S01E05 - Rabbit Hunt
Pahokee
Transcript
00:00Previously on 4th and Forever, it was homecoming at Pahokee and coach DJ Bolden celebrated with a much-needed win.
00:09I saw this part of our schedule as a turning point.
00:12And seniors Jermaine Roberson and Keri Mullins stepped up big time.
00:16The defense got turnt and Austin got a ball back and everybody just started playing good.
00:22For Glade Central, a shocking upset left star Jim Davis at an uncomfortable crossroads.
00:29I ain't never lose for the Cobras. We gotta get right.
00:33It all made Glade Central transfer Scooter Kabir happy to be at Pahokee.
00:38Glade Central do not look like the same Glade Central that I left a year ago.
00:48First comes the fire.
00:51The crackling flames, billowing smoke and falling ash announced the start of the sugar cane harvest in Muck City, Florida.
01:01Black ash falls down in pieces and since we don't get regular snow, that's what we call Pahokee snow.
01:09Next come the rabbit hunters who chase the animals as they flee the burning fields.
01:16And those guys will chase that rabbit down. He does not have a chance.
01:21This ritual now symbolizes the muck and the mythical speedy pursuit of an elusive prize.
01:29It's all about the speed. So what you see with the kids, their parents have the speed.
01:35Their grandparents have the speed. Their great-grandparents have the speed.
01:38But as the young men of Pahokee and Glade Central turn the burning cane fields into their personal training grounds,
01:45former star player comes home to share his vision of a muck city.
01:50One powered not by fossil fuels, but by the leaves each harvest has left behind.
01:56Coming back home to let folks know that we can literally be green powered cities.
02:02Even though we're from this small place, this small town, we can come back and be able to pour back into the next generation so they can do the same.
02:20I consider Big Sugar a blessing. They employ a lot of people. They're good for the soil. They're just good.
02:28They employ, let's say, 75% of the people in the Glades area.
02:32But the sugar cane industry hasn't always been the beating heart of the muck city economy.
02:38In the 1960s, production was centered in the Caribbean and Central America.
02:43But political upheaval drove the industry northward into South Florida.
02:48It really became big in this area when Castro took over in Cuba.
02:52When we put an embargo in Cuba, we stopped buying sugar.
02:56A lot of the land that had been in cattle and vegetables became sugar cane.
03:06The towns of Belgrade, Pahokee and Clewiston form the largest sugar producing region in the U.S.,
03:13with more than 15 million tons of sugar flowing from these fields each year.
03:17Out here, harvest begins with the annual burning of the cane.
03:22The fire just burns away the leaves, and it leaves the stem and the stalk, which they harvest mechanically,
03:31cut it up in little pieces, take it to the mill, they put it through rollers, which squeezes the juice,
03:37and basically they just get thousands of gallons of cane juice, heat it, and the water evaporates.
03:43And the sugar crystallizes and you kind of go from there.
03:52With the rise of sugar came waves of newcomers.
03:56The Caribbean cane cutters, they would come in during the season.
04:01They were housed and fed by the sugar industry.
04:05But they spent their money in the local stores, so they were able to make a living.
04:12So they were a huge economic generator for us.
04:16I have a lot to thank that industry for.
04:19I'm a first generation American. Both my parents are from Jamaica.
04:22My dad was one of those migrant workers who traveled back and forth from Jamaica,
04:26who before they had these harvester machines, used to cut the cane manually with cane knives.
04:31And so it got my family to America.
04:35Today, Pahokee, Belgrade and Clewiston might all be big sugar towns.
04:39But when it comes to football,
04:42Clewiston plays second fiddle to rivals Pahokee High and Glade Central.
04:48Clewiston. But they ain't got no muck. They got sand down there.
04:53Once you head towards Clewiston, the muck ends.
04:57When it comes down to the muck, we kind of have our nose tooted up a little bit.
05:01We consider ourselves the muck. Pahokee, Glade Central.
05:05Clewiston is like step kids of the muck.
05:08We don't really care about them too much. We care about Pahokee and Belgrade.
