Advantage Disadvantage (13 page)

Marcus’ legal problems about carrying the gun into
O’Hare Airport were finally resolved in an unsatisfactory way. In
the post 9/11 era, the prosecutors insisted on a felony conviction.
They wanted to show that Homeland Security was doing their job, and
that airplanes and airports were completely safe. Marcus provided a
golden chance for the federal agents to champion detection and
prosecution. Prosecutors clearly understood that he was not aware
that his gun was in his carryon bag, but they needed to post a
felony conviction. The defendant lawyers’ strategy was able to
accomplish two goals: they had stretched the speed of the trial
longer than six years and they saved Marcus from any jail time.
Nevertheless, the DA would not settle for anything less than a
felony conviction and one-year probation for violating federal
aviation and firearm laws. At the successful completion of the
probation year, the judge would expunge his felony criminal record.
The everlasting portion of this arrangement was that he had to
forfeit his right to legally carry a firearm. Marcus agreed
reluctantly with no other acceptable option. The overnight time in
the Cook County holding cell scared him into accepting this deal.
After all of these years, Marcus Imari could never again handle a
gun or work for the Board of Trade.

He had applied for hundreds of jobs in the past six
frustrating years. The baggage of a having to answer affirmative to
the felony arrest or conviction made most of his applications
immediate non-starters. He was a middle-aged, high school
educated-man without much career hope. His father-in-law, Jonathon
Handelair generously supported him, but Marcus was a hard worker,
and a proud man. His predicament put tremendous pressure on his
relationship with Elizabeth.

During all of these years, Elizabeth had been grown
increasingly dismayed with Marcus’ prospects. She watched as her
Hyde Park and college friends families prospered around the
country, and she became jealous and envious. She concluded that
Marcus was unable or unwilling to support the family, and more
importantly, he could not provide the social status that she hoped
for from her spouse. No longer did his work with the Englewood Boys
Club carry any weight. Neither did his volunteer work with Jamal’s
high school team impress her. Elizabeth felt her husband was
holding her down socially. She had grown aloof to Marcus, and he
resented her restlessness. The strain of being unemployed for so
long bothered Marcus and the only joy in his life was watching
Jamal’s basketball successes. Elizabeth thought her husband and
son’s commitment to basketball was over-the-top.

Elizabeth watched many of Jamal’s games long ago
when he played on the NAU team. Some of the parents’ behaviors
horrified her then. Because of the NAU parents’ behavior, she
avoided getting involved in his high school team until his junior
year. One of Jamal teammate’s mothers insisted on Elizabeth
volunteering on East End’s booster club. She slowly took on
assignments such as helping with concessions during games and
selecting the spirit clothes for fundraising sales.

Throughout Marcus’ time out of work, Jon Handelair
funneled regular expense money to Elizabeth and Marcus to help.
When Jamal was a sophomore, a figure from the past came back into
the Imari’s lives. Bobby G. saw Jamal play during a basketball game
and asked Marcus about the recruiting activity of his son. Marcus
said that schools were not recruiting Jamal very much and felt
disappointed for him. Although Bobby G.’s business around high
schools usually involved booking bets, he also knew many college
coaches in his street agent role. He suggested that he could
encourage some college coaches to look at Jamal; not top programs,
but smaller D1 coaches who need help in recruiting.

“I can help your boy, again. Did I do you wrong with
Battle’s NAU team?” Bobby G. asked Marcus.

“The NAU team really taught Jamal how to play. You
did right by me. I know you have awesome connections, but how can
you help at this point?” he replied.

“Look here. Hookin’ Jamal up with Battle was to
square us up for your help in the lockup. This one’s not free,
Holmes.”

“What’s the cost, and go easy man?”

Bobby G. smiled and said, “Five large per
introduction.”

“You’re fuckin’ crazy. I ain’t got that kind of
dough.”

“You’re married to that phat Hyde Park money. You
can find it. Here’s my cell phone number if you change your mind.
Ask for Jack Benny when I pick it up. That is the code. If you do
not ask like that, I do not talk. If you change your mind and we
can do business, toss me a jingle.”

