Talking Teddy

The Ultimate GOOD DUDE

Yesterday Yahoo news was beyond frustrating.

Then came the other articles…all with attention grabbing headlines.

Impermissible benefits.

Sounds scandalous right. He probably got them cars, bags of cash, apartments…

Nah— he got them food, clothes, transportation.

Such a bad guy.

Who Is Teddy Bridgewater

For those who don’t know, Teddy is a hero. An unquestioned GOOD DUDE who was one of the most beloved sports figures in Louisville history.

He and his mom..mama Rose.

He even made a whole short film with SPIKE LEE about his mom and her battle with cancer:

While at Louisville, they could be seen making spaghetti dinners for other players and people in the community.

Good Good dude. I named my dog after him. Many around the city did.

So when I saw his name linked to ‘scandal’ I was shocked.

NOT TEDDY.

I immediately knew it had to be something stupid…and it was. He got in trouble for being a caring and overall good dude.

About Those Benefits

Teddy took over as the coach last year at Miami Northwestern. A traditional football powerhouse that had fallen on hard times. At least by their standards. Teddy, an accomplished NFL player, stepped up and came from the bleachers to the sidelines. With an immediate turn around. 41-0..

But did he cheat?

No.

Miami Northwestern is an inner city Miami school. It is 99% minority enrollment with 75% being totally economically disadvantaged.

This is a s school focused on excellence in the classroom and in athletics, IN SPITE of circumstances. They have a graduation rate of 93%! That is pretty good.

They succeed because the people in the community, like Teddy, care. They pour into the kids even when society doesn’t.

Kids needed uniforms..safety gear..etc…Teddy used his blessings from being an NFL player to pay for it.

They needed food for pregame meals for a season. Again, Teddy paid.

I played football in high school— that spaghetti buffet and basket of bananas was clutch EVERY Friday. But it wasn’t free. And for many kids there, just like me, the stuff you eat at school is probably all you are going to get.

So Teddy knew that. He stepped up, because and I cannot say this enough,

HE IS A GOOD DUDE.

Oh and Yes I will Add In Race

A big no-no they said was Teddy covering Ubers for the kids to get home. That may seem weird to some people. I grew up needing rides for practice and there was always a coach to take me. Same with needing shoes and all that stuff. When I became a coach, I did the same. There are quite a few kids I bought track spikes for, remembering when someone did the same for me because I couldn’t afford them.

But digging deeper, WHY DID SO MANY NEED RIDES? Well, the area around the school has been gentrified. The kids who used to live closer to the school, like when Teddy went there, were forced out because they cant afford it anymore.

The neighborhood where the school is, is no longer the neighborhood where the students are. They were sent away…priced out. So…in order to make it home safely…Teddy got them rides.

Good dude.

So What Is The Problem

Nonsense. I understand a question of liability if something happened. But get this…Teddy isn’t employed by them. HE IS A VOLUNTEER who drops $200,000 of his own money to make sure these kids have a chance.

For many, this game of football may be a way they get the opportunity to go to college and rise above their situations. I know that feeling all too well. So does Teddy.

All he wanted to do was to make sure those kids opportunities were not limited by their circumstances.

Because he is a really good dude.