05:12But they close, so we got a little bit of consideration.
05:16Anytime either Pahokee or Glade Central take on Clewiston,
05:20the game is dubbed the sugar bowl.
05:25Clewiston. You know what I mean? I've played them. I've never lost to Clewiston.
05:29Me personally, I've never lost to Clewiston.
05:31With star seniors like Scooter Kabir and Jermaine Roverson,
05:35along with No. 5, Frankie Burgess, and No. 9,
05:40Kerry, the rabbit hunter, Mullins, Pahokee heads into the sugar bowl.
05:45The odds-on favorite.
05:47I think we have enough talent, if we're up on the team,
05:50that we'll be able to pull this game through and win.
05:56But in the build-up to the game with Clewiston,
05:58one of Pahokee's biggest standouts is sidelined by a seemingly small but serious injury.
06:05So, I went to the doctor this morning, and they took another x-ray of my pinky.
06:11Like, off the bat, he was like, I'm going to need surgery.
06:14I don't want the surgery, though.
06:16I don't want it, because I want to at least finish the season and then get it.
06:20Scooter's grandmother, however, insists on the surgery,
06:23which could put an end to Scooter's season and diminish his chances of playing.
06:26It could put an end to Scooter's season and diminish Pahokee's chances of winning the sugar bowl.
06:31That's my first time hearing of a season-ending pinky finger injury.
06:38Now, if you had a broken arm, wrist, shoulder, leg, neck,
06:43I'd be like, get them out of the pinky, dog.
06:46And I told her, I said, doctor, I get a heart attack.
06:49I said, that's my finger.
06:51It's frustrating, because it'll be a devastating blow to our team,
06:54and it'll be a devastating blow to our defense.
06:57Have you ever saw Jim Harbaugh?
06:59No.
07:01His pinky finger is here.
07:03He played in the NFL as a quarterback.
07:05Pinky finger, here.
07:07He had surgery to move from here to here.
07:09That's about as good as it's going to get.
07:11Guess what?
07:13He's filthy rich.
07:15100 million now.
07:17Just from a little deformed pinky.
07:19You think he cares about a pinky?
07:20My grandma said it's not an option.
07:23I have to get it.
07:25But it's my finger.
07:27I mean, it's a pinky.
07:29I know you want to play.
07:31But we got to make this reality to grandma.
07:33So you got to talk to grandma.
07:39Coach Bolden often shuttles scooter between Pahokee
07:42and his grandmother's home in Belle Glade.
07:44I feel nothing.
07:46I told you, I'm bending today.
07:48I can play.
07:50I can play.
07:52There ain't no doubt in my mind about that.
07:54Scooter transferred from Glade Central to Pahokee
07:56because he wanted to make an impact
07:58during big games his senior year.
08:00But if he can't convince his grandmother
08:02to change her mind about pinky surgery,
08:04Scooter's plans will be all for naught.
08:07Now I'm on my way home.
08:12My coach here can talk some sense.
08:17I want to talk about getting a metal straight brace
08:20for just a single finger.
08:22And we'll see what happens from there.
08:27Scooter recently accepted a scholarship
08:29to play college football
08:31at the University of Central Florida.
08:34Hey, grandma.
08:36But any school can withdraw an offer
08:38if the player is not a good enough player.
08:40Scooter is not a good player.
08:42He's not a good player.
08:44He's not a good player.
08:46The player raises concerns
08:48with his future college coaches.
08:51They not going to take too kind
08:53of him being out
08:55because of a pinky injury.
08:58Because, for the simple fact,
09:00they have had guys
09:02that have broken hands
09:04before in the game,
09:06put on a cast, has played.
09:08And then there may be a perception of
09:10maybe he's not as tough
09:12as we think he is.
09:14I hear what you're saying.
09:16But see, this is not his decision.
09:18This is my decision.
09:20And I'm not going to risk him
09:22getting seriously injured
09:24so he can get out there on the football field.
09:26He's more important to me
09:28than any football player.
09:30Say what you got to say, Scooter.
09:32You better try to speak up.
