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  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.”

  “Next, Jamal was scheduled to visit the Eastern Pennsylvania State campus in the next 24 days. The date was already committed. This is an important trip to help him decide if he can handle going there to play ball – but team rules will punish him for missing a day or two of practice. Third, my side of the family, the Handelairs, is supposed to go to a beach house in Michiana Shores during your summer camp. I would like Jamal to spend a week at the beach with us instead of camp. That is the three of them, Scott.”

  “I want to take the non-court considerations away from Jamal so that he can perform his best during games. If you think it will help, I will allow him to wear his Kerbes if that solves the shoe problem.”

  “Will that cost you money?” she asked.

  “Not this year, but if my star player doesn’t wear Voles they probably won’t renew my contact.”

  “I’d feel terrible about that,” she said.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll try to convince Kerbe to sign us up if I’m still here!” he joked.

  “Where would you go?”

  “I’m hoping at some point to coach a college team. Hey maybe I’ll get to Coach Jamal next year somewhere. EPSU has an opening – you never know. So anyway, I’ll tell Jamal to wear whichever shoes he wants.”

  The second and third requests involved authorized time away from camp for Jamal. Coach Venturi was a stickler about this. She expected rejection on her last two requests. Scott rolled through the possibilities in his head, considering all angles. He reasoned that if EPSU wanted Jamal on campus, Scott should not be the roadblock. He did not want to do anything to jeopardize his job candidacy at EPSU.

  “Elizabeth, it’s so important for Jamal that he checks out the EPSU campus. He should keep his date with the university.”

  “And what about Michiana?” she asked.

  “I’m sorry. You grab some shoe laces and an airplane ride, and next you want him to miss one-fifth of the summer camp. I can’t let him do that – it would hurt him and team morale,” he said apologetically.

  “That’s ok. Jamal hates Michiana anyway,” she replied.

  “I can’t help but feel I’ve been had. You are a great salesperson, Elizabeth. You asked for the moon, but really wanted a few Earthly things.”

  They both laughed. Scott said, “Look, I’ll help Jamal reconnect with you without letting on that we have talked. I can keep a secret.”

  As she was leaving he said, “Hey, I’ve got something for you.” Scott tossed her the quarterback’s towel.

  “Thanks, Coach,” she said as she offered another hug. As they clutched each other both had thoughts of where this might go.

  Scott thought Elizabeth was a beautiful and bright woman. He felt a spark fly between them. His conscience questioned the propriety of getting involved with a player’s mom and an assistant coach’s wife.

  Elizabeth struggled not with her conscience. She was interested.

  Chapter Nineteen. Jamal’s Girlfriend

  Jamal never dated until basketball season ended during his junior year. He did not have time for girls for most of high school; at least that is how he rationalized it. The truth was that he struggled with his racial identity. While he was sorting-out his mixed origins, his school peers decided that he was black. Many of the white girls rebuffed him even for friendships and he was not interested in dealing with personal issues.

  He met Andrea Allen in one of his classes during their junior year. In many ways, she was the antithesis of Jamal. Andrea was a unique black kid not interested in sports. She did not run with the in-crowd, populated by jocks, cheerl
eaders, and select chosen people. Andrea was interested in fine arts, literature, and politics. Jamal liked her partly because of her rebellious disposition. Andrea experimented with smoking marijuana. It calmed her down from her high-strung moments. She usually got high before seeing Jamal because it offered cover for letting her personality blossom out.

  In the short off-season between the end of basketball playoffs and the summer league, Jamal began to spend increasing amounts of time with Andrea. He began to stay out late during weekdays and instead of rising early for his pre-school training runs, he was sleeping-in. Elizabeth had to wake him up nearly every day. In addition, before Andrea, Jamal was spending many evenings watching instruction tapes or conference game films with Marcus. He was more than willing to forgo his time with his dad to hang out with Andrea.

  Andrea had her own agenda with Jamal. First, he was a handsome athletic boy who was willing to date a black girl. Next, she felt like she could manipulate his priorities into her world. Perhaps he would stay around Chicago for college because she was going to attend the Art Institute. She had worked Jamal away from his jock friends and demanded nearly all of his attention.

  She was well mannered to adults, but like Eddy Haskell in “Leave It to Beaver”, she was an over-the-top, exaggerated parental suck up. Marcus cringed when she came around.

  “Hi, Mr. Imari,” she would call out to Marcus when he was around. “You’re looking sharp, Mr. Imari.”

  Jamal had a tough first week at the summer camp league. He was one-step behind, and became winded easily. Neither Coach Venturi nor Marcus could figure out what was happening. They thought recruiting had gone to his head. They knew something happened. – Marcus was dogging it. Maybe he lost interest in basketball. None of it made sense. Therefore, they stepped up the intensity of the coaching.