Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”.
“Legends never die”.
-The Sandlot
Those youth recreation teams were very important to me but my skills and my love for the game were developed mostly in my neighborhood’s backyard games and the countless hours that I would spend in my own yard running, throwing passes, punting, and kicking the ball! I had a huge imagination. I would pretend that I was playing in a high school, college, or NFL game. I would act it all out, it was probably pretty hilarious for neighbors watching me! I would throw passes to myself, run and act like I was being tackled, I would pretend to catch and return punts, it was the greatest. I had so many targets in the backyard. The shed, the basketball goal, 4 trees, a birdbath, 3 crepe myrtles, and several lawn chairs. I would take drops and make throws to the aforementioned targets. I could do it all day! I was very blessed to live in a great sports neighborhood with a lot of sports loving friends. It’s really all that we did. There was always a game going on somewhere. There were about twelve boys within a year or two of me in school in the neighborhood. There were also a ton of older kids for me to look up to, learn from, and compete with. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another! This time period sharpened me into the Junior High, High School, and College player that I was to become!
The throwing motion was developed in the backyard at 46 Brenda Lane!
Do you see a little bit of Tom Brady in that form? Maybe Joe Montana?
Jeff Odum and Beau Foote lived at the corner of Brenda Lane and Camellia Drive and their backyard was perfect to have unbelievable football games. The yard was shaped like a football field, it was mostly level, it didn’t have any trees, or bushes, or other obstructions except for up next to the house and we were always welcome to play there! Sometimes they would mow the grass where the ten yard lines would be! It was awesome! Jeff and Beau were step brothers and they were five or six years older than I was and so were most of their friends but they would always allow me and my friends to play.
The older group of boys in the neighborhood were:
Jeff Odum. Jeff was a great guy. He seemed to be friends with everyone and treated everyone with respect. He was a good athlete and he was always up for a game. I really looked up to him. I don’t think Jeff played football in high school but he was very popular. I also remember him being a really good baseball player growing up. He played baseball for South Side when he was in high school. Jeff was always a great person and really kind to everyone. He serves as a game warden today and lives in middle Tennessee.
Beau Foote. Beau was built like a brick wall. He was probably about 5’9 and weighed about 230 or so. He was stout! I am not sure he really liked sports that much but he always played. He would “put a hurtin” on you if he got mad at you. Beau had a temper and I tried to stay on his good side. Beau is an insurance and financial adviser and he lives in middle Tennessee today on his horse farm. He has always been a good person to me and I highly respect him.
Brent and Kevin Mills. Brent and Kevin Mills were brothers and very much into sports and they were good athletes. They lived next door to me and they took me under their wing. They took me places, played ball with me, and had me over to their house all of the time. When I was in the second grade I skipped school for the first time with Brent, he was probably in the 7th grade at the time! It was always fun being with them. Kevin ended up playing quarterback for South Side High School in the early 1980’s and he was also a great baseball player for the Hawks! Kevin still lives in Jackson and works for the city government. Brent was a police officer and tragically died way before his time. There is probably not a week that goes by that I don’t think about them.
Herbie Hurst. To me he looked like Dick Butkus. Herbie was the biggest, strongest, fastest, most athletic, and most intimidating young man who ever lived. Ever! I think everyone in south Jackson felt that way about him. He was a real hero! He is sort of a legend in that part of town still today. He went on to star for the South Side High School football and baseball team in the early 1980’s. As an adult he has achieved fame as a softball player and continues to dominate into his late fifties. Herbie and I share a love of Alabama football and stay connected on social media. Roll Tide!
Oswald Penny. We called him “Big Oz”. Oz was one of the biggest punks and bullies that you would ever meet. He cussed like a sailor, he always smelled bad, and he insulted all of us younger boys on a consistent basis. I had two really bad experiences with Oz. Once he shot my dog, Snowball, in the butt and nearly killed him and once he beat me up after I tackled him during one of the many games at Odum-Foote Municipal Stadium. It was one the worst ass whoopings I ever took. After the beating I went home crying and my father,Wayne senior, said that I had to go back down there and I couldn’t come home until I had whooped “Big Oz”. Considering he was five or six years older and a good bit bigger it was an impossible task. Nonetheless, I went back down to where the game was happening and I told “Big Oz” my plight. His response was, “well, I guess you ain’t ever going back home then”, and he commenced to kick my ass again! He whooped my ass so bad it even made my friend John Arnold cry! Oz spent a few years in prison as a young adult. Today we are friends on Facebook and are very friendly with each other. Oz is also an Alabama football fan like me. Ass whippings, shootings, dogs, forgiveness, prison time, and the Crimson Tide are wonderful things for a friendship I guess!
Jimbo Bryan. Jimbo was one the best and friendliest older kids in the neighborhood. He was always involved in the games. He was a decent athlete and seemed to get along with everyone. He had a beautiful German Shepard dog that went everywhere with him. He was and is a talented musician and plays in a local band of note. He still lives in the Jackson area and I keep up with him on social media. I love seeing his posts about his family, you can tell he loves them and takes good care of them. He is a big Steelers fan! If I still lived in Jackson I think we would be close friends today.
