1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: There's a monumental shift in power at work. Employees are 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: speaking up, Turnover is rising, salaries are increasing, hiring is tough, 3 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: and burnout is real. It's time to unleash growth. It's 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: time to transform your HR from powerless to powerful. Join 5 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: a DP on February. Reserve your spot now. Go to 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: Get the Plan dot IDP dot com to register for 7 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: the Work Interrupted Summit. The Black Effect Presents features artists, 8 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: conversations and exclusive interviews. A space for artists, everyday people 9 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: and listeners to amplify, elevate, and empower black voices with 10 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: great conversations. Make sure to listen to The Black Effect 11 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: Presents podcast on I Heart Radio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 12 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: you get your podcast. Honorary forest Ranger Betty White here 13 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: lending a hand on my dear friends Smokey Bear because 14 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: for years he's only said only you can prevent wildfires. 15 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: But there's a lot more to say, like if you 16 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: bark your car on tall dry grass, the heart exhaust 17 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: pipe can start a wildfire, So keep the animals safe, 18 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: especially the cute shirtless Go to Smokey Bear dot com 19 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 1: to learn more about wildfire prevention. Brought to you by 20 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: the u S Forest Service, your State Forrester and the 21 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 1: AD Council. Welcome to Money Making Conversation. I am your 22 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: host with Sean McDonald. I say this every week on 23 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 1: my show. It's time to stop reading other people's success 24 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: stories and start writing your own. We always talk about 25 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: gifts and passions on this show. If you have a gift, 26 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: lead with your gift and don't let your age, friends, family, 27 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,680 Speaker 1: or co workers stop you from planning or living your dreams. 28 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: My interviews on Money Making Conversation includes celebrities, CEOs, entrepreneurs, 29 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 1: and people I like to call industry decision makers. My 30 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: next guest is Kamal Murray. He is a founder and 31 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: CEO of x S Tennis, the Tennis Channel commentator as well. 32 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: If you watch Tennis Channel much as I watch, we're 33 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: gonna get into wild. I watch it so much. And 34 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: the professional tennis coach, which is really key because of 35 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: the most proud thing I like to talk about it. 36 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: He's an HBCU grad. He's a alarm. He's out there 37 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: and the HBC's are getting so much notoriety nowadays, and 38 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: it's great to see that we're not just uh because 39 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: a lot of people look at HBCS and you have 40 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: a perception about the band a halftime and all the 41 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,519 Speaker 1: sports is really bigger than that. And we're going to 42 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 1: talk about his experience and his proud background of relationship 43 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: that he has with with with HBCUs. But here's the 44 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: producer of the first professional tenement tennis tournament produced by 45 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: the African American Excess Tennis Village in Washington Park is 46 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: a sixteen point nine million dollar black owned and operated 47 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: tennis facility. Is one of the largest indoor and outdoor 48 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: tennis facilities in the United States. Murder see a tennis scholarship, 49 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: I said earlier Florida A and m uh protigiously known 50 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: as fam Mute, where he also served as a graduate 51 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: assistant coach. The HBC graduate is only the third African 52 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: American coach to proach to coach a Grand Slam champion. 53 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: Were trying to show to talk about his programs, Uh, 54 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,839 Speaker 1: what's his future is gonna be like about the state 55 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: of tennis, not only for African Americans but just tennis 56 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: in general. This weekend that the years open, we saw 57 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: it got really young, but we also saw a lot 58 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: of great talent. That is like when we talked about 59 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: Coco Golf, Sloan Stevens, so person he coached, and he's coached, 60 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: so welcome to money making conversation. I'm calling my friend 61 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 1: because he knows a lot of people I know, come out, Murry, 62 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: where would this show him out? Thank you for having me. 63 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: Glad to be here. Well, you know, mane uh you 64 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: know tennis. You know, when you talk about black people 65 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: in tennis, you know, you're all the way back to 66 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: the author asked, and if you go even further author 67 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: Gibson and then can then then the Williams sisters have 68 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: dominated it and it's kind of made like, uh that 69 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: the blacks have really started populating the game, but really 70 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: it still is a game where blacks are still trying 71 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: to find their way on the tennis court. Am I right? 