Drug Dealer to AAU Dream Maker: The Curtis Malone Story

00:00:00
Speaker 1: I got a chance to sit down with Curtis Malone, someone who was very instrumental in the DC basketball movement back in the day, someone who sat down for some street stuff. Someone who's got a book out right now duality check it out. Hope you guys enjoy this man. Now, I want to welcome in Curtis Malone, DC Assault creator. You just got DC Assault back right. Congratulations, your name popped up. Obviously you have ties with my brother. Jack Busy spoke, you know, spoke on you lightly. You know when we sat down and had his interview, author of a new book, talk to us about this book and what you felt it was important at this time to drop it.

00:00:43
Speaker 2: Well, you know, I really wanted to tell my story, you know, when everything happened to me when I took the took a fall. You know, I felt like I can give a lot of jewels, you know, kids, husbands, everything, because a lot of things spurrowed down, you know for me. So but I also wanted to make sure people understand you don't have to fall and not get back up and keep pushing. So that was my main reason you know for telling the story. You know, so you went down, what year twenty thirteen.

00:01:17
Speaker 1: And you got out in twenty twenty, twenty twenty in the middle of the pandemic.

00:01:21
Speaker 3: Yeah, right, in pandemic.

00:01:23
Speaker 1: What was obviously we'll get into what obviously got you in there, But what was it like getting out and trying to reacclimate when the world was in such a frenzy.

00:01:31
Speaker 3: It was it was pretty smooth.

00:01:32
Speaker 2: I had gotten They gave me nine months on house arrest, so I couldn't move anywhere, so I couldn't go nowhere. So but what happened was all my friends that everybody was coming over to the house to visit me.

00:01:47
Speaker 3: So you know, I got a chance to really.

00:01:49
Speaker 2: Spend time with everybody who wanted to come and see me.

00:01:53
Speaker 1: Late nineteen eighties get into dealing solid basketball player, but ultimate you chose other route. And d MV basketball history is so rich with talent. One of the hottest pockets in the country. What is it about the DNA of d m V hoopers.

00:02:12
Speaker 2: You know, DC area is different to anywhere in the country and everything. I mean, I think we've always been able to separate ourselves with talent. And if you know, you guys remember us when we were young, when DC and salt style. I mean, you got to be tough to come out of there too.

00:02:30
Speaker 3: Man.

00:02:32
Speaker 2: I don't think it's too many places going to outbeat us with toughness.

00:02:37
Speaker 3: So for me, I just think that. Man.

00:02:39
Speaker 2: They say it's something in the water that the kids drink, you know, and they love basketball and football and you know, athletics.

00:02:47
Speaker 1: Late eighties, begin dealing crack. D C was the murder capital at the time, started off with PCP. How did you fall into that life?

00:02:58
Speaker 3: Well, just saying it every day my environment, you know.

00:03:01
Speaker 2: Uh, the guys and the people I looked up to, they were big time dealers at the time, so they were like godfathers to me, you know. I name you know, some guys my godfather, my uncle, you know. So just seeing what they were up to just always gave me the itch, you know.

00:03:21
Speaker 3: And I never was a user.

00:03:23
Speaker 2: So my goal is if I'm gonna do something wrong, I needed invest in selling it and making some money instead of using it and getting high.

00:03:33
Speaker 1: Obviously, you did it out of a try to try to find a way out of your situation. Did the ever did the did the moral side ever hit you or bother you at night knowing that you're doing something to obviously better your situation, but also harming the community.

00:03:48
Speaker 3: Yes, I mean you know that always crossed your mind.

00:03:50
Speaker 1: You know.

00:03:51
Speaker 2: Again, I have a I have a sister that was on drugs bad, I mean right, the closest person to me, you know, and I never forget, you know, when we get in the argument, she would say, you not know better than me because I wanted her to do the right thing and clean up, and she would always tell me, you know, you.

00:04:12
Speaker 3: Just as worse. So it always crossed my mind, you know.

00:04:16
Speaker 2: And the difference is you don't see you don't always see the home that is doing the people, but it is touching and doing.

00:04:23
Speaker 3: Home to a lot of people.

00:04:24
Speaker 1: Absolutely. Ninety two, first time incarcerated, you get out and decide to pursue basketball in the management route. Can you talk to us about what changed? What were during that incarceration.

00:04:35
Speaker 2: Well, I wanted to still change lives because again I didn't have the guidance. I wanted to make sure the kids weren't making the same mistake as me. So I started mentoring kids and then from there I started coaching at the rec center. From there we started DC's sought me Troy Weaver, who's now in the vice president for New Orleans Pelicans, and you know, Mike Somethner and some guys Damon handed we started this program and Mike brown Man and it was just about changing lives, man, I mean, that was the ultimate goal, man.

00:05:14
Speaker 3: And from there it just it went to the moon.

00:05:18
Speaker 1: I mean, I grew up in the system raising right here. When you say DC assault, It's always been at the top of the mountain. It's always been at the top of the mountain. Like, what were you guys instilling in this youth at a young age that again made you guys stand out amongst the rest.

00:05:33
Speaker 2: Well, I tell people all the time, we may not have been the most talented, but I don't think there was going to be a team to play.

00:05:40
Speaker 3: Harder than than us, you know.

00:05:43
Speaker 2: And when we started early in the nineties, man, we were getting the kids, I mean almost all of them from the hood. It wasn't know we was going to pick kids up every day and you got to feed them, to take them.

00:05:55
Speaker 1: Back home, the whole process, you know.

00:05:57
Speaker 2: So you know, until later on, you know, we ain't have no kids coming out of no. Five hundred, eight hundred thousand dollars home. Back then, you know, it was one bedroom with six seven kids, and so the kids was driving to get out of them.

00:06:11
Speaker 1: Now, in your early DC assault days, were you still one foot in the streets, one foot in the gym?

00:06:17
Speaker 2: Well, yeah, early on when I first started, yes, I was. But then I did officially get out the game once I started seeing the management side could change my life, you know, So that's what I wanted to pursue.

00:06:32
Speaker 1: How far in if the assault started, what yeard you guys start the assault ninety three? Okay, so how far in did you kind of be like, Okay, this is a this is could be a career change, a career changing path. Let me clean.

