An Open Letter to Michael Bailey
The Light with Raymond Tyler
Writer’s Note: For decades, Michael Bailey has made his mark in Atlantic City as a musician, an artist and as an athlete. He served as the Atlantic City recreation director, spent decades working with the Atlantic City Police Athletic League and has been a mentor to countless young people. I am sure he would put “man of God” first on the list. I am sharing this letter to let Michael know how much I love and respect him. For my Shore Local/Light readers, I hope you are inspired and understand I would not be here without his influence.
Dear Michael Bailey, I want to open this letter with a simple word: “Thanks.”
I am reminded of the story of Jesus healing 10 men and only one coming back to say thanks. I think of this because this letter of thanks is long overdue.
The very first article I wrote about my hometown was about our mentor, “Mr. Scope.” The late Sgt. Lloyd “Scope” Ward started the Police Athletic League in Atlantic City, serving as its director from 1972 until 1992.
Being that you were already training to do what Mr. Scope did when I arrived at the Police Athletic League, it should not have taken me this long to write this.
Michael, I thank you for being the big brother I never had.
I was blessed. I never got into any trouble that I could not take to my parents, but when I was a teen, I truly felt that I could talk to you about anything. I felt that you were young enough to understand and smart enough to set me in the right direction.
You were then and are still an example to me of the athlete who can be an artist.
Your basketball game was and remains so great. I was amazed watching you play. Then when I had to guard you, you were a total headache, even though I am taller and outweigh you.
I still wake up from some summer naps seeing Mike Bailey jump shots.
You made my overall game better.
Playing against you in team settings and one-on-one helped me figure out how to defend smaller skilled players (although I have met very few with your skill set) and how to defend and score on players bigger than myself.
From playing against you, I learned to play the game by seeing three or four plays ahead and making my opponent commit to the play and position on the floor that I want him to.
The only time I beat you one-on-one was the last time I played you one-on-one. That’s ’cause I am smart enough to quit with a win. (I believe you may have let me win, but I played so hard and gave so much that I’d like to think I really won that game.)
The two things I remember most from that game are: One; I made you work to get jump shots from terrible positions on the court (and I still almost lost) and, Two; You were the first person to tell me not to challenge my cousin Avery Jordan in basketball. (That was great advice).
I was amazed when I found out you were an even better football player than you are a basketball player.
But this is about more than sports.
The real reason for this letter is because as dedicated as you were as an athlete, you give more and are still giving more to the world of art through your music. When I was younger my mother wanted me to take piano and I argued that I didn’t want to be “soft.”
You must know that not learning piano is the closest thing I have to a regret.
Here’s the beautiful part, Michael. Your love for music and your musical skill still inspire and encourage me in my love for the arts overall.
I have never met Jim Brown. But in a way I feel like I have, because like Jim Brown, you have made your mark in football (as a player and a coach) and in music and acting. You’ve shown that Black men can enjoy sports, but we can also enjoy the rest of what life has to offer. You still show young people that Black culture does not end at the end of the fourth quarter.
Michael Bailey, thank you for the mentorship and friendship that I still call upon both on the court and in the classroom and the rest of my life.
You can connect with Raymond Tyler via Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram @RaymondTyler2018.
