS FRIEND, THE LATE NBA GREAT–KOBE BRYANT.

harold bell–is a radio sports talk show pioneer. His work with at-risk children and youth gangs in DC is legendary. He can be reached at 240-705-3447

“MURAL-MURAL ON THE WALL-WALI JONES WAS THE MOST DESERVING OF THEM ALL.“

Wali’s dad, Pop Jones was 107 years young. The 82 years young Wali Jones says, “He was my hero and I did not make a move without him. He still inspires me to be all that I can be and more.”

Pop Jones recently died in 2024, despite his passing, Wali feels his dad’s present each and everyday.

Decades later Wali is still making children FIRST!

Wali watches as his 76er teammate Billy Cunningham and his dad, “Pop Jones” help a kid reach his goal.

There is a long history of community activism in the Jones’ family.

Wali has a long history as a community advocate. “It started with my father,”  Jones said. “But my grandmother was a community activist with the Shriners. My aunt was a community activist in West Philadelphia. So, the name Jones is affiliated with community.”

In the entry to Mt. Airy Baptist Church. Great-Grand Dad, Rev. Alfred Johnson Tyler.

When it comes to family history and community advocacy, Wali and I have a lot in common. My great-grandfather, the late Rev. Alfred Johnson Tyler laid the first brick to build Mt. Airy Baptist Church in 1893 in Washington, DC.

Grandma Bell and her grands-The Usual Suspects. She led the the way when it came to reaching back to help others.

My Aunts-Grandma Bell’s Warriors: Aunt June and Helen (top left) and Aunt Sara (top right). They all had backhands that would make tennis stars, Venus and Serena’s look ordinary.

Grandma Bell and my Great-Uncle Rev. Earl Tyler were Community Advocates in the 40s and 50s. Mt Airy Baptist Church was their “Bully Pulpit.” The Tyler House a Senior Residence two blocks north of the church at North Capitol and New York Avenue NW is named after my Great-Uncle, Earl Tyler.

Amy Tyler Bell aka Grandma Bell was the boss and matriarch of the church. Following Sunday services Grandma Bell would hand pick several grands to accompany her and my uncle, the Rev. Tyler on a pilgrimage of the next door housing project, Sergin Quarters. There we would visit the sick and shut-in. On Wednesday evenings after choir rehearsal, we would visit the sick and shut-in at Freeman’s Hospital on the grounds of Howard University.

My youth/senior citizen advocacy were inherited from Grandma Bell and Uncle Earl. My three aunts, Sara, Helen and June were nothing to play with, when it came to Civil and Human Rights. My Aunt June was a hell raiser and trouble-maker in the 50s and 60s at the Pentagon. So, the Tyler/Bell name is affiliated with community.

I remember my mentor, Sonny Hill once saying to me, “The folks in DC will be the last ones to recognize your good works.” It was then I decided, ‘To Let Go and Let God.’ I had no time to waste on the naysayers while little children’s blood flowed in our streets.

My cousin NBA Super-Star Donovan Mitchell on my mother’s side of the family is following in the footsteps of my great-uncle, William James aka Uncle Billy. Uncle Billy was the first black attorney allowed to practice law in Sumpter County, SC. The KKK ran him, my mother and her siblings out of Sumpter with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Uncle Billy was also a great athlete at Morris Brown College in Atlanta. He was voted into the Black South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2000. It was the same year I started a successful campaign to get NBA Pioneer Earl Lloyd inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2003.

Donovan has quietly mades his present felt when it comes to Human and Civil rights in the NBA.

His rookie year in the NBA as a member of the Utah Jazz, he challenged the politicians who tried to make Critical Race Theory (CRT) a part of the Utah public schools’ curriculum.

In a video Utah Senate President Stuart Adams tells a panel, recorded on May 21st (my birthday) as part of the Council for National Policy’s 40th Anniversary Meeting. Adam says, “I recently received a text about an article detailing Donovan Mitchell’s disapproval with the resolutions, especially, Critical Race Theory.”

“Donovan Mitchell didn’t ‘understand’ Utah’s critical race theory resolution”, Adams says. When it came to a vote on the Senate Floor, the Critical Race Theory Curriculum, was voted down. I wonder, what was it about racism and the Critical Race Theory Donovan did not understand?

Thanks to Donovan’s mom, Nicole a middle school teacher in Connecticut, he was ahead of the curve when it came to civil and human rights in America. The first thing he did when he signed an 193 million dollar extension with the Utah Jazz, he donated 12 million dollars to his old middle school.

“Teachers are the unsung heroes throughout all of this,” Mitchell said. “They’re underpaid. I’ve seen my mom teach for a lot of years … and there are a lot of times teachers are paying out of pocket to make the kids’ experiences great. To be able to support the teachers was something I wanted to focus on. I’m extremely blessed to be able to make that happen.” Donovan Mitchell leads, he does not follow.

It appears that Donovan believes that teachers in America should be paid on the same scale as pro athletes, and they should.

In 1979 I was the first student/athlete to pay tribute to my high school Principal, Dr. Purvis Williams and his team of teachers and staff at Spingarn High School in Washington, DC. My basketball teammate, Andrew Johnson and I coordinated and were the host of a “Thank You Luncheon” in their honor at Mingles Restaruant in downtown DC. The luncheon was a knockout. One of my proudest reach-back moments.

IN HONOR OF OUR TEACHERS: Basketball Coach Dr. William Roundtree, Police Officer, Ray Dixon-Student/Athletes, Harold Bell and Dave Bing-and King of The Hill, Principal Dr. Purvis Williams.

The mural presentation for Wali Jones took place during the Mantua Civic Association and We Embrace Fatherhood’s Day of Community Engagement, close to 200 people were in attendance.  

The organizer, Derek “Bub” Pratt, explained why the mural was being created for Jones. 

“First and foremost, [in order to] give him his flowers and recognition while he’s here,” Pratt said. “He can see it and be a part of it.  For the most part, I’m into giving people their flowers while [they] can smell them. And, he’s been a leader and an outstanding educator and basketball player, a champion. He was born and raised in West Philadelphia. So, I want to make sure we honor him and make sure our future generations know our history.”

Wali gained his reputation as a fierce competitor at Overbrook High School in West Philadelphia, and continued as a highly touted guard at Villanova University. He went on to play with the 76ers as a point guard on the 1967 championship team anchored by the ORIGINAL GOAT-the great Wilt Chamberlain.

 

Wali dribbles by the great L A Laker Jerry West

For the last 20 years here on the East Coast, Jones has been engaging student athletes in basketball clinics with an emphasis on teaching them to be productive.

The City of Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly love and if you ever met Wali Jones you would understand why.

Wali played basketball in the Sonny Hill/John Chaney Baker League with Wilt Chamberlain, Earl Monroe, and all the other Philly playground greats. Philadelphia playground basketball was the forerunner when it comes to summer league basketball in America. The New York Rucker League followed their lead.

Wali and I meet at the Sonny Hill/John Chaney basketball Tournament outside of Temple University where it all started.

Mayor Wilson Goode and “Mr. Basketball” Sonny Hill take me on a tour of the city playgrounds

The Philly Connection: NFL WR Roy Jefferson (Pittsburg Steelers)-Willie Wood (NFL great and the first black WFL Head Coach of the Phila. Bell)-Sonny Hill (Mr. Basketball)) and Johnny Sample (NFL/AFL All-Pro corner back. The only player in pro football history to play on two different World Championship Football teams (The NFL Baltimore Colts 1959 and the AFL New York Jets 1969).

My late brother Billy, took this photo outside of the church at Wilt’s funeral.

Wilt is without a doubt the greatest NBA player of all time. Wilt owns more NBA records than any other player in the history of the NBA. The NBA changed the rules to stop him from making the game look like child’s play-Wali Jones is a part of his legacy. 

I met Wilt (Philly) through my homeboy and friend, the late Dave Harris. Dave was Wilt’s roommate at the University of Kansas. Dave was an outstanding football player and Track & Field athlete at Cardozo High School in DC.

Dave brought Wilt home to DC during their freshman year. He orchestrated the head to head playground basketball game between Wilt and Elgin Baylor that was heard around America. The game put DC on the hotbed of playground basketball.

Years later I was hanging out with Sonny Hill one weekend, he took me to one of Wilt’s house parties and introduced me again. The late legendary Carl Greene (Winston-Salem alumni) was Wilt’s teammate on the Harlem Globe Trotters. He made arrangements for Wilt to be my guest on Inside Sports.