00:06:44
Speaker 2: Bague around ninety five. But also I seen, you know, having Damorrow, who's now the number one player in the country. I'm like, this is my way out. This is my son, you know what I mean, Like Mom pretty much let me take care of them. You know, she helped let me raise them. So from now I'm like, this is my ticket out of here.

00:07:08
Speaker 1: You know, talk to us about the mindset and the ability to coach kids back then, and then obviously you're hopping back in this whole new game. I coach this shit now and it's different. What was it like back then compared to now?

00:07:22
Speaker 2: I mean again, I believe that the toughness of the kids, the mindset, the places they.

00:07:27
Speaker 3: Came from, Uh, they were just tough kids.

00:07:31
Speaker 2: I mean, you're talking about hungry kids and they're gonna eat McDonald's after practice and something to eat then.

00:07:38
Speaker 3: I mean, but these kids today is night and day. You know what I mean? I don't know.

00:07:44
Speaker 2: I know you curse all the kids out all the time, so I like to see what your what your team, how they respond to you.

00:07:52
Speaker 3: But they probably look at you different because they believe.

00:07:55
Speaker 1: In you and they've seen you've had our core for a minute. And still even with that said, it's you know, I gonna handle some kids different than I handle you know, others. And that's always been the same. But I think that kids these days, and I don't even want to say that use the word easier. It's just they have a lot more access to shit. Kids have the stuff now that we had to get to the league to get us, you know what I mean, So to me, it's only natural to almost what's your motivation, what's your drive? You're gonna take your foot off the gas, You're gonna keep grinding.

00:08:22
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, it's different.

00:08:23
Speaker 1: Did John Thompson help kind of the grassroots part of the DC assault.

00:08:28
Speaker 2: John Thompson back in ninety two ninety three, Big John. He ended up calling George Ravelin and got us our first contract with Nike. Nike No, so from there we were Nike for the first two years.

00:08:45
Speaker 1: What was your relationship like with John?

00:08:47
Speaker 3: It was great, great, real good. One of my favorite people. We had a great relationship.

00:08:54
Speaker 1: What did what kind of stuff early on did Nike do for you? Guys?

00:08:57
Speaker 2: It wasn't a lot, you know, It's still was us out of parkt pocket.

00:09:02
Speaker 3: It wasn't a.

00:09:02
Speaker 2: Lot of money like later on the program started getting but it wasn't a lot, but just wearing Nike.

00:09:10
Speaker 3: Man, we ain't got to pay for the kids to travel.

00:09:13
Speaker 1: And that's everything for the kids too.

00:09:14
Speaker 3: Oh man, like they Nike crazy? Uh huh they everything is Nike.

00:09:20
Speaker 1: It's a little bit. I remember shit because we were Adidas. Yeah, but I still remember that wasn't shit like it. Although I feel like Adidas is more cracking back then, like there still wasn't nothing like Nikes.

00:09:29
Speaker 3: Nike is the best.

00:09:30
Speaker 1: Yeah, they are the best.

00:09:31
Speaker 3: I'll give them their props.

00:09:32
Speaker 2: But again, even recruiting kids today. You know, I don't think the shoe.

00:09:38
Speaker 3: Make you so true.

00:09:41
Speaker 2: If you want to be a player, you know, then you could be a played wherever you decide to play in whatever shoe you wear Converse, it doesn't matter.

00:09:49
Speaker 1: You mentioned early on you started the assault with Troy Weaver, who's now in the NBA mid nineties about ninety five. How did Sonny convince you guys to cross over to Adidas.

00:10:01
Speaker 3: Well, it's funny story.

00:10:04
Speaker 2: We were playing in a tournament in Baltimore and we ended up beating Gary Charles team lamar Odham in Khalid Alaman.

00:10:13
Speaker 1: And you know Gary Leuis Island Panthers, Long Island Panthers back then.

00:10:18
Speaker 2: And you know, Gary runs over after the game. He's mad one that we beat him. And then he's like, you gotta get on the phone with Sonny. You gotta get on the phone with Sonny. I'm like, who is this little guy?

00:10:31
Speaker 3: Right?

00:10:32
Speaker 2: So we end up and that's the day me and Gary became best of friends. So I got on the phone with Sonny and he was like, hey, I know.

00:10:39
Speaker 3: You were Nike.

00:10:41
Speaker 2: My buddy Mike Brown was like, man, we need to go to big Time. So we didn't, you know, Sonny was like, do you guys want to go? I'm like, we can't go to big Time because we're Nike. He was like, oh no, you can go to peace damn after.

00:10:54
Speaker 3: But you I will send you a check.

00:10:56
Speaker 2: He sent a check for twenty five thousand that Monday next day in the mail to us, and we went to big Time.

00:11:03
Speaker 3: You know, Troy didn't like it though.

00:11:04
Speaker 1: But what year was that?

00:11:06
Speaker 2: That was ninety ninety six, twenty five, yeap ninety four, ninety five, something like that.

00:11:15
Speaker 1: Talk to us about your relationship with Sonny. I just shared with you. I'm going to sit down with him soon. But but but tell me who's Sonny was? Because we saw Sonny has colmost like a mafia god boss Coppo type. Because we were eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen fifteen, like you were dealing with him as a man. What was what was study? Like?

00:11:31
Speaker 2: Well, I thought he was, you know, and and coming from where I come from, this is the man I'd rather work with and be with, you know what I mean. So we established a real good relationship. He understood that I wanted to get out of the game. You know, he knew what I had been through, so he always made sure we were taken care of, and then he wanted to make make sure that down the road, make sure I'm taking care of.

00:12:04
Speaker 1: Who are some of the kids that you started with the pursuit of and went on to the NBA in your guys early.

00:12:09
Speaker 2: Days, Damar was our first NBA you know, DeMar was the first Bogans who played around twelve thirtyen years kid, Daunte Cunningham who played a long time in the league, Rodney McGruder who played not long ago, Jeff Green, Quinn Cook, Nolan Smith, Mike Beasley's a few more.

00:12:38
Speaker 3: I might leave something.

00:12:39
Speaker 1: So it was about I don't think people realize obviously because of what happened to him, how good Damar Johnson was six', nine can do it absolutely.

