During a recent appearance on Muhammad and Friends, The Honorable Minister Farrakhan expressed support for Ice Cube and The Big 3 basketball league.
During a recent appearance on Muhammad and Friends, The Honorable Minister Farrakhan expressed support for Ice Cube and The Big 3 basketball league.
A post shared by Minister Louis Farrakhan (@louisfarrakhan) on
A post shared by Minister Louis Farrakhan (@louisfarrakhan) on
A post shared by Minister Louis Farrakhan (@louisfarrakhan) on
Originally published 12.2.09
by Jesse Muhammad
It’s Wednesday morning. It’s the middle of the week. You made it.
You jumped out of the blocks, from a holiday weekend, ready tackle the tasks of this week. Nothing too big for you to handle.
Then it happens.
You make a mistake, you drop the ball, you miss a deadline or you fall short of your goal. Soon your confident demeanor is shaken. Your countenance has fallen. You become a different person in an instance because instead of embracing the opportunity in the adversity, you become paralyzed by internal fear and insecurity.
Wait! This is a critical moment and decision you have to make. I’ve been at this juncture before.
When I was trying out for the high school basketball team at Forest Brook High School in Houston as a freshman, I knew I had the skills. I was a basketball junkie. Watching, recording and studying countless televised games. Before my mother bought me a real goal, I was practicing all day on a milk crate nailed to a tree.
The first day of tryouts came. I stepped on the court. I was ready.
Then it happened. I missed every shot I put up. My defense was wack. I was on the verge of losing an opportunity to make the team. There was only one more day left to show what I could do. But my mind was disturbed. I started doubting my abilities. I didn’t share my fears with anyone, not even my family members. It was over, right?
Well almost.
That night I was going to the gym to workout with my older brother Deric Muhammad. He was playing an audio tape of a man that was speaking about how we as human beings always give up when things get a little hard. I asked my brother,”Is that Martin Luther King?”
He said,” No sir, that’s Minister Farrakhan”.
I didn’t know much about him, but what I heard on that audio tape was just what I needed at that moment. “Most of you want something given to you on a silver platter. You do not want to struggle to achieve greatness,” said Min. Farrakhan.
I said to myself, “Dang, is that me?”
Then his voice got real thunderous as he said,”When I accept the challenge, I prepare to whip my enemy. I have never lost no kind of contest. Because when I accept the challenge, I do not intend to punk out.”
I said to myself, “I’m making that team tomorrow.”
Suffice it to say I made the freshman team. I went on to become a starter on the varsity team for the next three years. All because of that one tape, which I actually listened to before most of my high school games from then on. True story
Don’t let the adversity of striving for greatness, mastery or perfection stop you. The adversity is what makes it worth doing. Roll over the roadblocks. Internalize what you need to combat the naysayers.
So again, we would like to dedicate this blog to all of the naysayers. We can’t hear you because we’re too busy achieving greatness and leaving our mark.
We won’t give up. We accept the challenge.
Will you join us naysayers?
Originally published 7.17.09
On July 16, 2009, President Barack Obama addressed the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the NAACP. One very power quote he stated was:
“They might think they’ve got a pretty good jump shot or a pretty good flow, but our kids can’t all aspire to be the next LeBron or Lil Wayne,” he said. “I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers. I want them aspiring to be a Supreme Court justice. I want them aspiring to be president of the United States.”
What do you think about this statement and his entire speech to the NAACP?
Originally published 6.29.09
When I was recently invited by Jamaaluddin al-Haidar of Houston to speak at the 4th Annual Muslim Youth Basketball Association Summer Camp I was asked to address the young boys about the lessons of life found in basketball, the importance of setting goals early in life and why they should respect their parents.
The young boys at the Adel Road Masjid in North Houston were very interactive as I shared with them my former NBA hoop dream while in high school and also how I was able to play on a USA High School All-Star that competed in a tournament in Germany in 1997. Yes, that is not a typo people!(smile) Then I spoke on why they should not wait until they are older before figuring out what they want to do in life. They had a lot of great comments. Young people are brilliant.
After our dialogue I watched them play a few games, I attempted to dunk a few times ( I still go it!) and I will be returning before the camp ends to speak again as well as referee a few games.
For more information on the MYAB Camp visit: http://www.mybausa.org
Originally published 12.30.08
Written by Jesse Muhammad
According a sports report by the DailyProgess.com Virginia sophomore Mustapha Farrakhan (left) had a career-high 12 points in the Cavaliers’ victory over Georgia Tech in Atlanta on December 28.
The reporter described how a huge crowd of Nation of Islam members were in attendance, including his father and uncles, who flew in from Chicago to watch him in action. He is the grandson of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
Farrakhan knocked down two 3-pointers and also scored on a strong drive to the basket. In addition, he went 4 of 4 from the free-throw line which made him now 10 of 10 for the season from the stripe.
“I feel like I’m getting my legs up under me a little bit and just playing confident,†said Farrakhan to DailyProgress.com, who had zero turnovers in his 16 minutes. “I’m just trying to stay aggressive and do what [Leitao] wants me to do on the court.â€
After enduring a trying freshman season, Farrakhan has been given more playing time. And he’s producing.
Congratulations brother.
Originally published 12.20.08
In the midst of a hectic schedule, Brother Jesse managed to participate in a community all-stars basketball game on Sunday, December 14 at the Cossaboom YMCA. These shots show him in action as well as his expression when his team lost the first game. (smile) But it was a lot of fun playing with brothers from Muhammad’s Mosque No. 45 and the community.
Basketball Trivia:: After graduating from Forest Brook High School in 1997, Brother Jesse was selected to be a member of a U.S. High School Basketball Team that competed in a week-long tournament in Germany. His team won the championship. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the final.