The Sonny Hill/John Chaney basketball camps were the first camps to teach the fundamentals of the game for my DC based Kids In Trouble program. It was our first travel to a basketball camp outside of the city. Dave Bing/Howie Lang (Poconos Mountains) and Bighouse Gaines/Earl Monroe (Winston-Salem, NC) clinics would follow.

When I attend high school and family reunions today, those clinics are still talked about with adults who were participants in my Kids In Trouble program in the late 60s-70s-80s and 90s.

Special thanks to the late Temple Basketball Coach John Chaney, for reaching back to support Kids In Trouble and Inside Sports.

Wali was always a class act during those early days. He had a hic-cup here and there like we all do, but he managed to stay above the fray of the naysayers. To understand the success of Kids In Trouble and my trail blazing Inside Sports talk radio show-you have to look no further than the city of Brotherly love.

In our recent telephone conversation, I told Wali how proud I was to be his friend. His response was typical Wali Jones, “Harold Bell you are family. You are in that Mural on the Wall.”

Grandma’s hands
Clapped in church on Sunday morning
Grandma’s hands
Played the organ so well
Grandma’s hands
Used to issue out a warning
She’d say, Harold don’t you run so fast
Might fall on a piece of glass
Might be snakes there in that grass
Grandma’s hands

Grandma’s hands
Soothed a local unwed mother
Grandma’s hands
Used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma’s hands
Used to lift her face and tell her
She’d say, Baby, grandma understands
That you really love that man
Put yourself in Jesus’ hands
Grandma’s hands

Grandma’s hands
Used to hand me piece of candy
Grandma’s hands
Picked me up each time I fell
Grandma’s hands
Boy, they really came in handy
She’d say, Mattie don’ you whip that boy
What you want to spank him for?
He didn’ drop no apple core
But I don’t have grandma anymore

If I get to heaven I’ll look for
Grandma’s hands.

Bill Withers

LEBRON JAMES MEETS THE PRESS FOR DAMAGE CONTROL FOR THE “I PROMISE MIDDLE SCHOOL”, HE SUPPORTS THE SCHOOL FINANCIALLY IN HIS HOMETOWN OF CLEVELAND.

Children around the country are heading back to school to face the same old problems they left there in June 2023 and some new and added problems–Critical Race Theory and Transgender bathrooms!

In Cleveland, Ohio “The King” LeBron James has a math and reading problem at his school of “I Promise.”

No members of I Promise’s inaugural class have passed the math portion of Ohio’s proficiency test since the school opened. Just 3.1% of the school’s sixth grade class demonstrated proficiency in English language arts in 2021-22, and none achieved math proficiency.

The report could be misleading because of the pandemic. See the full story at the link below. https://www.complex.com/sports/a/tracewilliamcowen/lebron-james-i-promise-school-low-test-scores

In the meantime, here in DMV there are not enough teachers to teach and not enough drivers to drive, all want a slary increase!

In Howard County, Md. one school district, children were left with little or no transportation. Officials claim that there was a bottleneck as 200 buses tried to leave the lot at the same time-sounds like boycott!

In most school districts they are still trying to figure out a way to keep our children safe from the evils that lurk, inside and outside of the schools! The see through book bags to deter bringing guns into the schools have been almost non-existence.

I will never forget the Dinner Party in 2016, my wife Hattie and I were sitting around a table discussing a Donald Trump White House with several other dinner guest, very little has changed in 2023.

We are still talking about a Donald Trump White House or could it be a Donald Trump-Jail House!

One brother, a Ph.D. from a prestigious Ivy League School and a CEO, decided to explain the problem that we are now facing in Black America as it related to our schools.

The problem, he said, “It started with teachers and community activists.  What is a kid going to learn from someone who decided his or her best option in life was to become a teacher or community activist?”  

You could hear folks around the table take a deep breath!

He went on to remind us what they say about teachers:  “Those who can, do.  Those who can’t, teach.”

To my surprise he turned to me, and said, “Harold you are a community activist and youth advocate,  be honest, what do you make as a Historian at Ben’s Chili Bowl? 

My response should have been, “A half-smoke with Chili!”

I have been known to call them like I see them.  Instead, I replied, “Ben’s Chili Bowl could never pay me what I am worth.  Do you really want to know what I make?

MONTGOMERY COUNTY MOTORCYCLE COPS JOIN ME FOR LUNCH AT BEN’S CHILI BOWL.

“First, I have gone where there were no paths in community involvement by pro athletes, politicians, entertainers and law-enforcement (Officer Friendly). I used my non-profit organization, Kids In Trouble and Inside Sports radio talk show formats and made a trail for the NBA-NFL and MLB to follow. 

THE INSIDE SPORTS FORMAT CHANGED THE WAY WE TALK AND REPORT SPORTS IN AMERICA.

A SPORTS & POLITICS FORMAT WERE UNHEARD OF ON RADIO AND TELEVISION IN THE 70s.

ESPN RECENTLY BARRED REPORTERS FROM DICUSSING POLITICS ON THE NETWORK.

In the meantime, I made kids believe that if a knucklehead like me from a NE housing project could sit on a mountaintop with The Greatest, Muhammad Ali, and have lunch at the White House with President Richard M. Nixon of the United States of America—so could they.

PAT PATTERSON HAS OUR BACKS WHILE THE GREATEST AND ME CONDUCT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP.

SECRETARY OF STATE WILLIAM ROGERS LOOKS ON WHILE PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON WELCOMES HATTIE T AND ME TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

I made kids excel in the classroom.  I made C students feel like they just won the Congressional Medal of Honor and a B and an A were in their future.

I made them feel they were the best when they took the field in sports.  I taught them sportsmanship and made them respect each other.  I taught them that losing a game was not the end of the world.

I taught them there will always be a game the next day or the next week.

I made young athletes understand, that the most important game being played was not football-basketball or baseball.  It is the Game Called Life and their life did matter. 

I made kids understand that every black face they saw was not their brother or sister, and every white face they saw was not their enemy.

I made kids do one hundred sit-ups and one hundred jumping jacks when they didn’t follow the rules.  I made them understand there are consequences when they didn’t follow the rules.

I made kids believe their heroes were not athletes, entertainers, or drug pushers.  Their heroes are their parents and teachers.

In 2007 I saved a young austic girl who had fallen or was pushed on to the subway tracks at Potomic Avenue Station in SE DC. I pulled her off the tracks as a subway train was approaching the station. I made the rescue look like a walk in the park. I was scared to death. I was soaking wet after the rescue. I think I had peed on my self.

HATTIE AND I ARE HONORED WITH A CERTIFICATE FROM THE METRO GENERAL MANGER JOHN CATEO.

I made a young man like Lonnie Taylor growing up in the inner-city believe he could become the first black Chief of Staff for a white Congressman on Capitol Hill.

I helped prepare Dave Bing to survive the wars of the NBA on the playgrounds of DC.  He would later become, the Mayor of Detroit.

BING NBA SCORING LEADER TO THE NBA HALL OF FAME

BING PRESENTS ME WITH A COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

THE ROUNDBALL REPORT THE PG COUNTY TELEVISION BASKETBALL SHOW WITH ESPN ANALYST CHRISTIE WINTERS-SCOTT AND MONICA McNUTT-THEIR NBA CREDENTIALS VIA INSIDE SPORTS.

I helped make Cathy Hughes a radio and television personality by becoming a mentor to her son, Alfred Liggins. He became a benefactor of Kids In Trouble my non-profit organization. He participated in the John Chaney/Sonny Hill and Bighouse Gaines/Earl Monroe basketball camps in Philadephia and Winston-Salem, NC respectively. He and his mother were gifted with Nike apparel during her days as a receptionist for WHUR Radio. Not to mention the gifts given to her by Larry Brown and Earl Monroe.

WHUR RADIO: CATHY HUGHES AND ALFRED LIGGINS

NFL FILMS VIDEO TAPE NFL PLAYERS

RB Larry Brown and LB Harold McLinton are teaching water safety to inner-city kids at the Hillcrest Saturday Program. A year earlier I had saved an 8 year old boy I found lying on the bottom of the pool. This was the first ever NFL video promo seen on national television in 1972.

I helped make Sugar Ray Leonard believe he could become a World Boxing Champion when others had forgot. He became the first in the history of the sport to earn over one hundred million dollars in prize money. 

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN SUGAR RAY LEONARD MADE CHILDREN FIRST.