00:12:47
Speaker 3: All He deamar was before his.

00:12:49
Speaker 2: Time if he played in today's, GAME i mean just, Look Kevin durant probably could play till he's fifty the way he shoot the H so WITH, dj he was before his.

00:13:03
Speaker 3: TIME a big.

00:13:04
Speaker 2: Point, god you Know tracy And, lamar those guys were, really you, know before their.

00:13:10
Speaker 3: Time BUT dj shoot to piss out the.

00:13:12
Speaker 1: Ball he was what the two pick right To atlanta number six, six number six, pick so odd. Story so WHEN i got he was a little bit younger than, me but he. Went he left to the league BEFORE i, did and he got in that accident AND i didn't make my first year in the league AND i had to play in some BULLSHIT aba AND i played with, him and that was the first time where he was coming back from the injury and just trying to figure out his. Game BUT i remember seeing him and seeing him before the. INJURY i mean six' nine do.

00:13:41
Speaker 3: It, all, yeah yeah.

00:13:42
Speaker 2: He was he had a chance to be a, really good really really good.

00:13:45
Speaker 1: Special player Pressure from adidas at times to maintain certain players and get certain players to join. The assault what was, THAT like.

00:13:56
Speaker 2: I mean sunny gave us leverage to go get. The players it was a, war time, You know Nike and ADIDAS and I, mean sonny like go kick.

00:14:04
Speaker 3: Their ass and that's what. WE did i think as a.

00:14:07
Speaker 1: Brand before it, was okay it used to be illegal to be able to help, kids out no matter where you're getting the meals. Or whatever, It, be like what kind of stuff were you guys doing to trying to make sure to secure the.

00:14:17
Speaker 2: Top, kids WELL what i most of THE time i built a relationship with the parents if they, had parents whether, it's, grandmother, aunt, UNCLE whoever i NEEDED to i establish, a really, really good you know relationship. With them my recruiting, Tactic was i'm going to find out what neighborhood the, kid From and i'm going to see who the biggest drug deal in, that area who, got influenced and That's.

00:14:44
Speaker 3: What i'm going. To SEE so i can you know if you know? The kid, he, like yeah you. Want them i'm, like yeah and, you know so we were.

00:14:53
Speaker 2: Just feel it didn't cost a lot. To do we would make sure the parents could go see their kid if they wanted. To go we didn't have a the kids even traveling.

00:15:01
Speaker 1: Back, then beasley first time you, saw him what did you think of?

00:15:05
Speaker 3: His game it's, just okay he couldn't chew and walk at the. Same time, you know this big. Old kid he had, huge.

00:15:11
Speaker 2: Hands big, old feet and uh but he he had he had a ways, to go, you know he he but he worked hard and you start.

00:15:22
Speaker 1: Seeing it he was someone you brought into, your home, you know helped, get by helped his mom, get by talk to us about the Journey with Michael.

00:15:33
Speaker 3: H it was. A, Journey ship it was.

00:15:37
Speaker 2: A journey but, you know for the for the, most part, you Know when mike came to, our home, you know he was just, another kid but he ended up staying longer than the.

00:15:50
Speaker 1: Average kid but about what age did you? Get, him thirteen fourteen?

00:15:54
Speaker 2: Or thirteen and he was a kid THAT again i wanted to help change his life because he was going through a lot of stuff as.

00:16:02
Speaker 3: A kid, you know he was getting. In trouble, you know always, was bad, you know out.

00:16:08
Speaker 2: Of control but when he, got there, you Know with Nolan, and sydney, my daughter they just took him in like he was a, family member and so you started to see, the change and he started to see the.

00:16:22
Speaker 3: Bigger picture so he bought.

00:16:25
Speaker 1: Into it when did you feel like he got and saw that basketball could possibly be his way Out of what age did you think it clicked?

00:16:33
Speaker 2: FOR him i would probably, say, ninth, ninth, ninth ninth.

00:16:37
Speaker 3: Tenth grade, you know he really.

00:16:40
Speaker 1: Took Off after beasley MADE, the nba you felt like things kind of. Went south what do you feel went wrong and what actually?

00:16:49
Speaker 2: Went, wrong well, YOU know i believe that man most of the time when when kids, become successful the first thing everybody do is now try to get in.

00:17:01
Speaker 3: Their ear the circle became more bigger.

00:17:06
Speaker 2: From THERE and i just Think, that michael he listened to a lot of things that people, were saying and we never had a chance to talk about any of. These things so people telling them things and then it get back.

00:17:18
Speaker 3: To me, i'm like what where did that? Come from?

00:17:21
Speaker 2: You KNOW so i just think that, you know one Thing that michael did know Is that i'm about to get back into the, agent THING and i Felt like mike is good enough to help me build UP what i want to build up. And DO like i always tell people before The, RICH pauls i was trying to get into that we all were back then as a, You guys motts and you, know everybody and, you know the loyalty.

00:17:52
Speaker 3: Just LEFT he i don't know. WHAT happened i still don't know.

00:17:55
Speaker 2: WHAT happened i always said, to him why don't we sit down and talk when you feel like you're old enough, To talk because at the end of, THE day i can look and mirror at MYSELF because I know i ain't never done nothing.

00:18:06
Speaker 3: To you knowing my family have.

00:18:09
Speaker 1: You been able to sit down and have that conversation? With.

00:18:11
Speaker 2: Him no, you KNOW when i, WAS away i thought he was gonna come. Visit me he said he wanted to see me and wanted to, you know but, again, No No, michael beasley he.

00:18:22
Speaker 1: Was a number two pick in the two thousand and eight draft To The. Miami heat when did you feel like your relationship started to change for the worst before?

00:18:29
Speaker 2: The, draft, okay yeah before, THE draft i started to just see it getting out.

00:18:35
Speaker 1: Of control just a young kid with a lot of people in.

00:18:38
Speaker 2: His, ear yeah and then, my discipline he wasn't trying to hear, that much and a lot of the things that, you know, he say some of the things are the THINGS that i tried to have. Him do and from there it just everybody was in. His ear The mom the goal was to get, him away get me away from, from Him because i'm the only person that he hadway listened to in his.

