Pee Wee Kirkland

Richard (Rick) Pee Wee Kirkland is a former street basketball player from New York City, United States of America. His play at Rucker Park (originally organized by Holcombe Rucker) in the 1970 and 1971 season is regarded as legendary. [http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC00157/BestBasketballPlayers/Rucker%20Park.htm Rucker Park website] ]

He played college basketball at Norfolk State University. In 1969 he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the fourth pick in the thirteenth round. It is speculated that he turned the offer down, because he was making more money via illegal activities (drugs, gambling, etc). At the time, the opportunities offered to him outside of the NBA were far more lucrative, in terms of financial gain and public recognition. [Gitanjali Maharaj,"Talking Trash: Late Capitalism, Black (Re)Productivity, and Professional Basketball", "Social Text", No. 50, The Politics of Sport (Spring, 1997), pp. 97-110] Kirkland then got caught up in street life activities and eventually landed in prison, first in 1971 in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. In prison he scored 465 points in 8 games. He also played in prison from 1981 to 1988 in La Tuna, Texas. In the Anthracite Basketball League of central Pennsylvania he scored 100 and 135 points in one game.

Now a reformed man, Kirkland travels the country speaking to youth about decision-making and pathways to success, in addition to self-esteem and other various issues plaguing the inner-cities of America. [ [http://soundslam.com/articles/interviews/interviews.php?interviews=in071006_peewee Interview on Sound Slam] ]

He presents his messages in the "School of Skillz" -- a basketball and life skills campaign that is co-sponsored by Nike. The camps began in 90's on Saturdays in Harlem and has since become a nationwide endeavor. He has won championships as a high school coach at the Trevor Day school, a prestigious private school. One of his early breakthroughs involved reaching out to youth such as Hanif "Camel" Warren. As an educator and social worker, Kirkland utilizes the respect he receives from young people because of his gangster past to reach at-risk youth and break down their misconceptions about "keepin' it real" on the streets. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blackhistory2008/columns/story?page=buckheit/080207 ESPN.com Interview by Mary Buckheit "Pee Wee Kirkland: From American gangster to crossover legend"] ]

Kirkland was mentioned in a song by the rap group Clipse in the song "Grindin" from their 2002 release entitled "Lord Willin'."The line "Legends in two games like I'm Pee Wee Kirkland" refers to his potential as both a drug dealer and basketball player.

References

[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2082027511170159022&q=pee+wee+kirkland Pee Wee Kirkland's, Kids and Gangs, Vol. 1] Lives in the east new york section of Brooklyn around linden blvd.