 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
A neighborhood rebounds
By TODD WRIGHT
© St. Petersburg Times,
Then the boys, 14 and 15 years old, come together for a final huddle. The horseplay fades when coach Tommy Lampley summons the players for a prayer. Heads bowed, he asks for their continued safety, then "Amen," and he sends them home for the night. Three days a week, 10 months out of the year, more than 200 boys put themselves through the paces here. What Lampley and longtime friend Fernando Maynor first envisioned in 1993 as a way to keep their sons off Childs Park's streets is reaching beyond geographic boundaries.
"They run a very good basketball program over there. The practices are organized and everyone seems to be on the same page," said Shore Acres resident Terry McCarthy, whose son, Joseph, plays for the 9-and-under team. "I could not have imagined this idea doing so well so quickly," Maynor said. The Childs Park Eagles were born of meager beginnings in 1993. The program that St. Petersburg abandoned, Lampley saw as a haven for youngsters: "There are a lot of bad things kids can get into if they have nothing to do." For seven years, St. Petersburg community police Officer Michael Kovacsev has been patrolling Childs Park -- bounded by 34th and 49th streets and Fifth and 22nd avenues S. He said the neighborhood's issue with drugs and juvenile loitering have decreased, partly because of the increased activity at the recreation center, 4301 13th Ave. S. "Many times the root of the problem is the kids have no guidance," Kovacsev said. "The coaches give them what they need, someone to look up to as a mentor." Lampley, 42, said the raw numbers -- an estimated 3,000 young people in the neighborhood -- gave him reason to believe such a program could thrive. "This area is rich in basketball tradition. . . . I knew that if we persevered this could be something special." The Eagles began with little money and even less interest. Lampley and Maynor used what was available to purchase uniforms and a few basketballs and whistles. While other communities had adults who would support the team, the Eagles often were nothing more than a place for working parents to drop off their kids. "This is not an area where parents can write us $200 checks to support the team," Maynor said. "And when you are losing, people don't bother to come out." And there were losses. Five years into it, the program had grown to the point that Lampley could field an AAU team. Against more established competition, they frequently were blown out, but Lampley encouraged the kids and coaches to stay with the program and take the losses as learning experiences. Parents hung in there, too. Lampley said volunteer moms and dads spend hours each month at fundraisers, chaperoning field trips and coaching kids. Parents also handle the bulk of the funding, paying for travel expenses and hotel accommodations when teams go out of town.
Before moving with his family from South Carolina six months ago, Mike read about the Eagles on a Web site (pinellashoops.com) and contacted Lampley at his Childs Park home. He talked with the coach and Tommy Lampley, Jr., the coach's son. "(Coach Lampley) told me that I would have a chance to get in touch with college programs and play a lot of basketball," Mike said. "My first day everyone was really nice and made me feel welcome." Said James LaPolla, whose son, Nick, 15, plays guard with the 15-and-under team: "All the coaches set a great example with their optimism and dedication. They are very giving of themselves and I think that is beautiful." The LaPollas of Snell Isle also come a distance to support their son's basketball desire. Parents say another magnet drawing outsiders to Childs Park is the program's religious message. Coach James Smith, who also is the Eagles' chaplain, said: "By focusing on prayer and putting God first, we are able to help the youth in this program build sound character. Parents see we are servants of the Lord and feel confident that their child is safe." Coaches say they often receive compliments from hotels and restaurants regarding the boys' behavior when they are at out-of-town tournaments. "These kids are just like an active missionary field," Maynor said. Lampley is a fixture in Childs Park. He is the former president of the neighborhood association. The past four years, he has directed a tutorial program for 12- to 17-year-olds at the recreation center. He is employed as a community educator, speaking at schools throughout the St. Petersburg area. Maynor, who teaches fifth grade at Southside Christian Academy, 3624 Queensboro Ave. S, started the Rising Scholars tutorial program for the neighborhood's younger kids. A number of Eagles players attend the sessions before practice. "Tutoring and education are a major part of the mentor process. We encourage them to have the same work ethic in school as they do when they are in practice with us," Lampley said. "We try and help them reach maximum potential." Lampley said he is enjoying the Eagles' success, but he thinks there is room to grow. He envisions college coaches sitting in the gym asking about the Eagles' top players. "I think that there can be some high-quality players to come out of this program," Lampley said. "Hopefully, they can get the notoriety from playing with a good team." Interest also is high to start a division for girls, whom Lampley sees as another untapped source of talent. "With God's continued blessing, I think we have a bright future."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times South Pinellas desks |