09:34Last week, last week,
09:36when I broke it,
09:38I broke it in the first quarter.
09:40That's the beginning of the game,
09:42like the second drive of the first quarter.
09:44And I played for the rest of the night.
09:46So I'm not expert.
09:48But I got an expert.
09:50I'm going to call my expert
09:52and talk to him.
09:57Hey, Leroy.
09:59How you doing?
10:01I got a question for you.
10:03Scooter's grandma calls her son,
10:05Scooter's Uncle Leroy,
10:07looking for advice.
10:09Scooter broke his pinky
10:11playing football.
10:13And the doctor said he needs surgery.
10:14The coaches want him to play
10:16and they're saying he will be perceived
10:18as being soft
10:20in the eyes of the college coaches.
10:22They love football.
10:24That's their thing.
10:26My thing is making sure he's okay.
10:36All right, then.
10:38Thank you for the advice.
10:40Later.
10:42He wasn't no help to me, huh?
10:44What'd he say?
10:46He said that, you know,
10:48if it was him
10:50and you wanted to play,
10:52let him play because
10:54football players do play
10:56with broken bones
10:58as long as y'all protect it.
11:00I'm not worried.
11:02I understand.
11:03Are you worried, though?
11:05Make sure he's wrapped up
11:07really, really good.
11:09Yes, ma'am.
11:11Love you, Grandma.
11:12Love you, too.
11:14Now, a goal for Friday.
11:22While Pahokee prepares for the Sugar Bowl,
11:25thankfully with Scooter Kabir,
11:27Glade Central has the week off.
11:31But it's business as usual
11:33on the practice field.
11:35And when former GC wide receiver
11:37Steve Messam drops by,
11:39his glory years come flashing back.
11:40I got better practice jerseys
11:42than we had.
11:44My entire varsity career,
11:46I only lost one game.
11:48We had the second longest win streak
11:50in the nation.
11:52I think we stopped right around
11:5455 games straight.
11:56I was a part of that.
11:58You know, that helped shape me,
12:00helped shape this community
12:02and the pride that we have.
12:04It's definitely something
12:06that I don't take lightly.
12:08Messam played college ball
12:10and came back home to Muck City.
12:12I've been back here in the muck,
12:14living here, raising my family here.
12:16And like with everything,
12:18time changes.
12:20People start to create technology.
12:22And I've noticed some things
12:24that I didn't really notice
12:26when I was growing up.
12:28With pre-harvest burning,
12:30the leaves, there's a byproduct
12:32that's called bagasse.
12:34It serves as a biofuel.
12:36It's enough electricity and power
12:38in that bagasse to actually
12:40produce using this bagasse.
12:42While Steve Messam dreams
12:44of a Muck City powered entirely
12:46by bagasse,
12:48Scooter Kabir and Coach Bolden
12:50are dreaming of the upcoming Sugar Bowl
12:52now that Scooter's grandma
12:54gave him the OK to play.
12:56To celebrate, the two head
12:58to a local culinary landmark.
13:00What you got, lemonade?
13:02Yes, sir.
13:04Dixie Fried has been around
13:06since I was a little kid.
13:08I haven't had Dixie Fried
13:10in a long time.
13:12About 10 minutes.
13:14Whoo!
13:16Now that I'm home,
13:18this is my first time being able
13:20to stop by Dixie Fried
13:22and get my 20-piece, you know,
13:24and my fries and my lemonade.
13:26Fabilia.
13:28I have people from Belle Glade,
13:30Pahokee, Clewiston,
13:32all come to Dixie Fried.
13:34With the Sugar Bowl this week
13:36and the almighty Muck Bowl
13:38versus Glade Central
13:40Coach Bolden and his star linemen
13:42know the whole Pahokee program
13:44dodged a bullet
13:46when Grandma Virginia
13:48allowed Scooter to play.
13:50It was a sound of relief
13:52having Scooter to be cleared
13:54for the game.
13:56I mean, that would have been
13:58a total blow to an already
14:00tumultuous season.
14:02I almost thought you didn't have her.
14:04I was like, oh, man,
14:06she ain't trying to hear none of that
14:08for real, for real.
