A Philadelphia Eagle will conduct a clinic for youngsters at a Queen Village playground.
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Trevard Lindley, right, joined organizers and participants at Shot Tower Playground Tuesday morning in preparation for his Community Outreach Football Clinic.
Joe Richmond watched in awe Tuesday as Jaden Mitchell tossed passes and made grabs at Shot Tower Playground, 131 Carpenter St. If the youngster displays the same skills Saturday, the Philadelphia Eagles may want to have him place his signature on a contract. The talented Southwest Philadelphia resident, adept at baseball and basketball through time at Marian Anderson Recreation Center, 740 S. 17th St., tried out football for the first time in preparation for the site’s hosting of The Trevard Lindley Community Outreach Football Clinic.
Jaden and other youngsters met Lindley, a second-year cornerback with the Birds, for a quick practice at the Queen Village location. Their impending weekend interaction comes courtesy of the efforts of Love Kingdom Fellowship Church, 1009 S. Third St., and brothers Joe and Mike Richmond, co-founders of I Am Focused, Inc. (IAF)
“It’s a blessing to be able to give back to the neighborhood,” Joe Richmond, formerly of Third and Carpenter streets, said.
IAF’s director of community outreach relations, he has made his mission the devising of means to boost confidence through basketball. A perennial love, the game has given him personal joy through playing and coaching in Sweden and through running Richmond Group International (RGI), IAF’s predecessor.
A graduate of South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St., he started RGI to strengthen communities by calling on hoops to construct relationships and empower individuals. His endeavors sent many local men and women to overseas showcase camps and tours and led to the acquisition of the Delaware Destroyers, then a National Rookie League squad and now an Eastern Basketball League member.
Mike Richmond, a 6-foot-7 behemoth properly dubbed “Big Mike,” helps as IAF’s director of international basketball relations. Also a Southern alumnus, he used his talent to attend the University of Texas at El Paso and became a selection by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1987 NBA Draft. An overseas career has garnered him added credibility in heading the non-profit’s international student athlete exchange program.
“We started I Am Focused in 2002 and have had many talks with pastors and politicians about helping as many children as possible,” the resident of 27th and Moore streets said.
The siblings found a receptive figure in Love Kingdom Fellowship’s pastor Warren C. McKnight. The sixth-year head always holds a summer camp at which the Richmonds conduct basketball lessons. Joe Richmond offers financial advice to athletes, and his savvy led a colleague to put him in contact with Lindley. Though football presents an athletic departure from basketball, its insistence on determination caused the Delaware resident to befriend the University of Kentucky product.
“Pastor McKnight said we could put on whatever if I could get Trevard to participate,” Joe Richmond said.
“We are always looking to build a relationship between the church and community,” New Jersey’s McKnight said.
IAF concentrates on the tri-state area with at least eight big yearly events and involves itself as a supporter of other gatherings. Joe Richmond reached out to Lindley three weeks ago, and the 105th pick in last year’s NFL Draft agreed to participate in his first clinic.
“It’s going to be great to help kids to have a good time,” the Georgia native said.
Monday’s approval of a new collective bargaining agreement by the NFL Players Association’s executive board ended a lockout that began March 12. Lindley yesterday reported to training camp for the Eagles, who last year won 10 games and sent five players to the Pro Bowl, including Asante Samuel, one of his secondary mates and mentors.
“I am read to go in, work hard and show the coaches I’m ready to play,” Lindley, who in his rookie season registered 23 tackles and made an interception in 11 games, said.
The 5-foot-11 speedster was unsure Tuesday how the end of the labor dispute would affect his participation in Saturday’s event, which Joe Richmond said will have at least 75 children. If he cannot attend, the youngsters will watch an encouraging video with his narration before tending to drills. The boys and girls, ages 7 to 14, will work at 11 stations where they will learn the nuances of different positions.
“The age range is ideal because we figure we will attract young kids with some interest in football and advance the knowledge of the game for those who are curious so as to push them into the sport,” Joe Richmond said.
Registration remains open, with parties encouraged to visit www.iamfocused.org or call 215-468-4095.
The age limits will keep 16-year-old Chris McKnight from competing, but he used the session to try to have his limbs outdo Lindley’s. He caught a couple passes before Lindley, who garnered numerous collegiate honors, including a First-Team All-Southeastern Conference selection in ’08, snared the last heave from the elder McKnight, his father. A fan of the Dallas Cowboys, the pastor took ribbing from Joe Richmond for letting Lindley intercept him.
“That’s Troy Aikman for you,” the younger of the entrepreneurial brothers said in reference to the Hall of Fame quarterback.
Jarvis McKinney had already put in a full morning of shooting and conditioning drills when his coach tells him to do 20 layups. After making 15 while running between baskets in the South Philadelphia High gymnasium, the 18-year-old struggles to lift his feet. Exhausted but satisfied, he breaks for a drink of water. "I think it's a good way to work on your skills and see how long you last," said McKinney, one of the first participants in Big Mike's Basketball Camp. The five-day camp, which runs through tomorrow, is Mike Richmond's way of giving back to the community in which he grew up playing hoops. The former All-Public selection and 1982 Southern graduate went on to play basketball with the Portuguese National Team and other international squads. Now retired, the 6-foot-7 athlete and his brother, Joe Richmond, 38, spent the better part of the last year putting the program together. The brothers, originally of Fourth Street and Washington Avenue, are using the camp to teach sportsmanship, teamwork, character, shooting, offense and defense. "This is not a babysitting camp," Mike Richmond said during Monday's session. "These kids are going to learn basic fundamentals. That's what got me to where I am today." The 39-year-old played a total of...
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1. Kim said... on Jul 28, 2011 at 12:30PM
“”
2. Anita said... on Jul 28, 2011 at 04:33PM
“Go Joe! keep up the good work. I pray much success for the camp and all your endeavors! continue to be blessing”
3. Nadia said... on Jul 28, 2011 at 10:23PM
“Great story! An inspiration to the community.”
4. Thomas said... on Jul 29, 2011 at 09:56AM
“
Awesome!!”
5. bpuss said... on Jul 29, 2011 at 05:39PM
“why don't the athletes ever go to white neighborhoods.we are the ones that pay their salaries.when the hommies go it's usually a free ticket.”
6. barondavis said... on Jul 29, 2011 at 09:20PM
“Since when is Queen Village not a white neighborhood?”
7. April said... on Jul 30, 2011 at 05:46PM
“Congratz Joe. Very nice article on giving back to the community.”
8. bpuss said... on Jul 30, 2011 at 10:00PM
“Yea i see the white people they are behind the black wall.”
9. Bear, De said... on Aug 3, 2011 at 02:01PM
“kudosto all that made it happen. this rich and can be diverse in many area: art, reading, writing, music, on... on.... and on..... the door is open.wg”
10. joemer said... on Aug 3, 2011 at 05:22PM
“I'd love to see Sabonis {Sabas} or any 1 of the BC Zalgiris Lithuas players stop by St.Kaz's one helluva picture him standing next to the wooden shrine outside of the church ... !!! would be a blast !!!!”