Snoop's youth football league

[Jason in LA]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/chitribts/20...wncreateswaves

League of his own creates waves By Steven Barrie-Anthony Tribune Newspapers: Los Angeles Times
Thu Aug 18, 9:40 AM ET



The sun is setting a burnished orange, and three groups of children jog across the football field in their pads and helmets to the sideline. It's quitting time on a pleasant summer evening, no school for a while yet, but 10-year-old Xavier Bernal isn't grinning.



For more than four decades, this field at Rowland Heights High School has teemed with footballers age 5 to 14. But last year's nine squads of Rowland Heights Raiders have dwindled to barely three, and the cheerleading team has gone from 80 girls to nine. To hear Xavier tell it, blame falls squarely on the league's most famous former coach.

"I'm mad at Coach Snoop," he says. "He was so cool; he told me to play my heart out and to play everything I've got. But now I just want to ask him, why did he take all our players?"

Rapper Snoop Dogg rocked Southern California's youth football world two years ago when he volunteered as a Rowland Raiders "daddy coach," and again last month when he broke from the franchise to start his own conference: Snoop Youth Football.

Some parents and coaches describe him as a Pied Piper luring footballers away from long-established teams with his song "Drop It Like It's Hot" blasting from a school bus pimped out with enough bass, TV screens and gadgetry to persuade any kid to sell out the old for the new.

And the Raiders aren't the only team in the Orange County Junior All American Football conference to feel the screws; Long Beach and Compton teams report similar hemorrhaging.

While parents and coaches in the old conference accuse the rapper and his agents of a campaign of sabotage and misinformation, Snoop's people call the furor sour grapes over a new league that they say will better serve urban communities and help keep kids out of gangs.

Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, has deep roots in youth football, having played for the Long Beach Poly Junior Jackrabbits. "It taught me how to work with other kids," he says, "how to have a relationship, how to learn. My coach taught me about religion as well as football, about keeping God in everything we did."

So two years ago, with Snoop's two boys old enough to play league ball, he enrolled them in the Rowland Raiders program and signed on as an offensive coordinator.

`He acted like a dad'

League commissioner Bob Barna got "some e-mails from parents, saying, `How dare you let somebody like that be with our youth?'" Barna says. "But did he bring anything negative? No. He acted like a dad."

As that first year came to a close, some of the league's all-stars received recruitment calls from the rapper, asking them to join the Raiders the following season. The league allows a team to take 15 percent of its players from outside its immediate area, says Barna, and to recruit without limit in cities where no team exists.

Snoop took full advantage, nabbing players like Derrick Marbrough from Long Beach. "I played against him, and then he wanted me on his team, so he called my mom," says Derrick, now 11. "I switched teams."

"It was so cool," remembers Duon Rucker, who shipped in to the Rowland Raiders from Long Beach as a 10-year-old. "Everybody at school was all over me, `Are you about to go with Snoop? Can you get me his autograph?'"

And then there was the bus.

"It's a mini-school bus," Derrick says, "and it had TVs in it where we watched our games from last week."

"Yeah," Duon enthuses, "and everywhere we went, you could hear us coming down the street, we had like hydraulics from all the bass! We listened to Snoop's music--our theme song was `Drop It Like It's Hot.'"

Last year's Rowland Raiders team of 8- to 10-year-olds, with Snoop as offensive and defensive coordinator and his older son playing quarterback, was unbeaten. At a banquet, the coach gave each player a DVD of team games with a special Snoop Dogg tribute.

Then, for the second year in a row, Snoop culled the best players for an all-star team to represent the Rowland Raiders in the postseason. They bused out to play other California all-star footballers before heading to Jacksonville, Fla., to compete in the brainchild of their coach--the "Snooperbowl"--a day before Super Bowl XXXIX.

More than 15,000 fans crowded in to watch the Raiders play the Jacksonville Junior All Stars (or perhaps to watch halftime performer Snoop), and the team from Rowland didn't disappoint. On the way home, Raiders all-stars lugged custom trophies donated by Tiffany & Co.