14:11She love you, man.
14:13She ain't even pay you.
14:16We need to win tomorrow night.
14:18That's why we need you.
14:20We still have an opportunity
14:22in the playoffs,
14:24and he's a big part of the reason
14:26why we still have an opportunity.
14:28He's a big part of the reason
14:30why we will continue
14:32to have an opportunity.
14:34In order to make the playoffs,
14:36Pahokee needs to beat Clewiston
14:38in the Sugar Bowl
14:40and the Muck Bowl.
14:42And thanks to Glade Central's
14:44upset loss to Park Vista last week,
14:46the upcoming Muck Bowl
14:48is a do-or-die matchup
14:50for both teams.
14:52Losing is not an option.
14:54It's a win or go home for them.
14:56We need to win tomorrow.
14:58We need to win for the rest
15:00of the season, period.
15:02That makes the Muck Bowl
15:04so much more special.
15:06You want to know why?
15:08Because both teams need to win
15:10in order to stay in the playoffs.
15:12I don't think it's ever been that way
15:14where if you lose the Muck Bowl,
15:16you don't go to the playoffs at all
15:18for both teams.
15:20So I think that puts extra pressure,
15:22that puts extra excitement,
15:24that puts, you know,
15:26that puts everything on top
15:28of an already storybook season
15:30for me as a new coach.
15:32Hey, you can't write this movie script.
15:36On the other side of the Muck,
15:38Steve Messam heads to a meeting
15:40with his game plan about
15:42how to bring his message
15:44of a green-powered Muck City
15:46to the South Florida masses.
15:48Good evening, everyone.
15:50Good evening.
15:52So in tonight's meeting,
15:54we talk about what's coming up,
15:56any type of outreach events,
15:58any type of activities
16:00that we're planning to do
16:02from an outreach standpoint,
16:04providing information for our community
16:06that will help us get to the goal.
16:08Tonight, Steve and his crew
16:10are planning an outreach effort
16:12at an upcoming annual kickball tournament.
16:14That'll be just a great opportunity
16:16for us to get a captive audience
16:18who's going to be out there all day
16:20and let them know about
16:22what we're trying to do.
16:24Steve's goal is to simply spread his vision
16:26and hope that others can see the potential.
16:28One thing about being a part
16:30of the millennial generation,
16:32I think we're very outspoken,
16:34and when we get on board,
16:36we're passionate about it.
16:38A Muck City powered by
16:40Muck City may one day
16:42very well come true.
16:44For now, the burning cane fields
16:46still offer young men an opportunity
16:48to partake in a time-honored
16:50Muck City tradition,
16:52rabbit hunting.
16:54Rabbit hunters,
16:56like Pahokee linebacker,
16:58Kerry Mullins,
17:00welcome the start of the cane burning season
17:02because the flames
17:04and the mechanical harvesters
17:06send rabbits running
17:08from their underground burrows.
17:10This is the place to hunt.
17:12You can smell the cane.
17:14You smell it?
17:16When I smell this,
17:18that's how I know we're close to a cut.
17:20There she goes.
17:22Yep, there it goes.
17:24The truck's got to get the cane.
17:26Yep, they're down now.
17:28They're down now.
17:30Got out the car,
17:32and I waited for the cane truck to go by.
17:34Then I found me a stick,
17:36and I went and grabbed the stick
17:38and broke it with my foot.
17:40Kerry started rabbit hunting in sugar cane
17:42after making his first trips
17:44into the fields as a child.
17:46My dad actually taught me.
17:48I'd go with him when I was younger,
17:50and I'd watch him catch a lot.
17:52He used to show me the way.
17:54I thought it was scary
17:56because he was killing animals at first,
17:58but he told me it's survival.
18:00You see the eater die?
18:02So I chose to eat.
18:08Kerry moves in closer
18:11to the fire.
18:13Heat ain't nothing to play with.
18:15That fire is hot.
18:17Your face is boiling when you get close to it.
18:19It's so hot.
18:21Try not to get too close to it
18:23because you will get burned.
