Super Bowl Quiz: Who was the winning coach in Super Bowl V?
Who was the MVP in that game? [Hint: The final score in this
game was 16-13 and the MVP wasn”t a QB.]
William “Tank” Black
I saw a bit on Monday about how the Jacksonville Jaguar”s Fred
Taylor had lost his entire $5 million signing bonus – more than $3
million after taxes – from the six-year contract he signed as a
rookie in 1998. What got me was the main figure involved, the
perpetrator of the fraud, William “Tank” Black, a sports agent
and “entrepreneur.” I had remembered a piece that Bryant
Gumbel did on Black (who”s black.and that fact is germane to
the story) last fall on Gumbel”s “Real Sports” program but I
couldn”t find the transcript. So I scoured the net to find a little
about him.
Black has been implicated in a number of cases involving
University of Florida athletes, including Taylor and Ike Hilliard.
He has been accused of giving the players cash and cars while
they were at school in an effort to win their services when they
moved on to the NFL.
In one instance, Black set up a company, BAOA Inc., which was
to sell black-achievement board games. It is alleged by some that
the company was used as a slush fund to buy gifts for his clients.
The stockholders include Jesse Jackson. Said the Reverend back
in August of last year, “All I know is he is innocent until proven
guilty. I have tremendous respect for Tank. He has done
tremendous things for young people.”
But contrary to the last annual report, Black is supposedly no
longer a director at BAOA Inc. The company has reported
massive losses. Now I don”t know what BAOA is worth today
but the 128 investors who were in on it bought it at $1 per share
and the stock was last worth about 5 cents according to the
reports I read. [Note: I was just informed the stock is trading
at 8 cents currently.]
Black allegedly had players pay for BAOA stock by way of
checks made out to another firm, P.E. Communications. P.E.
Communications” funds are under Black”s personal control, the
NFL Players Association has claimed.
Now, this report I”m reading was written in August and back then
the NFLPA alleges in a complaint against Black that an LSU
assistant coach said Black told him he used Taylor”s money to
purchase a car for a Univ. of Florida football player before his
eligibility had expired.
Taylor, who was a star running back at UF, denied any of his
money was used to purchase a $133,500 Mercedes-Benz for
former UF linebacker, and now Tennessee Titans star, Jevon
Kearse. Taylor signed with Black and was a first-round pick by
the Jaguars two year ago.
“All that”s bull,” Taylor told The Florida Times-Union in
Jacksonville (last spring).
“I”m sure if (Tank) wanted to buy Jevon the car, he wouldn”t
need my money. Why would he use my money? They”re just
trying to make Black out to be a bad person. I”m not going to
buy (Kearse) a $135,000 car. That”s stupid.”
Well, that was last year. Today, Taylor is hosed, big time, and I
imagine he is singing a different tune. And yes, he”s stupid.
And the board game? Well BAOA has shifted its focus to
planned telemarketing operations in “enterprise zones” – typically,
inner-city areas with tax breaks – in cities including Atlanta. Jesse
Jackson was allegedly given 100,000 shares of the stock for
consulting services. Jackson said if he still owns the stock he”s
not aware of it.
Now anyone who follows the college / pro arena knows that what
goes on between players and agents is first class sleaze. Aside
from the monetary and material enticements, some agents also
dispense advice that directly attacks the integrity of the game:
don”t risk an injury that would jeopardize your pro career; get
your coach to “showcase” you; ask to switch to the position NFL
scouts want you to play in the pros. Just first class guys.
[Sources: AP / Palm Beach Post]
Postscript: I have to get something off my chest. Without
divulging too much, suffice it to say that I have considerable
experience with blacks and the abuse they often face at the hands
of their fellow brothers. I hinted at that in my last Bar Chat on
the sneaker wars. But it extends beyond athletics.
A very good friend of mine is part of a gospel group based in
Newark. I”m telling you, these women can sing. I have attended
some of their concerts where I have been among just 2 or 3 white
people, out of a crowd of 700 or so. You wouldn”t believe the
shysters that prey on these groups. It got so bad that I have been
trying to get an attorney friend to work out contracts for the girls
so that they aren”t taken advantage of anymore. Hell, they
participate in a concert and somehow THEY lose money.not
the promoters.
And then this same woman had to face a tragedy a few days
before last Christmas when the family house burned down (faulty
Christmas tree lights, luckily no one was hurt). It took the
firemen 30 minutes to show up (the fire occurred around noon).
You know why? They were having a party at the ol” firehouse
and couldn”t decide which truck should answer the alarm. [Their
excuse, I”m sure, was that the house is in an area where false
alarms are frequent.] The house could have been saved. Instead,
everything was lost, including a ton of cash. [The older kids who
lived there didn”t believe in bank accounts.]
But here”s the payoff. One of the firemen who eventually
responded (a known troublemaker.and black), reeked of beer
(according to my friend). I won”t get into the rest but suffice it to
say that a guardian angel (a city councilman) happened by and helped
my friends out of some legal trouble that developed with this
particular fireman.
The innocents need help and I just wish some of the community leaders
would come forward to discuss the situation for the betterment of the
good people out there. [Note: In the interest of editorial
integrity I need to divulge that this story was updated.]
*In honor of Black History month, beginning next week I will
have some unique stories on the African-American culture.
Staropramen
Hey kids, if you want a good beer from the Czech Republic, try
Staropramen! At least it”s new in my area and it”s cheaper than
Pilsner-Urquell. “Hey Joe, I”ll take another Staro!”
Top 3 songs for the week of 1/25/75: #1 “Please Mr. Postman”
(Carpenters) #2 “Laughter In The Rain” (Neil Sedaka)
#3 “Mandy” (Barry Manilow)
Quiz Answers: The game was Baltimore vs. Dallas. The coach:
Don McCafferty. MVP: Chuck Howley (LB), from the losing
Cowboys.
Next Bar Chat, Friday.some thoughts on Jimmy Johnson.
–Brian Trumbore
