NEVER FORGET TO SPOIL YOUR KIDS

Beneath the Spin*Eric L. Wattree

EXCELLENCE IS THE KEY TO BLACK EQUALITY

NEVER FORGET TO SPOIL YOUR KIDS

One of the greatest joys in life is spoiling our kids. Many people consider that a bad thing, but it’s just the opposite as long as it's done properly. Spoiling our children provides them with a sense of self-esteem that will assist them throughout their journey in life. As parents, we are the ones who define our children, and we’re the ones who tell them who they are, and how important they are as individuals. If we fail do that as parents, they’ll be seeking that validation from strangers throughout their entire lives.

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When we let our children know how much they're loved it gives them a sense of self-esteem and a knowledge of their importance that will stay with them throughout their lives. It also helps you to bond as parent and child. As a result, you’ll always be a better friend to your children than the people on the street who can become a negative influence in their lives.

KAI, MOKE, AND TAY

But while lavishing your children with the knowledge of how special they are, it’s also important to teach them to have a sense of responsibility, and to respect the importance of others, because as we’re learning in the current political environment, the level of respect, or lack thereof, in which we treat others, is merely a reflection of how we view ourselves. So regardless to how much of a façade we put on, if we’re disrespectful of others, it demonstrates that we lack respect for ourselves.

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And finally, we must teach our children to be independent thinkers, to have confidence in their own ability to think, and to develop a love and a yearning for the pursuit of knowledge. If you do those things, you'll raise your children to be steppers that you'll can be proud of, and you’ll also be doing your part to contribute to the excellence of the Black community.

MILES AND TAYLOR

So spoiling our children is one of the most important things we do as a parent, and it's also, one of the great joys in life. At this point in my life, I think about my “babies” all the time, and I’d do anything to be able to relive the experience of raising them all over again. So don’t make parenting a hobby. Get into it and enjoy it while you can, because before you know it, they’ll be your peer.

DADDY’S BABY BOY
ERIC L. WATTREE, JR

"DADDY, MOMMIE SAID YOU BEAT UP THE BOGEYMAN.

DID YOU REALLY BEAT HIM UP?"
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"YEAH, TWICE. THAT'S WHY HE'S SCARED TO COME

IN OUR HOUSE."

HOWLING WINDS
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As I watched my son, dapper as they come, walk down our walkway and into manhood,

what I remember most was the howling winds. I'd seen such winds before, but never like this - my old foe was pulling up trees by the roots,

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So I watched, but I watched alone.

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As the winds raged on and the mighty palms bowed, a single leaf from our Winter-bare ficus tree

held tough against the ferocious storm. It fought valiantly against the angry gale, as though hanging tough Just to witness the changing of the guard,

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So I stood, but I stood alone.

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Like that solitary leaf, all my life I've fought the ferocious winds, and now they’ve returned, this mighty foe, poised to seize the hopes and dreams of my only son,

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So I cringed, but I cringed alone.

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Then, posterity glanced back, squared its shoulders, and beat back hopelessness as it

trudged through fields of ivy. Then it spread its wings and rode those howling winds

over yonder mountaintop,

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So I wept, but I wept with a crowd . . .

AZUSA, Calif. – In a tense, high stakes, pressure situation, where only two options exist and just one that is favorable, there is no man better the moment and no one better to protect your interests than Eric  Wattree.  And that's not just in sports but in real life too.

Wattree, the burly 6-foot-6 former college basketball standout, is cool, calm, and collected.  He always has been and probably always will be.  It's just the way he is.

Thus, when he takes the stage Oct. 26 for induction into Azusa Pacific's Athletics Hall of Fame, the former DEA agent and Air Force officer will do so with little fanfare or personal reaction.  It's the Wattree way … cool at all times.

Bill Odell, an APU Hall of Famer himself after a 16-year coaching career for the Cougars, knows firsthand how composed Wattree can be.  He handed Wattree nearly every must-come-through situation during Eric's 57-game at Azusa Pacific, and Wattree delivered repeatedly.

"Eric was one of the most respected players I ever coached," said Odell who served as a head coach for 36 years on the college and high school levels.  "He was a humble, quiet leader who led with his work ethic and personal demand for excellence."