18:25As the starting middle linebacker,
18:27Kerry is the eyes and ears of Pahokee's defense.
18:29It's his job to anticipate
18:31what's coming next from the opposing team.
18:33In rabbit hunting,
18:35Kerry takes the same approach.
18:37I was visualizing a running back.
18:38I thought the rabbits were running back,
18:40so I got in my stance.
18:42When it comes out,
18:44I was just ready to grab it.
18:46And soon,
18:48Kerry spots a brown muck rabbit
18:50pushed out of the cane by the harvester.
18:52Kerry chases it towards a canal.
18:57During the burn,
18:59the rabbits are jumping the canal to cool off.
19:05For Kerry
19:06and other local chasers,
19:08snagging a rabbit
19:10offers an opportunity for a tasty meal
19:12or a possible payday.
19:14Chase them to sell them as food.
19:16A lot of folks here eat rabbit.
19:18And the myth is
19:20that the rabbit chasing that we do here
19:22is the reason why our guys are so athletic,
19:24so fast, so quick.
19:27We enjoy just the challenge
19:29to see can we just run them down.
19:32But not everyone approves
19:34of the way the outside world's associated
19:36rabbit hunting with Muck City football.
19:40I do disagree with one thing.
19:42All of our kids are not out in the field
19:44chasing rabbits to learn how to run.
19:47It wasn't the rabbits
19:49that really made me fast.
19:51I was training for a long time
19:53to become fast.
19:55As I got faster,
19:57it got worse for people to even stop me.
19:59Not as many players chase rabbits these days,
20:01but the hunt remains a symbol
20:03for Muck City's steadfast commitment
20:04to raising up fast
20:06and talented college prospects.
20:09Today's my lucky day.
20:24It's Sugar Bowl time.
20:26A must-win game
20:28for the Pahokee Blue Devils
20:30if they have any hope of making the playoffs.
20:32Competition, you know,
20:34the intensity is high,
20:36especially with the new coaches,
20:38they have new goals for us.
20:40Goals for tonight?
20:42Battle through injuries.
20:44Put a stint on it and then you let go.
20:46And get the W.
20:48We ran it!
20:50We ran it!
20:52We ran it!
20:54We ran it!
20:56We ran it!
20:58We ran it!
20:59We ran it!
21:01It's Pahokee's last home game of the season,
21:04which also means it's senior night.
21:06For team leaders like Kerry Mullins,
21:08it's one of the few remaining opportunities
21:10he has to attract attention
21:12from college scouts.
21:14My recruiting process,
21:16I don't have an offer right now.
21:18Hopefully somebody will take a chance on me.
21:20Let's get ready to breathe.
21:22Start fast.
21:24And relax.
21:26Eyes on the running back, linebackers.
21:28Cluiston gets the ball first.
21:30At number nine,
21:32Kerry Mullins shuts them down.
21:40Hey D, that was a good job.
21:42Kerry's ball hawking defense
21:44helps force a three and out.
21:46Now with the ball,
21:48Coach Bolden radios up to
21:50offensive coordinator Damian Berry
21:52in the press box.
21:54I want to take a shot with Jermaine,
21:55Coach Bolden wants to deploy
21:57the team's most lethal offensive weapon,
21:59number two, Jermaine Roberson.
22:01Yeah, you off Jermaine.
22:09But the pass
22:11sails just out of reach.
22:17Settling for a field goal,
22:19it's now on Pahokee's defense
22:21to take control
22:23and keep Cluiston out of the end zone.
22:26But at the start of the second quarter,
22:28the Tiger offense comes alive.
22:39Pahokee's passing game
22:41continues to flounder
22:43and Coach Bolden's patience
22:45is running thin.
22:50Despite the Blue Devils'
22:52offensive struggles,
22:53Kerry Mullins and the defense
22:55continues to dominate.
22:58Then a storm rolls over the stadium,
23:03making it difficult for defensive players
23:05to plant their feet
23:07and make tackles.
23:09And Cluiston catches the Pahokee D off guard.