I helped make BET comedian Chris Thomas “The Mayor of Rap City.”  I provided him with his first Comic Relief platform on Inside Sports. Chris was on WYCB Radio with me when Sugar Ray beat Wilfred Benetiz for his first title. Ray called in LIVE on Inside Sports to thank me for my support. He said, “Harold I am the Welterweight Champion of the World tonight, because you were there when no one else was.”

CHRIS THOMAS BEFORE HE BECAME “THE MAYOR OF BET”– INSIDE SPORTS WAS HIS PLATFORM.

I helped to make gospel singer Robin Sugar Williams believe she could become somebody and sing at the White House for the President of the United States and around the World.

ROBIN-FOZIE-UNKNOWN SANTA AND HB. SANTA’S HELPERS FOR ANNUAL KIT TOY PARTY.

I helped mentee Omar Tyree to become a best-selling author for the NY Times.  He penned “Flyy Girls and Marion Barry: Mayor For Life.”

AUTHOR COOL HAND LUKE OMAR TYREE–WATCH OUT HOLLYWOOD.

I used Inside Sports to help Georgetown basketball Coach John Thompson to promote his team when he had a difficult time winning a game. The GT play by play games were heard on W-O-OK Radio. He later became the first black to win a NCAA Division One title. I introduced him to Nike and he became a millionaire. 

JOHN THOMPSON IS SANTA’S HELPER DURING ANNUAL KIDS IN TROUBLE CHRISTMAS TOY PARTY.

When I was the East Coast Nike Rep, Howard White participated in my community endeavors until he hooked on with Michael Jordan. He was recently featured in the movie “Air” based on Michael Jordan’s legacy as the face of Nike. Actor/Comedian Chris Tucker plays White in the movie.

HOWARD WHITE KNEELING ON RIGHT AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE INSIDE SPORTS & KIT CELEBRITY TENNIS TOURNAMENT–ANACOSTIA PARK IN SE DC. HE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE.

When others had forgotten their sucess. I paid tribute to pioneering Ohio State first black QB, Cornelius Greene and his DC teammates, Woodrow Roach and Lenny Willis at the Shorham Hotel. Joining them were legendary Coach Woody Haynes and two time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

OHIO STATE: COACH WOODY HAYNES-QB CORNELIUS GREENE-RB WOODROW ROACH-RB ARCHIE GRIFFIN-RB LENNY WILLIS AND HBELL. TRIBUTE AT THE SHORHAM HOTEL IN WASHINGTON, DC.

I guided QB Doug Williams through the community as he guided the Washington Redskins to the 1988 NFL Super Bowl. He became the first black QB to win a Super Bowl and the MVP.

HB-HATTIE T & QB DOUG WILLIAMS

When the NFL and the NBA “Blackballed” the great Willie Wood and pioneer Earl Lloyd and forgot their contributions to the pro sports franchises–I made them remember. 

GREEN BAY PACKER GREAT WILLIE WOOD WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NFL HALL OF FAME IN 1989. EARL LLOYD WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NBA HALL OF FAME IN 2003.

ALEXANDRIA YOUTH HONOR NBA PIONEER EARL LLOYD IN FRONT HIS STATURE AT THE CHARLES HOUSTON REC CENTER IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

I MADE KIDS BELIEVE THE MOST IMPORTANT HALL OF FAME–IS GO’S.

MR. CEO, THAT IS WHAT I MAKE–I MAKE A DIFFERNCE. WHAT DO YOU MAKE?

FOOTNOTE: WE WILL ALL KNOW THE MOMENT WHEN AMERICA DECIDES TO REALLY MAKE CHILDREN FIRST-EVERY SCHOOL BUS IN AMERICA WILL HAVE SEAT BELTS!

THIS PAGE IS IN HONOR OF MY MENTOR AND COUSIN DC NATIVE, EARL TILDON. HE RECENTLY WENT HOME TO BE WITH THE LORD- I WISH TO BE THE GREAT WRITER HE WAS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS WATCHING YOU. RIP BIG BROTHER.

A GRIEVING MOTHER’S TEARS

Author Earl Tildon 1993

Who is Harold Bell?  From where I sit, a man obsessed with youth and children’s plight.  He is a man who walks swiftly away from compromise, aggressively wanting things right.  Who is Harold Bell?  From where I sit, he is an arrogant rebel with youth as his cause.  He keeps raising their issues without fear or pause.

Why does Harold Bell do what he does, and why does he do it his way?  It may be because many others who did it are longer doing it today.  It may be that those who have risen to the heights don’t quite remember any more.  For once they have left the place of their birth they throw away the key that once opened the door.  Harold Bell is no diplomat; perhaps he doesn’t know how the game is played! Perhaps he is naïve to think that “Superstars” are coming back where he stays.  Could it be that it is not vogue to court the poor, or not want a black child to die, or maybe it is politically incorrect to ask the question why?

Maybe Harold Bell speaks up too much, or perhaps he is far too crude.  Or maybe he has spoken out against the establishment, or maybe he has just been rude.  But Harold Bell didn’t invent rudeness nor does he speak as loud as some, for leaders have known through the ages that justice goes to the beating drum.

Harold Bell perhaps understands that silence somehow appears to be consent.  And he knows that our oppressors flourish when our heads and backs are bended.  He also knows that children maybe homeless or parentless or in pain.  He also knows that their need to survive is real and to reach out to our children the World gains.

Thank God Harold Bell has access to the media so that we can read and listen to his candid outspoken word.  Thank God for readers and listeners who understand motivation is what we need.  Thank God for those like Harold Bell, who speak out against “Kids killing kids,” crack, heroin and speed.

It is hard for me to understand why some may dislike Harold Bell!  He is such a nice guy it is hard to believe some would turn him off while little children die.  There may have been a word that even Harold Bell could say that would have caused the listener to save a child along the way.

But such is life we can’t always please, so why expect it of Harold Bell?  He did not create today’s problems and who are we to judge we do so little well?  At least he is study on the course and he is consistent from year to year.  We need more Harold Bells who understand our plight and “A Grieving Mother’s Tears!”

I was sadden to read and see on the news the on-going deteriorating conditions of public school education in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia aka DMV.

In Prince Georges County, the board of education has been a comedy act of Albert and Costello for decades. It has been “Who’s On First!?” Black children have yet to be on FIRST in America’s education system.

In June 2023, the County Executive Angela Alsobrooks was hear saying, this about the new Superintendent, “Millard House, has experience success in leading diverse school districts, like PGCPS, which led me to chose him to lead PGCPS.” My man ain’t seen DIVERSE until he has seen PG County!

Famous “Last words!” Remember, Juanita Miller, she was appointed to the School Board by County Executive Alsobrooks? That appointment became a power struggle between the board and Ms. Miller.

When they tried to fire Ms. Miller and kick her to the curb, the lady from the Benning Road corridor in NE DC said, “No way Hosea, I ain’t going quietly!”

County Executive Alsobrooks, suddenly distanced herself from her appointment, she saw no evil, heard no evil and spoke no evil as it related to her friend.

If the naysayers and player-haters had done their homework (research) they would have discovered Ms. Miller grew up on the Benning Road corridor in NE D C. She is a graduate of Spingarn High School adjacent to Langston Terrace, the first public housing project in the nation and a tough neighborhood.

Juanita with sister Barbra and brother Maurice Culbreath, walked softly but carried a “Big Stick!”

The Culbreaths learned to stand up for themselves early in The Game Called Life. If they were pushed they pushed back-it was the rules of survival in NE DC.

It was no surprised to me she pushed back from the charade with the board of education. She took a vacation, and went to the Carribean Islands or some other exotic paradise for some RR.

On her return, the dust had cleared, a Maryland administrated judge sent her back to her job on the school board-case closed.

Judge Richard O’Connor recommended that the Prince George’s County school board member should remain on the 14-member board. He wrote, Ms. Miller, did not violate any stature, policy, or bylaw and performed her duties, competently in a distinctly hostile environment.”

Juanita Miller was not giving up her “Night Out With The Girls” with the County Executive easyly!

The outgoing Superintendent, Dr. Monica Goldson spent 32 years in the system as a teacher, principal and Superintendent. She left the job and the children worst than she found them.

The system’s final FY24 budget review submitted to the county council on March 10, 2023 reported a teacher shortage of 1,573. Since then, another 601 educators have left the system. Whichever report you accept means the system needs to fill well over 2,000+ vacancies.

Dr. House has not been on the job a full 90 days and he has already found lies and deceit as it relates to teacher shortage.

