Gangsta Cricket (Cricket in the US)

(EX-)GANGSTA CRICKET

(By The Third Umpire)

We meet the man turning ex-gangsters onto cricket in south Central Los Angeles. Seriously!

When NWA came searing out of the downtown Los Angeles ghetto in the early 90s, they talked about the violence, poverty and hatred affecting the streets of Compton that they had grown up on.

If Ted Hayes has his way, the Ice Cubes of the future will be trying to think of something that rhymes with googly.

Decked out in shades, a turned-up sunhat, and dreadlocks on a balmy Saturday afternoon in the San Fernando Valley north of Hollywood, the lanky 54-year-old is busy geeing his Compton Homies cricket team into action. The opposition is the Springbok Colonials - old enemies.

"We teach people that the wicket is your heart," he says, before screaming at his batsmen to run after a fine shot over mid-on. "It's your mother, your father, your family. You've got to stand up for it, protect it."

A pioneering social campaigner and homeless activist in south central LA, Hayes is now the unlikely champion and greatest hope for America's cricketing future.

Hayes is on a crusade that began back in 1995 thanks to his English business partner Katy Haber, a former film producer who had been involved in movies including Straw Dogs and Blade Runner.

"Katy was asked by the Bafta team whether there was anyone available to play one Saturday," Hayes remembers. "Of course, at the time, cricket wasn't a part of my vocabulary. But when I arrived, everyone started swarming around me, asking whether I batted or bowled. I thought it was because they knew me as a homeless activist, but I didn't realise that because of my dreads, they thought I was a West Indian player who had come in for the day." He laughs: "I finally convinced them I had never played the game."

But the match sowed a seed in his mind - and soon, Hayes was convinced that cricket was the way to get through to the troubled youth of his community.

"Cricket is a civilised sport," he reasons. "Because you are out there playing an intense competitive game, but you have to play with gentlemanliness, I thought that you could translate that into your everyday life - family, employment, school, your homies on the street."

And so Compton Cricket Club was born. It began as a team of homeless Latinos called the Popz and soon transformed into taking young people involved or about to be involved in gangs and violence and turning them into cricketers. In turn, it was hoped that with something positive to focus on, they would be enticed away from a criminal lifestyle.

There have been ups and downs along the way. Former West Indian pro Leo Magnus helped coach the team and backers (including Prince Edward) have enabled them to tour the UK.

But in their hometown, the ex-pat community were resistant ("they felt threatened", he says), forcing Hayes to create his own Los Angeles Social Cricket Alliance, a friendly league made up of a few teams.

The idea has worked. And no-one is more of a poster boy for the programme than Ted's 33-year-old son Theo.

Warm and friendly, but with a steeliness behind his eyes, Theo recalls his dangerous youth. "I've seen people shot, stabbed, I got exposed to gang activity, I've seen jail," he says. "Finally, when I was around 18, my Mom called my Dad and said he had to come and pick me up. A week before that I was planning a huge robbery, but my friends chickened out. I was very fortunate."

Now he is president of the club, and one of its stars. "Life is like cricket," he suggests. "It's too easy to misplay that one ball. In cricket, you have another chance. In life, you play the wrong shot and you die."

Still, he finds it hard to hold down a proper job due to his record, and is relying on cricket for his future. "Right now," he admits, "this sport is the best opportunity to pull myself out of the hole that I'm in."

"Nice shot Ty. Were so proud of you, we don't know what to do with you!". Hayes's voice rings out over Irwin Park, as Tyler Logan slogs a long hop over midwicket. Chasing just 112, the Compton team have already enjoyed a stellar day in the field, after dismissing
the Springboks.

The Compton team's ill-matching outfits and tired equipment mask a genuine seed of talent, particularly evident when they are fielding. Opening bowler Patrick generates some real pace, and Jonty Rhodes would be proud of some of the team's stops in the field. The game itself is played with a glorious sense of joie de vivre, endless cries of congratulation, even good-natured sledging. As the Springbok batsmen plod towards the stumps, they are greeted with a cry of "Clap them in!" (applause), quickly followed by "Clap them out!" before they ask for their guard.

After the turnaround, with "tea" sizzling on the barbecue, a sanguine Ricardo Salgado sits padded up with his family, a world away from the five years he spent in prison for his involvement in a drive-by shooting. When he finally reaches the crease, a professional stance and straight bat points him out as one of the most naturally gifted players in the team.

Elsewhere, fellow elder statesman, 25-year-old Sergio Pinales, quietly raises his hand as the umpire signals a wide and writes it down in the scorebook.

"Sergio here was a straight-up gangbanger," says Hayes. "His own homies were scared of him. One day, he showed up at practice with a pitbull on a chain. So I threw a ball at him and he caught it. He tied up the dog, came back and said, Let's play some cricket. And as he started playing the sport, his whole demeanour changed now he's a teddy bear!"

"People always thought I was pretty intimidating," Pinales admits, "so I just rolled with it, you know?" Ten years later, he recognises he is a changed man. "I love this game," he smiles. "You don't want to get on the field and get mad and have everyone say you're not a
gentleman. I want to stay, learn, be quiet. If I do that, Ill be a better player."

To prove his success, Hayes has now lost most of his original team to work and family, a cycle he would be happy to continue. He is also looking beyond a small park in north Los Angeles.

"We are developing our own national cricket league," he reveals. " We want to professionalise the team. We want our own cricket television show. And we are negotiating with the city of Compton to build a stadium, where we would play all year round.

"We hope to resuscitate the spirit of cricket. In our league, no player will get a higher salary than the managers or the coaches. If you think because you are making two or three million dollars you can push people around, you are out of here! Cricket will be played right in America, or not at all."

Despite the obstacles, you feel that this team could achieve anything they put their minds to. For the time being, though, their access to the international game is as spectators. They follow the international game and have highlights on tape. Brian Lara and Shane Warne are particular favourites.

"I remember when I met Viv Richards," recalls Theo. "I said to him that I was a new American cricketer going out to bat the next day and asked him what I should do. He tells me just to go out and bat. For a while I thought he was a jerk, but I went out the next day and scored 57. Now, as a coach to these guys, thats what I tell them - just go out and play your game. And you know what? Viv Richards knows what he's talking about!"

It's 78-9 and the game could still go either way. Ted is at the crease and hits a glorious six into the trees. As the crowd roars, he gets so excited that he steps back onto his wicket. Apparently this is not the first time that has happened, but despite the loss, the defeated batsman and his team are upbeat after a fun day's play. "We're playing for the young people," he says. "It doesn't matter whether you win or lose."

As the match wraps up, on the edge of the field three young boys - no more than six years old play bowler, batsman and wicketkeeper. Elijah hurls a ball, which Michael strikes for a glorious cover drive. As Jayden runs to retrieve it, Elijah goes back to the beginning of his run-up, anxious for another try. After all, if you are going to be America's first Test fast bowler, you need to practise...

Story by Ben Falk.

Thoughts? obo@stickcricket.com

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