Posted Date: July 16, 2008

200 Youth Attend Basketball, Football Clinics In Chesapeake

  Coach Charlie Hatcher took time out to visit his aunt in Norfolk, after sponsoring Chesapeake’s recent Shoot for the Stars basketball clinic and the Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee football clinic, which about 200 youngsters attended.
   Hatcher is headed back to his home in Chicago after visiting his aunt, Annie Tolboro. But he plans to eventually host more clinics in Norfolk. Held nationwide in cities where NBA teams reside, the clinics are jointly sponsored by the NBA and the U. S. Army. Pro-ball players donate their time.
  “We do this all over the country,” Hatcher said. “It took about three weeks to plan. It was real successful. We had a lot of successful partners. We’re planning on having another one.”
The basketball clinics were conducted by Wali Jones, a former NBA player with the Philadelphia 76ers, who handles community affairs for the Miami Heat.
   The football clinic was conducted by legendary high-school football coaches Cadillac Harris and William Fuller, a NFL legend and prominent Tidewater developer. Also on hand was Cornell Gordon, a former gridiron player at North Carolina A&T State University who later played for the New York Jets and Denver Broncos for eight seasons.
   The football clinic also included Charlie Stukes, a former Baltimore Colts defensive back.  
   The first clinic was held at Indian River High School from 8 a.m. to noon. The second clinic was held at Cascade Park from noon until 3 p.m. The clinics were free and open to the public.
  The city of Chesapeake also helped to sponsor the event. Designed by the NBA to provide positive alternatives, the clinics are held in every major city.
  “But you have so many stellar players from this area,” Hatcher said, explaining why the recent clinics were held here (even though there is not a pro team here).
   Hatcher, who was one of the first blacks to play at Norview High, played in the Olympics after graduating from Norview High. Then he played pro-basketball overseas. He also coaches pro players overseas.
   A Virginia Wesleyan College graduate, Hatcher said he hopes to return to Hampton Roads to sponsor basketball and football clinics at some of the detention centers in Norfolk.

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