He was led to believe the school system was short of 500 teachers, only to discover they are short 2,000+, that has to be a setback for a man going into his first year on the job. The only thing comparable would be a fire truck racing to a 4 alarm fire with no water!

Dr. House, this is a sad welcome to your new job, but be sure to bring your bullet-proof vest and your favorite phychiatrist, you will need both!

By the way, it has gotten more complicated, there has been a cyber attack on 45,000 accounts in your system and I have yet to see a transparent book bags to stifle guns in the schools as advertised.

It is no secret, “The teachers are scare of the principals, the principals are scare of the Superintendent, the Superintendent is scare of the parents, the parents are scare of children and the children ain’t scare of no dam body!”

In Washington, DC 65% of the teachers surveyed said, they are scare of the children and don’t feel protected, 42% said they have been attacked by students, 45% said, they are seriously thinking about leaving the profession all together!

These same stats found in DC, I will bet, similar stats are found in PG County. Birds of a feather flock together.

Homegrown DC cop, Robert Contee (Langston Terrace) took over as chief after Mayor Muriel Bowser’s choice of Peter Newsome went AWOL. Contee didn’t stay around much longer than Newsome, he left, quick and in a hurry for a new job with the FBI. He was rewarded with a higher salary for leaving the DC Police Department like he found it, in the same crime wave. Nobody cares except on payday!

When Contee jumped ship, Mayor Bowser tried to hire acting chief Ashan Benedict, he took a long lunch break and turned the job down.

Bowser then hired the first black female chief in the history of the department when she hired, Pamela A. Smith. Ms. Smith was named the first black woman in the history of the Park Police in 2021.

Ms. Smith retired as chief in 2022 after 25 years with the department. She came out of retirement and joined the DC Police Department as a Deputy Chief for a year. She left that position and join Homeland Security for a year. She then circled back to DC as the chief, that is quiet a Merry-Go-Round! One year and counting?

There are bets in the Bowser administration and among the DC Council, Chief Smith won’t make it to Christmas. Her one-year job cycles leave much to be desired.

According to Washington Post columnist, Courtland Milloy, she is having problems sleeping at nights–that is not a good sign for longivity.

The new chief has yet to be confirmed by the DC City Council and that may be a problem.

A problem only because if you are aware of the strain relationship between the City Council and Mayor Bowser in the past few years–this confirmation is not a slam dunk!

Ms. Smith, it looks like she is in over her head. This would be a difficult job for Superman and Superwoman together. Chief Smith has found herself after each violent crime committed singing the same song as her predesessors, “Could we please get more snitches to help us to help you”

During one press conference, Mayor Bowser decided she wanted to become comedian. She was asked about the rising crime rate among our youth, her response shown exactly what she thought of DC residents during this crime spree, she said, “This ain’t the town of Mayberry!” If it was she would be Barney Fife and that ain’t funny.

Speaking of Deputy Barney Fife in Mayberry, Bowser is in her 3rd campaign of trying to find a chief of police. She will be working on her 4th police chief if Smith does not survive this present crime spree.

In Virginia, the schools are under attack by Governor Glenn Youngkin as he tries to whitewash Black History with his implementation of Critical Race Theory. He wants to make America great again.

In the meantime, a 6 year-old first grader shoots his teacher in Hampton Virginia. The teacher discovered the child has a gun, she alerts the Principal. His advice, “lets wait until after school to search him.”

The teacher, Abigail Zwerner was shot minutes later. She is recovering and suing the school district and counting her blessings she is still alive.

The 6 year-old is with his grandmother and his mother who gave him the gun while on drugs is hopefully on her way to jail. In the meantime, an Assistant Principal and the Superintendent have been fired.

Governor Youngkin, has a proposal on the table suggesting transgender sex bathrooms in our schools. He is getting a lot of push back from parents, teachers, students and politicians.

Teachers are our most important community members, but we don’t want to pay or protect them!

These attacks on teachers and the education system brought to mind a Washington, DC legend and landmark, jazz vocalist Jimmy McPhail.

A recent documentary was shown at the Martin Luther King Library in downtown DC about the life and times of an extradinary school teacher and jazz vocalist, Jimmy McPhail.

The documentary was the brainchild of Executive Producer Larry Law. He is a native Washingtonian and a talented videophotographer.

I knew Mr. McPhail up close and personal. I was trying to go to hell in a hurry at Brown Jr. High School in NE DC. The head man was Principal William B. Stinson. Mr. McPhail was a substitute teacher.

He also presided over “Room 104” a holding pen for all badasses and non-comformers during school hours. If you were late, or a teacher had sent you to the office for disruptive behavior, you were assigned to “Room 104” from 3 pm until 4 pm and Mr. McPhail would lay down the rule of law for Brown Jr. High.

You had two choices, either do your home work or sit quiety for one hour. Mr. McPhail did not play. He was built like an NFL linebacker and we sensed he would blindside us if warranted. It was rumored he had throwed one knucklehead out of the window one evening. We never could confirm it, but the rumor was enough to keep us in our seats.

I hung out with a group of knuckleheads that included Rhoma Battle, Mickey Freeman, Teddy Acherson, Hobo and Jimmy Reid. They were the Langston Terrace crew. I was an outsider from Parkside a housing project on he other side of the river. All of them were so-called tough guys, I was just a wannabe.

They allowed me to hangout with them because I was an athlete. I ran track, played basketball and baseball. I played 12 and under baseball against them for the DC Recreation Department.

Brown was located at the far end of 24th & Benning Road. It was a two block walk from the bus stop every morning, Monday thru Friday to get to the school.

Once I got off the bus, I had to walk past the historical Langston Golf Course, newly built Spingarn High School, Charles Young Elementary, Phelps Vocation High School was hidden behind Charles Young. Brown Junior High was at the end of the road.

I loved that walk pass some of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen, thinking and dreaming one day I would be attending Spingarn for all the wrong reasons, sports and pretty girls.

Not many people realized that “The Hill”was the most unique educational plot of land in America.

I remembered, one cop was assigned to police everything that moved in those two blocks. He had neither, horse, motorcyle, bicycle or car. His two flat feet could outrun any knucklehead who dared to challedge him in a foot race. His name was officer Ray Dixon, he was the first “Officer Friendly” ever assigned to the DC Public Schools. He never fired a shot his entire career on “The Hill”, he was feared. All you had to do was mention his name and the brothers start looking for which direction to run.

Coach William Rountree-Officer Ray Dixon-HBell-Dave Bing-pay tribute to Spingarn Principal Dr. Purvis Williams and his staff. Narrator Marie Primus looks on.  This was a long overdue thank you.

In Appreciation: Tribute to my savior, Spingarn Coach Dave Brown and his family on his retirement.

Mr. McPhail, William B. Stinson, and a Assistant Principal, who I can only remember as “Smiling Jack” and officer Dixon help run a tight ship on “The Hill.”

I had no clue that Mr. McPhail was a legendary jazz singer until it was too late–it was my best moment!

It was during a lunch break, Hobo, Rhoma, Jimmy, Mickey and me were shooting craps in the back of the school lunch room in the alley with a lookout inside. A Wonder Bread truck drove up to the door in the alley. We paid no attention to the truck until Officer Dixon jumped out. It was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide-busted!

All of us were sent home and told not to comeback unless we had our parents with us. My mother had just taken off from work a couple of weeks earlier for me being late two days in a row. I was hanging out in front of Spingarn trying to be a part of the “In-Crowd.”

Every morning just before the 9 am warning bell for class, Officer Dixon would make a clean sweep of the front of the building. It looked like a Ghost Town after he walked through never raising his voice.

There I was looking like a deer caught in headlights runing trying to keep from being late at Brown.

After being sent home by Mr. Stinson I tried to hide out for a couple days at home, but someone snitched on me to my mother and all hell broke loose. It was hard playing hooky from school back in the day.

There was a for real Truant Officer and the nosey ass neighbors–were “The First Neighborhood Watch.”

The next day I had to go to work with my mother to pick up her check. We took the bus back to Brown, the ride seem to last forever and the long walk from Benning Road to the school–did not make my mother a happy camper. This was no where near a win-win situation for me.

While sitting in the Principal’s office waiting for him to get through a meeting with Hobo and his father, guess who pops into the office–Mr. McPhail. He sees my mother and blurts out, “Mattie, what are you doing here and in the same breath says, is that knucklehead Harold Bell your son?”

