From the how ironic files comes this story about the Harlem Hellfighters, subjects of an indy film being screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, being “booted” from their home field
in retaliation for their coach speaking out about racism.
Duke Ferguson, the team’s coach, has filed a lawsuit against the Board of Education, stemming from a racial incident that took place back in October when the team played in Staten Island.
On Oct. 13, just before a game with McKee-Staten Island Technical School, the Harlem players noticed the words “Ya n—a’s SUCK from MSIT” scrawled on the visiting team’s bench.
Ferguson claims that nothing was done about the epithets and when he spoke out about the incident, he was barred from campus and the team was evicted from the Wadleigh School in Harlem, where they had been practicing.
The real drama begins now. Where are those pesky camera people when you really need them?
Source: Blackathlete
Related: Documentary aired on ESPN2
spann
September 9, 2008
the sad part is, only one person deserves all of this, and thats duke himself. he had an abundance of resources at hand, only to waste it away on ego. a huge coaching staff, donations, and full nfl support… such to the fact that he had an nfl employee as a coach. you dont do what you’re supposed to do, and you go down. sadly, its the young men who suffer most.
give it up duke, give the team to someone who’ll put those boys in a position to succeed, not trail behind a rag tag coach.
No name
July 25, 2008
When I read the article, it sounded like Ferguson made a bigger stink than he should have. I’ve worked with this man at the school and he’s known to over-react (and be a bully as well). The racist graffiti could’ve been written by a black person, by the way.