Snoop's critics say he gave his players jerseys, letter jackets and championship rings, ignoring rules stipulating that if any team in a division gets new equipment, every team does.

"After he won his first league championship game, he went out and bought scooters for everybody," says Frank Romero, the Raiders' president. "He never said anything to the league, never asked permission."

Snoop had complaints of his own. The residency requirements seemed too strict. He was also bothered by the $175 fee per child for the Rowland program, which he says kept poorer families out.

"It's so easy for a kid to join a gang, to do drugs," Snoop says. "We should make it that easy to be involved in football and academics."

Starting a league

About midway through last year's season, it hit Snoop: "I don't have to go against the system," he remembers thinking. "The best thing to do would be to create my own league, as opposed to me being used and them getting a lot of the credit."

After the season, top players in the Orange County conference received phone calls asking them to join Snoop Youth Football, which has no residency rules and cheaper rates--$100 for the first child in a family, half price for any others, with cleats and pads included. Many families and even some coaches hopped aboard, while others loyal to their chapters wondered aloud if all of last season's pageantry had been orchestrated to "steal our kids."

"He came here just so that he could take away from us what we'd taken many years to establish," says Rowland Raiders parent Sandy Gonzales.

Even Snoop's alma mater, the Long Beach Poly Junior Jackrabbits, is struggling to stay afloat. "I don't know if our program will exist after this season," says Sarah Morrison, chapter president for 27 years.

To Snoop's charge that Orange County youth football is too expensive, Morrison says, "Our organization has never turned a kid away who cannot pay."

Orange County coaches point out that although they welcome any kid, Snoop's league holds tryouts to sign up the best players, hurting the feelings of those rejected. Al Brown, an official of the new league, says tryouts are a safety measure to make sure that kids who shouldn't play tackle football don't.

Snoop Youth Football will be well-financed. The rapper is performing at a benefit concert for the league Aug. 25 along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ice Cube. League sponsors include Amp'd Mobile, a cell phone provider that is offering cash in the mid-six figures and has talked about giving phones to Snoop's players.

Snoop's Rowland Raiders team from last year will soon star in its own video game, and Sony is making a movie called "Coach Snoop," starring Snoop.

[Jason in LA]

I'm on the fence on this one... for now. But it looks like this isn't going to be a good thing.

Looks like both sides have a right to have some complaints. I agree with Snoop that the leagues cost a lot of money. I had to pay $200 for my son last year. He's playing at Long Beach this year for $150, but we have to sell tickets to make up the rest of the money. But that's pretty much all I agree with Snoop on.

I see why league officals are complaining about Snoop. He openly recruited players. That's not a good thing at all. Now he league doesn't have recruitment rules, so Snoop is taking the top kids from everywhere. I think that's BS. How is a kid from Long Beach going to get out to Rowland Hills everyday? During rush hour traffic that's a good hour and a half. A certain route will cut that down to an hour. These kids won't be getting home until after 9 pm every night. Sure, the parents will be saving money on the reg fee, but they'll be giving it back plus a lot more in gas money driving all the way out there.

Seems like Snoop was breaking all kind of rules with his team last year. Rules state that all teams have to get gear equally. But it looks like Snoop was hooking up his son's team and that's it. Then he gives them all kind of gifts. I have the feeling that Snoop is pretty much bribing kids and parents to play in his league. I wouldn't be shocked if he's promising things that he isn't going to make good on.

The article mentioned that Snoop's league cuts players, calling it a safety net. I call BS on that. They say the kids that get cut shouldn't be playing. That's total BS. On my son's team, there is one father that said his son got cut from Snoops Long Beach team. He said his son went to every practice for 3 weeks, and did pretty good in all of the drills. But after the 2nd day in pads they started cutting players. This is his son's first year ever playing tackle football, and he's one of the youngest on the team. Most kids in that situation are going to be timid. My son last year, in his first year, was timid the first week in pads. That doesn't mean these kids shouldn't be playing. My son got used to it after a couple of weeks, and I know this guy's kid will also get used to it. Most parks don't cut players. If there are too many players they either make two teams, or they stop signing up kids when they hit the limit. The guy was telling me he had a hard time having to explain it to his kid that he had been cut.