Talking about a small world. It was his night club, The Gold Room on Bladensburg Road NE, my mother, aunts, and uncles were all hanging out on the weekends. I would no longer be a problem at Brown Jr. High. Mr. McPhail had my number!

photo enhancement by Don Baker

Party Animals Back in the Day: My mother standing in the back row in the center of the picture with pearls around her neck. My aunts, uncles, cousins and neighborhood friendS pose for a photo before heading downtown to Black Broadway/Jimmy McPhail’s Gold Room. Watch out DC!

Jimmy McPhail, was not only a teacher he was a legendary blues singer who toured and recorded with jazz greats like Duke Ellington. He also appeared with icon singers like Pearl Bailey, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Josephine Baker. In 1965, he performed in the San Francisco premiere of Duke Ellington’s first “sacred concert,” a program of original religious music. He recorded with Ellington for RCA Victor.

THE DUKE & HIS GREAT BAND

He came into his own as a singer while attending Armstrong High School, where Ellington also had studied. The quartet Mr. McPhail formed there in the 1940s performed at the Cotton Club at 16th Street and Benning Road NE.

In 1950, Mr. McPhail won a talent contest sponsored by radio station WWDC, beating out another singer who was to make a name for herself, the great Shirley Horn. First prize was a week’s engagement at the Howard Theater with Ellington, who asked McPhail to come to New York to perform. He toured and recorded with Duke Ellington.

In 1959, Mr. McPhail bought the Melody Inn, a nightclub on Bladensburg Road NE where he had been performing regularly. He then brought the club and changed the name to, Jimmy McPhail’s Gold Room, featuring many of the best-known names in blues and comedy.

Mr. McPhail was a substitute at Brown and McFarland in the early years. He was big on education, while still a student, he was determined to have a separate career as an educator. He went on to graduate from Shaw University in North Carolina, received a master’s degree in education from George Washington University and he did additional graduate work in education at Miner Teachers College.

Mr. McPhail, taught music for 25 years at Elliot Junior High School while making Jimmy McPhail’s Gold Room a hot spot for jazz lovers in DC.

He died a young man in 1998 at the age of 72. He played an important role in my life and thousands of young men and women not only in DC but around the World.

It is often said, “It takes a Village”, I am thankful that Jimmy McPhail was a member of my Village.

photo by photographer Fred Shepard

KIT BACK TO SCHOOL MEETING WITH ALEXANDRIA YOUTH IN FRONT OF EARL LLOYD STATURE

Alexandria City School Board recently appointed Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt as ACPS Superintendent. In a nation wide search the board appointed a familiar face with just a couple years experience in the Alexandria School system. Ms. Wyatt will face similar problems as Dr. House in Prince Georges County.

I spend several decades working with the late, Dr. George Logan-El, Lawrence Brown and Michael Johnson of The Untouchables in out of the schools in Alexandria.

I have worked closely with legendary boxer Tony Suggs at the Charles Houston Rec Center for the past couple of decades. He was among the toughest brawlers in boxing in the 1980s. He possessed a right hook so devastating, he knocked out 16 of his final 18 opponents. Tony now works closely with seniors with Parkinson desease teaching a class called Boxercise.

The youth still seek him out for spiriture advice, they know he has been there and done what they are going through.

He thinks the new Superintendent’s top priority will be trying to bring peace to the schools between the Latino Gangs and the differnt Crews of black youth.

There have been some serious after school confrotations between the groups. “Her success will depend on having people around her with good street sense and common sense.”

In closing, I sometimes wonder where and how did we lose all of our great character traits, honesty, integrity, keeping your word and being black and proud, black lives matter, without someone reminding us in a song.

I am missing the “Good Old Days” and I find it hard to imagine that today’s youth will remember, these days as their “Good Old Days”, but they will!

KUDOS: TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANGELA ALSOBROOKS NAMING ANTHONY BENNETT AS THE NEW INSPECTOR GENERAL IN CHARGE OF CLEANING OUT BAD COPS IN THE PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT. HOPEFULLY, HE IS IN TIME TO SAVE OFFICER MICHAEL BROWN FROM BEING AMBUSHED ON THE JOB!

NO SURPRISE: BLACK MARYLAND STATE TROOPERS FILED A 40 PAGE LAWSUIT IN U. S. DISTRICT COURT. THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES THE STATE’S LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HAS A HISTORY OF ENGAGING IN SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ITS OFFICERS OF COLOR. THE BEAT GOES ON.

In February of 1960 I was a freshman student/athlete on the campus of Winston-Salem Teacher’s College in Winston-Salem, NC , I was introduced to The Greensboro 4 via the news media after their historic march on downtown Greenesboro, NC. Their target, the F. W. Woolworth lunch counter.

A stature now looms on the North Carolina A&T University campus honoring the four courageous young men who started a modern day revolution to fight racism in America. Their sit-in at the lunch counter was heard around the World.

The monument will guarantee their legacy will be remembered as long as the university stands. The F. W. Woolworth is now a historic landmark museum in downtown Greensboro.

If you are keeping score, The Greensboro 4 two, and Critical Race Theory–Zero!

David Richmond-Franklin McCain-Ezell A. Blair and Joseph McNeil waiting to be served at the F. W. Woolworth lunch counter.

The F. W. WOOLWOR0TH is now a museum visited by people from around the world.

I would meet the great Jim Brown several weeks later on April 16, 1960 at the Winston-Salem YMCA. The ocassion, he was the guest speaker for our athletic banquet. Coach Clarence ‘Bighouse’ Gaines made the banquet off limits to freshman athletes. I didn’t get the message and I shown up at the banquet–Bighouse was not a happy camper.

He would glare at me the entire evening and I would pretend I didn’t notice.

Jim Brown had just signed a contract representing, the Pepsi Colar bottling Company as a marketing and promotion rep. He was criss-crossing the country telling anyone who would listen, Pepsi was the best!

We would become fast friends. In 1966, Brown found the Negro Industrial Economic Union, later known as the Black Economic Union (BEU), to help promote economic opportunities for back owned businesses.

We reconnected when he open an office in Washington, DC in the NE Branch Avenue shopping center. My older brother Bobby was a graduate of a HBCU, Maryland State University. I Introduced him to Jim and he became a card carrying member of the Black Economic Union. He had high hopes of becoming a successful businessman.

He became a manager for the Goodyear Tire Company on Good Hope Road Road in SE DC. He own Bell’s Super Market in NE DC. He later retired after serving 20 years as a U. S. Marshall.

Jim Browm’s accomplishments on the football field are unmatched–he won 8 rushing titles in 9 years. Today’s NFL players need 18 games to rush for 1,000 yards, he needed only 9 games. In 2002 the Sporting News named him The Greatest NFL Player Ever.

THE MUHAMMAD ALI SUMMIT

A SEAT AT THE TABLE: Bill Russell-Ali-Jim Brown and Kareem Adul Jabbar. Pro athletes supporting Muhammad Ali’s refusing to sign on the dotted line for military service.

It was Jim Brown, Kansas City and the business Coalition that built hundreds of affordable housing units for black Americans. These feats are worthy of praise.

Jim Brown’s up close work with the notorius Bloods and Crips gangs in Los Angeles are legendary. His work in American prisons with the Amer-I-Can Program also stands out. He was big on second chances for incarcerated black men. He felt the system was always stacked against us–it was Justice & Just-Us!

He used my Original Inside Sports talk show as one of his media platforms to help promote his good deeds, and raise monies to support them by any President or pro athlete who would write a check.

Jim Brown whispers to President Trump, “When can we talk about the 50 million for Amer-I-Can?”

Jim Brown was flawed like the next man or woman. He traveled in circles not in my zip code, but he shared the stories with me. He was a hard act for me to follow–simply because, I didn’t kiss his jackass.

I remember, we had just left Cardozo High school talking with some kids and he remembered I had said my mother was in the Howard University Hospital.

She was having problems with her heart. He said, “We should go by and see her.” I said, “lets go.”

The hospital was only 5 minutes away. The hospital staff and my mother were stun when he walked into the room. There were smiles everywhere. He always treated Hattie with respect. I could not ask for more.

His alledged abuse of women are well chronicled, and are not condoned here.

His one abuse conviction, I remember well. He was charged with abuse of his wife Monique’s car in 2007. She called the Sheriff. On their arrival he was standing by the car. He explained, the car was in his name, but they arrested him anyway.

Jim, waited for his day in court and the lady judge made him a deal–400 hours of community service, or 40 hours picking up trash on the highway. He said, “I will take jail.” She gave him 5 months.

After Several days of spending 23 hours in a cell and one hour of daylight, he called Monique, and said, “Call Harold Bell and tell him, I need for him to rally his friends in media to help get me an early release.”