00:19:03
Speaker 1: Whole life why was the goal to get him away? From?

00:19:06
Speaker 3: You then THAT'S what i still don't.

00:19:08
Speaker 1: Figure out.

00:19:08
Speaker 2: YOU know I thought i helped change, people lives, you KNOW and i couldn't Understand why curtis become the bad guy you KNOW what. I Mean and i've been nothing. But good nobody did Anything for mike from the day he came, to me and the MOTHER and i were like brothers, and sisters. You know, but again everybody wanted a piece of, the pie and he just didn't, stand UP like. I mean it Happened with tomorrow a, little Bit but tomorrow told his family, WITHOUT him i wouldn't, be here so nobody could say anything bad about him.

00:19:42
Speaker 1: Through that KIND of i won't call it, a breakup but, you guys kind of Not seeing. Ayai anymore you said that you slipped back into. The, game yeah started drinking heavier in the drug game hair ron cocaine, in particular the pres and, SET in i believe.

00:20:01
Speaker 2: IT did i tried to use the alcohol to to help get, over that, You know and it was a it was a very very, HURTFUL time, i think because we had put so much time in to build this, kid up to help him grow up so his life, could change you KNOW what.

00:20:19
Speaker 3: I mean so it was it was a.

00:20:21
Speaker 1: Rough time so two ninety three is you step away from, the game you jump back in it in eight, nine eight? Okay eight and what? Was it obviously the game, had changed sin since what was the game like for you at?

00:20:34
Speaker 2: That, time well all of my friends were still in, any game so it wasn't anything for me, to say, you know let me.

00:20:44
Speaker 1: Do they have a welcome back party? For?

00:20:46
Speaker 3: You oh they, Always.

00:20:47
Speaker 2: Did they, always, did right, you know and, They, like bro you don't need To and, i'm, like man give me a couple. Of, things man, give me give me out. Right quick let me SEE what i, can do and so it just, snowball.

00:21:01
Speaker 1: Talk well talk, to ME like i. Want, to like what was? That? Like though, you know my pops was in the space you. Were in it took the, right route, you know sit didn't work out the way you thought it should have or, could have and then your right back kind of almost where you started at at an, older age, obviously knowingmore but still since still trying to make. Ends, meet yeah what was?

00:21:22
Speaker 3: That, like well it was.

00:21:24
Speaker 2: It was it was a difficult time to get back, into it you KNOW what? I MEAN BECAUSE i I Played, TUGGLE war i, WANT to i don't.

00:21:33
Speaker 3: WANT to i, WANT to.

00:21:34
Speaker 2: I don't so, for, Me man i'm a risk, taker anyway so always.

00:21:40
Speaker 3: Have been all of. My Life but i'm a smooth.

00:21:42
Speaker 2: RISK take i ain't gonna make if it don't, MAKE sense i ain't gonna. Take it so, for me it was it was just it. WAS smooth i mean to get back IN because i didn't have. AN issue i have friends selling a lot of stuff, making MONEY so i can go to my friend, and, say HEY if i get something where you bind, like yeah.

00:22:01
Speaker 3: Of course.

00:22:02
Speaker 1: So Yeah, nolah smith, your stepson his rise TO the nba kind of coincided with you taking a step back and getting back in. The streets how were you able to balance that as still kind of the man in his life but then also back in the.

00:22:18
Speaker 3: Streets, HUSTLING well i, you, know again it.

00:22:21
Speaker 2: Wasn't hard it was very very SMOOTH because I didn't i never was really in.

00:22:26
Speaker 3: The STREETS everything i did, was private, is done is, over WITH and i could still Be present Pops to.

00:22:34
Speaker 2: Nolan and still over There, with mike you KNOW what. I mean so it was it was. Real smooth it didn't take, you know it didn't stress me out to.

00:22:44
Speaker 1: Do it you as a mentor and, a leader what you turned into in your community starting your program telling kids not to, do something but then again you doing. It, yourself yeah talk to me.

00:22:56
Speaker 2: About, that well that was one of the biggest UH issues i had, with myself, you know to, you know with The, Book duplicity i'm living.

00:23:10
Speaker 3: A lie i'm telling the kid not to.

00:23:12
Speaker 2: Do something and one of the worst feelings ever WAS when i WAS at dc jail and two of my players are there in, the, like coach what you're?

00:23:21
Speaker 3: Doing here n, You know And and I'M saying i.

00:23:25
Speaker 2: Was selfish, YOU know i was being SELFISH because i didn't, YOU know i didn't stay out, of that so, you know it was it was a, tough time but.

00:23:36
Speaker 1: A disappointment again not to not to to praise the, street activity but you were using that money to, help families help families and help kids and so that they wouldn't have To Take. Robin HOOD yeah I Was.

00:23:52
Speaker 2: Robin Hood UH and i should Have, BEEN batman, i guess.

00:24:00
Speaker 3: But you know it did, you.

00:24:03
Speaker 2: Know the money in THE money i made THE lifestyle i was able to live and to help change people Like because i've always been the type.

00:24:12
Speaker 3: OF person i love to make. EVERYBODY happy, i.

00:24:15
Speaker 2: Loved, you know playing high school AND when, i played, YOU know i twenty five assists in the GAME because i make everybody around.

00:24:23
Speaker 3: Me better it's always been my character on and off.

00:24:26
Speaker 2: The court, you know it's my flaw that that's that's, my character THE way i, Was raised so, you know it was.

00:24:34
Speaker 3: It was it.

00:24:35
Speaker 1: Was tough when did you kind of have TO start i don't know looking over your shoulder is the, right word but, understood that, you know what you were doing was, drawing attention and, you know people started looking at you a little.

00:24:48
Speaker 2: Bit different, well AGAIN and i believe in two thousand, AND nine i had realized that they had missed me on a conspiracy case.

00:25:02
Speaker 1: Out here from, out here from out.

00:25:05
Speaker 2: Here that they WAS from la and the guys ended up getting arrested and they said that they had a few more indictments that was.

00:25:14
Speaker 3: Coming DOWN so i realized it, was real.

00:25:18
Speaker 2: You KNOW so i was going through my stress and one then when are they?

