My background

Born in Watts after the riots and raised in Compton during the 70's. Like so many others my perspective reflects both the dub and the hub having gone to middle school in both locations.

After finishing Jordan High and attending UCLA, I spent the mid-eighties moving throughout L.A. from the eastside to the west. As a track team "walk-on", I would soon make history becoming a three time All-American. The irony is that I always wanted to attend USC but was never on their radar. I was under the impression that local colleges checked local papers for local talent, but this never happened for me. However, many thanks go out to Brad Pye Jr. Mr. Pye made sure I was always in the L.A. Sentinel.

In hindsight during the 80's, all I can remember is knowing how many times I had risked my health and safety going onto that USC campus from Watts. Growing up in L.A. was all about risk assessment and management. Do I visit the 'SC campus and risk getting jumped? What's going to be my escape plan? While traveling I would often sit or stand near the rear exit on "Rough, Tough and Dangerous”, just in case I had to break out in hast.