{"id":10800,"date":"2022-06-06T15:50:12","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T19:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/?p=10800"},"modified":"2022-06-06T15:55:19","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T19:55:19","slug":"former-titan-legend-cherishes-giving-back-to-detroit-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/2022\/06\/06\/former-titan-legend-cherishes-giving-back-to-detroit-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Titan legend cherishes giving back to Detroit youth"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"EarlEarl Cureton \u201911 has spent his adult life alongside some of the greatest basketball players in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Detroit Mercy Titans Hall of Famer played 12 years in the NBA, sharing a court with Michael Jordan and a number of legends while winning a pair of championships. When his playing career ended, Cureton coached at various professional levels, including in the WNBA, for several years.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At an age when many people are beginning to slow down, Cureton, 64, is finding new purpose in giving back to people and communities in Detroit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2013, Cureton has worked for the Detroit Pistons as a community ambassador to raise awareness for the franchise\u2019s community outreach programs. His involvement includes neighborhood basketball court renovations, community events and Pistons governor Tom Gores\u2019 Toys for Tots drive.<\/span><\/p>\n

The role allows Cureton, who calls Titans men\u2019s basketball games as a color analyst, to connect with youth in Detroit. It\u2019s something he cherishes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Earl\u201cSometimes, you can make a difference in people\u2019s lives just by sitting down, talking to them and explaining things,\u201d he said. \u201cI like being out in the community and working with the kids.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cureton relates to the children he meets as a native Detroiter who was once in their shoes. He grew up playing basketball in the city, prepped at the former Finney High School and played collegiately at Robert Morris University and University of Detroit.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In two seasons with the Titans, Cureton helped the team win 36 games and earn a spot in the 1979 NCAA Tournament. More than 30 years after his collegiate playing career ended, he returned to the University to earn his degree, fulfilling a promise to his mother.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids are always impressed to hear the stories about me playing with Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, Isiah Thomas and all these guys,\u201d Cureton said. \u201cThrough these conversations, we start talking and they tell me about themselves and what they want to do. I just give them advice that they need to know, try to encourage them and let them know that they can do anything they want to do if they believe in themselves.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Growing up, Cureton spent his summer days at various recreational centers or the historic St. Cecilia\u2019s gym on Detroit\u2019s west side. The gym, now part of St. Charles Lwanga Parish, was a safe haven for Detroit youth starting in the late 1960s and became a proving ground for budding basketball players. Cureton said that playing at the gym helped him earn a scholarship to play collegiate basketball.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSt. Cecilia was like the mecca for every basketball player in Detroit and outside of Detroit,\u201d Cureton said. \u201cIt was so impactful.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cureton has countless stories about St. Cecilia\u2019s gym and the legendary players who stepped foot on its court. But more importantly, he experienced firsthand the recreational center\u2019s positive impact on youth during Detroit\u2019s racial strife.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo many people had opportunities to do something with their lives just by being in the gym. It kept kids off the street. We had race riots in Detroit in 1967; the gym opened up after that. That place was a melting pot. When you went into St. Cecilia, you saw every nationality together, playing basketball, talking, getting along and having a great time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt kept us off the street, kept us out of trouble and we learned so much from just being around each other and great mentors.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, the Pistons announced a partnership with Ceciliaville, a nonprofit on Detroit\u2019s west side created with the help of the Archdiocese of Detroit and St. Charles Lwanga, to revitalize the gym and establish a community center near the parish.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"EarlCureton, who is on Ceciliaville\u2019s board of directors along with another Detroit Mercy alumnus, Isaiah McKinnon \u201975, \u201978, knows the past cannot be recreated, but is hopeful of the project.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMake it a place where kids can come and not only get into sports but get a whole lot of other things out of it, too,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen you create an environment like that, you create an environment where they can have great mentors. I think of all the things I learned from the people at the recreation center. I was around good people; they gave me advice.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Cureton\u2019s advice isn\u2019t limited to youth. As a coach, he took players under his wing as they tried to make it to the NBA. He also enjoys speaking to Detroit Mercy students, most recently visiting Fr. Patrick Kelly, S.J.\u2019s courses this academic year.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a guest speaker, Cureton shares his story about longevity in basketball, playing the sport professionally on three continents and working hard to achieve dreams.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI try to encourage them to let them know whatever their dreams are, you\u2019ve got to stay focused on what that dream is,\u201d Cureton said. I also let them know the importance of education. I\u2019m always honest about that; I didn\u2019t pay a whole lot of attention to that, but at the end of the day, I had to come back and get my degree. That\u2019s going to last you a lifetime.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wisdom from Dick Vitale<\/span><\/h4>\n

While at University of Detroit, Cureton\u2019s basketball dreams crossed paths with then-Titans coach Dick Vitale, who later became a broadcasting legend known for his charity work. Although he never had the chance to play for Vitale\u2014who left the University to coach the Pistons in 1978\u2014Cureton still carries the lessons he learned to this day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I learned from Dick was invaluable. He taught me so much in a short period of time. He talked to us about life,\u201d Cureton said. \u201cDick would always talk to us before practice, 35-40 minutes, about the importance of life. Basketball was one thing, but he talked about the importance of getting your education, getting ready for the next level and how to conduct yourself. It was always so impactful.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s raised millions for cancer. He would always tell you, \u2018Use the basketball, don\u2019t let the basketball use you. This ball will take you around the world.\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Earl Cureton \u201911 has spent his adult life alongside some of the greatest basketball players in the world. The Detroit Mercy Titans Hall of Famer …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":179,"featured_media":10568,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[6,4404],"tags":[362,29,47,2342,4897,4966,5104],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2022\/04\/earl_cureton_class_full.jpg?fit=1900%2C980&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbwnTV-2Oc","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10800"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/179"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10800"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10803,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10800\/revisions\/10803"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}