Forget people from Brooklyn, New Orleans’ Ninth Ward or Chicago’s South Side. In my experience, there isn’t anyone as proud of where they come from as the Park Hill neighborhood folks in Denver.
“We like to represent where we’re from,” Tennessee Titans rookie running back LenDale White said of Park Hill natives. “That’s where we learned a lot of our life lessons. You got to be happy about where you came from.”
Saturday night, with much of his Park Hill family in attendance, White is scheduled to make his NFL debut against the Broncos in preseason action.
Park Hill is a neighborhood bordered by Colorado, East Colfax, East 52nd and Quebec. The southern part is predominantly white and well-off; the northeast predominantly black and middle class; and the north predominantly black and making well below the city’s median income.
This small patch of Denver’s framework has produced numerous pro athletes, most notably Chauncey Billups, who has been hailed “The King of Park Hill” – which the NBA all-star has as a tattoo.
There are six players in NFL training camps from Park Hill: White, Dyshod Carter, Andre Woolfolk, Cory Ross, Jovon Bouknight and C.J. Brewer. Darcey Levy is an Arena League and former NFL player. NBA journeyman Kaniel Dickens also is from Park Hill, as are several minor-league and overseas pro players – and former University of Denver basketball star Rodney Billups.
Remember Micheal Ray Richardson? This Park Hill native was a four-time NBA all-star. After he was banned from the NBA for drug use in 1986, Park Hill went from calling him a hero to saying “what if.” Sugar has been clean for years, but his scarlet letter hasn’t gone away.
Now the neighborhood watch is on White, a former Park Hill Pirates youth football star who grew up in poverty and now has a shot at NFL riches. But his road to NFL stardom has been going in the wrong direction since he left Southern California after the Rose Bowl game against Texas last season.
A hamstring injury kept him from impressing scouts before the draft. He was accused of failing a drug test, a report he denied. Projected to be drafted in the middle of the first round, he fell to 45th overall, due in part to weight he put on last winter. And he was suspended for the Titans’ preseason opener against New Orleans last Saturday for spitting in a teammate’s face at practice.
“That’s passed me,” White said. “I’ll move forward.”
So, will White be the next Chauncey or the next Micheal Ray?
He’s got the game to be the former. Not since Chauncey Billups has Park Hill produced an athlete with this much potential. During his three seasons at USC, White set the Pacific-10 Conference career record for touchdowns with 57. He rushed for 3,159 yards and helped the Trojans win two national titles. And that’s with Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush sharing the backfield.
“Kids who played for the Pirates, it’s great motivation for them to know someone who made it and that it wasn’t easy,” Billups said.
If White can reach his all-pro potential and stay away from the drama, Billups might need to make room for his cousin.
“I’m probably going to be the prince,” White said. “That’s fine with me. I’m up under (Billups), but I still have a lot to learn.”
Said Billups: “If I am the king, he has to be next in line somewhere.”
For White, it’s not going to be easy living up to the king.
The Park Hill neighborhood couldn’t have a better role model, a better ambassador, than the Detroit Pistons guard. The former George Washington High School and University of Colorado star doesn’t drink. The married father of three young girls has an annual free basketball camp for hundreds of neighborhood kids every year. He has partnered with Regis University on a summer education program. And he’s humble about his success.
“The respect I have for Chauncey, for what he’s already done for the neighborhood, he’ll be royalty forever,” said White, who has the chance to follow in those footsteps. But ultimately, it’s on him.
“If I’m willing to sacrifice, the sky is the limit,” White said. “I want to be one of the best people ever to play the game.”
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