23:18Down by 11,
23:20Coach Bolden and Coach Berry
23:21make a bold move
23:23and change out quarterbacks.
23:25Jermaine, get quarterback, Jermaine.
23:27On a wet field,
23:29short-footed runners like Roberson number two
23:31have an advantage over defenders
23:33slowed down by the soaking muck.
23:36My favorite play is the quarterback draw
23:38and nobody in the backfield but me.
23:44I can catch the run.
23:51The quarterback broke loose
23:53and took it all the way to the house.
23:55And that's the thing is,
23:57you gotta keep persevering,
23:59persevering, persevering.
24:01In reality,
24:03perseverance in wet conditions
24:05was part of Coach Bolden's
24:07original game plan.
24:09If it rained,
24:11who's gonna make that quarterback adjustment?
24:13And it paid dividends for it.
24:15It was an adjustment that we anticipated
24:17and we scored a touchdown off it.
24:22We did him a favor.
24:24We gave them 14 points.
24:26Don't get it confused.
24:28We gave them 14 points.
24:30You angry? Make it right.
24:37Headed into the second half,
24:39Pahokee continues to rely on Roberson
24:41to run the offense
24:43who makes plays with his feet
24:47and his arm.
24:51I can throw pretty good.
24:53Just take a lot of confidence
24:55during that play.
24:57The touchdown pass puts Pahokee
24:59up 3 over Cluiston.
25:01Well, they're doing fine.
25:03You know, a few little mistakes,
25:05a little thing they need to tweak.
25:07Hold! Man, hold, man.
25:09Build a wall and hold.
25:11It's real simple.
25:13Now, it's up to the Pahokee defense
25:15and their talisman,
25:17number 9, Kerry Mullins.
25:19He's met in the backfield.
25:22Anything!
25:25We all right.
25:27The play of number 5 defense bandit,
25:29Frankie Burgess,
25:31also keeps Cluiston out of the end zone.
25:33When Frankie is on the field,
25:35he's quiet, but don't get him mad.
25:37Don't get him mad like a rocket.
25:39He take off quick, 0 to 100.
25:41He take care of business.
25:43He's met in the backfield
25:45by number 5, Frankie Burgess.
25:47He know when it's time to work,
25:49he's going to work.
25:51In the waning seconds of the third quarter,
25:53Cluiston attempts a potentially
25:55game-tying field goal,
25:57but the Tigers are so preoccupied
25:59trying to contain Frankie,
26:01they let the rest of the Pahokee defenders through,
26:03and the kick is blocked.
26:08Pahokee's offense is unable to capitalize,
26:13but Kerry Mullins and the defense
26:15continue to hold their ground.
26:22Then with just over five minutes
26:24left to play in the fourth quarter,
26:26Jermaine Roberson drops back.
26:29Offensive tackle Scooter Kabir
26:31doesn't appear bothered by his broken pinky,
26:33and he blocks to give Roberson
26:35plenty of time
26:37to throw it deep to number 3,
26:39Johnny Jones.
26:41For Coach Bolden,
26:43the Sugar Bowl is an important step
26:45in making believers
26:47out of the Pahokee faithful.
26:49We stayed the course tonight.
26:51We bought in.
26:53The kids bought in.
26:55We're going to win.
26:57We're going to win.
26:59We're going to win.
27:01We're going to win.
27:03We're going to win.
27:05We're going to win.
27:07We're going to win.
27:08We stayed the course tonight.
27:10We bought in.
27:12The kids bought in.
27:14We knew adversity was going to come.
27:16We stayed the course and we delivered.
27:18I think we're starting to come together
27:20as an offense at the right time,
27:22starting to push more,
27:24starting to put on the right keys,
27:26putting the right people in the right places.
27:28Still got a long way to go,
27:30but we're still gelding as a team.
27:32He's finally getting his kids
27:34to understand the concept
27:36of the offense he's trying to run here.
27:38Come on, baby.
27:40Yeah, it sure is.
27:42Boy, I love you, boy.
27:44Golly, boy, you bought in from day one.
27:46I appreciate you, man.
27:48I appreciate you.