The conversation sent Marcus spinning. He wanted
very much to help his son play for a four-year college basketball
team, but the cost was very high. He traded several calls with
Bobby G. and ultimately Marcus was able to work him down to a cost
of $2,000 per introduction. He would pay for one college intro per
month by siphoning the money out of the joint checking account. The
secretive calls made Elizabeth nervous and she began to put the
puzzle together. However, she only figured out part of the
story.

Elizabeth told her father that she thought Marcus
was gambling some of his generous funding with a bookie named Jack
Benny. She confronted her husband.

“Marcus, my Dad’s been patient with you. I have been
patient with you being out of work and all. However, this is
insane. I know what you are doing with some of our money.”

In a way, he began to feel relieved. He did not want
Elizabeth to know that he was trying to buy college interest in
their son because he was afraid she would disclose it to Jamal. He
reasoned that it was best if his son basked in the glory and
flattery of recruitment. However, if Jamal ever found out, he would
be shattered that his dad bought the interest in him.

“I’ve heard some of your calls to Jack Benny. That
is not a real person. I overheard you promising to get money to
this guy. You have a gambling problem!”

Marcus was shocked to hear her accusation. The money
he was sneaking was for Jamal’s benefit, not gambling. He was so
mad that she attributed his funding to a selfish motive that he
walked away before completely losing his temper. This argument
ended in a typical way for him and Elizabeth – they did not speak
for a couple days.

By the time Jamal’s junior year ended, Marcus and
Elizabeth had finally separated. Marcus succumbed to the pressure
of being a disappointment to Elizabeth and the Handelairs. He was
still being supported by Elizabeth’s family under an agreement
hammered out during the time when they were not sure if they would
get back together. Marcus’ main pleasure was working the summer
camp at East End and prowling the sidelines while Jamal and his
friends played.

All of the recruiting letters, contacts and phone
calls were from the coaches that Bobby G. had arranged. Marcus
never found out that the coaches were also paying Bobby G. for the
same access - the intermediary squeezed both ends. By the end of
Jamal’s junior year one of these coaches was very interested, but
uncommitted. Eastern Pennsylvania State University was about
one-third the distance between Philadelphia across to Pittsburg.
The University’s recruiter made Jamal his number one target. It was
a hard sell for most prospects because the university had not named
its next coach. The prior coach gave a one-year notice. He would
resign next year with a losing record and a lack of NCAA Tournament
appearances. Jamal had a campus visit planned scheduled during East
End’s mandatory summer camp, during the important, regulated and
allowed twenty-five practice days.

Jamal brought home Coach Venturi’s handout for the
team detailing the expected commitments during the next 24 summer
practice dates. Elizabeth could not believe that the coach might
alienate team members and parents alike with his demands. She was
not so mad that her family vacation had to be rescheduled because
she did not want to spend time with Marcus anyway. Surely, the
coach would allow her son a one-day absence from summer camp to
check out Eastern Pennsylvania State. Then there was the shoe
dilemma. Elizabeth was worried that Jamal would burnout on
basketball.

Chapter Eighteen. A Mother’s Concerns

Coach Scott Venturi suffered through the downsides
of big city basketball for three long years. He discovered new
aspects of coaching that he never dealt with in Tolono:
academically ineligible star players, intruding parents, meddling
athletic directors, and cutthroat competition. On the plus side,
Scott found serious basketball commitments, full gyms during
conference games, recruiting attention, and a core of
well-intentioned peer coaches. Still driven by his perception of
the status and wealth of a major D1 college coaching job, Venturi
was hell-bent on moving up out of the high school ranks.

The recruiter from Eastern Pennsylvania State paid a
“youth basketball contribution” of $5,000 cash to Bobby G for
access to Jamal. It was money well spent for the university. Jamal
had grown from an average prep player to late bloomer when he grew
four inches during his sophomore year. He was not yet elite D1
program material, but an undiscovered high potential find. A school
like EPSU was a perfect match for him.

Coach Venturi had a dual purpose in developing a
dialog with Eastern Pennsylvania State. He wanted to help Jamal
receive the first D1 scholarship of any player he had coached. In
addition, he was interested in the yet unfilled EPSU head-coaching
job. The recruiter from the college’s athletic department was
impressed with Scott’s overall record (Tolono and East End). In the
beginning, they were open to a “package deal” if it meant locking
up the commitment from Jamal Imari.