00:25:22
Speaker 3: Gonna come, you know so you gotta be prepared if.

00:25:25
Speaker 1: They come walk us through, that THOUGH because i don't think people understand that type, of pressure you KNOW what, i mean your one foot out of, the streets but your one foot ind of, helping people the man of, the house being, a father, you know being. A partner but then, also, like like what is that day, to day night.

00:25:44
Speaker 2: To, night well it's some days it could be Very and i'm not gonna say Stressful because i'm not a very. STRESSFUL person i don't really. Get STRESSED but i had to make sure everything was, in. ORDER okay i also had a good team of guys on that side of, the fence and that makes your job much more easier when you don't have to deal with a bunch, of bs. You know SO if i got a crew of, five guys them just my, five GUYS and i don't see, nobody else you KNOW what. I mean people came up to me trying to, be, like man are you you know you back in. THE streets i need.

00:26:25
Speaker 3: Some, Help nah i'm not, doing nothing. You KNOW so i kept it secret AS best.

00:26:31
Speaker 2: I could but with, you know it's just it's everything go downhill if one person get in.

00:26:39
Speaker 1: Trouble, starts singing you KNOW what?

00:26:41
Speaker 3: I mean?

00:26:43
Speaker 2: You KNOW so, I REALIZED so i knew that my connect from out here Had gotten they had. Gotten them they took THE money i had just sent like one point eight back.

00:26:57
Speaker 3: Out here how.

00:26:59
Speaker 1: Does something like that going To get i'm talking for people who have. No clue how do you get one point EIGHT from DC. To la in the early, two thousands.

00:27:07
Speaker 2: Back back in, the day we would, you, know trucks, you know you get The eighteen williston come across. The country but back then we were.

00:27:17
Speaker 1: Private planes talked us about that lifestyle because, it's different you KNOW what. I mean it's a. Different game it's it's a. Luxurious game but, you, know again my dad was in, the streets and there's no like happy endings for, guys like, you know for guys that go down, that path not.

00:27:32
Speaker 3: At all it's and it's not a good and it's only two ways.

00:27:37
Speaker 2: In JAIL and i again me risking but Always saying i'm about.

00:27:42
Speaker 3: To stop i'm. About done, You know i'm.

00:27:46
Speaker 1: About done was the money too good to kind of? Step? Away though the money was?

00:27:50
Speaker 3: Pretty good, uh huh, it was, you know it was.

00:27:53
Speaker 2: Pretty good, BUT again, i mean it's just like you, an, athlete right it's. A lifestyle, you know you just seeing a bunch of your teammates and guys who once they, make it, you know you got to keep up, the lifestyle you KNOW what. I mean and now on top of, the lifestyle you got to be able to spend whatever you need to with.

00:28:19
Speaker 3: The program you got to be able to help.

00:28:21
Speaker 2: The parent you got to make sure they getting, they monthly they getting taken, care of. You know so, it becomes, you know a lot that you don't even realize how much.

00:28:31
Speaker 3: You're doing, you know.

00:28:35
Speaker 2: It's DIFFERENT going i come out here for three days and come and spend thirty Thousand, on rodale, you know like, you know guys can just wipe.

00:28:45
Speaker 3: A card, YOU know i had to bring, all hundreds you KNOW what. I mean but.

00:28:51
Speaker 1: It.

00:28:51
Speaker 3: Was hard it was. Stressful though it got stressed.

00:28:54
Speaker 2: Because it kept getting bigger and Bigger than the first thing they always say.

00:28:57
Speaker 3: Is can you handle? Some more, you know we got?

00:29:01
Speaker 2: Some more, you know the guys Up in baltimore. They slow, you know we got forty. Up there can we bring them down there? To You and, i'm, like yeah so it's sparrowed out.

00:29:13
Speaker 1: His control did your ego get in? The way, of.

00:29:17
Speaker 2: Course, ego degreed, you, know, greed selfish the arrogant you know side of, having money, you know and and, YOU know I know i probably have, urrogan WAYS but i wasn't the same humble Guy.

00:29:35
Speaker 3: That I'm that i've always been AND who. I became, YOU know i had.

00:29:39
Speaker 2: To go on, to prison make, you it make you sit back down, and realize, all right put your seat belt.

00:29:46
Speaker 1: ON it i, PROBABLY sure i can imagine light skin. Good here they probably couldn't tell you ship for.

00:29:50
Speaker 2: A MINUTE well i was always, bad though, you know being a high school basketball player, pretty, Good Right and red guys was in in.

00:29:59
Speaker 3: The eighties.

00:29:59
Speaker 1: WE were i don't think we ever really.

00:30:01
Speaker 3: Left NOW so i left the dogs.

00:30:05
Speaker 1: Just to make themselves fear take.

00:30:06
Speaker 2: A sleep i, let them, YOU know i let them, talk THAT but i, always say we ain't.

00:30:10
Speaker 1: Went, nowhere, no yeah we ain't. Going nowhere federal drug crack, down operations snowbird sentence for real feedback, from parents, former, players coaches when they kind of found out all of this to come. Crashing down what was?

00:30:24
Speaker 3: That, like well it was.

00:30:27
Speaker 2: IT was i was very NERVOUS because i JUST knew i let the whole community on THE.

00:30:33
Speaker 1: News espn it's a lot of, weight though you KNOW what. I Mean and i'm not saying no, pun Intended but i'm saying you were taking care of a.

00:30:39
Speaker 2: Whole community, yeah yeah but, you know no, matter what you're going to have the people who judge it doesn't even like, you know it doesn't matter what you did or.

00:30:49
Speaker 3: Your past you know people are going to.

00:30:52
Speaker 2: Judge you, SO really i had, to realize are you gonna lay down and face it or are you gonna worry about what? People say my thing is the Last thing i'm gonna do is Worry about if you want to be on, my Team and i've been on your team all, these years then let's.

00:31:06
Speaker 3: Do it if, you don't then you can go on about.

00:31:08
Speaker 1: Your business talk to us about the day they came and. Got you what was? The morning was you? To wake was? You asleep what was?

00:31:16
Speaker 2: Going on it was, the evening about seven o'clock On a, friday NIGHT and i had already started.