I can see Snoop's complaints, but it doesn't sound like enough to go and start a new league. It sounds like Snoop is being a glory hound. I mean, his league is named after himself.

Seems like he started a new league so he could build an all star team without any recruiting violations. I'd be pissed if my son played for another chapter is that league. Snoop's team has all the best players and is going to roll up everybody in that league.

[GonzoLays]

Originally Posted by Jason in LA

I'm on the fence on this one... for now. But it looks like this isn't going to be a good thing.

Looks like both sides have a right to have some complaints. I agree with Snoop that the leagues cost a lot of money. I had to pay $200 for my son last year. He's playing at Long Beach this year for $150, but we have to sell tickets to make up the rest of the money. But that's pretty much all I agree with Snoop on.

I see why league officals are complaining about Snoop. He openly recruited players. That's not a good thing at all. Now he league doesn't have recruitment rules, so Snoop is taking the top kids from everywhere. I think that's BS. How is a kid from Long Beach going to get out to Rowland Hills everyday? During rush hour traffic that's a good hour and a half. A certain route will cut that down to an hour. These kids won't be getting home until after 9 pm every night. Sure, the parents will be saving money on the reg fee, but they'll be giving it back plus a lot more in gas money driving all the way out there.

Seems like Snoop was breaking all kind of rules with his team last year. Rules state that all teams have to get gear equally. But it looks like Snoop was hooking up his son's team and that's it. Then he gives them all kind of gifts. I have the feeling that Snoop is pretty much bribing kids and parents to play in his league. I wouldn't be shocked if he's promising things that he isn't going to make good on.

The article mentioned that Snoop's league cuts players, calling it a safety net. I call BS on that. They say the kids that get cut shouldn't be playing. That's total BS. On my son's team, there is one father that said his son got cut from Snoops Long Beach team. He said his son went to every practice for 3 weeks, and did pretty good in all of the drills. But after the 2nd day in pads they started cutting players. This is his son's first year ever playing tackle football, and he's one of the youngest on the team. Most kids in that situation are going to be timid. My son last year, in his first year, was timid the first week in pads. That doesn't mean these kids shouldn't be playing. My son got used to it after a couple of weeks, and I know this guy's kid will also get used to it. Most parks don't cut players. If there are too many players they either make two teams, or they stop signing up kids when they hit the limit. The guy was telling me he had a hard time having to explain it to his kid that he had been cut.

I can see Snoop's complaints, but it doesn't sound like enough to go and start a new league. It sounds like Snoop is being a glory hound. I mean, his league is named after himself.

Seems like he started a new league so he could build an all star team without any recruiting violations. I'd be pissed if my son played for another chapter is that league. Snoop's team has all the best players and is going to roll up everybody in that league.

There is too much money in for it Snoop not to do what he does. Case in point: Coach Snoop, after that movie is released, he will have every kid in Southern California and probably the whole country wanting to play in his league. With that, he can really grow his business...sponsors willing to pay a pretty penny to get to those kids like other advertising cannot.

Snoop probably started out with the right intentions, but after that money and ego has taken over.

[Jason in LA]

That's a great point. Money does seem to be the driving force here with Snoop. It's kind of sad though. All the inner city kids are going to flock to his league, pretty much putting an end to the more well established leagues. The more established leagues are doing it the right way for the most part. They are all non-profit, and the kids bennifit the most. Looks like Snoop not only wants to build a super team, but he wants to cash in on it at the same time. Snoops drive for the money might hurt these kids in the long run.

[GonzoLays]

Originally Posted by Jason in LA

That's a great point. Money does seem to be the driving force here with Snoop. It's kind of sad though. All the inner city kids are going to flock to his league, pretty much putting an end to the more well established leagues. The more established leagues are doing it the right way for the most part. They are all non-profit, and the kids bennifit the most. Looks like Snoop not only wants to build a super team, but he wants to cash in on it at the same time. Snoops drive for the money might hurt these kids in the long run.