72 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: And making that accession that that that statement, Yeah, I 73 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: mean we don't have the generational lineage, uh that you 74 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: know white people do, right. You know, I think that 75 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: you know a lot of a lot of the reasons 76 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: why some of these kids make it as their parents 77 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: played in college and their parents parents played in college, 78 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: so you know, after it is a total trial and 79 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: error game in terms of trying to make a professional 80 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: tennis player, and very few parents get it right the 81 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: first time. And so the kid that dadn't make it right, 82 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,919 Speaker 1: whose parents groomed them, their kids perhaps might make it 83 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: because now they don't have to search around and they know, hey, 84 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: at this age, you go to this person. At this age, 85 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 1: you go to this person. Then you go play this tournament. 86 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: So you know, you know what why you know why 87 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: people have more uh lineage in the game because they've 88 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: just been doing it long. You know, back in the day, uh, 89 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: you know, black people and Jewish people were not allowed 90 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: to join tennis clubs and so um, you know, Jewish 91 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: people had the wherewith all to create their own tennis club. 92 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: So you have clubs like York Rackets in Toronto, Hill 93 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 1: Crest out in l A. But Black people did not 94 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: have the same opportunity. You know, we may have taken 95 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: over a park and called to the club, but it 96 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 1: was just a part and no indoor opportunity. So I 97 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: think that we're playing catch up as it relates to um, 98 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 1: you know, black tennis players who have played in college 99 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: now having kids and now knowing the road. And so 100 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 1: once we start, once those kids kind of come of age, 101 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: we'll see we'll see the last scape of tends to 102 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 1: be a lot more colorful. You know my daughter, you 103 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:31,919 Speaker 1: know who, I love her the death. You know she 104 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: started she picked up a racer when she was six 105 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: years old and so basically getting played it because she 106 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: was an eighteen years of agen. She blew out the 107 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 1: A C L injury and I saw that process. That process, 108 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: it's a you know, it's a very um I want 109 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 1: to say, it's it's a it's it's you know, you're 110 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: out there with a coach, a lodge. You get up 111 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: a lot of your personal life to be what is 112 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: it when you look at it because you did the 113 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: same thing. This is your story too, because you know 114 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: the amount of time you have to put in on 115 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: that court and sometimes the social life is not going 116 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: to be part of that. But you were blessed, I 117 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: would say, because you got to go to college. A 118 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: lot of these kids don't go to college and so 119 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: life kind of stops for them from an entertainment perspective. 120 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: On the tour, that's their world. And so talk about 121 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: you as a youngster getting into tennis and how important 122 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: it was for you to gain some type of social 123 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: behavior when you went to family yeah, you know, I 124 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 1: think that the individual nature of the sport caused the 125 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: tennis players to be a little bit behind socially, not 126 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: as comfortable being around people. Has been a lot more 127 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: time in isolation or just in the car with their parents, 128 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: driving you know, to and from the tenants court for hours. 129 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: And so, I mean it is a fact that tennis 130 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: players are are developed slower on a social aspect compared 131 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: to you know, basketball football players who spend so much 132 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: time worth each other. Um. But I you know, I 133 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: think that you know, obviously have an opportunity to go 134 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: to college, um, you know, allow me to definitely gain 135 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: some social skills, but it all goes over the cost. 136 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: You know, I didn't want to play protenants, you know. Um, 137 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: I would not say that if I had the opportunity 138 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 1: to play protenants and seventeen years old that going to 139 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: college just to get socialized would have been a good thing. 140 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: I would have gone and taking out opportunity. I didn't 141 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: really want to play protendists. Wasn't good enough, wasn't interested, 142 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: didn't have the lineage or to know how. Um. But 143 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: I do think that having been a good tennis player, 144 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: uh and been very cerebral and and prep and mentally 145 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: present during the entire process. When you combine that with 146 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: my HBCU experience and going to college, getting educated, getting 147 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: the master's to degree, getting socialized, that did allow me 148 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: to enter the professional tennis for back, right. I mean 149 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: it is like the most closest knick club you can have. Um. 150 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:54,239 Speaker 1: It allowed me to enter it with a sense of confidence. Um. 151 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: You know. So I would say it was definitely going 152 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: to college having had the experience of being a good 153 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: supplayer helping you. Now you know, now you got to 154 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: come out. You kind of like you know, you said, 155 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: I wouldn't. I didn't want to do a pro. I 156 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: didn't have the skills set for be a pro. But 157 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: then you got a scholarship. So somebody saw something talent 158 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: in you, you know, and and it took you to 159 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: the state of Florida. And so but how did you 160 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 1: get come out? How did you get involved with tennis? 