Greg Webb. Greg was extremely athletic. He was fast and he could jump! Greg was one of those cool guys. He had great hair, he wore sunglasses, he drove a sports car, and pretty much had it going on. Greg went on to have some success as a football, basketball and baseball player at South Side High School in the early 1980’s. You don’t see three sport athletes very much anymore. He lives in middle Tennessee. He is a teacher and coaches the Bass Fishing team at the school.
Chris Rowland. Chris seemed to have a hardness about himself, he was really tough and hard nosed and just a little mean. I always suspected something was not right with him. I don’t know if it was family issues or not. I always suspected that he was into some activities that were not wholesome. I don’t know what became of Chris, but, I hope he is well wherever he is.
Todd Osborne. Todd was a cool customer. He was very athletic and always participated in games around the neighborhood. He was a little bit of a bully to us younger kids but we all knew that he liked us. He had a good heart and would help you in any way that he could. Todd was a really good baseball player.
I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of those guys. They were legends in my neighborhood! I am thankful for the intimidation, friendship, mentoring, and ass whoopings! They shared a part of my development as a young man. I am blessed to have had them in my life!
The boys my age in the neighborhood were:
John Arnold. John was my best friend in Elementary School. We were always together and we were very competitive with each other. I hope I made him better, I know he made me better. Iron sharpens Iron! John had it tough growing up and that made a real impression on me. Due to some alcoholism and dysfunction in his family the deck was really stacked against him. But he was an overcomer! He was a champion! John went on to start at tight end for South Side high school in the late 1980’s and we hooked up for several pass completions and touchdowns during that time. He graduated from Tennessee Tech and is a Chemical Engineer in Indiana today. I hope that he is well and I hope he knows I love him.
Shaw Williams. Shaw was a great friend, he always had your back no matter what. Shaw was built like a fire plug, short and stout. He was not a great athlete but he had a lot of heart and fight and he would give you everything he had. He was a true warrior! He would go on to start for South Side High School as an offensive guard in the late 1980’s. Shaw was a pretty accomplished wrestler, he had a good build for it and great balance. He was a true friend. Shaw lives in Memphis today, he is in the insurance business and is a preacher of the gospel!
Jason Williams. Shaw’s younger brother. Jason was a great athlete and one of the toughest football players I ever saw. He had great quickness and explosiveness. Jason probably could have played every skill position on the offensive side of the ball and the only thing that kept him from playing in college was his size. Jason played quarterback for South Side High School in the late 1980’s. He and I were back to back starting quarterbacks for South Side for five years. I started from 1985-1987 and Jason started from 1988-1989.
Robert Mullins, Phillip Mullins and Tim Hampton. Phillip, Robert and Tim were tremendous athletes but they never played organized sports. I never really knew why because they seemed to love sports. They were all incredibly smart, Phillip was the Valedictorian of his class and Robert was the President for our class. I knew Robert better than Phillip. He was one of the friendliest people I have ever known. Robert still lives in Jackson and works for the Utility Department. When I think about integrity, honesty, and character, I think about Robert Mullins. I am not sure what became of Tim Hampton after college. He graduated from Union University but I really haven’t heard anything about him since.Tim was really smart and had a great personality so I am sure he is a great success today. Tim was a really good basketball player, he could handle the ball as well as any point guard in town! I love those guys and I miss them.
Wayne Tate and Josh Bauer. Wayne was a great athlete just like Robert and Tim but never played organized sports because his family were Jehovah’s Witnesses. Wayne was big and tough. He was also one of the friendliest people I have ever known. He was extremely unselfish and a true friend. Wayne was the organizer of our betting pool. This betting pool went on from the 6th grade through graduation. He would write out all of the NFL games and NBA games on paper and we would pick the winners, he would keep standings and at the end of the season the winner got all of the entry fee money. It was a blast! I don’t know what happened to Wayne after high school but I think about him a lot. He was a great friend and I miss him. Josh didn’t look like a great athlete but he was tough and deceptive. He might have been the hardest guy in the neighborhood to tackle! He was really smart and talented as a musician and artist. He also had a great funny personality and a beautiful smile. He lived on the corner of Harts Bridge Road and Camellia Drive. Josh was in the military and he is a real life hero. I wish I could see him again.
Wes Brewer. Wes was a character and we had a lot of good times together. He was one of the most fun and best dudes I have ever been around. Wes always had the best clothes and toys and he liked the good life. Wes had great hands and he was 6’4 by the time we were in high school which made him a great tight end! He and I hooked up often on passes and he led our high school team in touchdown receptions in 1987. Wes is a doctor and lives in middle Tennessee today. I really miss him and I wish we could have stayed friends as adults. I think I would give about anything to spend an hour with him and throw him one more TD pass!
I love all of you men. I am thankful that God allowed me to grow up in the neighborhood with you all.