Pee Wee Kirkland
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Richard (Rick) Pee Wee Kirkland was a street basketball player from New York City, United States of America. His playing in Rucker Park(originally organized by Holcombe Rucker) in the 1970 and 1971 season is regarded as legendary.[1]
He played college basketball at Norfolk State University. In 1969 he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the fourth pick in the thirteenth round. It is speculated that he turned the offer down, because he was making more money on the street through basketball and other not so legal activities (drugs, gambling, etc). At the time, the opportunities offered to him outside of the NBA were far more lucrative, in terms of financial gain and public recognition.[2][1] Kirkland then got caught up in street life activities and eventually landed in prison.
Now a reformed man, Kirkland travels the country speaking to youth about decision-making and pathways to success, in addition to self-esteem and other various issues plaguing the inner-cities of America.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Rucker Park website
- ^ Gitanjali Maharaj,"Talking Trash: Late Capitalism, Black (Re)Productivity, and Professional Basketball", Social Text, No. 50, The Politics of Sport (Spring, 1997), pp. 97-110
- ^ Interview on Sound Slam