161 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: How did what age that you start? And who? Why 162 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: did it become a love for you? Because this is 163 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: what you do now is a passion. Yeah, so I 164 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: would say it wasn't necessarily a love all the time. 165 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: You know, my my brother, my older brother played you know, 166 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 1: big time basketball and he's like six nine to sixty now, 167 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 1: but he Uh, my parents took his as his A 168 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: U team to Africa. Uh, and we came back in 169 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: the middle of the summer and all the tennis clamps, 170 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: all the SENSE camps were closed. All the camps are 171 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: closed in my neighborhood, and only camp that was still 172 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: accepting enrollment was a tennis camp because they basically had 173 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: three people on olden because nobody in my neighborhood wanted 174 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: to uh. And so you know, I stumbled upon a game. 175 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: My godfather, Reggie Williams, was a tennis player, and he said, hey, 176 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 1: you need somewhere to babysit. Comal go ahead and take 177 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: them just on his park on eighty seven. And Jeffrey 178 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 1: and my mom took me there, really just hoping to 179 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,319 Speaker 1: be able to drop me off and get some cheap babysitting. Uh. 180 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: You know, so it's it just uh, it just happened 181 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: that way. And then you know, even then, I you know, 182 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 1: didn't love it. You know, I was leaving my tennis 183 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: racket and the gardeners can at the courts because I 184 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: was my daughter to wrap transportation. You know what I 185 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 1: mean so I I it was. It was like a 186 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:43,200 Speaker 1: walk of shame almost home from the tennis court for 187 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: a long time, until I started to get decent, I 188 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: had some success and had a sense of pride for myself. 189 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: It's finally here, the season of celebration, and no matter 190 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: how you celebrate with family and friends, whether you're preparing 191 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: for reys magos or Karamu lighting the Manura, are going 192 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: to mid night mass, Coals has just what you need 193 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: to make those traditions special. Plus you'll find gifts for 194 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: all your loved ones. 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So this season, give with 203 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: all your heart with great gifts from Coals or coals 204 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: dot com. If I could be you and you could 205 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: be me for just one hour, if you could find 206 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: a way to get inside each other's mind. Walcome mile 207 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: in my shoes, wacome mile in my shoes. Shoes. We've 208 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 1: all felt left out, and for um that feeling lasts 209 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: more than a moment. We can change that. Learn how 210 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: it belonging begins with us dot org brought to you 211 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: by the AD Council. Welcome out in machine. Look at 212 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: your children's eyes to see the true magic of a forest. 213 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: It's a storybook world for them. You look and see 214 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: a tree. They see the wrinkled face of a wizard 215 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,679 Speaker 1: with arms outstretched to the sky. They see treasure and pebbles. 216 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,839 Speaker 1: They see a windy path that could lead to adventure, 217 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: and they see you. They're fearless. Guide. Is this fascinating world? 218 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 1: Find a forest near you and start exploring and discover 219 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 1: the forest dot org brought to you by the United 220 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,679 Speaker 1: States Forest Service and the AD Council. Now is it's 221 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:50,319 Speaker 1: so funny because you know you're right about you know socially, 222 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: you know you are behind your skill set. I ways 223 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 1: telling us to my wife the worst. She can eventually 224 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 1: catch up I said, once she goes to college and 225 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: starts maingling with people, because you're out there by yourself 226 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: up from a standpoint, but what you do get you 227 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: do you mature faster from a standpoint, If that's what 228 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:07,719 Speaker 1: you want, you have to work hard for. You have 229 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,959 Speaker 1: to be disciplined, you have to arrive at a certain times, 230 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: you have to put in a certain amount of hours. 231 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: So it does prepare you for life. So when you 232 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: open your tennis village, like you said, you know, everybody's 233 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: not gonna be a Venus Williams or Serena Williams or 234 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: or anybody else who has a high skill level of 235 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: the turn pro. What is the purpose of opening up 236 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: your tennis academy or the xx tennis village? So you know, 237 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: when I was growing up, after that summer when I 238 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: started playing tennis, I found a free program at the 239 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: High Park Racquetball Club, and um, you know, in that environment, 240 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: I was like the black Mecca of tennis in Chicago, 241 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: the only black's club in Chicago. It was black professionals, doctors, lawyers. 