I was always a poor student. I was convinced i was a dumb. My parents took no interest in my school work. They were both Irish immigrants and had very little schooling themselves when they were growing up. They relied on the Catholic Schools to educate their children; I am sure there exceptions to this point., but in my case it was true. When my Junior Year came, i was sick of school. The only thing i enjoyed was playing high school sports. I excelled in basket ball and baseball.
As my senior year started, i decided to quit school and became a Longshoreman and work on New York City's West Side docks. I had an uncle who was a big shot on these docks, and he promised me a nice job. If you saw the movie "On the Waterfront" with Marlin Brando that was the kind of connection i had through my uncle.As a foot note he was murdered by a rival Irish gang. This uncle was convicted at an early age of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Through his mother's connections in the New York Democratic Party he was eventually paroled. Unfortunately, he then went back to crime as a member of the "Westies," a notorious West Side Gang. When he was released from prison, he was given a big welcoming party. Who cares if he murdered two other men during a robbery attempt? That was how things were among many first generation Irish immigrants.
Where i came from in New York, your future was either to become a fireman, policeman, sanitation worker, construction worker, or a crook:
That situation changed thanks to the G.I. Bill of Rights. This law was passed just before the end of World War II. Many of the returning veterans from my neighborhood went to college, graduated, became White Collar workers, and left the neighborhood for homes they purchased in the suburbs. The homes were purchased via the G.I. Bill No Down Payment and Low Interest Rates.
The G.I. Bill of Rights was signed by President Roosevelt and approved by Congress. Both bodies were controlled by the Democratic Party. My generations of irish were 95% Democrats. The Irish had a saying "if the Republicans ran in Jesus Christ for President and the Democrats ran a Donkey, we would vote for the Donkey."
Back to my story about quitting high school in my Seniir Year. U didn't tell my parents about my plans. They had their own problems. I wanted away from the violence in my home life. Quitting school and working as a "made man" on the docks would give me enough money to make it on my own.
I went to see the Principal- a Brothers Ambrose,whose i hated -- and told him i would not be returning for my Senior Year. I used the excuse my family could not afford the tuition because of my father's drinking. I thought that it was a great reason. I was already a problem for school authorities and i was certain they would be glad to get rid if me.
Shocker -- they gave me an Athletic Scholarship for my Senior Year. The scholarship meant free tuition and my excuse for quitting school went out the window.
Miracle,luck, or what? I will never know what my life would have been like if it weren't for that scholarship. I am happy it turned out the way it did. Who knows, i could have worked on the West Side docks and died like my uncle.
Somebody was watching out for me.
Next chapter(SPORT CAREER AT LA SALLE ACADEMY)
