Our History

 

A Legacy Born from Determination

 

The West Side Cubs youth organization was born from a conversation in 1957, between four men who were watching unsupervised play among boys at a city park. The four men were frustrated with the civic laxity among most members of the community regarding opportunities for black kids to participate in organized football in the City of Detroit. The four men decided to develop a program that would give kids in their community a football program that would offer training, structure, and most importantly, an outlet and alternative to the city streets. Their enthusiasm to pursue this dream grew, and their passion to spread to several other men in the community. Through their hard work, fundraising and dedication. The Cubs fielded their first 13-15 age football team in the Fall of 1958. The players changed into their uniforms in the garages of neighbors and held their first few Athletic Banquets in the homes of coaches. First Banquet was sponsored by the late Oliver Dean. The Cubs were the only team who had black players in the Detroit Junior Football League at that time. Our kids had to grin and bear racial epithets as well as unfair treatment from referees in a stoical manner.

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From our meager start we have evolved into one of the most productive and successful youth organizations in America. Since our pensive inception in 1957, we have taught well over 30,000 young people in violence prevention, substance use deterrence, High School and College Preparation. Despite the violence and chaos surrounding the Detroit Area and for those who come from disadvantaged homes where violence, poverty, abuse, and chaotic milieus are the norm, our playing field is sacred ground and a ray of hope for all who play for the Cubs.

Over the years, the West Side Cubs’ Football and Cheerleading Programs have won a multitude of championships on the local, regional, and national levels. We attribute our success to great kids and tremendous leadership from individuals who have been pillars in our community.

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We are so proud of all the young men and women who are currently enrolled in colleges and universities across the country. The thousands of young people who have already graduated and become respectful and responsible members of the community. The number of volunteers who played for the Cubs and returned to coach and mentor our young people with love, exposure, God fearing, guidance, and structure.  The Cubs’ Mantra is “God, Books, and Ball” (GBB). We believe that if you put God first, commit to your Books and “Ball Out” on the field, the rest will take care of itself.

 

 

More Than Football

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Many of our alumni have become CEOs, business owners, leaders in professional arenas and most importantly: productive citizens in a challenging world. Reginald Turner, President of the American Bar Association; Legendary Civil Rights Attorney, Godfrey Dillard; International Sportscaster and Analyst, Gus Johnson; Bank of America Vice President, Reginald “Bobo” Hinton; Retired Vice President for Boeing Corp, Bo Osborne, Award wining Journalist, Leland Stein; Michigan Youth Sports Hall of Fame, Business Owner and educator, William Tandy; Entrepreneur Extraordinaire, Michael Evans; Wayne County Sheriff, Raphael Washington; Dr. Thomas Flake MD; Dr. David Harris DPT; International Entertainer/Singer, Jennifer Reeves; CEO and President Grind House Boxing, Charlotte Adams-Price, to name a few and there are many more.

 

Then There is Professional Sports

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The Cubs have also scored well in professional sports. Currently, we have several players on NFL rosters such as Josh Ross of the Baltimore Ravens; Eyioma Uwazurike of the Denver Broncos; Khalid Kareem of the San Franciso 49ers; Tavierre Thomas and Desmond King of the Houston Texans; Jourdan Lewis of the Jacksonville Jaguars; and Larry Foote, a two time Super Bowl Champion as a player and a one time Super Bowl Champion as a defensive coach with the Tampa Bay Bucs.

 

Our former NFL Players include Dion Sims (Miami Dolphins), Nick Perry (Green Bay Packers), Devin Funchess (Carolina Panthers), Braylon Edwards and Edwin Baker (Clevland Browns), Ron Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers), Mel Owens (LA Rams), Michael Westbrook (Washington Redskins), Glenn Doughty (Philadelphia Eagles), Marion Barber Jr. (Dallas Cowboys), Desmond King (Baltimore Ravens), and Troy Kyles and Ron Johnson (NY Giants).

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Our former MLB Players under the leadership of legendary coach Ron Thompson, the Cubs have had several players play Major League Baseball. Willie Horton (Detroit Tigers), Ted Simmons (St. Louis Cardinals), Bernie Carbo (Cincinnati Reds), Ted Sizemore (LA Dodgers), John Mayberry (Houston Astros), Frank Tanana (Detroit Tigers), Bill Freehan (Detroit Tigers), and Alex Johnson (Philadelphia Phillies).

The Cubs production speaks for itself on and off the field. “We are extremely proud of our history, and we are even more excited about our FUTURE!

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Cubs4Life…Once a Cub, Always a Cub.

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