242 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 1: Um it was. You know. When after Ash came to town, 243 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: he always stopped by there. That's where I met first 244 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 1: magazine Garrison like it was the place uh Katrina Adams 245 00:12:57,160 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: learned to play there donald young. So it was like 246 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: a black mecca. And I went there every day after 247 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 1: school just for the free tennis program and the convenient 248 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 1: babysitting for my mother. Um. But that environment where you 249 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: see black people, uh just sort of they're congregating around 250 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: the game tennis, basketball in the gym, drinking smoothies and wine. 251 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: You know. You know that helped me as a student. 252 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: That kept me off the street right. And you know, 253 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: I can't tell you the number of times that I 254 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: would be leaving out the club, walking to the bus 255 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: stop to try to get a right, you know, to 256 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: take the bus home, and a and a and an 257 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:35,839 Speaker 1: adult would give me a ride. And it's Cadillac, you 258 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 1: know what I mean. And so that environment where it was, 259 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: um wasn't forrest mentorship, but it was just a the 260 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: kids isn't here belong to us. We're gonna make sure 261 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: we practice with them, spar with them, helping with their homework. 262 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: I used to sit down on my knees and do 263 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,199 Speaker 1: my homework on the bench right and will come over, Hey, 264 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: what you're doing, Let me help you with that? Math 265 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 1: problem whatever it is, right, and it was totally authentic 266 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: and not forced. And so, uh, my goal was to 267 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,439 Speaker 1: create that same environment. So we built the facility literally 268 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: a mile west of that facility. Um, we've got classrooms 269 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: so the kids don't have to sit on their knees 270 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 1: and do homework on the floor. Um, we've got adults 271 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: in the building who have worked with all who have 272 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: the opportunity to, you know, you know, very just unintendedly, 273 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: you know, meet with kids and get to know these 274 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: kids so that when they do grow older and get 275 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: an intern you need an internship, they have some sort 276 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: of barometer there. So that was the goal, was just 277 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: to recreate the environment that I think kept me alive. 278 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I grew up on the South side of Chicago, uh, 279 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: and I had a lot of opportunity to do bad things. 280 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: And I was a middle child in the middle class family, 281 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: in the middle class neighborhood, right, And so I had 282 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: the opportunity to do a lot of bad things. I 283 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: could hide in my family because my brother was you know, 284 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: doing his thing on the basketball court, and you know, 285 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: my parents were busy. Both my parents work, you know 286 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: what I mean, And so has kept me on the 287 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 1: straight and narrow, puire point blank. I mean I I 288 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: knew and still know people who did you know bad things? 289 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: You know what I mean? You know that that's that's 290 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: basically what life is about, you know, being in the 291 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: position where you got mentors, You've got people who kept 292 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: you straight. I always tell people about myself. You know, 293 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: I come from there, the city in and you know, 294 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: people kept me. I'm sitting here because people guided me 295 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: in the right direction. They kept me out of trouble. 296 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: You know, some words, some people might use the word mischief. 297 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: You know, mischiefs can lead to trouble, and trouble can 298 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: lead to incarceration, depending on what direction you take it. 299 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: But you're sitting here today a man who's making a 300 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: difference in people's lives. You know, you serve nearly three 301 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: thousand students annually through your tendans, your tenants program, and 302 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: then you're sending kids to to to college through scholarship programs. 303 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: How does that make you feel? You know, because everything 304 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: starts with the dream. Come out. You know what I'm 305 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,520 Speaker 1: speaking to, Come out, Murray, He's to see you. Excess tennants. 306 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: You've seen them on the tennis channels. A commentator, but 307 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: more importantly, it's a professional tennis coach. You know you're 308 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: making a difference, You're changing lives. I created this show, 309 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversation to introduce people like you to view, 310 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: to my viewers and to my listeners to say, wow, 311 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: you can do this too. But you have to have 312 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: a plan, and your plan is changing lives. So when 313 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: you wake up every day, how do you feel? Oh man, Well, 314 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: let me tell you. It's hard work. So I'm glad 315 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: that the building is built, and I'm glad that we're operating. 316 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: We've been operating four years. We started going in two 317 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 1: thousand and five. Right then we got our older facility. 