Mayor Kasim Reed delivered the perfect ending to Buddy Curry’s Kids & Pros football camp at Clark Atlanta minutes ago when he persuaded Rush Hour star and Atlanta native Chris Tucker to stop by on the way to a meeting at City Hall. The kids especially loved when Chris rolled up in his gleaming black $400K Maybach.
Mayor Reed told the kids they were picking up vital traits such as character and commitment by attending camp in Atlanta’s blistering heat. The mayor graciously answered scores of questions about his security detail, favorite football players (Roger Staubach—yes, JLL'sters, he used to play football, Deion Sanders, and Tony Dorsett—all Cowboys) and salary ($147,500). “I took a big pay cut when I became mayor,” the attorney-by-trade said.
Nearly 200 campers, ages seven through 13, participated in the program this year. Kids & Pros presented its first youth football camp in 2002, launched by former Atlanta Falcons Bobby Butler and Buddy Curry to help teach “Character and Skills Through Athletics.” Along with CAU’s Department of Athletics staff and players, the camp instructors include current and retired NFL players who provide hands-on teaching of skill fundamentals, as well as position-specific training. Also, principles of character development are explored each day for the campers to understand life on and off the field.
