latrell high school take

SoCal High School & Prep Report

Latrell Sprewell: The NorCal High School
Coaches' And Players' Take--(January 27, 1998)

We've stayed away from this issue, that is the "Latrell Sprewell" issue for way too long, probably because it really doesn't require any commentary. But today, on ESPN's "NBA Today" a segment was featured on the "issue"-- a sort of small "panel discussion" featuring some very prominent NorCal players and coaches.

The ESPN interview was conducted at Castlemont High. In attendance were Gordie Johnson, the head varsity coach at St. Joeseph's Notre Dame, Alameda; Marquez Ologgosele, a player from (we think) De La Salle High, Brian Thomas and Monte White, players at Castlemont from East Oakland, Frank Alloco, the De La Salle head varsity coach, Omar Nazel, Skyline High, Johnny Lorigo, the Castlemont head coach, and Rene Jaques, a player from St Joe's in Alameda.

On the issue of Latrell Sprewell, the consensus was that he should not be permitted to "get away" with it. The harshest comments came from Gordie Johnson:

"This is one time that the NBA should come together, and say 'Latrell can't play. Period."

Marquez Ologgosele was asked why he thought the issue of player violence and lack of respect was becoming so prominent in the NBA and even in college. Marquez responded that he felt it was because players have no respect for any authority figure: "It all starts in the home. There's no respect in the home for any older person. There's no rules being laid down in the house. So the coach is just someone else to not be respected."

Marquez was also asked whether he felt NBA players are or should be role models. He responded by saying "NBA players aren't role models. Somebody can't be a role model just because they pick up a basketball. They play basketball in jail, and they're not role models either."

Frank Alloco, De La Salle High coach blamed many things, including the drive for tv ratings, the NBA drafting people with known drug problems or known criminal records, and then not taking any action.

Omar Nazel, a player at Skyline High, felt that the "incident" was not a race issue. "It was just two men".

Rene Jaques, of St. Joseph Alameda, agreed, that it was not a race thing. "It's all about money" he said. And it's about sponsorships and shoes too. Rene was wearing his blue Reebok shirt with the Reebok logo prominently displayed on the collar, and he was wearing Reebok shoes. Gordie was dressed the same too. But then that's a different issue, and really, who can argue with giving your equipment supplier a little plug now and then, right?

About the "race" thing, the interesting thing about this interview as that all the players interviewed on the program were black, and all felt that Sprewell, if the allegations being made are true, should be dealt with severely.

Well, the arbitration is underway, and it will probably turn into a circus. But then that's pro ball these days.

If you get a chance to catch the NBA Today interview on this subject, don't miss it.