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There has often been an argument on weather Nature or Nurture has the greatest influence on a person or their athletic ability. While I can’t say for certain which one it is, Nature certainly plays a big part in this debate.

My father was a great sportsman and I was always interested in hearing stories of his days as a player. He was one of a few Black people who played tennis in the 30’s. He played football and basketball and excelled at both. He achieved what was considered in these days to be an All American. These merits got him a scholarship to Virginia Union College.

After college my dad became active in community sports. Ask any man who was a youth in the late 40′s, 50′s and 60′s, played sports, lived in our town, (and many surrounding towns), and they will tell you that they knew “Mr. B.” Mr. B. called many baseball games and refereed just as many basketball games. He also helped coach the Offensive and Defensive lines in football. He started the first Negro Little League in our home town.

The Job Corp in Brevard, NC, was his last job. There he ran up a record as one of the best coaches in the system, and won the respect of hard core boys who had never had anyone to look up to. Mr. B. used sports to instill respect and confidence in these young males.

Then there was another “Mr B.” coming along. My dad had a little brother and he was just as great in sports. Football and basketball were his games. This bought him a scholarship to Morris Brown College in Atlanta, GA. When not playing sports, I loved to listen to his smooth baritone voice as we sang in the youth choir at church. The lure of living in the north drew him to Troy, New York, where he went to work at Hudson Valley Junior college. There he racked up a record to be envied. Upon retiring he had a record of 358 wins and 197 losses. His volleyball teams fared just as well with 276 wins, 153 losses, and 4 ties. In 1999 he was inducted to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

And just when you thought no other “Mr B.’s” were around, another Mr. B. came along. Yes there was one more. My brother took the field as a quarterback and played well, but his heart was lost to music. Not having the size or the desire, he ended the Bishop sports dynasty in Western Carolina.

Not to be outdone, I was in the marching band. Talking about being able to “walk and chew gum.” I must have walked many “country miles” both in practice and during our performances.If people think that being in a marching band doesn’t take athleticism, they are thoroughly mistaken!

Was this the end of sports for the Bishop family? Heck no? Way out west along comes two grand kids of the Bishop family. My daughter took up the reigns and played softball and basketball. Shaquille O’Neal eat your heart out! This girl could hit free throws like some pros could only dream of. As her mother I wondered how she could play so well not having a big brother to help her learn sports. This girl of mine also played catcher and had a arm that kept the opposing team locked on base. When she came up to bat the other team’s coaches would yell “get back, get back“, afraid Tami would knock the ball out of the park.

Her little brother could play sports but asthma kept him out of everything but bowling. When he asked me for bowling equipment, I gave in but thought it would be gathering dust in no time. Little did I know that this was a good investment. Mike went on to carry a 230 average and became the president of California Youth bowling Association for several years. While he was born a “natural righty,” he could shoot accurately with his left hand!

Back up in Troy, New York, there are two more Bishops growing up. My younger cousins are carrying on the family tradition of sports and music. Jacob, who is in the eight grade, plays football and basketball. David, his older brother, has gone the way of music. He sings in the choir and plays clarinet.

While there been many great athletes who came from parents who had no physical talent at all, having “natural talent” or “genetics” sure doesn’t hurt! So you tell me. Are these traits which are so strong in one family Nature or Nurture!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 at 12:01 pm and is filed under Sports, family. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.