A former standout at nearby Northview High School in Covina, Calif., Wattree played for former Odell pupil Ron Rice before transferring to Fremont High in Los Angeles.  He opened his college career at the University of Wyoming, playing two years for the Cowboys before Rice alerted Odell that Eric was returning home to Southern California.  In the summer of 1994, he transferred to Azusa Pacific. Wattree's demand for excellence led him to averaging 13.9 points and 8.6 rebounds during his two seasons at Azusa Pacific, leading the Cougars to back-to-back Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) championships and a pair of NAIA Tournament appearances.  As a 1996 senior, he averaged 15.4 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting at an impressive .634 (201-for-317) clip from the floor.  Justifiably, he was named the GSAC Player of the Year.

The Cougars entered the final week of Wattree's 1996 senior season with just a one-game lead in the GSAC race over rival Westmont College.  Wins were a must for Azusa Pacific, and adding to the tension of the situation was the fact that the Cougars opened that final week with a visit to Westmont in Santa Barbara.  The Warriors needed the win to pull even with APU with one game left.  The Cougars, on the other hand, needed the victory to put away the pesky Warriors and collect yet another conference title. 

In a raucous Murchison Gym, with the score tied at 64-64 and less than 30 seconds to play and the ball in the hands of the Cougars, Odell called a timeout, and designed a play to go to Tim Sebek for the final shot.  However, the Warriors smothered Sebek, and his attempt at a game-winning shot was off the mark, wide right.  Wattree saw the trajectory of the shot and realizing it was not going in, charged the hoop, jumped up, gathered the air ball, and laid it back in for the game winner with just 2 seconds to play.

"A Westmont player turned to me and said 'you think the game is over?' Wattree recalled, "and I answered, 'it's definitely over!'"

Protecting teammates in 1996 was just the beginning of a career of security.  Following graduation from Azusa Pacific in May of that year, Wattree entered the Air Force where he served for ten years, most notably as a certified Phoenix Raven Anti-Terrorism Specialist.  He was tasked with ensuring the safety of government officials and high-ranking military personnel while providing support on highly classified special operation missions in Afghanistan and other places throughout the world.

While still with the Air Force, he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration out of the Seattle area, working on complex conspiracy and international investigations.  He stayed with the DEA for 15 years until last year, when he accepted a new position as senior investigator and security specialist with the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

"I am so proud of Eric and how he has served our country with honor and protected some of our most important people." Said Odell.  "He has been in some extremely dangerous situations, and just as he had proven to us on the basketball court, he was trustworthy in all situations.  Simply put, he is unflappable."

Wattree's Cougar career will be enshrined forever at Azusa Pacific when he joins nine other former Cougar athletes for induction into the Azusa Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m. in the Felix Event Center  

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23 April 2002

MEMORANDUM FOR OFFICER TRAINING SCHOOL SELECTION COMMITTEE

FROM: 92 SFS/SFO
2 E. ARNOLD STREET
FAIRCHILD AFB, WA 99011

SUBJECT: Recommendation for Staff Sergeant Eric L. Wattree

1. I wholeheartedly concur with Staff Sergeant Wattree’s request to attend Officer Training School. He represents the enlisted ranks with the highest standard and will bring that dedication and professionalism to the officer corps.

2. Eric continues to lead a stellar military career; his enlisted performance reports speak for themselves. His leadership and experience, especially in contingency environments, remains a vital asset to our unit and wing. As one of my primary Phoenix Raven team leaders, he’s propelled to the forefront of all major deployments throughout the world. He’s repeatedly secured aircraft and crews, supporting a wide variety of missions, in the most austere and terrorist-ridden environments where security is severely inadequate. The diversity of these missions never limited SSgt Wattree’s capacity to adapt to each situation. For this reason, Eric was selected as our 2000 Outstanding Phoenix Raven Member of the Year and the 2001 Air Force Reserve Component Airman of the Year for the 92d Security Forces Squadron.

3. Whether operating under peacetime or contingency operations, Eric easily assumes control and tackles every situation with meticulous tenacity, a quality highly desired in our Air Force officers. Requested by name, Sergeant Wattree, provided security for presidential Banner missions throughout Greece, Peru and Viet Nam. While deployed to Afghanistan, he flew numerous combat missions in our nation’s pursuit to eradicate terrorism through Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Additionally, he provided round-the-clock force protection for aircraft in other high-threat environments including Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Oman.

4. Sergeant Wattree motivated his personnel during the worst conditions and raised the level of esprit de corps to integrate personnel from other Air Force specialties into a cohesive team. His leadership, integrity and devotion to our Air Force play an integral part in our future leadership. Eric has what it takes to become a commissioned officer and earns my full support to attend Officer Training School.

