I am honored to have been named to the Advisory Board of the Motor City Youth Initiative. MCYI was established in 2003, by Ernest Wagner (Harlem Globetrotter Honoree Player) and the late Ernest Winchester (Dedicated MHSAA Referee). Using basketball as a starting point, their vision was to provide a comprehensive array of services to develop the capabilities of young people to the greatest extent possible. These capabilities are achieved through effective, youth development programs, drug prevention and higher education, resulting in employability and lifetime skills. In June, 2009, I was honored to receive an Award of Appreciation from MCYI. The award was presented at the annual banquet, held at the Northwest Activities Center in Detroit, formerly the Jewish Community Center, where I spent so many of my younger days playing basketball and making friends.
From 1949 through 1967 Ernie "Daddy Wag" Wagner put together one of the greatest basketball careers of any Detroit Public School product. At Detroit Northeastern High School, Wagner played his entire senior season as a 16 year old, yet he led his team to share of the East Division title and earned all-stat honors. The University of Michigan recognized his greatness and brought him to campus. It was the first year the Ann Arbor school ever recruited African-Americans for its basketball team. Wagner ultimately enrolled at Wayne University and teamed with fellow Globetrotters Charlie Primas and John Kline to form the strongest trio in the history of college basketball in Detroit. Together they put the small Detroit school on the map by defeating many national recognized programs, including the seventh ranked team in the nation. Following college, at a time when only 11 African American had ever played in the slowly desegregating NBA (National Basketball Association), Wagner was offered a preseason contract by Milwaukee Hawks, Instead, Wagner accepted an invitation to try-out with Harlem Globetrotters. The decision resulted in a 12 year career with the Trotters, the second longest of any Detroiter, as well as stints with "Goose" Tatum’s Harlem Magicians and "Sweetwater" Clifton's barn storming team.
In February, 2010, Wag and all Globetrotter alumni who reside in Detroit were honored at the Charles Wright Museum of African American History, in celebration of Black History Month. To hear Wag's remarks, click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpooBu6abDw
I am honored to have been named to the Advisory Board of the Motor City Youth Initiative. MCYI was established in 2003, by Ernest Wagner (Harlem Globetrotter Honoree Player) and the late Ernest Winchester (Dedicated MHSAA Referee). Using basketball as a starting point, their vision was to provide a comprehensive array of services to develop the capabilities of young people to the greatest extent possible. These capabilities are achieved through effective, youth development programs, drug prevention and higher education, resulting in employability and lifetime skills. In June, 2009, I was honored to receive an Award of Appreciation from MCYI. The award was presented at the annual banquet, held at the Northwest Activities Center in Detroit, formerly the Jewish Community Center, where I spent so many of my younger days playing basketball and making friends. 
From 1949 through 1967 Ernie "Daddy Wag" Wagner put together one of the greatest basketball careers of any Detroit Public School product. At Detroit Northeastern High School, Wagner played his entire senior season as a 16 year old, yet he led his team to share of the East Division title and earned all-stat honors. The University of Michigan recognized his greatness and brought him to campus. It was the first year the Ann Arbor school ever recruited African-Americans for its basketball team. Wagner ultimately enrolled at Wayne University and teamed with fellow Globetrotters Charlie Primas and John Kline to form the strongest trio in the history of college basketball in Detroit. Together they put the small Detroit school on the map by defeating many national recognized programs, including the seventh ranked team in the nation. Following college, at a time when only 11 African American had ever played in the slowly desegregating NBA (National Basketball Association), Wagner was offered a preseason contract by Milwaukee Hawks, Instead, Wagner accepted an invitation to try-out with Harlem Globetrotters. The decision resulted in a 12 year career with the Trotters, the second longest of any Detroiter, as well as stints with "Goose" Tatum’s Harlem Magicians and "Sweetwater" Clifton's barn storming team.
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