Over the objections of the estranged Marcus,
Elizabeth Handelair Imari called Coach Venturi to schedule a
meeting to discuss Jamal’s consternation about the summer plans.
The coach was sufficiently concerned and asked Elizabeth to come in
the following day to discuss all of her issues. They agreed that
she should come to East End around 5:00 P.M., well after Jamal and
Marcus would have left camp, but before going to the Olgesby league
games at night.

“Mrs. Handelair, come into my office. It’s not much
space, but it works. How are you?”

“Alright, I guess,” she said.

By the way, are you joining the other concession
volunteer parents at tomorrow’s booster club meeting?”

She did not intend to come back the next day,
especially after bringing up the uncomfortable stuff she had to
say. “I’m not sure if I can make it,” she said.

Elizabeth noticed right away a poster on the wall
and a college hat with EPSU’s colors.

“Coach Venturi, I’m here to prevent future problems.
I’m afraid that Jamal and Marcus are way ahead of themselves with
basketball. It threatens to consume their lives, and Jamal is
feeling the pressure.”

“Mrs. Handel …”

“Please Coach, call me Elizabeth.”

“OK, Elizabeth. I sometimes am so immersed in
basketball that I lose sight of it. Heck, when I was downstate at
Tolono, B-ball cost me my marriage.” he chuckled.

“Well, I wish basketball was the problem in my
crumbling marriage – I’m concerned about how Jamal is handling our
separation.”

“Oh. I did not know. Marcus has been such a great
help at camp, and I think Jamal likes him being around.”

“I’m sure both enjoy their time together, Coach.
Nevertheless, I feel like my troubles with his father are rubbing
off on Jamal. He resents me for our breakup,” she said breaking
into tears. “Do you have a tissue?”

Coach Venturi gave her the only soft thing within
reach: a football towel decorated with an East End HS silk-screened
design. She used it to wipe her face dry and blow her nose. She was
embarrassed.

“I guess that was a decorative towel that we sell in
the booster club, right Coach?” she sniffled.

“Actually, that’s a towel that is hung over the
football center’s ass so that the quarterback can wipe the sweat
off his hands before a play starts,” he chuckled.

She began to laugh. “That’s just great,” she sighed
as new tears rolled down her cheek.

The coach felt bad. He was just trying to cheer her
up. He went closer, wrapped his arms around her back, and pulled
her tight.

“Elizabeth, it’s going to be ok. Jamal is a great
kid, and he has blossoming opportunities in front of him. You have
done a terrific job nurturing him into the outstanding young man he
has become.”

“Coach, thanks for the kind words,” she said. The
coach let her go after a particularly awkward moment.

“Well, let’s get one thing straight”, Scott said.
“If I am to call you Elizabeth, you must call me Scott.”

“You are so nice to me. It has been a long time
since anyone has said such considerate things to me about my
contributions to Jamal’s upbringing, Scott. Thank you.”

“Jamal is a great kid. Everyone can see that.”

“Well, Coach…uh Scott. Marcus has spent so much time
with Jamal since seventh grade because he has not been able to
work. The legal problems and final case settlement took its toll on
Marcus, for sure. He plunged himself into Jamal’s sports
activities, ignoring everybody else, especially his job search and
me. His attention to Jamal has cut into my son’s time with me
too.”

“I’ll talk to Jamal, Elizabeth. He would be making a
huge mistake to ignore his mother.”

“Please don’t let Marcus or Jamal know that I talked
to you about this personal stuff”

“Elizabeth. He will never know. You know what? We
haven’t even talked about your concerns regarding the summer
basketball program yet, have we?”

“Ok. I have three things. First Jamal is being
pulled at both ends. His NAU coach wants him to wear Kerbe Shoes
this year. Jamal feels indebted to Coach Battle for teaching him
fundamental basketball and does not want to go against his wishes.
Kerbe was very good to him, in camps and all. You are insisting
that the players wear Vole’s. I suspect money is involved, and
Jamal has a tough call to make. He is being torn apart by two
adult’s business concerns. It shouldn’t be like that.”