I bumped into a few people from HS the other day. They said that I had changed and look completely different than when I was in HS and almost didn’t recognize me.

They were right, I had changed.  But I never told anyone why I was the way I was in HS. 

I guess you can say I was somewhat pathetic but looking back it was the only thing I could do to survive, given the circumstance I was in.

I rolled with the thugs for most of my HS years.  I had to, I had no choice.  I played on the school basketball team.  I loved it so much I was willing to play with a bunch of guys who did and sold drugs. 

I didn’t want them there, but what choice did I have. I had to hang out with them before games, had to dress like them and had to pretend to be them.

No one understood. My teachers couldn’t figure out why I dressed that way, when I was getting straight A’s.  My real friends didn’t understand why I dressed like I was ready to rob a store.  As much as I hated dressing that way, I had to. 

You see I always grew up in the roughest, dangerous neighborhoods.  My parents couldn’t afford the glitzy apartments or to live in a neighborhood away from the constant violence and drugs. 

Just a few years before that we were homeless after our building burned down.  We had no choice but to live in a dangerous neighborhood.

Everyday, walking home was an adventure but I was left alone because of the people I knew, my family was left alone because of who I rolled with in school.  

It was tough spending the last three years of HS this way because inside I was just a quiet kid, who just wanted to play basketball, get good grades, make the parents proud, spend time with his friends, and girlfriend.  But outside was another story. 

Everyday after games, I had to make up stories so they wouldn’t ask me hang out with them.  Everyday when they talked about all the groupies, I stayed shut, put my headphones on and went about my business.  I guess I was somewhat lucky, they never asked me to do anything crazy. 

Looking back I was glad I was able to finally leave the hood and go away to college.  It was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. 

Now I’m back living in the same neighborhood.  It’s not what it used to be. It has changed a lot over the last year few years and I’m really glad.  Hopefully my younger siblings have to never endure what I had to through in HS.  It was probably one of the most confusing times for me.  I’m glad I came out of it alive and unscathed.

How much have you changed since your days of HS or JHS?  Endure any hardships? Did it make you stronger? How?

MANCOUCH is finally here... Chris' dream has come true.  Come support Mancouch on this glorious of days.   If you're wondering what MANCOUCH is, find out here.

If you have any funny posts you think is Mancouch material, let us know.

This is a video I found on a sports blog.  I thought it was great since Jordan is my favorite player in the history of the game, while Kobe Bryant is my favorite player right now.   I really like the parallel between "The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford" and the lines from the movie describing the Jesse James & Robert Ford, but the ball players too. 




Do you think Kobe Bryant can ever live up to Michael Jordan's legacy? Is he the next closest player to the great Michael Jordan?

This is one of the funniest lines I read from a commenter on ESPN about Stephen Marbury's antics as a Knick.

"Marbury and Plaxico have both gone crazy. Is there something in the water in NY that drive the athletes insane? Lebron might want to think again before relocating here"

Marbury and Plax are both nuts.  These two are examples of what's wrong with today's athletic society.  Don't you agree?

I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Be thankful for everything you have, considering many have lost jobs and are at a very low point in their lives and careers.  Try not to eat too much turkey, you know for health sake (lol).  Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend.  This will be the first time I'll be home for the entire weekend (no more college, YAYYYYY). Eat, Turkey, Watch Football and Sleeppp.  Oh yeah and watch Wall-E on Blu Ray!!

What are you doing besides eating this Thanksgiving?