FRANK HELLSTERN, JR., Captain, USAF
Operations Officer

AND THE BEAT GOES ON WITH YOUR SONS

ELIJAH WATTREE

SAILOR OF THE QUARTER

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

ERIC L. WATTREE III

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I recently graduated from Oklahoma City University with a BBA - Economics (Minor in Marketing).

While at OCU I obtained many certifications, an example being the Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) Certification. I've also been a member of the Investment Club where we managed a portfolio of actual securities initially worth $100,000 - profits going towards OCU scholarships. Throughout my 4 years, my ability to establish and maintain relationships has been my biggest asset. Being able to think critically, analyze data and relay information effectively have been critical to my success.

I also had the pleasure of being a 4-year student-athlete, spending two years as Team Captain. As a captain, the importance of taking necessary sacrifices for overall team success as well as effective time management as it relates to workload efficiencies are vital. I served 4 years as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in which we created a vehicle for student-athlete representation, organized community service efforts and promoted a positive student-athlete image on campus. I was selected on numerous occasions to speak publicly at various high schools, as well as at OCU's Sports Spectacular, the end-of-year sports banquet.

I love to learn, build relationships and WIN!

Eric L. Wattree III

THE QUEEN

YOU'VE DONE WELL, BABY BOY.

YOU, KAI, AND MY GRANDBABIES HAVE BROUGHT THIS 

OLE HOOD RAT GREAT PRIDE

Eric L. Wattree, Sr.

Http://wattree.blogspot.com

Ewattree@Gmail.com
BLACK WRITERS, INTELLECTUALS, AND INDEPENDENT THINKERS
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Religion: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does. 

 

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About the Value and Excellence of Jazz

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

About the Value and Excellence of Jazz 

The tendency to believe that people with lighter skin have more value than others is a direct result of the mis-education of the masses. From the time we start school we’re taught that anyone who has ever achieved anything whatsoever, or had a cogent thought that benefitted humanity or contributed to the intellectual journey of mankind was White - Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc. Certainly someone had to be thinking in other parts of the world other than White folks, but according to our educational institutions, that wasn’t the case. That fact has contributed greatly to White feelings of superiority, and the acceptance of same by many Black people, and the people of other cultures.
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I stumbled upon that fact by accident, but the reason I know it is true with near certainty, is because when I was a very young child, I was falling victim to the very same mind-set, but fortunately, my father was a jazz fanatic, and he introduced me to jazz and the jazz culture before I was ten years old. As a result, all of my heroes were jazz artists, and I measured the relative value of people by how well the music of their various cultures stood up to the musical intellect and style of Charlie Parker. Since I have yet to find any culture that has, that gave me a strong sense of cultural value and pride.
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That’s why it’s so important to raise our kids with a strong sense of cultural pride. As a direct result of my lifelong attitude in that regard, I’ve never felt the least bit self-conscious about competing with my White counterparts on an eyeball-to-eyeball basis, and I’ve always prevailed. And there’s a very simple reason for that as well - because you are what you think.
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There’s actually no difference between people, but the ones who tend to prevail are those who BELIEVE they are superior. That accounts for why so many White people call me arrogant (at least those who are out of touch) - because I tend not to know “my place.” But the fact is, I know my place very well - on top - not because I was anointed by God to be on top because I'm a Black man - anyone who thinks like that is a fool - but because I work very hard to be the best as an individual. Life is not about WHAT you are, but WHO you are; your character, your knowledge, and your willingness to pursue and nurture both.

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Thus, I never try to prove myself to White folks. I make sure they have to prove themselves to me, and the same goes for everyone else. Don't merely bring me your receipt from Harvard and expect me to accept you as an intellectual: "Congratulations on your accomplishment. Now show me what you got. Can you play 'Parker's Mood' or have a scheme to cure cancer? Okay, well at least play 'Misty' for me."
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Is that arrogant?  Maybe, but it works for me. 
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A Swingin' Affair
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I
Was told as a child
Blacks had no worth,
Not a nickel’s worth of dimes.
I believed that myth
‘Til Dex rode in
With his ax
In double time.
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His
Horn was soarin’,
The changes flyin’,
His rhythm right on time;
My heart
Beat with the pleasure
Of new found pride, knowing,
His blood
Flowed through mine.
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Dex
Took the chords
The keyboard played,
And danced around each note;
Then shuffled ‘em
Like a deck of cards,
And didn’t miss a stroke.
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B minor 7 with flatted 5th,
A half diminished chord,
He substituted a lick in D,
Then really began to soar.
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He tipped his hat
To Charlie Parker,
And quoted
Trane with Miles,

