Famed Basketball Coach Talks “Coach Carter 2,” Roger Clemens and Politics When Chinika.com caught up with Coach Ken Carter, he was preparing to engage in the 2008 NBA All-Star festivities held in New Orleans, La. But before the tip-off of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam, the coach who inspired the 2004 movie “Coach Carter,” starring Samuel L. Jackson, chatted with Chinika about everything from his pick for this year’s NBA basketball champs to his production endeavors to his talents in the kitchen. He also chimed in on some of today’s spellbinding topics, including the Roger Clemens steroid-use investigation and the intense race for the White House. CC:
What is the first thing you do each morning to prepare yourself for the day ahead? Coach Carter: I generally plan my day on paper the night before. So, my days are pretty well-organized. When you are organized, you won’t let people or other things steal your time because out of all the things that we have, we can only spend time once. You can always gain more money or earn other things, but you spend time only once. CC:
What is your favorite pasttime? Coach Carter: I really enjoy work, honestly. At this point in my life, the opportunity I have to influence people is very important. The “Coach Carter” movie has placed me on a different stage. So now, instead of talking to ten or 20 people, I am speaking to hundreds of thousands of people. The opportunity gives me a different outlet to inspire other people. I believe we learn from other people. I think the world gets better one person at a time. A lot of people are currently looking for various leaders to better the world, but I think if a person takes time to nurture their family, keep them healthy mentally, physically, spiritually and financially, I think the world would be a much better place. CC:
My family members often say their world would be a much better place if I knew how to cook. You are known for being great at a lot of things, but how do you fair in the kitchen? Coach Carter:
Yes, I do cook. I try not to, but I have the ability. Being a single parent, I always had to cook for my son. It was one of those situations where you do a lot of what you do well, and what you do well, you do a lot. So, I messed up a lot of dishes in the beginning. But I have managed to master cooking a pretty good steak meal, which includes potatoes and other vegetables (laughter). Yep, I am a meat and potatoes man. CC:
Other than steak and potatoes, what else are you passionate about? Coach Carter:
I think you have a responsibility in life when you are blessed to share that blessing with other people. I was fortunate in life to know that even though we (his family) were broke, we were never poor. Sometimes people don’t understand me and they ask, “What do you mean by that?” And I would explain to them that being broke is just a beacon of a condition, but being poor is a disabling frame of mind against the perfect condition of the spirit. Therefore, it’s OK to be broke, but one should never let their family, community, school or church be poor. I often tell people that we (family) were so broke that we used to have to save up to be poor. Growing up, I owned two pairs of pants and two shirts and they were the same color. They (the ones who knew) used to tease me all the time, but I never felt bad about it because I always knew God had something better for me. I steadily prepared for my future because I knew bad times were not going to last forever. It’s important for a person to prepare for future opportunities, and continue to tell their story. You know, we talk ourselves out of success all the time — we’re not smart enough, fast enough, tall enough, etc. What would the world be like if Bill Gates or Mother Teresa or Bill Cosby or even Michael Jordan would have never reached their full potential? And FYI, success is not money. A lot of people like to talk about making money, but you can’t make money. The only people who make money in the United States work at the U.S. Treasury. The rest of us have to earn money and the only way to do that is to use your ability to think. Also, many people want to become famous, but not all of us can become famous. However, everyone can become great and greatness is defined by the services we give to others. CC:
Speaking of success, let’s talk about the huge success of your 2004 movie. Do you ever blush when you’re flipping through the television channels and happen to catch it playing? Coach Carter:
I think my family and friends get a bigger kick out of it than I do. But it is great to hear the testimonials from viewers of the film. Some people have told me that it was the only movie that their entire family could sit down and watch and have everyone walk away with something. The movie was about accountability, and learning how to be a great follower so you could learn how to be a great leader; and it was also so much about teamwork.
CC:
What was your reaction when you learned Samuel L. Jackson would play you in the film? Coach Carter:
When the producers gave me a pen and pad and told me to write down all the actors I wanted to play me in the movie, I only wrote down one name and that was Mr. Samuel L. Jackson. The producers said, “Well, I see you only wrote down one name.” And I said, “I know, let’s go out and get it done (laughter).” CC:
Do you keep in touch with the athletes whose stories were featured in the movie? Coach Carter:
Every night (laughter). I talk to the players and the actors who played the players. We’re all one big family. It is interesting to see how everyone still interacts with one another, how they have remained friends. What you have to understand is that the stories depicted in the movie were true. So when you have people with personality, they always seem to find a way to win. Successful people will go from one failure to the next enthusiastically. I have always been a mentally tough person. But I credit my friend Grover for a lot of my success because he and I used to fight every single day, four or five times a day. And he would beat me up four or five times a day (laughter). Grover was a tough kid. His own brothers were scared to fight him. I would be the only one to fight him and I mean this would go on every single day. CC:
Your life hasn’t seemed to slow down since the release of the movie. Not only are you headlining numerous events, you are also busy creating educational tools for today’s youth while making plans to return to big and small screen. Coach Carter:
Yes, we (crew) are developing a television show and are also in the beginning stages of producing “Coach Carter 2.” Look for it to be released somewhere around 2010 or 2011. We have also written study guides such as “101 Ways to Improve Your Grade Point Average,” “Positive Self Image 101” and “500 Years of African-American History in Less than 60 Minutes,” which is extremely important for our culture because if you don’t know where you have been, how will you know where you are going? CC:
Speaking of African-American history, what do you think about Sen. Barack Obama’s historic run for the White House? Coach Carter:
I find the race extremely exciting, not just because Mr. Obama is a black man but because we (Democrats) are going to have a candidate that actually can win now. There’s so much interest across the country. By Mrs. Clinton being a minority and Barack being a minority, it just works out perfectly. I believe they should be on the same ticket. I don’t care who wins as long as the Democratic Party can put together a winning ticket. CC:
Now, switching gears from politics to another notable headline — the Roger Clemens steroid-use investigation. What’s your take on this matter? Coach Carter:
While I don’t give people advice about their careers or anything, I do have an opinion. My opinion is this — you are a role model when you put on that uniform. What people have to understand is when kids see professional athletes doing something, college athletes will imitate it. Then, the high school kids imitate it and then it gets down to our junior high students. So, I think if they (investigators) have DNA evidence that show that the allegations are true, then he should be held accountable for that. CC:
As we conclude, I have to ask you about the team you’re picking to win this year’s NBA title. Personally, I am rooting for the Pistons. Coach Carter: I recently had a speaking engagement at The Palace (the home arena of the Pistons). I was there alongside some of the older players like Rick Mahorn, who’s just an excellent young man. But, I really like the Lakers. I think the team that comes out of the West has a slight advantage over the team that comes out of the East. This interview obtained by chinika.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Chinika, LLC .
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