318 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: We got control of that in two thousand and eight. Uh, 319 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: and we moved in this building seen. But it was 320 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: not easy. Uh. And so when I wake up in 321 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: the morning, I'm exhausted. I'm very grateful that we were 322 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: able to get into the finish line, but exhausted because 323 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: the work never stops. Uh. But you know, around three 324 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: or four o'clock when these kids started walking in, these 325 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: parents start dropping their kids off, and they are first 326 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: generation to tennis players with no knowledge and just to 327 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: blank canvas. I mean that makes it all worth it, um, 328 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: but you know I'll be I'll be honest. You know, 329 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: it was a lot of times in the process where 330 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: I was like, I got a job, I got two degrees, 331 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: I could do something else. Is it worth the fight? 332 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: You know, it shouldn't be this hard to do good 333 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: and so uh it has not been like, um, a 334 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: smooth role. But you know, I feel like my South 335 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: Side roots make make me tough enough to power through 336 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: it so that that I'll be honest with you. It's 337 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: it's uh, it's been a hard role, but it's good. 338 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: It's very rewarding, uh to see this, you know, everything 339 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: coming fruition for us to have professional tennis terments and 340 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:40,959 Speaker 1: stuff here. But you know, the role was hard. I mean, 341 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: I'll tell you, you know, just I'm glad to see 342 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: HBCUs getting the notoriety that they're getting now because I 343 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: would say, if I'm being honest, a lot of when 344 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: I was trying to raise money right amongst corporations and 345 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: amongst the wealthy crowd whom I went to Ivy League 346 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:02,400 Speaker 1: schools and some of these you know, larger institutions, I 347 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: felt like, on a consistent basis that my HBC, you 348 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: degree was a hindrance what I was trying to do. 349 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: It was like you didn't go to Kellogg or Booth, 350 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 1: so your family NBA is not really an NBAT. You know. 351 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: I had that feeling, right And it wasn't just my insecurity. 352 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: It was a real feeling, you know what I mean. 353 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: I think now you know, supporting HBC is believing their 354 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 1: potential is a is a fad. But you know, four 355 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: years ago it wasn't a fat years ago, it was 356 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: I was sitting in the room with four or five 357 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 1: people that went to Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth boot you know, 358 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: and so you know it was it was it made 359 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 1: my life harder, right, um, just in terms of proven 360 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: I had the capacity and the intellect to sort of 361 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: make this happen. Look at your children's eyes to see 362 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: the true magic of a forest. It's a storybook world 363 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 1: for them. You look and see a tree, They see 364 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 1: the rink of face of a wizard with arms outstre 365 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: to the sky. They see treasure and pebbles, They see 366 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 1: a windy path that could lead to adventure, and they 367 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: see you. They're fearless. Guide. Is this fascinating world? Find 368 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: a forest near you and start exploring a Discover the 369 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 1: Forest dot Org brought to you by the United States 370 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 1: Forest Service and the AD Council. Hi everyone, i'l roker 371 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,679 Speaker 1: here as a guy with his own catchphrase. I appreciate 372 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: that Smokey's only said only you can prevent wildfires, but 373 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: I'm filling in because there's a lot more to report, 374 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: like when they're parched or windy conditions out there. You 375 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: gotta be extra careful with things like burning yard wage. 376 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 1: After all, wildfires can start anywhere, even in your neck 377 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 1: of the woods. Go to Smokey Bear dot com to 378 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: learn more about wildfire prevention. Brought to you by the U. S. 379 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 1: Forest Service, your state Forester, and the AD Council. What 380 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: grows in the forest trees, sure no. What else grows 381 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:57,199 Speaker 1: in the forest, Our imagination, our sense of wonder, and 382 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: our family bonds grow too, because when we just connect 383 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: from this and connect with this, we reconnect with each other. 384 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest 385 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: near you and start exploring. I Discover the Forest dot 386 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: Org brought to you by the United States Forest Service 387 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: and the AD Council. We do come out, I think 388 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 1: from a standpoint, and you're absolutely correct. I always tell 389 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 1: people that they were a vice president. Kamala Harrison. Tell 390 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: anybody that she went to Howard, they would assume she 391 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: went to Ivy League school because people just don't assume 392 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: that type of academic training can lead to somebody being 393 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: the vice president of the United States. But you also 394 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 1: were playing in the lane where you know there was 395 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,239 Speaker 1: a rarity. You know, from the standpoint of tennis, you know, 396 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: you can't. You don't associate tennis with a with a 397 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 1: historically black college and university. You just don't do that. 398 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: And so but you do you do from an academic 399 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: standpoint when you realize that the black doctors and Dennis 400 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: or who are black confrom hbc used for the percent 401 00:20:57,800 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: of the members of Congress who are black come from 402 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: HBCU of the STEM graduates who are black come from HBCUs. 