Camp is Bailey's means
of giving something back
BY SAM DAVIS
THE CHRONICI .E __
Basketball was the vehi
; cle that Aaron Bailey used
to help him attain many of
his goals. Bailey, who cur
rently works for the city of
Winston-Salem's Recre
ation Department, used the
sport to his advantage.
After completing his
high school career at
Mount Tabor, Bailey
earned a scholarship to St.
Paul's College. And when
he graduated in 2001, he
decided to come back home
to Winston-Salem and
share what he's learned
with others.
This summer Bailey is
taking that one step further.
He and the staff at the Carl
H" Russell Recreation Cen
ter are facilitating a basket
ball camp this week. The
gym at the center has been
chock-fflll of campers aged
8-!l 5 as some 80 partici
pants turned out for it.
? In terms of numbers.
Bailey said the camp has
been a success. The
campers have learned a lot
about the game of basket
ball. and coaches and coun
selors have made an effort
tcr offer more.
"Growing up. I attended
a lot of basketball camps,"
Bailey said. "What I've
tried to do is combine
everything I learned and
was exposed to at basket
ball camps and present it to
this group."
Although the space isn't
ideal. Bailey said he has
worked with center super
visor Ronnie Beverly to
give the kids a strong dose
of fundamentals. But they
have also looked beyond
the athletic sphere.
"We're hoping to
change lives and attitudes
through this camp." he
said. "We want to let the
kids know that they can
achieve goals in life and
also take advantage of the
gifts that God has blessed
them with. It doesn't matter
what neighborhood or com
munity they come from.
Their desire and drive to.
achieve is really what's
going to carry them."
Bailey brought in a
speaker each day to talk
with the campers. The
speakers included Kedrick
Lowery. youth pastor of
Greater Cleveland Avenue
Christian Church; Andy
Muse, head basketball
coach at Mount Tabor High
School; Phillip Stilt, head
basketball coach at Win
ston-Salem State; and Jim
Caldwell, former head
football coach at Wake For
est.
The idea for the camp
came as a result of Bailey's
contact with parents during
the Jr. Hornets Basketball
Program at the center.
"I received a lot of input
from parents and most of
them said they wanted to
see a structured basketball
camp that would help the
kids and teach them funda
mentals," he said. "They
also wanted something
affordable for kids in this
community."
The cost of the camp is
$25, including lunch, a T
shirt and a trophy. Bailey
handled most of the logis
tics of putting the pieces
together. He said he
received a lot of help and
support from his mother,
Felecia Bailey. Beverly has
also been a staunch, sup
porter.
"Ronnie has supported
the whole idea from start to
finish," Bailey said. "He's
been behind this all the
way and helped anywhere
I've needed help."
Twin City Little League \
in need of a change
To the Sports Editor
This is in response to the
comments made about the con
dition of the Twin City Little
League.
I have been working with
this league for the past five
years and some of what you
said is true. The main reason
for most of the downfall of this
league is the fact that instead
of people stepping up to the
plate to assist in whatever way
they can, all they do is com
plain. This goes for parents,
coaches and league administra
tors. Then those that are trying
to make a difference gel over
looked as if they are doing
nothing.
I think it is time for anyone
that wants something done in
this situation to step up and put
your money where your mouth
is. Twin City Little League has
been used as a baby-sitting
service and also as a welfare
agency. Parents are hot sup
porting their kids, which leads
to the league not being us
strong as it could be. Then
there is the issue of monetary
funds. Twin City Little League
is the cheapest organization in
town when it conies to regis
tration fees. There have been
times when some kids didn't
pay registration fees and were
allowed<o play the entire sea
son.
We as parents, coaches and
league administrators have lost
sight of the main reason for
this league? the children. We
have gotten so caught up in our
petty differences that the chil
dren don't even want be part of
something that really should he
a fun time in their lives.
If everybody would con
tribute their pieces to this puz
zle, then we would see some
progress
We need to stop sitting
back complaining and start
putting that energy to support
ing our children, whiyh would
be supporting the fepgue. Peo
ple have grand ideas but do not
want to do the work that is
needed to make those ideas
come to fruition. I will contin
ue to do my best to support the
Twin City Little League
because this is the only league
in this city that caters to the
African-American children in
the sport of baseball. We need
to start giving back some of
what our past brothers and sis
ters gave when we were chil
dren.
e
Candace R. Stowe
Twin City Little League
Vice President,
Tee Ball Division
Fundamentally Sound!
Aaron Bailey (left),
director of Generation's
Best Basketball Camp,
gets up close and per
sonal vrith campers dur
ing drills.
Antonio Pitts (middle)
goes in for a left-handed
lay-up.
Johnny Ligons (bottom)
receives instruction on
/iow to play defense
from Aaron Bailey.
Photos by Imas Sivad
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