 |
|
Regarding Mclemore:
Posted on: September 28, 2017 at 16:27:31 CT
FIJItiger MU
Posts:
147771
Member For:
22.49 yrs
Level:
Moderator
M.O.B. Votes:
0
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/big12/2013/02/27/big-12-mens-college-basketball-kansas-jayhawks-ben-mclemore/1947401/
The smallest home on Wellston Avenue is where McLemore, the second youngest of Sonya Reid's six children, calls home.
McLemore says on any given night as many as 10 relatives, including siblings, nieces and a nephew, would sleep inside his home, which is smaller than 600 square feet. The home's only bed had three legs, with the other corner supported by a pile of books.
His home, McLemore says, was filled with love but little else. He remembers his mother working nights for a cleaning staff near downtown Busch Stadium. He remembers older brother Keith cycling through odd jobs fixing bikes, trying to make money to support the family.
But it wasn't enough. He won't forget the feeling of waking up knowing there was no food or beverage in the refrigerator, with none on the way those days. He says at times he would go one or two days with no food.
McLemore says the only meals he sometimes had were the free ones at school. His mother, he recalled, sometimes made the difficult decision to sell food stamps in order to pay bills.
"Sometimes we would not have food so we could keep our lights on and have hot water," he says. "She had to sacrifice for that."
When the family did not have hot water, McLemore remembers one nightly routine: Fill the bathtub with cold water. Heat up bowls of water in the microwave, then run them to the bathtub to make the tub water lukewarm for baths. The warmth never lasted, he says.
McLemore says the family relied on candles when the electricity was turned off. They turned on the stove and hauled a kerosene heater to the middle of the room to stay warm. McLemore says family members would huddle in the room, covered in layers of clothing and blankets, sometimes able to see their own breath in the chilled winter air. Only when their bodies warmed, and their noses no longer felt icy, could they fall asleep.
_______________________________________________________
That is a level of poor that poor that most of us can't relate to, severe poverty. Very unfortunate situation.
However, Mclemore was a non-qualifier academically. So his parents were able to pay out of state tuition for him to attend ku for a season while he was ineligible. They were able to pay his room and board. He had an elaborate birthday party thrown for him. Per USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2013/05/17/ben-mclemore-confirms-bond-with-rodney-blackstock/2216411/
McLemore also said Friday he and Blackstock traveled to Los Angeles for meetings with individuals who could help McLemore as he pursued a professional career. McLemore said he paid for the trip himself.
McLemore said the purpose of the trip was to "just go meet with people."
"You know at the time I needed to meet with people, my mom wanted me to meet with people, and that's what happened," he said. "I am pretty sure I paid for the trip. I paid for the trip. So it came out of my pockets and you know, the whole thing, I think, you know, like I said, the whole Darius Cobb, the AAU coach, it's just basically a personal attack on Rodney, so I will leave it at that."
________________________________________________________
So Ben just was 'pretty sure' that he paid for the trip himself. Obviously confirming whether airfare was actually purchased by Ben as he claimed would be a difficult proposition, given that airfare pretty much has to be purchased via credit card.
Shortly thereafter it was revealed that the man who would later become his agent gave his family multiple payments of $5,000 each.
Of course, nothing ever came from any of that.
Edited by FIJItiger at 16:29:56 on 09/28/17
The smallest home on Wellston Avenue is where McLemore, the second youngest of Sonya Reid's six children, calls home.
McLemore says on any given night as many as 10 relatives, including siblings, nieces and a nephew, would sleep inside his home, which is smaller than 600 square feet. The home's only bed had three legs, with the other corner supported by a pile of books.
His home, McLemore says, was filled with love but little else. He remembers his mother working nights for a cleaning staff near downtown Busch Stadium. He remembers older brother Keith cycling through odd jobs fixing bikes, trying to make money to support the family.
But it wasn't enough. He won't forget the feeling of waking up knowing there was no food or beverage in the refrigerator, with none on the way those days. He says at times he would go one or two days with no food.
McLemore says the only meals he sometimes had were the free ones at school. His mother, he recalled, sometimes made the difficult decision to sell food stamps in order to pay bills.
"Sometimes we would not have food so we could keep our lights on and have hot water," he says. "She had to sacrifice for that."
When the family did not have hot water, McLemore remembers one nightly routine: Fill the bathtub with cold water. Heat up bowls of water in the microwave, then run them to the bathtub to make the tub water lukewarm for baths. The warmth never lasted, he says.
McLemore says the family relied on candles when the electricity was turned off. They turned on the stove and hauled a kerosene heater to the middle of the room to stay warm. McLemore says family members would huddle in the room, covered in layers of clothing and blankets, sometimes able to see their own breath in the chilled winter air. Only when their bodies warmed, and their noses no longer felt icy, could they fall asleep.
_______________________________________________________
That is a level of poor that poor that most of us can't relate to, severe poverty. Very unfortunate situation.
However, Mclemore was a non-qualifier academically. So his parents were able to pay out of state tuition for him to attend ku for a season while he was ineligible. They were able to pay his room and board. He had an elaborate birthday party thrown for him. Per USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2013/05/17/ben-mclemore-confirms-bond-with-rodney-blackstock/2216411/
McLemore also said Friday he and Blackstock traveled to Los Angeles for meetings with individuals who could help McLemore as he pursued a professional career. McLemore said he paid for the trip himself.
McLemore said the purpose of the trip was to "just go meet with people."
"You know at the time I needed to meet with people, my mom wanted me to meet with people, and that's what happened," he said. "I am pretty sure I paid for the trip. I paid for the trip. So it came out of my pockets and you know, the whole thing, I think, you know, like I said, the whole Darius Cobb, the AAU coach, it's just basically a personal attack on Rodney, so I will leave it at that."
________________________________________________________
So Ben just was 'pretty sure' that he paid for the trip himself. Obviously confirming whether airfare was actually purchased by Ben as he claimed would be a difficult proposition, given that airfare pretty much has to be purchased via credit card.
Shortly thereafter it was revealed that the man who would later become his agent gave his family multiple payments of $5,000 each.
Of course, nothing ever came from any of that.
Edited by FIJItiger at 16:29:56 on 09/28/17
Please explain why this message is being reported.
MESSAGE THREAD
Regarding Mclemore: - FIJItiger MU - 9/28 16:27:31Tyshawn Taylor is one on there I don't recall hearing here(nm) - MidMoBaller4Life MU - 9/28 16:44:33