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Friday, March 29, 2024

From Player to Coach

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 A few decades ago, I happened across an article in a national publication detailing the successful rise of a certain Black businessman in corporate America. I’ve never forgotten the lessons learned from his days as a player on the corporate battlefield, and how he had risen through the ranks.

 One of the lessons that he learned was observation. You see, he was a junior executive — the only Black in a group of white faces. The junior executives took turns traveling with and serving the white CEO of this company. The CEO used some old school rules to evaluate the juniors to determine who was ready for promotion and advancement within the corporation … and who was not.

 It was the Black brother’s turn in the serving seat, as the CEO asked him to “get his bags” on one business trip. Now, the Black executive was about to bypass this request … until he saw the other white subordinates breaking their necks to get the CEO’s bags. He learned — by observation — that nothing is what one may think when it comes to racism. What one might think is racism or favoritism could really be a hidden “test” to determine what one is truly made of.

This testing exists at all levels of life … even among female executives and CEOs. These tests can be as innocent as getting a senior executive’s laundry, or, how well a potential job recruit handles himself/herself at a restaurant lunch with a potential employer. That’s why more and more employers — no matter what they may say in public or on social media — lean heavily upon how well young people “know” the “unwritten rules” of a profession.  Serving those above you is a part of these “unwritten rules.”

 Recently, I dug out a photo of the cover of “Black Radio Exclusive Magazine,” celebrating the 15th anniversary of the REAL WTLC-FM 105.7, back in the day. We ALL looked good for that cover, with the shooting session taking place at the old AUL Building’s Skyline Club.  The 105 Air Force was a rarity in the Indianapolis urban market … a Black station that focused on music, news and religion as their core programming strengths.

While the magazine cover was fancy (as even the female members of the staff were in tuxes and ties), there was one well-known broadcast veteran missing from the photo — the late Al “The Bishop” Hobbs, general manager and host of the legendary Sunday afternoon gospel show, “The Love Express.” Hobbs was still alive at the time of the honor but was delayed from standing with the rest of the station crew, as we had our day in the proverbial sun.

Hobbs was one of those rare general managers who took a weekly shift in studio for two reasons: 1) to keep his studio skills sharp, and; 2) in order to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through REAL gospel music. Hobbs, with that deep, rich, broadcaster voice would handle each call as special and with courtesy.  Rarely was their a frown on his face. His show theme song, “All The Way,” by Andre Crouch signaled to Indianapolis that “The Love Express” was leaving the station, ready for another gospel ride.

“The Love Express” grew to be a joyful part of my working on the Sunday afternoon news desk.  I pulled “double duty” some weekends, as I was the producer of the award-winning news magazine “Like It Is,” and hosted the talk show “Info.” I also served as Hobbs’ go-fer — making sure that Hobbs had everything ready so that he could hit the ground running at 2:30pm. Coffee brewed and waiting; any urgent messages or wire dispatches ready for the studio, and other miscellaneous items to help make his show successful.

Serving others when performing as a player, gives you insight into how coaches operate. It also is a career marker, as others hear about your service in addition to your skills and abilities to do your job. After spending several very successful years with the station, out of the blue I got a call up to come work for the No. 1 station in the market at the time: the 50,000-watt powerhouse, WIBC-AM. The station had a top-notch news operation and wanted me to be on their team. I soon turned in my two week notice — which is what a professional is supposed to do — and prepared to move up in my broadcast news career.

Out of ALL the managers and department heads, Hobbs was the ONLY one who was glad to see me advance. Hobbs always had pride in his God, his race and his station. By having one of “his own” moving up the ladder showed that a competitor had respect for him, the way he managed his employees and the success of the station’s news operation. Toward the end of my last day on the job at ‘TL, Hobbs called me into his office and gave me a powerful piece of advice: “Mike, don’t forget your people.”

I’ve never forgotten Hobbs’ words. They helped me mightily when I was a player, and they are even more important, now that I’m a coach. But, to get to those words, the ol’ coach had to learn how to be a servant on the job in the little things, without grumbling or just to put on a show.  If one can not serve, one should not expect to advance!

Mike Ramey is a minister, modern street gangs specialist and syndicated columnist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.  “From Player to Coach” is a feature of The Indianapolis Recorder. Feel free to reach him with your comments at manhoodline@yahoo.com.      

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