One of the first calls was to NFL great, Johhny Sample. He was the host of a popular sports talk radio show in Philadelphia. He called his Philly connections, former NBA analyst Sonny Hill (WIP Radio), Philadelphia Enquirer sports writer, Elmer Smith.

I called Washington Times sports columnist, Dick Heller and my former college roommate, Barney Hood a freelance writer in Chicago. The legendary Howie Evans, sports editor for New York Amsterdam News was my last call. They all got the media ball rolling.

I contacted Jim’s friend, Congressman Lou Stokes and former NFL QB Jack Kemp, they used their contacts to help expedite his early release, that kind of networking is unheard of today. All for One!

Congressman Lou Stokes (D-Ohio) a class act. He was the first politician to cite me in The Congressional Record for my work in the streets of DC with at-risk children and youth gangs, Walter Fauntroy, Bob Dole and Eleanor Holmes Norton all followed his lead.

There was one sports media personality who took a personal aim at Jim to keep him in jail. Jon Saraceno a columnist for USA Today. He wrote a stinging commentary titled, “True Manhood Eludes Brown.”

Even though Jon made some valid points as it related to Jim’s abuse of women, I took his commentary personal. Simply, because no one has abused black women more than a slave owner.

It started when they brought black Africans over on the slave ships and the abuse continued on every plantation in America. They got free labor and free booty for centuries, but we are the lazy ones!

One paragraph in Saraceno’s column described Jim’s wife Monique’s call to a 911 operator to report her husband’s erractic behavior.

First, Saraceno describes Jim as being “Old School, which these days is considered cool. Except that he is old school when it comes to women, and that is not a good thing in any generation. His wife Monique, a former model met Brown when she was 21 and he was 60. She describes her personality as very aggressive, very assertive–I am not one to be pushed around.”

According to the 911 transcript obtained by Saraceno on the night in question, she offers a different view.

Remember, Jim never touched Monique physically, instead he wreak havoc on her car.

Read, closely the 911 operator’s conversation with Monique as she puts words in her mouth.

Operator: Monique, do you need a paramedic?”

Monique: “No. He has not hit me.”

Operator: “He didn’t hit you today?”

Monique: “Not today.”

Operator: “OK, there is a history of domestic violence, right?”

Monique: “Yes.”

Operator: “And he threaten to kill you today?”

Monique: “Yes.”

She later says, she was at fault, saying she got angry and was attempting to“get leverage” by calling the sheriff.

Things got really hot for Saraceno, his name was being called on every radio station I could be heard on and every social platform I could write on.

He finally put in a call to sports talk show host, the legendary Cowboy Reggie. He was my counter-part in Richmond, Virginia. He begged Cowboy Reggie to call me and tell me to call off the media onslaught as it related to Jim Brown.

Jim Brown’s time in jail for alleged domestic abuse is “Karma!” It does not matter what the player-haters and back-stabbers say. He took risk in Hollywood, on the streets of LA and in prisons around the country, that others dared not take. He did some good in the neighborhoods. He died May 18, 2023–Devil or Angel, RIP Jim Brown.

HAROLD RILEY ALL-MEAC RB & NORTH CAROLINA A&T HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

I met Harold Riley in 1967 in his hometown of Orangeburg, South Carolina. He was a freshman student/athlete at South Carolina State College. Orangeburg was the home of my fiancee, Hattie Thomas. I was there to ask her father, Dr. Charles H. Thomas, Jr. for her hand in marriage.

This was December 1967 a few days before Christmas, with exception of college I had never been this far away from home for the Christmas holidays. I woke up on Christmas morning with tears in my eyes–missing my mother and my brothers.

The Thomas home was filled with Christmas joy helping me to adjust to my new surroundings on Christmas day. I met Riley during the holidays at the Thomas home. He and the younger daughter, Ann Marie were a couple.

On February 8, 1968 eigth years and one week after the Greensboro 4 had marched on the F. W. Woolworth, South Carolina State students faced off with heavyly armed South Carolina State Troopers.

They were marching because they were being denied the right to bowl at the all-white bowling alley just off the campus of South Carolina State University. It was truly a David against Goliath match-up.

It has often been said, “Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words will never harm me.” Someone forgot forgot to tell the state troopers!

When the dust had cleared 27 students had been shot and three more were dead. It was the worst massacre in American College History.

I married Hattie Thomas on November 30, 1968 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. My mother, my brother Bobby, aunts, and several friends traveled from DC for the wedding. The late Ted Hillman was my “Best Man.”

The 1968 Bell family wedding photo

It was during the bachelor party, Harold Riley and I were talking about the riots in Washington, DC. I was telling him about how I was on the streets for three days and three nights with nothing but a DC Police Department badge to get me through the police and military barricades.

I was explaining to him how scary it was for me to be trying to save lives while putting my life on the line. It was then he woke me up with an “AHA” moment. He told me he had been shot three times on the campus of South Carolina State during “The Orangeburg Massacre.” You could have knocked me over with a feather.

I had read and heard about how white unprovoked state troopers open fire on black students using them for target practice. The unarmed students had nothing but sticks, stones and words (racial slurs, etc.) to defend themselves.

Harold explained to me, that he and Sam Middleton were just riding around the campus in his Mustang drinking beer and killing some time before the club open.

He parked the car and Sam walked down the hill to join the students demostrators.

He remembered hearing a whistle and all hell broke loose. Suddenly students were running back to campus when the troopers open fire on them. He was hit twice, and fell to the ground and hid behind a trash can. Somehow a shotgun pellet found its way around or under the trash can. He was hit for a third time. The trash can saved his life.

The next whistle he heard he and Sam crawled toward the infirmary. He said, “I moved on the whistle because in football a blown whistle means “Start or stop!”

Somehow, some way he and fellow student, Sam Hammond crawled their way to the infirmary for help, but no one was there to assist them.

They made their way to the student union and hid there for two days. Riley said, “Sam was in bad shape, he didn’t look good at all. I called my mother to let her know I was okay, leaving out the part I had been shot.

He said, “For two days no one in leadership came on campus to check on us. South Carolina President, Benner C. Turner and, NAACP President, Dr. Charles H. T homas,Jr. and other so-called leaders were nowhere to be found.

Dr. Thomas should have been the President of State, but I think he was a little too black for them.”

This has been the worst kept secret in The Thomas Family Circle, especially since, Dr. Thomas taught on campus and was the President of the local charpter of the Orangeburg NAACP!

This was the worst college mass shooting in American History. I have been a part of these family gatherings for 55 years (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Family Reunions, birthdays, etc.). I have never heard anyone talk about “The Orangeburg Massascre. and Harold Riley. He is an American Hero!“

Riley recalled on the third day of the massacre, he had become weak and a little disoriented. He said, “I knew I had to make a move to get out of the student union. I checked on Sam but he did not respond. He needed help bad. I felt the only way I was going to get help for him was to get to my car and get off campus.

I made my way out of the student union on to the campus. There was a gunpowder smell in the air and an erie feeling on the campus. Seeing my car was where I had parked it, I quietly said, ‘Amen.’

As I drove off campus on to Russell Street, I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a state trooper following closely behind. It was the longest 5 minute drive of my life. He followed me all the way home to Belville Road. I turned into my driveway, he flashed his lights and turned on his sirien and sped off.

When I walked into the house it was like a homecoming celebration. My mother hugged, kissed me, and cried!“

Riley discovered Sam did not make it from his teammate, Phil Harris. The following school year, he felt he needed a change. Riley followed one of college football’s greatest coaches, Willie Jefferies to North Carolina A&T. He had several other offers, but chose A&T to be close to his mother for weekend travel.

ALL GONE TOO SOON

Sam Hammond 18 Henry Smith 18 Delano Middleton 17

Riley was an All-MEAC running back and was inducted into the North Carolina A&T Football Hall in 2013. He often thinks about his friend, defensive back, Sam Hammond, his future was bright, potential unlimited as a student/athlete.

Riley, married Ann Thomas in 1970 and out of that union was born Harold Riley, Jr. and Nekia Riley.

Riley’s major was Physical Edcation and a Minor in Biology. He graduated in 1971.

In 1973 two years after graduation, he started his own business, Harold Riley Drywall, Inc.

His wife Ann of 53 years is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University. She taught in the Greensboro Public Schools for 35 years.

Harold Junior joined his father in the business at the age of 9 and together they have built 12 homes in Greenesboro and 6 homes in Orangeburg.

