Deion Sanders Outside The Window
Outsiders like myself don’t know much about American sports like basketball, baseball and football. That’s why I didn’t understand Stephen A. Smith’s excitement when Colorado University had a sold-out spring game, the first under Deion Sanders, as football coach.
‘Coach Prime’ as they call him, put Jackson State University on the map, when he was coach. Don’t get me wrong. It has always being there like other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), but they were outside the window, looking inside. They were able, but not allowed near the table. There are unsung African American heroes who died trying to get in. The majority stayed outside cocooned by church and family love that cheered them in sports, music and education.
Deion Sanders is not one man, he is part of the folks outside the window. That’s why he coaches like that and motivates like that. His tenure at Jackson State University, has helped me understand the following films a little bit.
1. Soul Of The Game, produced by HBO is a movie about baseball Negro Leagues.
2. Drumline, movie about life in an HBCU institution featuring the young Nick Cannon and directed by Charles Stone 111.
3. Don’t Look Back, the baseball movie featuring Lou Gossett Jr. as Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige.
Coach Prime’s decision to move from Jackson State University to University of Colorado continues to generate popcorn commentary about folks outside the window. Must they be perpetually outside, when they are able to be at the table and can even improve food on the table?
Colorado University football season tickets are sold out already.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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