Think about it, players usually don't get exploited until the reach college. Snoop can exploit these kids until they are atleast 15 years old with ANY rules and regulations on these kids. Can you say video games? Jersey's? Apparel? The possiblities are endless.

There is snake around every corner.

[Jason in LA]

Gonzo, I'm not on the fence anymore. Snoop is getting over big time. He's taking advantage of kids.

Great points.

[Bronx33]

another wonderful page of a over payed loser has been written....

[Jason in LA]

Lets not turn this into a "rap is bad" thing. This isn't a rap issue.

[GonzoLays]

Originally Posted by Bronx33

another wonderful page of a rap artist has been written....

I don't think you can play this on "rap artist" for taking advantage of young people. "Respectable" institutions like the NCAA; "heros" like our Politicians do it every day with a smile and a wink.

Just because he is rap artist doesn't mean he can't exploit people like everyone else does.

Have you heard the radio recently? They have big name actors and musicians pushing people to send a dollar a month to buy AIDS patients in Africa "medicine" so they can get better? Who do you think that benefits? AZT has been proven to increase the rate of HIV and AIDS in patients in some studies. The only people that reap benefits from this "giving program" are the big pharmacutical companies. They make a billion dollars a year, why don't they just give the drugs to them? Thats not the point. The point is to exploit. And they do it behind smiles and commericials. If snoop could do the same thing, he would.

[RhymesayersDU]

Originally Posted by Jason in LA

Lets not turn this into a "rap is bad" thing. This isn't a rap issue.

That would take actual logic and thought.

Instead, let's just bash rap and make things easy.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

That would take actual logic and thought.

Instead, let's just bash rap and make things easy.

I think its terrific that corporate America has embraced a piece of **** pimp as this wonderful child friendly role model. People are so ****ing stupid, they deserve what they get.

[footstepsfrom#27]

This just in...Jacko will be the tight ends coach next year.

[GonzoLays]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

I think its terrific that corporate America has embraced a piece of **** pimp as this wonderful child friendly role model. People are so ****ing stupid, they deserve what they get.

They do it all the time. What about Arnold Schwartzanageadjaoierer? They completely overlooked his marijuana smoking, deragatory comments towards black people, talking about getting blowjobs in his documentary and throwing his support to a former Nazi.

I think its terrific that corporate America has embraced a piece of **** pimp as this wonderful child friendly role model. People are so ****ing stupid, they deserve what they get. Corporate America loved him so much, they made him a GOVERNOR!!

This just in, Money Talks; grace, humility and ethics walks.....

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

They do it all the time. What about Arnold Schwartzanageadjaoierer? They completely overlooked his marijuana smoking, deragatory comments towards black people, talking about getting blowjobs in his documentary and throwing his support to a former Nazi.

I think its terrific that corporate America has embraced a piece of **** pimp as this wonderful child friendly role model. People are so ****ing stupid, they deserve what they get. Corporate America loved him so much, they made him a GOVERNOR!!

This just in, Money Talks; grace, humility and ethics walks.....

Arnold's a big p***Y. No Governor in the nation has granted early parole to more murderers than bleeding heart Arnold. I think the steroids shrunk his nuts until they vanished.

[Jason in LA]

I heard that Willie McGinist is a partner in this league.

If things don't go smoothly, I wonder how long the NFL will take to pull out of this.

[Broncoman13]

Like you guys I think Snoop started off with good intentions.

I'd like to see somebody in his position just come in and offer up some goods. Cleats, pads, helmets, whatever... just b/c he cares about the youth in the inner city or whatever.

Honestly, I don't think there is anything wrong with him running a separate team. A select team if you would. If he wants to have his Snoopbowl and give the kids special treatment and new equipment...fine. There is a lot of that in baseball now-a-days. I lost a couple of kids to a select team. The coach was a multi-millionaire in Houston. He would pay for the kids and parents hotels when they traveled and there wasn't a thing the kids or their parents had to pay for. They just had to play. Now in this case we're talking about losing maybe three or four kids per league... which kind of stinks but the league still operates and goes on..... I think that would be the best bet for Snoop.