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And then paid his homage to
Thelonious Monk,
In Charlie Rouse's style.
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He took
A Scrapple From The Apple,
Then went to Billie’s Bounce,
The rhythm section, now on fire,
But he didn’t budge an ounce.
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He just
Dug right in
To shuffle again,
This time
A Royal Flush,
Then lingered a bit
Behind the beat,
Still smokin’
But in no rush.
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Then he
Doubled the time
Just like this rhyme,
In fluid 16th notes,
tellin’
Charlie and Lester,"your baby boy, Dexter’s,
On top of the
Bebop you wrote.
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Wailin’
Like a banshee,
This prince of saxophone,
His ballads dripped of honey,
His Arpeggios were strong.
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Callin’ on his idles,
Ghost of Pres’
Within in the isles,
Smiling at his protege,
At the peak of this new style.
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His tenor
Drenched of Blackness,
And all the things we are--
Of pain, and pleasure,
And creative greatness
Until his final bar.
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 Why I Love Being Black
http://wattree.blogspot.com/2013/01/why-i-love-being-black.html

 
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Eric L. Wattree
Http://wattree.blogspot.com
Ewattree@Gmail.com

Citizens Against Reckless Middle-Class Abuse (CARMA)

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Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.

 

 

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Dr. Richard Allen Williams: Miles Ahead

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

Dr. Richard Allen Williams: Miles Ahead

Anyone who's a regular reader of this column know that I'm an aggressive advocate of redefining the skewed cultural mores of the Black community. We've allowed ourselves to be inaccurately defined by the corporate media as a people who are shallow, frivolous, anti-intellectual, and whose only interest is in strutting around like peacocks as we denigrate the very womb of our culture.

This inaccurate cultural profile not only has a negative impact on every Black person under evaluation for any kind of upward mobility, but it also sends the message to Black youth that they have a cultural obligation to be idiots, and that the pursuit of knowledge is "un-Black," thus, not cool.

The media also sends the message to Black youth that their cultural niche in society is limited to becoming either an athlete or an entertainer. While it is true that Black people tend to excel in those areas, that's only because for much of our African American history those were the only areas in which we were allowed to participate. The fact is, however, and as any cognitive researcher can attest, creativity is one of the primary indicators of overall intelligence. Thus, the very same creativity that goes into the making of a Charlie Parker, Ray Charles, or an Aretha Franklin, can easily be transferred to medical research, physics, or cosmology.

In that regard, I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Richard Allen Williams. Dr. Williams was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. Upon graduating from Howard High School at the top of his class with a 4.0 grade-point average, he was awarded a full scholarship to Harvard University, from which he also graduated with honors, and as the first African American student at Harvard from the state of Delaware.

Dr. Williams received his M.D. degree from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, and performed his internship at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. He did his residency in internal medicine at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, and his cardiology fellowship at UCLA Medical Center, and Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Mass.

He was an instructor in Cardiology at Harvard Medical School, where he founded and directed the Central Recruitment Council of Boston Hospitals, which recruited significant numbers of Black medical trainees to Boston hospitals for the first time in their history. He then served for three years as the initial Assistant Medical Director at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital in Watts, California. In that capacity he was charged with the responsibility of opening the hospital. During his tenure he and Dr. David Satcher collaborated on writing a grant proposal which resulted in a $2.5 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health to establish the King-Drew Sickle Cell Center, of which he became the Director.

Following that appointment, he accepted the position of Chief of the Heart Station and Coronary Care Unit at the West Los Angeles VA Hospital, eventually becoming head of Cardiology. He was also the first Black full Professor in the history of the Department of Medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine - and his resume continues for an additional three pages of increasingly impressive accomplishments from there.

But we shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that Dr. Williams remains cocooned in an ivory tower. He's also a professional musician and leader of the jazz group Raw Sugar. Rich is a formidable trumpet player who can hang with the best in the business - and he has. He was not only Miles Davis' physician, but he was mentored on trumpet by the late, and illustrious, Clifford Brown. The doctor has played all over the world with jazz greats such as Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Lou Donaldson, Herman Riley, Hubert Laws, and many others. He has also appeared at the world renowned Birdland, New York City's cultural monument dedicated to the incomparable Charles "Yardbird" Parker.

So you see, President Obama is not the anomaly that many would have us believe. The Black community is literally brimming over with creative brilliance, and we're being unforgivably remiss in not making that fact clear to both, our young people, and the world.
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Eric L. Wattree
wattree.blogspot.com
Ewattree@Gmail.com

Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.

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