Harold and I reconnected in July of 2023 for a Thomas Circle Family Reunion in Atlanta, Georgia.

On July 26th Hattie and I boarded a train at Union Station in Washington, DC to Greensboro, NC, headed to the home of Harold and Ann Riley, our first leg of the reunion.

Harold and me reminised in front of the television set watching the news and talked about the “Good Old Days”, while Hattie and Ann huddled at the kitchen table.

The next morning August 27th, we headed to Atlanta by SUV with his son Harold and his son, Landon. The 8 year-old grandson was “The Apple”of his grandfather’s eye.

Landon is a straight A student and has thoughts of being the next Stephen Curry in the NBA. While in Atlanta for the family reunion against all odds, I interviewed my friends of the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, sprinters, American History icons, John Carlos and Mel Pender.

Harold Jr., made sure Landon met John and Mel. He said, “I want my son to meet these two great American heroes, they are American history.”

Landon meets the GREAT John Carlos in Atlanta, Georgia

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ckav7fo46p43k2c/Legendary%20Interview.mov?dl=0

HEROES OF THE 60s: Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ “Silent Gesture” 1968 Mexico City Oympic Games

On our return to Greensboro we watched Landon play one on one with his next door neighbor. The kid was bigger and two-years older–Landon held his own-he got game.

The two played like I remember playing on the playgrounds in DC-no harm-no foul! The neighbor’s older brother was the referee. He had to call several time-outs to untangle them.

Their play brought smiles to our faces. After about an hour of playing in the hot sun, the two sat down together for lunch. We need more young men like them, and parents and grandparents teaching, no harm-no foul and no guns!

Later that day Riley took Hattie and me on a tour of the A&T campus to look at its growth. It was amazing. We visited the statures “The Greensboro 4” and paid our respects!

HB AND HAROLD RILEY HISTORY MAKERS: IN THE STRUGGLE–THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES

THE F. W. WOOLWORTH IS NOW A CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM

HATTIE T & LANDON-THE PAST AND OUR FUTURE

The morning of Tuesday, August 1st we packed our bags and Riley drove us to the train station. I requested he make a stop in front of the historic F. W. Woolworth for some last photos.

Reminder: As we head into the next chapter of our lives, we must remember Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis and Virginia Governor, Glenn Youngkin are not the only ones who are promoting CRITICAL RACE THEORY–they are closer than you think. Today, too often STREET SENSE AND COMMON SENSE ARE NO LONGER COMMON. STREET SENSE AND COMMON SENSE cannot be found in any library!

Sometimes it is best to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!

No. 1-Elgin Baylor played above the rim before Wilt Chamberlain who was already there. It was though by many Elgin could walk on water.

Dave Bing was the first NBA guard to win an NBA scoring title.

No. 1 Elgin Baylor and Dave Bing are the only public school players in the history of the NBA, who are in the Hall of Fame and named two of the 50 Greatest Players in the history of the league. They attended the same high school in Washington, DC. They are the only players to achieve the honor. Elgin and Dave put Spingarn High School on the map. I knew both players up close and personal. We shared the same coaches, Dave Brown and William Roundtree.

DC Mayor Walter Washington presents proclamation proclaiming Dave Brown Day in Washington, DC

The 1957 Green Wave football team led by Coach Dave Brown. I am in the back row with helmet under my arm.

Former Green Wave players Andrew Johnson (not seen in photo) and Byron Kirkley are Santa’s Helpers for my annual Christmas toy party for Rev. Roundtree’s Youth Center in SE D C.

HBell 1958–have ball will shoot and “Box in One”defensive stopper.

HBell-the first high school student/athlete to honor his Principal-Teachers and staff.

L-R Coach William Roundtree-Officer Ray Dixon-HBell-Dave Bing-Principal Dr. Purvis Williams and former student, Ms. Marie Primus.

No. 1-Earl Monroe and coach, the legendary Clarence ‘Bighouse’ Gaines hanging out at the the Foxtrappe Club in DC for my Inside Sports Celebrity Fashion Show. The Pearl aka Black Jesus, and Guard Almighty revolutionize “Guard Play” in the NBA. Earl, Gus Johnson and Wes Useld were the first “Show Time” act in the NBA. Their act could be seen in the Baltimore Arena at any given game.

No. 1-The Pearl and Bing go one on one. They both played for the Washington Bullets. The Pearl at the beginning of his NBA career and Bing at the end of his.

No. 1–NBA Hall of Fame player Adrian Dantley honored as the Inside Sports athlete of the Year. Former TV 7 News Anchor Fred Thomas does the honors. I remember I brought to Adrian’s attention that his agent David Falk had scammed several million dollars out his account. Dantley settled out of court?

N0. 1–Donovan Mitchell opted out of the University of Louisville after two years and was selected by the Denver Nuggets and traded to the Utah Jazz. Donovan served notice early, he was named to the All-Rookie Team, won the Slam Dunk Contest at the NBA All-Star Game and averaged 20 points a game. I am still trying to figure out how Ben Simmons of the Phila. 76ers was named NBA Rookie of the Year. Simmons average 15 points-8 assist and 8 rebounds! Donovan became an impact player immediately not only on the court, but also in the community. When politicians in Utah tried to ban Critical Race Theory from being taught in the Utah Public School System, Donovan refused to go along to get along.  He yelled, “foul” in their attempt to block legislation against teaching CRITICAL RACE THEORY. He was successful in blocking the legislation from passing. Donovan became the No. 1 enemy in the Utah House of Representatives. He refuse to shut-up and just dribble. He saw something and said something–a family trait. Donovan is my cousin on my mother’s side of the family.  Before being traded to Cleveland in 2022, he signed a blockbuster 5 year contact rumored to be worth 195 million dollars with the Utah Jazz. The ink was hardly dry on the contract when he donated 12 million dollars back to his middle school where he and his sister were students and his mother was a teacher. In Cleveland he kept it moving. On January 2, 2023 he turned the NBA upside down when he brought the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 21 point deficit against the Chicago Bulls to win in OT 145-134. He was just two rebounds short from becoming the first NBA player to register a triple-double, scoring 73 points, 10 assist and 10 rebounds, he would have stood alone. His scoring 73 points, 10 assist and 8 rebounds puts him in the company of Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant-not bad company to be in. His talented supporting cast completely disappeared during the 2023 play-off lost to his hometown team, the New York Knicks. Whether Cleveland is the right fit for Donovan remains to be seen.

THE ROUNDBALL REPORT: The NBA success of the participants on the show can be directly traced to Harold Bell and Inside Sports. When the shows’ participants were denied press credentials to cover the NBA Wizards to enhanced their careers–the host and producer Andrew Dyer called me to intervene. Not once, twice, but three times. The third time was to get members of the show their first ever credentials to the NBA All-Star Game in LA. Thanks to my NBA Guardian Angel, Mr. Brian McIntyre (ret. VP NBA PR) he secured the credentials. I had experienced the same type of racism at the divided presstable at the Capitol Centre in Largo, Maryland during the 70s. Whites sat on one side of the half-courtline and blacks sat on the other side of the halfcourt-line. A white sports writer Frank Pastor and I notice the discrepancy while standing above the floor at half-time. We switched seats, he went to the black side of the press table and took my seat and I went to the white side of the press table and took his seat–Mission Accomplish. I have been a marked man ever since.

The sports/jazz voice of W-H-U-R Radio, the late Ron Sutton and I smile for the camera at a integrated press table during a Bullets game at the Capitol Centre in 1974.

When the Bullets moved their operations to DC they packed their bags and brought the racism with them–old habits die hard! The sad part of this story is that Andrew Dyer, Christie Winters-Scott, Monica McNutt and others forgot how they got to where they are now! They forgot that I invited them to lunch at Union Station to introduce them to Sam Jones (NBA), and James Brown (CBS) for the first time. I included them in the Earl Lloyd celebration during NBA All-Star Weekend. They forgot my meetings with the racist Wizards PR staff on their behalf to get their credentials approved. They forgot, NBA All-Star Game credentials, and me hosting and co-hosting the Roundball Report, etc. Something is definitely in our water as it relates to us. Ungrateful–Thanks but no thanks!

Washington Post April 2023

Eric Johnson, is a 47 year-old Mayor of Dallas, Texas. The demographis for the city of Dallas read, 70% white and 30% black. He is the second black Mayor elected in the city’s history and one of two to win reelection. The first to win a reelection was by weird coincident, his name was—Eric Johsson.