00:31:26
Speaker 3: Drinking during.

00:31:28
Speaker 2: The day made, a run me and a partner mine counted, you know about three hundred some. Thousand Dollars and i'm glad they didn't come to THE place i was at first because they was following me.

00:31:40
Speaker 1: All day okay did you?

00:31:42
Speaker 3: Know, That no but day ended up arresting.

00:31:45
Speaker 2: My cousin so when they got him and the way they, DID it i didn't really think it was.

00:31:51
Speaker 3: For me and, you know at, the end of. THE day i just thought he did a. Traffic stop he got.

00:31:57
Speaker 2: In trouble so about seven eight they pulled me in the buddy of mine over and they tell HIM to i tried to give him.

00:32:06
Speaker 3: My phone they, was like step out.

00:32:07
Speaker 1: The.

00:32:07
Speaker 3: CAR you i had to open a red cup and step out.

00:32:12
Speaker 2: The car SO when i realized all these cars didn't look like regular, POLICE cars, i said this right. Right here so they told me they do a THING in dc all hands, on decks so they'll go around if you drinking, in public they'll. Wrest you just trying to clean the streets up looking. For guns SO when i got to, THE station i seen some of the girls in the neighborhood where we'd be.

00:32:34
Speaker 3: At around, the PROJECTS and I said they, WAS like, i. Said DAMN so i end up. That day it was a, normal day going to, hang out going, to drink going. To PARTY and I hadn't i ain't come back home for.

00:32:54
Speaker 1: Seven years what was it like when you first got in, with yourself when you're when when you're sitting in that in the in that, cement room what was going through your head at?

00:33:09
Speaker 3: That time it's over you KNOW what?

00:33:12
Speaker 1: I mean what were you facing well.

00:33:16
Speaker 3: On, THIS one i think around twelve.

00:33:19
Speaker 2: Eleven twelve what ended up HAPPENING is i had copped a plea to do a nine to eleven, plea BARGAIN which i shouldn't have been because the amount of drugs they found really didn't equal to. The time but what ended up happening to prosecutor wanted me so bad for the times they missed me on a previous investigation that they knew everything about it.

00:33:47
Speaker 1: On, you yeah.

00:33:48
Speaker 2: So it was it was out. For ME so i got a two point reduction. THAT year a lot of people getting out of prison on two.

00:33:56
Speaker 3: Point, reduction uh some Laws.

00:33:58
Speaker 2: That obama, Them asked and so my sentence went from seven, to nine from nine, to eleven seven. To nine so the judge she wanted to she wanted to give me nine years, the highest, you know but she ended up going in the middle. Of IT but I knew i thought it. Was, over uh there was gonna.

00:34:20
Speaker 3: Be worse than what.

00:34:21
Speaker 1: It was once you're. In there how many people did you see? Change up would you say majority stuck? With you half? And half how many people turn their back?

00:34:29
Speaker 2: On, you uh it wasn't many because some people removed their self, a little, you, know okay but you know a lot of PEOPLE like i had friends who were, police officers so, you.

00:34:40
Speaker 3: Know they like their bosses bringing them. In there what are you doing with?

00:34:44
Speaker 2: This guy because they see they on my phone calls when they, you know listening on all. My calls, YOU know i see a strange car down, THE street i call, A, buddy, hey man run this tag.

00:34:54
Speaker 3: Number all this under the on.

00:34:57
Speaker 2: The investigation they hear all this you running, and guys people almost lost, their job.

00:35:04
Speaker 3: You know because of me AND what i. Was doing so you're in many though not many did turn it back.

00:35:11
Speaker 1: On, Me man when you're, in prison you're sitting back and you're seeing your step son and other kids that you helped pave the way to get to where, they at which WAS. The nba how hard was that?

00:35:22
Speaker 3: For, you well it Was a it was. A tough it was more Tough for nolan.

00:35:28
Speaker 2: Because he worked so hard to get there AND then i wasn't there for him when he.

00:35:35
Speaker 3: Got there SO.

00:35:37
Speaker 2: That i think that ate me up more than a lot of the, other kids because once they, make it, you know you, you're.

00:35:46
Speaker 3: Successful you KNOW what, I mean you've accomplished. Your dream but.

00:35:49
Speaker 2: FOR him i couldn't be there when he was going through his ups and downs and he wanted to change agents and different things when he was, inland playing and so you know that was that was very very.

00:36:04
Speaker 3: Hurtful feeling, YOU know i was. VERY disappointed i.

00:36:07
Speaker 2: Couldn't with your guy's relationship like, we great he came to, See, me Yeah my nolan and His.

00:36:14
Speaker 3: Sister sidney you know any?

00:36:17
Speaker 1: Other players, well, yeah, YEAH yeah i.

00:36:21
Speaker 2: Mean, EVERYBODY nobody I Mean KEITH bogan's, i mean guys were.

00:36:26
Speaker 3: Putting money on my only person turning back on me.

00:36:28
Speaker 2: His, Mic, interesting YEAH so i was TO evidently i was the bad guy to him or whatever was in. His mind but other, than, THAT nobody, I Mean, quinn cook guys came to.

00:36:43
Speaker 3: See me. So nobody at the peak.

00:36:48
Speaker 1: Of your of your time in. The streets how much money are we? Talking about what?

00:36:53
Speaker 3: For me?

00:36:54
Speaker 1: For you probably about one? Point, six okay when you were? Locked down what did you reflect on the most while you're? In there you?

00:37:00
Speaker 3: KNOW what? I what I what i.

00:37:02
Speaker 2: REALLY reflected i reflect on really getting, myself together preparing myself for, what's NEXT because i don't have a. Life sentence you, KNOW what, i MEAN so I know i'm. Coming home it's a light at the end of, the tunnel.

00:37:17
Speaker 3: You know so, FOR me i wanted to DO everything i wanted.

00:37:21
Speaker 2: TO do i wrote, my book, YOU know i got and was getting, in shape still, playing back. Playing AGAIN but i just had to reflect on me and HOW do i become A better CURTIS when, i return. You know AND so i DIDN'T do i, Did WRONG but i didn't do a lot of, people, bad right, YOU know i did most good for the People who i've.