403 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 1: You know, North Carolina a d T graduating more black 404 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: engineers either white or black colleges. You know, that type 405 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: of information is what I'm about. That's that's why I 406 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: got you on the show because important people see there 407 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: are so many different styles because of the fact that 408 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: you know it is limited amount of information. When I 409 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: see that Mackenzie Scotty gives out four point one billion dollars, 410 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: but they don't tell you why she gave out the 411 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: four point one million dollars. And so when I bring 412 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 1: you on the show to talk about you, I moved 413 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: the conversation of family to the forefront because here's a 414 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 1: man making a difference who should be recognized for his 415 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 1: academic training but also for his black excellence. And that's 416 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 1: really one of the reasons I brought you on the 417 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:44,919 Speaker 1: show because now because I wanted to talk about this 418 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 1: tennis tournament that you're kicking off, because it's the first 419 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: ever and you're producing it. Yeah, well, let me say 420 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 1: that you think about black college tennis. I went to 421 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 1: family you and I'm the third black person to coach 422 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: your grand Slam jam slung statements, right. Stevens Walter Johnson 423 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: was the first. He coached out and Arthur Richard Williams 424 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:09,360 Speaker 1: was the second. He coached Venus and Serena and I'm 425 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,120 Speaker 1: the third and I coached long Stevens. Okay, So that's 426 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: family number one right there. Uh. Zack Evidence was the 427 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: only black coach on the Men's Pro Tour. He was 428 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: coaching Frances Tfo. He also went to family you okay, wow, okay, cool, 429 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 1: I'll be a gibson the family. And so the Blacks 430 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: that are intendness also have a great history and in 431 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: a relationship with family, you know, with with HBCUs, you 432 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:39,920 Speaker 1: know what I mean. So I think that's also you know, 433 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:42,199 Speaker 1: little known fact, but I think it's it's important to 434 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 1: know that. You know, two years ago the only two 435 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: black coaches and all the protendants both went to HBCU. Uh. 436 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 1: And so you know, even my teammate, my teammates know 437 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 1: why they will coach Melanie who Dan who? You know 438 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: if you google her story years ago, she made this 439 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:59,440 Speaker 1: incredible run in at the U S Open. So I 440 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 1: think that, um, you know, we've we've got to sort 441 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 1: of uh promote it and talk about it more with Fami. 442 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: You she was out of the Atlanta right when Melanie 443 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:13,400 Speaker 1: out of Atlanta. Absolutely, I definitely know as we see 444 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:16,479 Speaker 1: you graduate intenis players have had a big imprint on 445 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 1: professional tenants for a long time. Uh, you know, it's 446 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: just so happen that we're very modest personalities, you know, No, 447 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: it was very modest. Leave that to me, Leave that 448 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: shout out to me. That's my job. My job is 449 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 1: to get you to talk about it, give you a 450 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: platform to be able to shout it out, and then 451 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 1: we should accept the responsibility that this is legitimate and 452 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,120 Speaker 1: we should support it because people, you know, you could 453 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:38,959 Speaker 1: say it was tough, but you know, man, you know, 454 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: sixty six point nine million dollars black owned and operate 455 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 1: a tennis facility. You're a really good talker. People believe 456 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:47,880 Speaker 1: in what you have to say and what you've accomplished. 457 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 1: So I always say that sometimes we work so hard 458 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: come out that we kind of forget that people believe 459 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: in as if we don't sit back and look at 460 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: all our success, and sometimes the grind can overwhelm you 461 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: and my siniors over women. You brother, look, you've coached 462 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:06,159 Speaker 1: a Grand Slam tennis champion, and we all saw this 463 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: weekend how tough that is. You know Emma who won 464 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: this weekend at eighteen years old. The previous Grand Slam, 465 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 1: she had to walk away because the pressure was too 466 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 1: great at the Wimbledon, and so you see how it 467 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: affected Novak Djokovic, you know, and afterwards he said he 468 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: was relieved. You know, every every game he played. Rob 469 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 1: Labor was in the stands, you know, what I'm saying, like, 470 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: what's up, You're gonna take it. You're not gonna take 471 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 1: you, you you know what saying the skinny Russian come along 472 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,239 Speaker 1: and he can't even everyone who serves was during their 473 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: ages and so. But but that's that pressure, you know, 474 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 1: you putting on the tennis tournament, that's another level of 475 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 1: pressure and expectations to talk about that. Yeah. So um, 476 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,199 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, with covid um, there was an 477 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:52,119 Speaker 1: opportunity to ask some tournaments of the calendar with the 478 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: with the pros not going to Asia this year because 479 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: of the pandemic. Uh. And so you know, it's a 480 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:00,159 Speaker 1: good you know, I may sure that, you know, just 481 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 1: as I did in my corporate career prior to twenty 482 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 1: seventeen or prior to when I left Corporate America, you know, 483 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 1: I make sure that when I'm at these advancing at 484 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 1: these tournaments, that I network, continue to meet people, be 485 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 1: a good person, um, you know, really exemplify what it 486 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 1: means to be a black man who HBCU grad, who's educated, 487 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 1: come from the family, uh, and not just be seen 488 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: as just a tennis coach. And so over that time, 489 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 1: I've had to you know, build some relationships, um, you 490 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: know in the c suite, you know, with the Tennessee 491 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,119 Speaker 1: suite per se uh. And then you know, I've been 492 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: working to just sort of bring things like that to 493 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 1: Chicago because with excess tennis, just a cradle to grave approach. 494 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: You know, the cradle is obviously teaching the kids, and 495 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: then the grade is being able to support professional tennis 496 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 1: and and and like bring it to the inner city. 497 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 1: You know, like, you know, the kids in this neighborhood 498 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 1: don't have the opportunity to go to New York and 499 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: watch us open. So my goals to bring us open 500 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: to them. And so that was always a part of 501 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 1: the strategy, uh, in the vision, and this year we 502 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: having to you know, be able to maneuver and negotiate 503 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: to be able to pull it off. So it was great, 504 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,439 Speaker 1: I mean, and and it it really is. I Mean, listen, 505 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: what what black promotion, the black ownership and a tennis 506 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: event means is that you can have black suppliers. When 507 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 1: I go to the Teenis tournaments, there are no black suppliers. 508 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 1: Getting a security firm that got the contract is why 509 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: the catering company got the contract is white. The transportation 510 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: company got the contract. Is white. Um, you know when 511 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,200 Speaker 1: I go to USO, but I walk fifteen feet and 512 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: my credential gets checked every five feet. You know, this 513 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:30,640 Speaker 1: is this is the year after Solong one. I'm like, hey, guys, 514 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:35,640 Speaker 1: my bab faces on that billboard, right, I am, I'm 515 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: that guy, so let me buy it, right. And so 516 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: I think that just comes from not having enough enough black, 517 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,639 Speaker 1: enough black bodies on the site. And so you know, 518 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 1: being able to own this event really gives me the 519 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 1: opportunity to a give out wild cars to up and 520 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: coming black players. And we uh support black vendors, you know, 521 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: so we have black head of black security company, black 522 00:26:56,359 --> 00:27:00,680 Speaker 1: graphic design, black printer, black pr black marketing. Uh. Most 523 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 1: of the ball kids were African Americans. Uh, and so um, 524 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: you know it just really really gives an opportunity to 525 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: sort of continue what what the world is trying to 526 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: do now right, which is poor black people, and expose 527 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:15,800 Speaker 1: the world to black people, because you know, I would 528 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,880 Speaker 1: say about tennis, it's the ultimate melting pot. I mean, 529 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 1: it is the globalist of games. And um, you know 530 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,479 Speaker 1: we've got to start to welcome everybody into the game, right, 531 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:32,920 Speaker 1: the Serbians, the check, the Russians, the South Americans and Canadians, 532 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 1: I mean all of us. We gotta go from Tunisia 533 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: that's coming to town. So you know, like the world 534 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 1: needs early exposure to each other, right, and this event 535 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: allows that to happen. Well, you see that. You just 536 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:48,239 Speaker 1: see all the mixed race winners and champions that are 537 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 1: in tennis nowadays, from Canada, from Japan. And but again 538 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 1: with that whole thing, you know, I talked to a 539 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:56,919 Speaker 1: very humble man, Kamal Murge, a humble guy. You know. 540 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 1: Excess Tennis Village is on thirteen acres, y'all. Okay, I 541 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 1: live on five acres. I know what thirteen nagres looks like. Okay, 542 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:06,919 Speaker 1: fifteen outdoor courts, twelve indoor courts. Okay. The fitness in 543 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 1: the classroom is located primarily and low income area of Chicago. 544 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:12,399 Speaker 1: So when I talked to him, I look at him, 545 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:14,640 Speaker 1: I look at the square and ago, brother, you're special. 546 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 1: You're doing something I know some people will consider impossible. 