Growing Up

Name: Anthony R. Coyle
D.O.B: 01/11/77
Hospital: Queen of Angels (They knew I was going to be bad)
City: Los Angeles
State: California
Zip Code: 90026
Mother: T.M.I
Father: Deadbeat

I was born to a hard working Mother who tried to give me everything that she could will so little. My farter was never around so (to me that's not an example of what suppose to be called a man) Anyway! Growing up was pretty interesting needles to say. My mother never had another child so it was only me and my shadow till I found some kids that I would later call "My Dawgs" (Cali Slang). Throwing the ball against the wall and catching it was cool as hell, beating yourself up made me that much stronger, playing 21 by yourself makes you a better shooter, etc. Back to "My Dawgs", we were like the Little Rascals just a bunch of kids that would play from the time the sun rose till the sun set. My mother always put me into some kind activity to keep me busy due to my A.D.D. (Back then there was no diagnosis for it, you can thank me). She would put in baseball every year and put me in the Boyscouts (That did not work out too well...Story to follow on that one).

My early years in school were pretty bad. I had the funkiest hair for a white guy. Clothes that did not match or were just torn to shreds. Never paid attention in class because there was always someone picking on me and that's where I found out about the rubberband nice tool. My grades were average on some occasions and below average for the most part. I really never got into the school thing. Sports, now we're talking.. My mother had in baseball and did just average at the bat but playing out field I was a maniac (except I was too fast and would always overrun the ball). I was the most competetive kid out there and there was no one and I mean no one that can beat me in any sport. In 3rd grade I picked up a basketball and since then I have not put down a basketball) That was my true love and I was truly KING on the playground. When I got to Junior High School (Which is not Middle School) is where I had a taste of competition and enjoyed every moment of it except I could not join a team because I had no transportation to get home after school. But according to my four eyes I was still the best and still couldn't be messed with. High School was up next and this is where I found out that I had skills in some sports and not all sports like before. That was a real eye opener.

The area I grew up in was very peaceful till the 90's. Gangs were just moving in like a wildfire and there was no end in sight. I saw people getting robbed, jumped, stabbed, shot, etc. (Normal gang activity) It was no longer safe to come out and hang out with "The Dawgs". Every block was a different gang that did not get along with each other due to terrority. I saw and got beat down for living in a specific block not evening being in a gang (that's just the way it was). I never wanted to join a gang for simple reasons like: Didn't want to look over my shoulder every second because someone wanted to kill me, No one really visits you when you got locked up and last but not least who would visit my grave site??? SPORTS WAS MY GANG...