00:37:43
Speaker 3: Who've been in myself weren't a. Bad, PERSON yeah, i, did yeah. Bad things, you're, right yes you.

00:37:49
Speaker 1: Get out What day.

00:37:51
Speaker 3: May, twenty first twenty twenty.

00:37:54
Speaker 1: What what was that? Day like talk to me about.

00:37:56
Speaker 2: That, day well it was a it was a great, day man because my, new wife she's, not new my, wife now, you know picked me up and to be able to hold her in. My arms and the first stop we get to go and see. MY dad i don't have to see.

00:38:14
Speaker 3: Him in the visiting hall, no more, you know.

00:38:17
Speaker 2: Walking slow to the, concession stands, you know getting popcorn out.

00:38:22
Speaker 3: The machine but it was all.

00:38:25
Speaker 2: About family that Was my THAT'S all i wanted to get back to.

00:38:29
Speaker 1: You said you reflected a lot. On yourself what did you learn most about yourself during that time he?

00:38:34
Speaker 2: Was, down WELL what i promised Myself Is curtis malone can't take care and save the world like he.

00:38:42
Speaker 3: Always had, you know AND realize i eliminated a lot.

00:38:48
Speaker 2: Of circle, you know SOME people i just don't need to be with all around, you know if you really ain't, LIKE family i don't really need to be, around you you KNOW what. I mean AND plus i don't have nothing give, you now, you know so most, of them, you know they got. To have i'm getting calls from jail send me, SOME money, i, SAID damn i got to send money?

00:39:09
Speaker 3: From prison when do you send? Some money on?

00:39:14
Speaker 1: My books For au from What you scott started with in the early nineties to today is. Completely different water DOWN n i l is in. The mix when you started hearing it was legal to help kids kids make money off their image. And likeness what were your?

00:39:34
Speaker 2: Initial thoughts Why couldn't nil be around when?

00:39:40
Speaker 1: Was?

00:39:40
Speaker 3: Playing?

00:39:40
Speaker 1: Man?

00:39:41
Speaker 2: OH man i was, you know Me and troy laugh? ONE day, i, Said man, troy, said man we would have had a private PLANE with dc and.

00:39:48
Speaker 3: So on the side.

00:39:49
Speaker 2: Of them but it's it's changed, a, lot MAN and i think that it's a blessing that these kids can't get paid for, Me though and not to SOUND like, I hate i just.

00:39:59
Speaker 3: Think it's, too much.

00:40:01
Speaker 2: You KNOW and i don't even think most of the kids want to even play at the. NEXT level i think they just hope they make it, the college get an. NIL deal i don't see, the drive, you know ain't. No courts everybody, got trainers, YOU know i call all them.

00:40:16
Speaker 3: Cone babies but the game is just.

00:40:20
Speaker 2: Different NOW and i had to Jest because i'm used to kids diving on the floor in the, old school, YOU know i don't see the coaches yelling at. THE guys i go see a, Kid play, i'm, like damn the kid turned the ball over four straight times and the coach ain't said.

00:40:35
Speaker 1: Nothing, afraid yeah.

00:40:37
Speaker 3: It's changed everybody cater to.

00:40:39
Speaker 1: Them, Now YEAH and i mean we talked about. THIS earlier i mean it's, YOU remember i was getting a little bit of MONEY, at ucla BUT when i got to, the pros it WAS like i burned through my first three or four years, like this you KNOW what i mean. Of money so it's, only NATURAL and i was in my early to. Mid twenties it's only natural for a teenage kid that doesn't have to come from nothing to not. Know nothing parents probably don't. Know nothing with all, this money a couple, hundred thousand five, hundred thousand a million thrown, at you it's natural to me to take your foot off. The gas it's natural to, lose focus it's natural to lose that drive because you have everything now that you used to have to get, to exactly and you got it before you've really even, earned it so.

00:41:20
Speaker 3: To, speak, yeah, yeah yeah. It's changed.

00:41:23
Speaker 2: IT'S changed i mean kids now they don't even evaluate a coach where they're going to play.

00:41:29
Speaker 3: At all they care about who giving the. MOST, MONEY yep i had. A kid, i'm, like bro do you?

00:41:36
Speaker 1: Do?

00:41:37
Speaker 2: It sometimes matter where you get your degree from down?

00:41:39
Speaker 3: The road you KNOW what?

00:41:40
Speaker 2: I mean are you going to go to, certain schools which some of them schools that's paying the. Most money you'll never go back and visit that place when, you're done, You know but it's that degree gonna. MEAN something i don't even think the kids even think about no stuff.

00:41:55
Speaker 1: Like that they don't care about. A degree they don't care.

00:41:57
Speaker 3: About it how many pros the coach then had about who make? A pro who's gonna help you be? A pro i don't think they they any.

00:42:06
Speaker 1: OF that I feel i've been in this space for eight going on nine years now as a coach and, a father THAT the, aau system the, grassroots system is. FALLING behind i feel like the kids from over the water are coming in and making their presence felt more. Than ever to, your point, Owned babies our kids are, super skilled but that we, lack iq we, lack creativity is because we're locked up in a gym with a coach all day or a trainer all day that never even played where you want, to go never even got to the level you try, to go and charging you all kinds. Of money and again it's just, to me lacks. SO much, i mean kids without without, the ball you you'll. See it but if you don't have the ball in, your hands kids are. Standing around unless you're in a good program that make you have movement and understand what is. Going on how do you feel like that can be changed because you came from. AN era i came from an era where coaches were coaching and teaching us the game. Of basketball obviously we worked out our skilled training wasn't a. Big deal. Back then we used to play basketball all. The time we used to get out to the parks of the gyms. And hoop how do you feel like we can get back to having more well rounded kids in.

00:43:11
Speaker 3: THIS space i don't know if. We could, OH shit. I don't i. REALLY don't. I don't i really don't don't know if.

00:43:22
Speaker 2: We, could man, you know you'll have the kids who, you know, have parents, you know, like you who know what to take to make it and gonna.

00:43:32
Speaker 3: Push, your children push them to be. A PLAYER but. I don't i don't think.

00:43:38
Speaker 2: We could, you KNOW when i JUST, started, dc sought, you KNOW and i hired some of.