547 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:21,479 Speaker 1: God gave you a talent, put you in the right 548 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:24,359 Speaker 1: direction and say, hey, man, your your your relligans say 549 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:26,479 Speaker 1: pick up that racketball. Your mom says, you're gonna keep 550 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 1: you busy with babysitting duties and then well you say 551 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 1: you didn't love it or not, there is a love 552 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: for it. And then you're making a difference because Sloan 553 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: Stephens won't be Sloan Stevens without you. She's not a 554 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 1: Grand Slam champion without you. And in the fact that 555 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 1: you are affecting three thousand students annually at your facility 556 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 1: in Chicago makes a difference. The fact that you're sending 557 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 1: young students to colleges on scholarship opportunities is impressive. And 558 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 1: when you say all those things, and I'm not just 559 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 1: trying to make you down in the dump says hey man, 560 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: you need to sump your chest. I'm just telling brother, 561 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: you're special, and that's my job is to acknowledge that 562 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 1: and to get you to understand that you're value member 563 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: of this world. Thank you, brother, I appreciate you. I 564 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 1: appreciate you having me on. I mean, you know, look, 565 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 1: I've got tons of people in my life that provide 566 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 1: me encouragement and when I start slowing down and kick 567 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: me right. But you know, Garrison is one of those people. 568 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: Really jeans one of those people, uh brother named Les Corney, 569 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: you know, because it gets hard. So I appreciate with 570 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 1: what you just said. I appreciate the encouragement. Um, and uh, hey, 571 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 1: kudos to YouTube man, thank you for having me on 572 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 1: and and supporting what I'm trying to do. Yeah, I'm 573 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 1: gonna come to talk to my boy Stephen Smith. We're gonna, 574 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 1: we're gonna, we're gonna get we I'm gonna connect you 575 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 1: with him. Man after this interview, I gotta do some 576 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 1: extra for you to man, because you're specially yeah. Uh, 577 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: and Steven, they would appreciate that, you know. I think 578 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 1: you know. One of the things about this facility, it 579 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 1: was it was created with a lot of help from 580 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 1: NBA players. So my best friend and high school and 581 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:07,959 Speaker 1: still to this day as a guy, n Quentin Richardson, Uh, phenixus, Yeah, 582 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: from Chicago, and then Dwyane Wade and Bobby Simmons and uh, 583 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 1: you know a lot of people sort of uh you 584 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 1: know it helps facility come here. Whether it's like, hey, 585 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: give me some game tickets so I can entertain this person. Well, 586 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:23,480 Speaker 1: hey I need a chat. You got it. You got 587 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 1: the Mercedes. I need to chat. Um. You know, there's 588 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: a lot of basketball influence, uh in this in this 589 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 1: facility as well, because in Chicago, in addition to the 590 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: business community, there's a lot of athletes you know that 591 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: way make it, make it from the south from west side. Now, 592 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 1: who those athletes, NBA athletes that you just mentioned that 593 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 1: kind of didn't hear, Quentin Richardson, Dwyang Way, Bobby, Um, 594 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 1: you know they all kind of stepped the road, checks 595 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 1: to support the calls. Still involved, still support of UH 596 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,680 Speaker 1: working on phase two and three with those guys. So Um. 597 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:00,480 Speaker 1: You know a Kyan Dueling's daughter which train here. You know, 598 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:03,640 Speaker 1: he's the coach of the Utah Jazz. Absolutely live with 599 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 1: me this summer. Um, he was cius teammate back in 600 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 1: the day. So you know, a lot of a lot 601 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: of help from a lot of different sources. With my man, 602 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 1: you keep winning and again I'm gonna promote this and 603 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: keep you in the fourth fraud of Black excellence, my brother. 604 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:21,600 Speaker 1: And again you're making a difference and I can't if 605 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: you ever need a kick in the butt, just just 606 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 1: as Bobby. But I know Bobby, we said, Bobby, he's 607 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 1: just he's in l A. When I was in l A. 608 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: We still on the same floor, same conduct. So you're 609 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: doing very well. Man, and uh, you know his brother, 610 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 1: and I know exactly that Chicago world that he uh 611 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 1: we talked about the last year we talked about on 612 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 1: the phone during the interview. And so I really appreciate 613 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: your man coming on Money Making Conversations just to tell 614 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 1: you a story and kick you in the book. Okay, 615 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:51,880 Speaker 1: thank you. If you want to hear any of my 616 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: interviews and money Making Conversations or he see my interviews 617 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 1: and money Making Conversation, please go to money Making Conversation 618 00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: dot com. I am Ray Sean McDonald. I am your host. 619 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: In this season of giving, Coals has gifts for all 620 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 1: your loved ones. For those who like to keep it cozy, 621 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: find fleeces, sweaters, loungeware, blankets and throws. Or support minority 622 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:14,600 Speaker 1: owned or founded brands by giving gifts from Human Nation 623 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 1: and Shame Moisture. 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Get it 631 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 1: Right visits n h S A dot gov slash the 632 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: Right Seat, brought to you by the National Highway Traffic 633 00:32:55,880 --> 00:33:00,880 Speaker 1: Safety Administration. In the AD Council, we've all felt left out, 634 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 1: and for people who moved to this country, that feeling 635 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: lasts more than a moment. We can change that. Learn 636 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 1: how it Belonging begins with us dot org, brought to 637 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:11,479 Speaker 1: you by the AD Council.