27:50This happened because of you.
27:52When everybody else wanted to wave on the course,
27:54you stayed the course.
27:56Against all odds, you stayed the course, man.
27:58I appreciate it.
28:00God going to bless you for it.
28:02That's why we still got to play all hope.
28:04Your football season ain't over yet.
28:06It might not even be the last one here.
28:08Click in on all cylinders.
28:10The guys have bought in.
28:12My coaches have bought in.
28:14Now we see where the chips fall
28:16come next Friday.
28:18Poker Proud on three.
28:20One, two, three.
28:22Poker Proud.
28:24I accomplished my career high,
28:2616 tackles, 5 tackles for losses.
28:28I mean, it's huge,
28:30because, you know,
28:32a senior on senior night with 16 tackles,
28:34that's really some eyebrows for a college guy.
28:36But for Kerry,
28:38by me playing the linebacker position,
28:40I'm always in contact every play,
28:42so my body's taking the beating.
28:44As a thank you to Kerry and his teammates,
28:47the Pahokee Church of God
28:49hosts a weekly team breakfast for the players.
28:51We do this every Saturday morning
28:53after every game.
28:55Waffles and grits.
28:57That's good.
28:59All right, enjoy.
29:01Food's good, you know.
29:03We had some waffles, pancakes,
29:05sausages, eggs, grits,
29:06and the orange juice.
29:08Food is always good.
29:10They put a lot of love into the food.
29:12I mean, they don't have to do this,
29:14but they choose to.
29:16One of the things that came to my mind,
29:18the word opportunity.
29:20Sometimes opportunity comes
29:22once in a lifetime for you
29:24that can change your whole entire life.
29:26After hearing Minister Quentin Risper speak,
29:29Coach Bolden reminds his players
29:31of the stakes of the next week's game
29:33and the chance for greatness
29:34that lies ahead.
29:36The most beautiful thing about it is
29:38you have the opportunity
29:41to change the outcome.
29:43You have the opportunity
29:45to dictate the outcome.
29:47Everything's within your grasp.
29:53Aside from the Muc Bowl,
29:55during football season,
29:57the biggest event in Muc City
29:59is the annual kickball tournament,
30:01pitting Pahokee and Glade Central alumni
30:02against one another.
30:04We're here at Airport Park
30:06for our annual kickball game,
30:08what we call a hood holiday.
30:14We've been doing this now
30:16for about five years or so,
30:18and it's gotten bigger each year.
30:20The event lets Steve Messam
30:22catch up with old teammates,
30:24but it's also an opportunity
30:26for him to spread the word
30:28about the potential goldmine
30:30of renewable energy growing
30:32in Muc City.
30:34I'm here also talking to people
30:36and letting them know about our campaign,
30:38and hopefully we can get more people engaged
30:40and active and want to know more.
30:42We'd love for you guys
30:44to maybe stop by one Tuesday.
30:46We got different events
30:48that we try to inform the community.
30:50Not only does Steve Messam
30:52hope to spread the word
30:54about his vision for the future,
30:56he hopes to be an example
30:58to the youth in the Glades.
31:00One of the reasons I came home
31:02was because I had a friend
31:04who brought me up,
31:06who kept me on a straight and narrow,
31:08and I just wanted to be an example.
31:10I wanted to be a light for our community.
31:12Hey, you can go out and be
31:14whoever you want to be,
31:16and you can come back
31:18and be a blessing to your community.
31:20It's been nearly two decades
31:22since Steve's playing days ended,
31:24but he's still applying
31:26the life lessons he's learned
31:28from those leaders
31:30and from playing on the gridiron
31:32about hard work, ethics,
31:34competition, teamwork,
31:36all the different things
31:38that you actually apply
31:40into the real world.
31:45Next time on Forth and Forever,
31:48whispers of a rules violation
31:50threaten to derail
31:52Glades' central season.
31:54So all those games
31:56that player played in
31:58have to be forfeited.
32:00And just before the Muck Bowl,
32:02just for safety reasons
32:04for our kids,
32:06the game is going to start
32:08a couple hours earlier.