I sit down with Coach “Big James” Portlock, a Richmond native. James is a youth basketball coach for Salesians High School. He is also part of Team Rampage, a youth basketball league based in Vallejo. I have know James for about 35 years. We both grew up in Easter Hill, a housing project on the south side of Richmond. This was the 80’s and crack was in full swing. The things we saw in the streets was not for kids to see. And a lot of us did not make it, so I try to celebrate any of us doing good after all this time.
James is a father, coach, and a car salesman, and he feels proud to be each one. His daughter is his life, his reason for living. While coaching, serves as his way of giving back. Now as a car salesman, he explains that he is not trying to sell cars. He is in truth helping friends get the best car for them at the time. That perspective is what helps him stay focused at Kia of Oakland. James has been through ups and downs in his life he owned and operated his own dealership, but as he spoke about in the podcast it wasn’t his time and he is ok with that. He says it was not a failure, he learned from the whole process. And when the time is right he will do another dealership the best way possible.
Coach “Big James” Portlock has a lot of projects and dreams he has yet to achieve. A coaching job at a major college, hopes of bringing sports to Richmond, and to help people in need of help. He is a good dude and we will be checking in with him soon to check on his progress and see if we can help in any endeavors that he is undertaking. Everybody has a story. How Do You View You?
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