Len Bias: 20 Years Later

I can remember the day as if it just happened.

Everyone in school was crying. Although many of us didn't know Len Bias personally, he still felt like family.

My high school had the future Prince Georges County all-time leading scorer on the team, but Northwestern had THE M-A-N. Our star player was one of the best players I have seen but LEN was THE BEST.

Len Bias's death was difficult because he was the closest thing Prince Georges County had to a sports legend. He was the one everyone in school was going to brag about for years to come. We had already planned on asking our parents to buy us tickets for the Washington Bullets (now Wizards) vs. Boston Celtics game so we could see Len play. Unfortunately, our hopes and dreams never transpired. During the mid 80's, our community had not yet become numb to death. Cocaine had not become the PUBLIC drug. But after Len's death, we all started noticing this drug. Area drug dealers even started calling cocaine, "the Bias." Whenever we heard that (as teenagers) it was our warning to STAY AWAY.

Today's newspapers and local newscast debated whether Len Bias's death helped create a change in our community. I heard many former college and professional athletes (Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Alonzo Mourning, etc.) say how much it affected their lives (kept them away from drugs), but I'm not really sure that it really impacted our local community (DC/MD/VA). According to the Washington Post, the Maryland Terrapins basketball team STILL has a horrible graduation rate since Len Bias's death. The drug trade has gotten worse. Crime (especially killings and robberies) has seen a steady increase each year. And the local schools (and youth's attitudes) are getting worse.

Have we done a good job as a community of preventing another tragic lose? I'm not sure.

Len Bias: 10 Years After Len Bias: 20 Years After

Len Bias AKA "Prince Georges Maryland Best Basketball Player Ever"

Written by COWBOY4EVER