According to the story in the Washington Post by columnist, Karen Tumlty, Eric Johnson was a precocious kid from a rough West Dallas neighborhood whose drive and intelligence was so impressive his first grade teacher helped him to get a scholarship to an elite private school, where he thrived.

Thanks to teachers like his, he went on to earn three Ivy League degrees. In 2023 teachers are still under appreciated and the most underpaid public servants in America. Thanks to politicians who are putting limitations on what they can teach (CRT) teachers are leaving the profession as if someone yelled, “FIRE.”

Proving again, how accurate the quote was from my friend, baseball great, Hank Aaron. He said, “A man is only limited by his lack of opportunities.”

Johnson, returned home to spend almost a decade serving in the State House of Representatives as a progressive Democrat known as a champion of civil rights. He, never forgot where he came from.

Johnson as a young man in the House of Representatives was the new kid on the block but still he led a successful campaign to remove an offensive and historically inaccurate plague asserting, “The Civil War was not a Rebellion nor its underlying cause was to substaine slavery.” The plague was found on the wall near his office in the State Capitol and was last seen in a trash can!

As we celebrate Juneteeth 2023 he has not forgotten, Rodney King, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, January 6th and Donald Trump.

Johnson, always seem to be a step ahead of the other politicians. He was expected to run for Congress at some point, but he surprised pretty much everyone by making a late entry instead into a nine-candidate, nonopartisant mayoral race in 2019.

He found allies in the Dallas business community, one of his biggest supporters was Ray Hunt, a billionaire oilman. Hunt was dazzled by Johnson the first time they met and decideded he was the man to lead the city!–he beat a veteran city council member in a runoff.

In his early days as Mayor, few would have predicted he would be a sure bet to win reelection.

Johnson, took names and called out incompetent city leaders, black, white, Democrat and Republican. He clashed with city council members, he endorsed some of their opponents in the 2021 election.

Johnson was the city’s second black Mayor, he did not let that hold him back by tiptoing through the tuplips. No one was off limits, The city’s first black female police chief, U. Renee Hall who on her way out pronounced herself “Offended” and “Exhausted” by Johnson’s attacks on her job performance.

His battles with the City Manager, T. C. Broadax–whose office, under Dallas’s system of government, held more day-to-day governing power than the Mayor’s–many think it could have been made into a Tony Award winning Soap opera for daytime television. Their clases could have given “The Days of Our Lives and Victor Newman” a run for their money.

According to the Washington Post, Johnson had a secret weapon that leaders in other big cities had no clue how to attack–CRIME!

When he took office, violent crime was rising in Dallas to levels not seen since the 1990s. His tactics of reducing crime may need to be refined such as deployng “violent interrupters” to resolve street-level conflicts and guide those who need them to social services, and cleaning up bllighted areas, such as trash-filled vacant lots and dilapidated buildings, where crime can breed–he has taken the risk to implement the changes for a better Dallas.

The new Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia had a plan where he would work closely with criminologists at the University of Texas at San Antonia. The plan refocused policing in Dallas on “Hot Spots.” The chief would divide the city into 101,000 “micro-grids”–areas roughly the size of two-football fields!

He discovered that crime was heavily concentrated into a relatively few: an apartment complex or a nightclub parking lot. Just 50 of those hot spots accounted for 10%of violent street crime in the city of Dallas.

In these high risk areas the department will sent police to sit with their emergency lights or where 10-officer crime response teams were dispatched (he remembers Tyre Nichols in Memphis).

The approach could be polarizing, given that hot spots tend to be in communities of color. But statistics suggest it is working. My question, “At what cost relating to the lives of law-enforcement and innocent by standers?”

Of the nations largest cities, Dallas appears to be the only one to buck the trend of rising crime; in each of the past two years, statistics for murders, rapes, and aggravated assualts have gone down. Further more, the Dallas Morning News noted, the number of arrests last year dropped by 19%. The naysayerswill say, “Crime numbers are volatile and that different jurisdictions collect them differently, making comparisons across cities are imprecise. In the early months of this year, the surge in one category–homicide had increased again in Dallas.

Mayor Johnson is obsessed by data, says, “I am confident that the trend is real, and that it is holding. I am either the luckiest mayor in the United States or this stuff actually works.”

Ras J. Baraka is the 40th Mayor of the City of Newark.

MAKING COPS AND PEOPLE WORK IN NEWARK

Ras J. Baraka is a native of Newark, New Jersey, his family has lived in the City for more than 80 years, Mayor Baraka’s progressive approach to governing has won him accolades from grassroots organizations to the White House. With a forward-thinking agenda that reduced crime to its lowest levels in five decades, he addressed affordability while maintaining steady growth, lowered unemployment, returned local control of schools after more than two decades, and replaced all 23,000 known lead service lines in less than three years at no cost to residents, Baraka has defied expectations since taking office in 2014.

Mayor Baraka’s futurist agenda has included the implementation of a groundbreaking partnership called Hire. Buy. Live. Newark, a program that marks the first time that any US city has sought to transform its economy by combining employment, procurement, and residential strategies.

As part of his commitment to strengthen Newark’s position in the expanded technology space, the City launched LinkNWK (pronounced Link Newark). This communications network of sidewalk kiosks provides Newark residents and visitors with free, gigabit Wi-Fi, mobile device charging, phone calls to anywhere in the U.S., access to municipal services, maps and directions, and real-time local information on city streets at no cost to taxpayers or users. Additionally, broadband and Wi-Fi have been extended to city parks and recreation centers, and the City seeks to ensure that every resident has access to free or very low-cost broadband to bridge the digital divide.

Mayor Baraka is recognized nationally as a thought leader in the space of urban revitalization, and his commitment to reducing crime in Newark, reimagining public safety, tackling the city’s housing crisis, and developing innovative and community-driven approaches to eliminating income inequality has solidified his status as one of the country’s most progressive elected officials.

What is the secret to the success of Mayors Johnson and Baraka as black politicians? First, neither was born with Silver Spoons in their mouths.

Johnson was born and raised on the rough side of town in Dallas and Baraka is the apple that did not fall too far from the tree. His father Amiri and his mother Amina were activist and educators on the front lines in the Civil Rights struggle.

Mayor Baraka outlined a strategy he called “Occupy the Block” which is aimed at the crime in the city. A single city block is selected where he, others including law-enforcement will “hold court” — setting up tables and chairs for chess, cards, and open discussion on anything from the city’s youth to the violence they too often experience.

Officers Friendly: Montgomery County’s Finest Motorcycle Cops in “The Hood”

I remember there was one year during Mayor Baraka’s tenure, there was not a single shot fired by the Newark Police Department (unheard of in the inner-cities in this country).

The secret to their success according to INSIDERS–they listen to others! No such thing in the DMV.

The Mayor For Life–Marion Barry and I were friends/associates during his love affair with DC. I remember when he, Stokey Carmichael and H. Rap Brown all arrived in DC in 1965.

The legedary radio/TV personality Petey Greene and I were working for UPO aka United Planning Organization. UPO wa a self-help organization designed to reach back into the Black Community to help us to help ourselves. H. Rap would join me and Petey as a “Neighborhood Worker” for UPO in the Cardozo U Street corridor.

COMMUNITY FORUM

L-R Roland Harris- Congressman Walter Faultroy-Petey Greene–HBell-DC Police Chief Bertell Jefferson

HARD OF HEARING LEADERSHIP

Mayor Marion Barry was forwarned, but he still allowed “The Bitch to Set Him Up.”

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing was forewarned that being the Mayor of Detroit was “A Dead End Street!”

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser was forwarned Peter Newsome “Would not be a good chief for DC.” Mayor Bowser is now looking for her third chief and no one wants the job-not even the intrim!

Prince Georges County Executive Jack Johnson forwarned “Authories were closing in”

Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks forwarned “Made the switch to a new Police Chief.“

The late Congressman John Lewis defined TROUBLE MAKERS, Mayors, Johnson and Baraka in the best sense of the word–they make “GOOD TROUBLE“.

I was honored that Congressman Lewis was a member of my team when I campaigned successfully to have NFL great Willie Wood and NBA Pioneer Earl Lloyd inducted into their hall of fames after being denied entry. Curt Flood, Dick Allen, Maury Wills and Johnny Sample are still on the outside looking in!

Green Bay Packer and NFL Hall Fame great, Willie Wood says “Thank You” to legendary sports columnist Dick Heller.

NBA legend, Red Auerbach and I campaign for NBA pioneer Earl Lloyd.

If you are going to make TROUBLE make “GOOD TROUBLE!”