Acceptance Speech:
Thank you. It’s a profound honor to receive this recognition from the Buck O’Neil Professional Scouts & Coaches Association. As an African American man, I accept this award with deep humility, giving all the glory to God.
I am committed to living fully—not just being alive. I want to dedicate my life to lifting up the oppressed, the disenfranchised, and the marginalized. For me, success means using my influence to make a significant impact, not just in baseball, but in life. Baseball has been my vehicle for excellence, allowing me to drive toward purpose and meaning.
Today, I stand here wearing my red-Fruition Fru fedora—a nod to the power of the color red. I wear my Kareem Abdul-Jabbar adidas shoes, honoring his role in The Heritage—the Black athletes who courageously fought against racism. And I proudly wear my Kansas City Monarchs jersey in tribute to Buck O’Neil, whose legacy we celebrate today.
As coaches and scouts, we must use our positions to uplift Black people as a whole and, specifically, to support and empower Black boys. Baseball was invented in 1845, nearly two decades before the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the final end to American slavery on Juneteenth in 1865. Even during enslavement, Black people were playing baseball. Moses Fleetwood Walker broke barriers as the first Black man to play in the MLB in 1884. Jackie Robinson broke through in the modern era in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, helping the MLB expand beyond the Northeast to Los Angeles. And in 1966, the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta, with Hank Aaron—the game’s greatest player—proving Atlanta to be “A City Too Busy to Hate” as it became the first Major League sports team in the South amid the racist Jim Crow era.
There has never been a time in this country when Black people could truly experience liberation without baseball by our side. We owe it to our history, our players, and our community to use baseball as a means of uplifting and empowering future generations.
As a coach, I am guided by the acronym COACH:
- Communicate Clearly – with players, parents, and other coaches to build trust and set clear expectations.
- Observe Objectively – evaluate players based on facts and observable actions.
- Adapt and Adjust – be flexible to meet each player’s unique needs and skill level.
- Cultivate Relationships – foster positive connections with players and stakeholders.
- Harness Potential – identify and nurture each player’s abilities to bring out their best.
And as a scout, I follow the SCOUT principles:
- Strategic Evaluation – assess players for both current abilities and potential growth.
- Credibility and Continuity – stay relevant and respected through constant learning.
- Overcome Challenges – face and conquer biases and barriers with resilience.
- Understand the Market – know the baseball industry’s trends and needs.
- Talent Development Insight – partner with coaches to turn raw talent into refined skill.
To my fellow Black coaches and scouts in this room, I offer three fastball challenges:
- Commit to being mentors for the next generation. Just as we were guided, we must guide young Black players and aspiring scouts and coaches.
- Push for greater diversity and equity within your organizations. Advocate for more representation and fairness in our industry.
- Stay true to our legacy of resilience. Our history is full of challenges overcome; let that strength drive our actions every day.
And I offer three home run solutions:
- Let’s support each other through prayer. I ask that you pray for me daily as I serve as the Chief Visionary Officer of LEAD Center for Youth, a year-round, evidence-based, globally awarded, trauma-informed, sports-based youth development organization. Established 17 years ago, our mission is to use baseball to teach Black youth how to overcome three curveballs that threaten their success: crime, poverty, and racism. Together, let us pray for one another as we work toward lasting change..
- Share resources and opportunities. Help open doors for each other, whether through sharing contacts, introducing young talent, or spreading knowledge and tools. LEAD operates annually with over a $1.5 million budget, serving over 250 Black boys and having served over 5,000 since 2007. Many supporters in this room were present when my wife, Kelli, and I started LEAD. Kelli, our LEAD CEO, and I are grateful for those who continue to support us financially and open doors.
- Lead with integrity and purpose. As we pursue excellence, let us remember to uplift others along the way, setting a standard that inspires those who follow us and honoring the legacy of those who paved the path before us.
The path of a coach and scout is about more than just finding and developing talent; it’s about building community, creating opportunities, and advancing equity. We stand on the shoulders of those who fought hard for our place in this game, and now it’s our turn to make it better for those who come after us.
By meeting these challenges and embracing these solutions, we ensure that the impact of our work goes beyond the field. Let us be known not only for our skills and knowledge but for our courage to lead change, our commitment to each other, and our dedication to uplifting the Black community, especially young Black boys.
Once again, thank you for this honor. I am humbled to receive it, and I am grateful for the opportunity to keep pushing forward. Let’s continue to use baseball as a tool for liberation and empowerment, standing together as examples of resilience and hope. Here’s to carrying forward Buck O’Neil’s legacy with pride, purpose, and perseverance.
Thank you.
