The Arkansas Redhawks will tee it up at 7 tonight at Dollarway High School.
Made up of more than 50 players from the area ranging in age from 20-30, the Redhawks will host the East Texas Outlaws while entertaining the resident Pine Bluff football lovers with some off-season gridiron action.
After meeting with head coach Dameian “Duke” Lambert and Martin “DJ Smurf” Scott, one of the Redhawk players, I learned that this organization is more than just about gathering for a weekend backyard football game. This is real football … with real athletes … and real pigskin power.
But these guys are more than adrenaline junkies who sacrifice their bodies at an age where most guys are playing golf or getting a line wet on the weekends, something that takes fewer tolls on the body. With revenue generated from ticket sales and sponsorship monies accrued throughout the season, the Redhawks are also giving back to the community.
In a meeting with Community Centers Director Laura Hildreth last week, Hildreth made mention of a meeting she had with Lambert earlier that day concerning some things he, Scott and the rest of the team wanted to do to help give back to area youths.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
While there, Hildreth introduced Lambert to three young gentlemen and Lambert engaged in conversation with each of them. One was the ideal athlete, decisive, confident and captured Lambert’s attention with his personality.
The second said he was a singer and, with his mother’s permission who was sitting nearby, belted out a few tunes of an Adele song, impressing Lambert enough to offer the young man the opportunity to sing the national anthem at the next home game.
That happens tonight.
The third expressed his interest in designing clothes. As a result of that conversation, Lambert asked the lad to design next year’s team logo and jersey design and submit it to the team for possible approval. The design will be special to this child regardless the outcome.
Lambert took the first step, contacting the right person to get in touch with area youths. Hildreth connected the two. Now you know the result.
That’s what happens when you ask. That’s what happens when you get involved.
I continue to meet people in this community that are either involved or want to be involved in rebuilding Pine Bluff.
The examples are out there. Positive things are happening all around.
What’s your next step?
Chan Davis is a sports writer for The Commercial. He can be reached at cdavis@pbcommercial.com.