00:43:44
Speaker 3: MY coaches, i said, YOU know.

00:43:47
Speaker 2: I may not have we ain't gonna have the rant money or take, Over money but at the end of, the day the GUYS that i bring on, With me i'm gonna back my money on them. As coaches you KNOW what, I MEAN because I know i Can't, Beat nike but at the end of, the DAY if i can get the. Better coaches some parents. Want that some parents don't care about what shoe brand. It is some parents want their kid to. Get coached but all, IN all i don't know if we.

00:44:15
Speaker 1: GET back, i mean if you look at, YOU know i may.

00:44:19
Speaker 3: Not see it at. Almost sixty so.

00:44:22
Speaker 1: If you look at the five best in the game right, NOW before, i mean obviously You throw kevin, in there you Could throw steph, in there you Could throw lebron. In there but those guys are on the backside of. The career the young core OF the nba is.

00:44:34
Speaker 2: Foreign, players yes and our better player is about to go, You know LEBRON and kd.

00:44:40
Speaker 1: On the. Back, side, yeah yeah talk to Me About navar. Bowman bo he's. MY homie i was obviously a huge fan of him On. The niners he ends up moving out HERE from i think. TAKEOVER it i don't know if he Played for, oh yeah and then his son is the same age as, my twins so we live around the corner From. A dre i got a chance to know him a, lot BETTER but i didn't know he could. Really.

00:44:59
Speaker 2: Hoop yeah actually it's a pretty. Good, player yeah but he made the, right choice. Hands down he made the. Right choice now because what that joke it became on that football it was was different and but really. GOOD player i Was telling Ray that Kevin And kevin Kadi and navarro played. Junior, high, yeah yeah they played middle. School TOGETHER so U, BUT navarro i mean the same way he played football is how. He hooped so it got to a point where he didn't even have to come to our practices.

00:45:35
Speaker 3: No more we're going on.

00:45:37
Speaker 2: The, Trip navarro, HE like i want to go, this weekend and whoever the best, player is that's who he.

00:45:42
Speaker 3: Got, up yeah like.

00:45:44
Speaker 1: Lights out, oh man, it's bad.

00:45:46
Speaker 3: IT'S bad i mean, You Know i'm i'll. Never.

00:45:50
Speaker 2: Forget uh we Playing the celtics and They had, javar's CREDIT.

00:45:55
Speaker 3: And I tell lavarro that's your.

00:45:58
Speaker 2: Assignment today know you better? God him and, you're like, come, ON man i got. That man javar is by two times up and down. That court he was looking at the, bar, like man who are you because he wasn't no rank kid or nothing off.

00:46:14
Speaker 3: The leash, oh man Oh j mail old good oh man.

00:46:17
Speaker 1: Them.

00:46:17
Speaker 3: Kids man he and once he gets this that he, take that then.

00:46:22
Speaker 1: All of it.

00:46:22
Speaker 3: It's over it's.

00:46:24
Speaker 1: Over, WITH yeah i love. Books out now what do you want people to take? From this uh chapter in your life and your journey from.

00:46:34
Speaker 2: Your, BOOK well i think the biggest thing, for, me man is that, you, know again falling doesn't mean your life over with.

00:46:43
Speaker 3: YOU know i believe that there's. Another side, You know god gave me.

00:46:48
Speaker 2: Another chance and, you know from the drinking to, being depressed dealing with a going.

00:46:55
Speaker 3: Through a divorce before all, those things did you use in here MAN that i allow to get the best? Of me and? Taking shortcuts ain't no shortcuts.

00:47:07
Speaker 2: In life, fast, money yeah it's easy, to get, you know but can you withstand what come with? Your choices your consequences and there's consequences with, it all no matter what, you do good. OR bad i talk to, little, kid uh the Kid. At alabama he's from up our way that got in trouble shooting with the. Shooting, girl yeah, you Know not brandon, That well brandon is not, in PRISON but, i asked, you know the players usually the. Best player so if you're in the club with your boy and nine out, of ten y'all go to the club, every week y'all.

00:47:46
Speaker 3: Chasing women we know what, you do and you know.

00:47:50
Speaker 2: You you always one friend, or buddy a teammate that always, get drunken. Starts up it's always a family member do the same thing you in, The club he's gonna. Start something and that means that's why it's important to separate yourself from the. Wrong COMPANY but, i say you know you're going, to bathroom come out and the dudes beating up on.

00:48:10
Speaker 3: Your mind what you're? Gonna, Do oh i'm jumping in it.

00:48:13
Speaker 2: First thing that's because, that's normal that's what we're supposed. To do And UH and, i said now you hit one of. The guys he fall hit, his head, he. Died right, You know now your your career ruin because the camera got you on camera hitting. The guy, you know in a similar situation to The kid darius That's. At alabama you know that, quick man your life can.

00:48:39
Speaker 3: Change that easy with a. Split.

00:48:43
Speaker 2: Decision man you, KNOW so I think i think the book it hits on a.

00:48:48
Speaker 3: Lot of lot. Of, topics yeah, it's real.

00:48:51
Speaker 1: IT'S real i feel like your life and your story and your journey would make a great show. Or movie are you thinking about go in that direction with this? At?

00:49:01
Speaker 3: All, yeah well that's, the goal. YOU know i.

00:49:04
Speaker 2: THINK that i think it'll be important that the right people get it and they check out.

00:49:12
Speaker 3: THE story.

00:49:13
Speaker 2: I THINK but i definitely compare it to a lot OF things i do SEE. ON tv i don't see why this, can't be to, be honest you KNOW what, I.

00:49:21
Speaker 3: MEAN so i. Believe it it should be on the big SCREEN.

00:49:26
Speaker 1: On tv where can they find?

00:49:27
Speaker 2: Your Book at amazon dot com And on Barnes and Noble's website.

00:49:34
Speaker 1: Duplicity out now get it where you get, Your, books curtis thank you for your time in best. Of luck if we can be a resource for you. Moving forward you always have an open.

00:49:44
Speaker 3: Door here, appreciate. You bro thanks for Having Me Just.

00:49:51
Speaker 1: Curtis. Malone man we'll see y'all. Next week y