[Jason in LA]

I posted this same question on a different message board, and got some pretty good answers, just like here. One guy brought up the point of traveling teams, who do cut players and also recruit the top players. He pretty much said that compeition today is greater than it was in the past, so he didn't have a problem with Snoop's league cutting kids who weren't good enough. Here is my reply to him:

PC, I agree with you to a point. I agree that travel ball is different from league ball. The competition is higher, and they seek out the top players and opponents. Travel teams are for the best. Leagues are for everybody. Kids of all skills. But the thing Snoop has done is turned his one team into a travel team (which is fine), and now has turned an entire league into that (which is the problem). If he wants his one travel team, than go right ahead. But when he takes that mentality and puts it on leagues, that's wrong. He's affected many other leagues because he pretty much took their kids and put them in his league. A league that's set up so his team can be the best and pretty much kill all the other teams.


The example I used of the kid that got cut from Snoop's league is an example of the problem with this league. They'll say that he isn't fit to play football. That's BS. The kid is eight (playing in the 8 and 9 year old division), and has never played tackle football. He's like all the other noobs out there. Timid. But that's how every 8 year old is his first day in pads. His father told me that after one day in pads they started the cut down. They did a couple of tackling drills and made the decisions. They never worked with the kid. These noobs usually take a couple of weeks in pads to get used to the contact. How can they cut this kid after a few drills? I've watched this kid in practice the past week in pads. He's coming along. At first he was very timid. After four days of hitting, he's not Ronnie Lott out there, but he's not scared anymore. That's the learning curve that all kids need to be on. Next year he'll be one of the top players on that team.

My son is another example. Last year in his first year he took his lumps. He got blown up a lot. Snoop's league probably would have said he wasn't fit to play football. This year payback is on his mind. He is looking like Ronnie Lott out there. He's on a mission to crack everybody. The coaches said he is one of the best hitters on the team. He wouldn't be on that level if he had been cut last year and didn't play. The stars of next year's team are always the kids who are getting blown up on this year's team.


The kids that Snoop's league kept wouldn't be on that level of hitting if they didn't take their lumps someplace else. They need to teach these kids instead of cutting them.

One major flaw in cutting these kids is who is going to be the stars at that level next year? In the Mighty Might division (8 and 9), they cut a lot of the 8 year olds who they said can't play. So next year, when their team of 9 year olds become 10 and move up to Jr Pee Wee, they are going to have one sorry ass Mighty Might team because they cut players that they should have developed. Next year are they going to keep those kids who they cut this year? Remember, some of those kids would not have played because they were cut this year. If that trend happens, Snoop will have some sorry teams in his league because the kids weren't developed properly. They'd get killed by most Mighty Might teams that took the time to develop those kids that Snoop's league said wasn't fit to play.


I think the thing Snoop should have done was make traveling teams for after the league's season. Traveling teams take the best kids and don't have to worry about recruiting problems. Snoop can make football more of a year round thing like all the other sports. But I'd say he's affecting league play in a bad way.

[Garcia Bronco]

IIRC Snoop has been to jail for murder...any parent that lets their kid hang out with a convicted murder should be in jail also...but this is Cali we are talking about.

[Jason in LA]

Snoop was on trial for murder. He was never convicted. The story was a gangbanger ran up on him, had a gun, so Snoop's bodyguard shot him. Snoop was charged because he's famous. Snoop should never have been on trial for that.

But I do agree with you on Snoop's character issues, and I wouldn't leave my kids with a guy like that. Mostly because of the type of people that hang around him. The article that I posted stated that some parents didn't like Snoop coaching.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

That would take actual logic and thought.

Instead, let's just bash rap and make things easy.

Well, rap is easy to bash but the issue is not rap. The issue is a self-proclaimed pothead who made his millions by being the "high" rapper is now in a position to be influential to the children of this country on an unprecedented scale.

How in anyway shape or form can this be a good thing?